Eloy is the keyboardist, founder and main composer of progressive rock band Apocalypse. He has dedicated a big part of his life to the band, creating a vast repertoire of progressive rock songs. He has studied the piano, synthesizers, cello, classical guitar and singing, composition and computer music. Parallel to his activites with the band, he also teachs at the university, where he works as composer/researcher at the Center of Electronic Music in the Arts Institute of the Federal University if Rio Grande do Sul. He has released 8 CDs as solo artist (www.ef.mus.br) and contributed with tracks to several other CDs. He was awarded as best instrument in 1991 at the FestPop and was chosen 4 times as best progrock keyboard player in the pools organized by the Rock Progressivo Brasil website (www.rockprogressivo.com.br). On top of this, he was selected as best keyboard player in the 1999 edition of Progday, when Apocalypse recorded their double live album in the USA. Eloy has been featured in articles on “Keyboard”, “Música & Tecnologia”, “Cover Teclado”, “21st Century Music”, “Teclado & Áudio” and “E-dition” magazines.  Fritsch wrote the book Electronic Music - An Illustrated Introdution and he composed the DVD Computer and Electronic Music published by the UFRGS in portuguese language. In the year of 2009 Eloy Fritsch receive the Açorianos Music Awards. The awards ceremony happened on April 28,  Tuesday night at the São Pedro Theater, Porto Alegre, Brazil. The Açorianos Music Awards honor the best albums, musicians and contributions to the music in South o Brazil.

Gustavo started his career as vocalist and bass player in pop rock bands at the age of 12. Deeply influenced by the great singers of the 70s (such as David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes), when he turns 18 he starts having lessons to improve his singing, a process to which he would devote several years. In 1997, after spending sometime in the USA, he returns to Brasil, where he begins to work in publicity. In 1998, he is one of the finalists in the Marillion Karaoke Contest, organized by the English band, with versions for the songs “Cover My Eyes”, “No One Can”, “Beautiful” and “These Chains”. Gustavo becomes a well-known hard-rock singer in his area, mostly thanks to his work with bands of that genre, one of them being The Wise, combo who also had bass player Magoo Wise among its members. He plays with The Wise from 1998 to 2003. Starting in 1999, he also gains a reputation within the progressive circles as singer of the Cinema Show band. They used to present a Genesis Tribute, which debuted in 2000 at the Second Rio Grande do Sul Progressive Rock Festival, when they opened for Apocalypse, who was returning from their USA tour. In 2003, he creates, together with producer Ticiano Paludo, the GET project, a mix of Brazilian pop and popular music which so far has given birth to one album, entitled “128kbps”. In 2004, he is invited to handle the vocals in Apocalypse. With the release of the EP “Magic”, the band starts a new chapter in its career, adopting the English as their main language for the new compositions. Gustavo is also busy with new projects with bands Cinema Show and Sabotage.

 

Rainer Der Schlagzeuger is drumming for 30 years. He grew up listening to the progrock classics of the 70s like Yes, Focus, ELP, Genesis and hard rock style like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Within his career has touched all of these styles, or as a member of the bands or as a freelancer. He played in festivals such as Skol Rock, Rock Circuit, Dado Bier Festival and almost all live music venues in Porto Alegre (Opinião, Gigantinho, Garagem Hermética, Eclipse, Divina Comédia, Dhomba, Graffiti, etc.)... Along with his bands, made gigs to the south of the country, mainly SC and RS states. Had lessons with important teachers on his city scene, such as Kiko Freitas, Marcelo Freitas, Daniel Lima  and Vaney Bertotto. Currently your kit is an Odery Drums (Brazil) made upon specifications dictated straight to the factory. 

 

Ruy started taking lessons on electric and classical guitar in the eighties. With the support of friends and his brother Eloy, he bought his first guitar and joined Apocalypse back in 1984, the same year of the band´s first concert at the 1º Ópera Rock. With a refined technique, he was mainly influences by progressive rock guitarists. Ruy was soon composing guitar melodies for some of the band´s songs. After a short leave from the band in 1988 to pursue other musical projects, he came back in 1992 and made a great contribution to the success of the “Perto do Amanhecer” album. From this point on, he had a more important role in everything related to the group, defining his own style that incorporated elements from baroque music, blues and rock. He played in all Apocalypse CDs and all the major concerts, such as Planeta Atlântida, Rock Progressivo, Rio Art Rock Festival and ProgDay.