Progressively charged Metal band of high repute. VANDEN PLAS first got together in Kaiserslautern during 1985, releasing a single locally entitled 'Raining In My Heart' the following year. A stable formation of the band came together in 1990, keyboard player Günther Werno being previously with JULIET. A demo, 'Days Of Thunder', was delivered in June 1991. That same month VANDEN PLAS scored major exposure when their song 'Keep On Running' was chosen by local national league football club FC Kaiserslautern as their new anthem. Mons Records issued the 'Fire' single in April 1992.

Before gaining an album deal the band's strength of musicianship led to an engagement performing the Rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' in Saarbrucken from October 1992 to April 1994. The success of this venture prompted similar work on productions of 'The Little Shop Of Horrors' and 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. 'Das Ist Für Euch, released in August 1994, was a second release for FC Kaiserslautern supporters.

Influenced heavily by the Progressive Rock scene alongside a mix of Metal and classical music, VANDEN PLAS won a host of admirers with the Roko Kohlmeyer, of ROKO fame, co-produced debut album 'Colour Temple' in 1995. The band following it up with a headlining club tour in Europe, picking up a huge following in France.

In October 1996 the group released a mini-album entitled 'AcCult', a record comprised of acoustical versions of songs from 'Colour Temple' plus covers of MARILLION's 'Kayleigh', RAY CHARLES' 'Georgia On My Mind', STEPHAN EICHER's 'Des Hauts, Des Bas' and SAIGON KICK's 'Spanish Rain'.

The group finally found time to release the second, full album 'The God Thing' during 1997 and made it over to Britain to support DREAM THEATER in London at the end of the year. 1998 opened with further DREAM THEATER dates in Europe and a follow up to the 'AcCult' concept, 'AcCult II', was scheduled for a November release date but never transpired.

VANDEN PLAS covered a version of DOKKEN's 'Kiss Of Death' in 1999 that featured guest vocals from DON DOKKEN himself. The band toured Germany in early 2000 with support from CHINCHILLA and French act DYSLESIA. Third album 'Far Of Grace' was released in September 1999, recorded by PINK CREAM 69 bassist Dennis Ward at the House Of Audio. A successive single, 'I Don't Miss You', followed in 2000. In September 2000 the concert recording 'Spirit of Live' was issued, these tracks having been captured on tape at the Elysee Montmartre in Paris, France on February 13th 2000. Guests on the night included DON DOKKEN for a live rendition of 'Kiss of Death', while PATRICK RONDAT featured on 'Rainmaker'.

Plans for a 2001 album were put on hold when it was discovered guitarist Stephan Lill was suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The record, 'Beyond Daylight', would finally arrive in January of 2002. Limited edition variants included a bonus track, a cover of KANSAS' 'Point Of Know Return'.

VANDEN PLAS's own keyboard player Günther Werno and guitarist Stephan Lill would both feature heavily on the CONSORTIUM PROJECT 2001 debut album. VANDEN PLAS plans for European touring throughout April would be curtailed when Andy Kuntz's father died. The dates would be rescheduled for the summer.

During the interim drummer Andreas Lill busied himself with Norwegian guitarist TORBEN ENVOLDSEN's new project band entitled SECTION A. The project also featuring ex DREAM THEATER keyboard player DEREK SHERINEN and former LION'S SHARE singer Andy Engberg. It would not be the only such endeavour on the agenda, as both Lill and Kuntz participated in ABYDOS, a Progressive Rock assembly put together by producer Stefan Glas also including IAN PARRY of ELEGY and SHAMAN singer Andre Matos.

2002 would also bring about an adventurous 'Rock Opera' project as a result of an alliance between VANDEN PLAS members, erstwhile ROYAL HUNT and current SILENT FORCE vocalist D.C. COOPER and personnel from PINK CREAM 69. The Dennis Ward produced endeavour, entitled, MISSA MERCURIA, had lyrics penned by Cooper with music contributed by PINK CREAM 69's Alfred Koffler, SILENT FORCE's Alex Beyrodt and the VANDEN PLAS duo of Günter Werno and Stephan Lill. Musicians sessioning numbered VANDEN PLAS men Stephan Lill on guitar and Günter Werno on keyboards, PINK CREAM 69ers Alfred Koffler, Andreas Lill, and Dennis Ward with SILENT FORCE's Alex Beyrodt on guitar. Andy Kuntz would aid on lead vocals portraying the character of 'Airgod' whilst 'Firegod' was handled by D.C. COOPER, Sabine Edelsbacher of EDENBRIDGE as the 'Water goddess', Lori Williams playing the 'Earth goddess', Isolde GroÃ? as 'Mercuria' and PINK CREAM 69's David Readman provided narration.

Stephan Lill once again committed to CONSORTIUM PROJECT in 2003, crafting the October release 'Terra Incognita (The Undiscovered World)'. Werno provided his services on keyboards to KAMELOT for Mexican dates in early 2004.

VANDEN PLAS announced their next offering for 2005 was to be a conceptual piece entitled 'Christ O' and based upon the 'Monte Cristo' work of author Alexandre Dumas. Recording took place in December at Bazement Studios in Wiesbaden. Limited edition first pressings included a version of 'Gethsemane', the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber composed stage favourite from the musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

Announced in June 2006, Andy Kuntz's next side venture was billed AMASEFFER, quoted as a new "Holy" project in union with Israeli musicians guitarists Yuval Kramer, Hanan Abramovitch and drummer Erez Yohanan. A projected trilogy of albums would re-tell the biblical story of Exodus with the Hebrew name of Amaseffer referring to the name chosen for the Israelites in the Bible.

VANDEN PLAS performed at the 'ProgPower Scandinavia' festival on October 31st 2008 at The Rock in Copenhagen, Denmark featuring alongside Sweden's NOSTRADAMEUS, Denmark's WUTHERING HEIGHTS, Norway's PAGAN'S MIND and Greek act WASTEFALL.