Mob Rules (band)

Mob Rules are a German power metal band. They were founded in 1994 by erstwhile Van Blanc guitarist Matthias Mineur and bassist Thorsten Plorin. Pulling in vocalist Klaus Dirks and drummer Arved Mannott, the quartet began to gig. Opening slots included shows with Pink Cream 69, C.I.T.A. and Crossroads.

Mob Rules
Mob Rules performing in 2008
Background information
Origin	Germany
Genres	Power metal
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Limb Music (1999 – 2002) SPV (2002 – 2009) AFM Records (2009 – present)
Members	Klaus Dirks (vocals) Florian Dyszballs (guitar) Sven Lüdke (guitar) Markus Brinkmann (bass) Nikolas Fritz (drums) Jan Christian Halfbrodt (Keyboard)
Past members	Oliver Fuhlhage (guitar) Thorsten Plorin (bass) Arved Mannott (drums) Sascha Onnen (Keyboard) Matthias Mineur (guitar) Sönke Janssen (guitar)

During the spring of 1996, Mob Rules added second guitarist Oliver Fuhlhage and a self-financed mini album prompted a deal with Limb Music Productions for the March 1999 Savage Land. The reaction in Europe was encouraging and the band toured Germany on a co-headline jaunt with Ivory Tower. Other shows witnessed valuable support slots to Overkill and Scorpions as well as an appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2000.

In 2000, the band released their second album Temple of Two Suns, Thomas Rettke of Heavens Gate and Susanne Möhle of Heavens Gate and Hyperchild providing backing vocals. Live work had the band crossing Europe in 2001 with Company of Snakes.

Mob Rules then returned to live action during July 2002 acting as support to Savatage, topping this activity off with an appearance at the Wacken Open Air festival. The band's third album arrived in September 2002 Hollowed Be Thy Name. Guests include Peavy Wagner of Rage on the track "How the Gypsy Was Born" and ex-Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow on both "All Above the Atmosphere" and "Way of the World".

Among the Gods, arrived in May 2004 through SPV. Guitarist Oliver Fuhlhage was replaced by Sven Lüdke of Murder One in October as the band geared up for European dates supporting Europe. The band recorded a live album and DVD, billed Signs of the Time LIVE, at a hometown gig at the Wilhelmshaven Pumpwerk.

In spring 2006 Markus Brinkmann replaced Thorsten Plorin. In October 2006 their album Ethnolution A.D. was released through SPV.