Blind Guardian is a heavy metal and melodic metal band started in the late
1980s in Krefeld, Germany. The four members of this band are deemed "bards" by their fans. The members are Hansi Kürsch - lead singer and
bass, André Olbriche and Marcus Siepen -
guitars, and Thomen Stauch -
drums. The band deal mostly with
Tolkien and
medieval lore, and has gone from an initial following in
Europe and
Japan to being an influence across the world.