MASTERPLAN is the high profile post HELLOWEEN endeavour of guitarist ROLAND GRAPOW and drummer Uli Kusch. The pair severed ties in acrimonious circumstances with HELLOWEEN in late 2001, at first titling their new venture MR. TORTURE. The highly rated Norwegian singer JORN LANDE, a veteran of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ARK, MILLENNIUM, MUNDANUS IMPERIUM and session man for BEYOND TWILIGHT's 2001 opus 'The Devil's Hall Of Fame', filled the vocalist position. As a solo artist, Lande had issued the albums 'Starfire' in 2000 and 'Worldchanger' in October 2001. With IRON SAVIOR man Jan S. Eckert on bass the Finnish CHILDREN OF BODOM and WARMEN keyboard player Janne Warmen made up the ranks. This formidable collection of talents assured the band a weighty reception.

The band debuted commercially with an EP entitled 'Enlighten Me'. Issued through the AFM label in November 2001, quite incredibly the single debuted on the national German singles charts at a healthy number 15. The debut January 2002 album, released through Andy Allendörfer of SQUEALER's AFM Records label and produced by FOZZY and SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap, included a cover version of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Black Dog' and a duet between Lande and erstwhile HELLOWEEN vocalist MICHAEL KISKE on the track 'Heroes'. Japanese versions of MASTERPLAN's debut record, released by the Avalon Marquee label, differed from European variants in having the tracks 'Through Thick And Thin' and 'The Kid Rocks On' replacing 'Enlighten Me' and 'Bleeding Eyes'. MASTERPLAN also had their version of 'Black Dog' included on the Locomotive Music LED ZEPPELIN tribute album 'The Metal Zeppelin - The Music Remains The Same'.

Grapow and Kusch took a sizable contingent of the HELLOWEEN fan base with them and 'Masterplan' provided a robust opener, chock full of high quality material. From strong initial sales across Europe, the new band quickly built up a solid fan base across the world, with particular fervent appreciation generated in South America. Importantly, 'Masterplan' placed JORN LANDE's vocal prowess onto a larger world platform.

A sustained bout of European touring had MASTERPLAN confirmed as support for HAMMERFALL's January and February European trek. However, the band would see its first casualty when Janne Wirman pulled out, unable to participate due to commitments with CHILDREN OF BODOM. A replacement was found swiftly in Axel Mackenrott from CATCH THE RAINBOW and PUNCH TV. Amidst all this activity Grapow made time to guest on the MVP album 'The Altar' and produce the debut album 'Prism' from Hamburg act ARCTIC FIELDS. Kusch would loan himself out to IRON SAVIOR for a one off gig in August when their regular drummer Thomas Nack injured his hand just upfront of the group's appearance at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival.

JORN LANDE signed a solo deal with AFM Records, recording a fresh album 'Out To Every Nation' in the summer of 2003. Musicians on this opus included bassist Magnus Rosèn of HAMMERFALL alongside the PAGAN'S MIND pairing of guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad and drummer Stian Kristoffersen. 'Out To Every Nation', charted in both Norway and Sweden.

As the members of MASTERPLAN set to work crafting songs for a second album the band was honored with a 'European Border Breakers Award', in recognition of achieving the highest sales for a debut album across the European Union, at the January 2004 Midem convention in Cannes, France. That same year Grapow would also guest on the all star EXECUTION project album assembled by Renato Tribuzy, vocalist of Brazilian act THOTEN, appearing on two tracks 'Absolution' and 'Web Of Life'.

MASTERPLAN entered Crazy Cat studios in Hamburg, Germany with producer Andy Sneap in July to cut their second album 'Aeronautics'. A preceding EP, 'Back For My Life' released in November of 2004, included non album tracks 'Killing In Time' and 'Love Is A Rock'. Fans of Brazilian band SHAMAN attending their 20th November show in Martin, Slovakia received a pleasant surprise when ROLAND GRAPOW guested on stage, featuring on 'Pride' and a cover of JUDAS PRIEST's 'Breaking The Law'. Axel Mackenrott also got in on the sessioning, performing on NEVERMORE's 'This Godless Endeavour'.

2005 European shows saw MASTERPLAN sharing stages with an 'Aces High' package billing comprising ROB ROCK, CIRCLE II CIRCLE and PURE INC. In November Grapow appeared live with TRIBUZY at two back to back gigs at Brazil's São Paulo's Credicard Hall in an all star band alongside BRUCE DICKINSON, PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner and Ralf Scheepers, ANGRA's Kiko Loureiro and Roy Z.

Uli Kusch instigated a new band project entitled BEAUTIFUL SIN. Featured musicians comprised the PAGAN'S MIND pairing of guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad and bass player Steinar Krokmo, Belgian female singer Magali Luyten plus MASTERPLAN keyboard player Axel Mackenrott. A debut album, entitled 'The Unexpected', was set for May 2006 issue through AFM Records. That same month MASTERPLAN fans received a shock when, in the midst of songwriting sessions, JORN LANDE quit, quoting "musical differences". However, the singer held on to honour previously planned live bookings. The band's final show with Lande took place on August 8th at Lokersefeesten in Belgium. In early October drummer Uli Kusch also exited to forge RIDE THE SKY alongside former TEARS OF ANGER and BEYOND TWILIGHT singer Bjørn Jansson and Benny Jansson on guitar.

Rumours quickly suggested that RIOT and THE LIZARDS singer Mike DiMeo was to front the band, this being confirmed in early October. At the same juncture the group also announced their new drummer as MIKE TERRANA, a scene veteran of HANOVER FIST, ZILLION, BEAU NASTY, ARTENSION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, AXEL RUDI PELL, METALIUM and RAGE. During September, March and April 2007 live shows in the UK and Europe were lined up with SAXON and ROSE TATTOO. The line-up solidified in early December 2006 when Mike Terrana announced he was closing his eight year tenure with RAGE in order to prioritise MASTERPLAN.

MASTERPLAN, promoting the album 'Mk II', united with headliners SAXON and opening act HELLFUELED's for European and Scandinavian tour dates in April and May 2007.

Mike DiMeo announced his departure from MASTERPLAN in January 2009. Speculation arose in April that Jorn Lande was set to rejoin the band. This was confirmed in July with an acknowledgement from MASTERPLAN that Lande was recorcing fresh album tracks in Slovakia.