ASSIGNMENT Family
GORAN PANIC – Guitars
Hometown: Gütersloh, Germany / Cuprija, Serbia
Goran formed Assignment together with his friend Sven and has always been “The Man” behind Assignment. He is the only member that was always a part of the Line-Up and the reason why the Band still exists these days.His new found love during teenager days was not only a girlfriend but also the wonderful world of heavy-metal. This love ended in buying an instrument, in this case a guitar and started an endless musical journey. Apart from the complete range of Hard-Rock & Metal styles, he is also into Classic, Jazz & Filmscores which kinda reflects his songwriting and the evolution Assignment took from their first to the current recordings.
MICHAEL KOLAR – Drums
Hometown: Güterlsoh, Germany
Michael raised Gorans attention while playing with Viktor Smolskis Band “Almanac” as well as with his Band “Horseman”. After the secod departure of Sven, Michael was the first choice for replacing Sven, as his skills and style were a perfect match for Assignment. A great drummer and a cool dude. In the meanwhile, he also became the director of a music school in Bielefeld.
HEIKO SPAARMANN – Bass Guitar
Hometown: Bremen, Germany
Heiko got replaced by Heiko! After Heiko Maag left Assignment after 8 years and 3 albums it was a tough search. Heiko Spaarmann joins Assignment for the upcoming 4th release “Closing the Circle” Fans might know Heiko as the bass player of the German Progressive Band “Poverty´s No Crime”. Funny inside fact: Assignment have played a show together with Poverty´s no crime BEFORE Heiko joined them. More details comming soon!
BRATISLAV METULSKI – Keyboards
Hometown: Bochum, Germany
Bratislav is a dead clown, killed by Nihil Baxter. But the devil did not take him, and sent him back to fulfil his prophecy as a Keyboarded within a Metal Band. While his look and smell are more than questionable, his skills are so good, that he could easily replace Gert.
DIEGO VALDEZ – Vocals
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Assignment goes Argentina! Enjoying the status of the mational metal hero, Diego made his name with local heroes HELKER and most lately ELECTRO NOMICON. For the opcoming Assignment release Diego´s voice perfectly fits with main influences being Ronnie James Dio, Russel Allen or Jorn Lande. More information will follow soon…
INEZ VERA ORTIZ – Vocals/Backing Vocals
Hometown: Alicante, Spain
Inez has an incredible talented voice, and shares a lot of the same musical influences as Goran. On every single Assignment release we had female support and the latest one, on Diegos recomendation was Inez. They met during touring the Queen Bohemian Rapsody Tour through Spain, she also released the album “Stain The Sea” with her band “Inner Stream”.
MARCO AHRENS – Lead Guitars
Hometown: Bremen, Germany
Goran & Marco shared the stage already a long time ago, when Assignment played one of our first shows, together with “Poverty’s No Crime”. Marco entered the Assignment universe during the “Reflections” recording sessions, delivering some awesome lead guitars on tracks as “Mercyful Angel” or “Silent Nation”. So it was just natural to ask him to continue on our upcoming release “With The End Comes Silence”.
THOMAS VIKSTRÖM – Choirs, Backing Vocals
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Thomas has already a well deserved legend status in the world of metal, starting at the beginning of the 90’s through Bands as Candlemass, Brazen Abbot or Therion. We asked Thomas for some help during the recordings for our upcoming record “With The End Comes Silence” We asked him for choirs and backing vocals “bigger than life”- and he delieverd…
SIMONE MULARONI – Lead Guitar on “The Curtains Fall”, Mix & Mastering
Hometown: San Marino
Assignment and Simone tried to get together, since the production of “Closing The Circle”. For some reasons, it always failed due to deadlines or missing funds. Beside of being a great sound engeneer, deliverieng great productions for Michael Romeo (Symphony X) or Redemption, he is also active with his band DGM, recording several excellent records during the last 15 years.
PAST PERFORMERS
SVEN POLLKÖTTER – Drums
Hometown: Herzebrock, Germany
Sven has founded the band together with Goran in the middle 90´s. After the “Progressive Changes” production in 2004 he left the band to join the Alternative Allstars and later on the Claus Grabke Bandwith three releases and several tours… At the very beginning of 2010, Sven returned to Assignment for recording “Inside of the Machine” followed by “Closing the Cirlce”.
Beside of Assignment, Sven is constantly on the road with classical ensambles and musicals. This, combined with loosing will for our kind of sound, Sven took a step back and informed Goran during the recordings for the upcoming record “Reflections” that he could´nt continue. This was one of the main reasons for the delay on the production for our 5th release “Reflections”.
GERT SPRICK – Keyboards
Hometown: Gütersloh, Germany
Gert has joined the band in 2006 for live performances during the “Progressive Changes” campaign. With a classical backround enjoying piano lessons as a kid and teenager, Gert brought a new dimension in the Assignment sound and got full band member short before the “Disunion Denied” recordings in 2008.
MICHAEL BORMANN – Vocals (Nick, “Inisde of the Machine”)
Hometown: Duisburg, Germany
Homepage: Michael Bormann Page
Michael really doesnt need any introduction, being considered one of the best Hard Rock-Metal voices not only in Germany. During the years of his long carrear he gained world popularity as a member of Jadded Heart, with his solo records and lately he also became part of German PowerMetal band Angel Dust. Goran got in touch with Michael for the lead character of Nick for the “Inside of the Machine” record. The cooperation and the chemistry was perfect so it is more than certain that Michael will at one point be part of the Assignment crew again.
CARSTEN KAISER – Vocals (Machine, “Inisde of the Machine”)
Hometown: Bochum, Germany
Homepage: META4 Studios
Carsten and Goran crossed musical ways already ten years ago at the band “Elemental”. From that moment, it was just a matter of time and opportunity before they join forces again. “Inside of the Machine” and the part of the Machine character was perfect for Carsten. Beside of being an excellent singer, Carsten is also involved in production, mastering and mixing at Meta4 Studios.
ROBIN BECK- Vocals (Mistress, “Inisde of the Machine”)
Hometown: New York City, USA
Homepage: ROBIN BECK official
Robin, the Queen of AOR and Hard-Rock. The female part for the Mistress character on “Inside of the Machine” could not be casted better than with the powerfull voice of this remarkable Lady, presenting a performance we maybe never heard from her before. With her #1 Hit “First Time” and the “Trouble for Nothing” record she achieved to live forever. Even 20 years and many records later, Robin is still there and apart from Assignment, she has just release her latest work, “Underneath”
MATS LEVEN – Vocals (Preacher, “Inisde of the Machine”)
Hometown: Mölndal, Sweden
Homepage: MATS official
Another big name and great voice of the Metal scene. He entered the big scene as the vocalist of Yngwie Malmsteen´s “Facing the Animal” record and the following World-Tour. Krux, At Vance, Candlemass, Therion or Addagio are just a few Bands that were honoured having this great voice. Assignment have entered this list as Mats took over the Preacher character on “Inside of the Machine”
MARIA JOSE LEDY POT – Vocals/Backing Vocals
Hometown: Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentinia
Lovely Ledy was introduced to Goran by Diego when discussing a possible duet composition for the upcoming release “Closing the Circle”. After a quick test recording she was more than welcomed to join Assignment. Not only she did a wonderfull duet with Diego called “Variaxis”, she also did backing vocals. She has a wonderfull, warm but yet powerfull rock voice and we are shure that this will be just a beginnig for her way.
MARKUS BRAND – Vocals
Hometown: Bielefeld, Germany
Even not being a part of the Assignment line-up since 2010, Markus deserves this notice as he was the voice of Assignment for over 6 years and recorded the albums “Progressive Changes” and “Disunion Denied” with the Band. At the moment, Markus is part of Germany´ s best Iron Maiden tribute Band called “Eddies Revenge”. Before Assignment, Markus was the frontmen of “GB Arts” and recorded the album “The Lake” following a European Tour together with Rage…
HEIKO MAAG – Bass Guitar
Hometown: Wiedenbrück, Germany
Heiko got involved with Assignment shortly before the “Progressive Changes” recordings at which point the Band was searching for a bass player. Heiko´s main influence was Steve Harris and his style of strong and dynamic playing. Even not being with the Band from the very beginning, Heiko was taking care for the groove on all three Assignment recordings and is a loyal and constant force within the Band.