The Element

Origin: Düsseldorf (Germany)

THE ELEMENT

Frédéric Guillemet - Raphaël Garrido - Patrick Rondat

Discography:

Time - 1985 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- The story of The Element began in the spring of 1984 in West Germany, under the initial name of Energy. This international project was originally formed by French vocalist Raphaël Garrido, known for his previous work with the French heavy metal band Warning, and German guitarist Hermann Frank, who had recently departed from Accept. The original line-up was completed by bassist Wolf Hettmer and drummer Tilo Heider, with future Helloween founder Kai Hansen briefly joining on guitar. This early iteration entered the studio to record a first experimental demo produced by the renowned Michael Wagener, but the project quickly dissolved due to internal friction and clashing egos. 

Refusing to let the music die, Raphaël Garrido relocated to Düsseldorf and completely overhauled the lineup by recruiting bass player Fred Guillemet, drummer Charly Torino, keyboardist Stefan Kurten, and a remarkably young guitar virtuoso named Patrick Rondat. By the end of 1984, while the new lineup was wrapping up production on the tracks initiated by Rafael, Hermann Frank independently produced the ensemble under the temporary moniker Hazzard. 

In March 1985, the group underwent a final evolutionary phase, changing their name briefly to Stilelement before officially settling on The Element. Under this definitive banner, they recorded their 8-track debut album, Time, at the Hermes Music Tonstudios in Kamen, West Germany. The album was directed and co-produced by Raphaël Garrido under his artistic pseudonym Ralph Towers, alongside Wolfgang Hermes, with creative engineering and drum programming handled by Glenn "Pico" The Electric Man and assistant engineering by Wolfgang "Der Tierish Stratocivarius" Pentinghaus. The recording sessions also featured guest contributions from Hermann Frank on additional guitars, Hayo Sthal and Rolf Schulte on saxophones, Glenn Pocoli on extra drum programming, and Brigitte Winkler on backing vocals, while Jo Dutertre captured the promotional photographs and sleeve artwork. 

In 1986, The Element secured a licensing deal with Rock Records / Polygram. Despite receiving high praise from both national and international rock press, and despite extensive promotional campaigns—including an appearance at the prestigious MIDEM international music market in Cannes to secure global backing—the album ultimately suffered a severe distribution failure. The band was unable to place physical copies in stores, a debacle that Garrido later attributed to a poorly restructured showbiz industry and a critical lack of resources within label A&R departments. 

Hampered by these logistical obstacles, The Element disbanded shortly thereafter, cementing Time as a highly sought-after cult classic for AOR and melodic rock collectors. The short-lived project served as an important career springboard, most notably launching Patrick Rondat into becoming one of France's most celebrated neoclassical and progressive guitar virtuosos. 

Four decades after its original tracking, the historical legacy of the album was rescued through an official remastered reissue by the French specialty label Bad Reputation, a project overseen by Éric Coubard with modern artwork by Fabrice Trovato and mastering by Jean-Yves Legrand. -