Simon Oberender, keyboardist/guitarist of the German progressive metal band Beyond The Bridge, passed away last week. The cause of death has not been announced.
Oberender, who was also the keyboardist for Amanda Somerville‘s band Trillium, worked at the Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany as a sound engineer and producer. He recorded, mixed, mastered [along with Sascha Paeth] and produced Beyond The Bridge‘s debut album, The Old Man And The Spirit. He also appeared on several other recordings, including Avantasia‘s 2010 releases The Wicked Symphony and Angel Of Babylon, Edguy‘s Age Of The Joker [2011], Epica‘s Requiem for the Indifferent [2012], Rhapsody Of Fire‘s The Frozen Tears Of Angels [2010] and Kamelot‘s Silverthorn.
As an engineeer, Oberender worked on albums by Avantasia, Destination’s Calling, Edguy, Epica, Mayan and others.
Less than two weeks ago, Oberender performed with Beyond The Bridge at ProgPower USA festival in Atlanta, Georgia in what was the band’s first-ever appearance in the United States.
Commented Somerville: “With tremendous sadness, I mourn the passing away of an amazing friend, colleague and bandmate, Simon Oberender. This tragic loss causes us great pain. Simonovsky, you are, and ever shall be, sorely missed.”
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‘Beyond The Bridge’ Keyboard Player Dies [Sept. 2012]