Formative years (1980–1985) Holy Moses were formed in
Aachen,
North Rhine-Westphalia, in 1980. The band's first line-up was formed by bassist Ramon Brüssler, drummer Peter Vonderstein and guitarist Jochen Fünders during high school, the latter of whom also handled the band's vocals. This line-up played its first live show only four days after its formation, and released a demo titled
Black Metal Masters in the same year. Vonderstein and Fünders left the group in 1981, and were replaced by drummer Paul Linzenich, vocalist Iggy, and guitarist Andy Classen from the local group Desaster. In December 1981, Iggy left the group and was replaced by ex-Desaster bassist and girlfriend of Andy, Sabina Classen (née Hirtz). The band performed their first live show with the new stable line-up in November 1982 and released a string of demo tapes, including
Walpurgis Night in 1985, and
The Bitch in 1986, and also appeared on the split-album compilation
Metallic Bunnys.
Success (1986–1993) In 1986, Holy Moses released their debut album
Queen of Siam through independent label Aaarrg, with Herbert Dreger on drums (Linzenich left shortly before the recording to focus on his university studies). After the release of the record, Dreger was sacked for not showing up to a support show with
Agent Steel, and Brüssler (the only original member of Holy Moses remaining), left the band. Both members were replaced by nineteen-year-old
Uli Kusch and Andre Chapelier respectively. The following year, Holy Moses released their sophomore effort
Finished With the Dogs, The band's twelfth and final album
Invisible Queen was released on 14 April 2023. Holy Moses retired towards the end of 2023, with their final show taking place in Hamburg at the Market Hall on 27 December of that year, in celebration of frontwoman Sabina Classen-Hirtz's 60th birthday. ==Members==