Claymore

Claymore originated in Germany under the leadership of drummer Robert Butts, whose father had served as a Scottish soldier. Butts assembled a consistent lineup of German musicians who shared his admiration for the traditional music of Scotland’s Highlands. The band distinguished itself by fusing those pipe-driven elements with the glossy hooks of ’80s arena pop and rock alongside the expansive structures of ’70s prog. Up to three pipers sometimes performed on recordings or in concert. Tim Lethen served as the group’s principal piper across all five studio albums, beginning with the 1991 release Highlander. The follow-up, Unblended, was tracked between 1992 and 1993 yet reached listeners only in 1994. Into the Wind and the live set Live on Deck both appeared in 1995, while Giants Forever arrived in 1997. In addition to Butts and Lethen, every album featured lead singer Volker Sauer, bassist Michael Goettling, guitarist Hans Homann, and keyboardist Andy Ironhead.