Blind Guardian is a german speed metal/power metal band from Krefeld / Meerbusch. They are credited as being among the most influential artists of the genre. While early Blind Guardian belongs to speed metal style, in later releases the band has moved towards epic power metal. Blind Guardian was founded in 1984 by André Olbrich (guitar), Hansi Kürsch (vocals, bass), Marcus Siepen (guitar) and Thomas "Thomen" Stauch (drums), (left the band in 2005, replaced by Frederik Ehmke).