21.12.2004 Metal X-mas Metal X-mas to all fans, friends, endorsement-companies and everybody who supported me in the last year. This year was a mixture out of good and cruel experiences. I'm a workaholic and in my life, music means everything for me. If you are caught up in work, you quickly forget to take care of your health. By a hairs breadth a broken appendix could have set my life an abrupt end. Only with plenty of luck and the efforts of the specialists, worse things could be prevented. (thanks a lot to all doctors and nursing staff) After 2 months in hospital I was down with my nerves, being not able to hold a guitar in my hands. My colleagues from RAGE had to cancell a festival show due to my illness and were not happy regarding that at all. Fortunately I am fit again so the matter of a replacement guitar player for RAGE isn't present anymore. During this year also lot's of nice experiences happened, like the recording and release of my new solo CD Majesty & Passion. Here, I once more would like to thank all the guests, who performed at the album. This CD will have a very special meaning for me for the rest of my life. 10 years ago I deceided to stay in Germany and during this time, I got lot's of musical aims. Without entering into compromises regarding money I had lot's of fun, presenting music I like during concerts worldwide, getting personally the applause for hard work over years. Some of this events you can see at the RAGE live DVD. The RAGE jubilee tour through Europe was a successful end of the year. There are already lot's of plans for the next year and I hope, I can make my fans happy. Thanks for all and a "Happy New Year"! See you at the shows next year...

22.09.2004 Release date of Majesty & Passion and RAGE DVD in November On 22nd of November 2004 Victor Smolski's solo CD "Majesty & Passion" will be released on the market. Victor has arranged songs of the "Old Master" Johan Sebastian Bach into some harder versions. Together with his band colleagues from RAGE, Peavy Wagner and Mike Terrana, lot's of notable international musicians and the Inspector Symphony Orchestra they have recorded these songs. A complete tracklist of "Majesty & Passion" you'll find at "Studioreport". On 15th of November 2004 the RAGE DVD will finally be available on the market. Beside the double DVD there will be a double CD and a Limited Edition Box. In Japan both, the RAGE DVD as well as Majesty & Passion will be released on 25th of November 2004.

16.09.2004 Tourdates online The concert dates of the RAGE 20th Anniversary tour are online. On 19th of November 2004 RAGE starts their Europe tour in the Tschech Republic. Check out the "Dates" section!

02.09.2004 First taste of new solo CD Victor Smolski is realy happy - his new solo CD "Majesty & Passion" is done. It was a real challenge to get a sound after mixing, which came close to Victors expectation. Imagine, more then 20 well known international guests were co-operating on Majesty & Passion. With the professional help of Frank Itt the sound became real fat, just like Victor expected. A first taste you can get during the Rock Meets Renaissance festival on Saturday, the 9th. of Ocktober 2004 in Schloss Beck in Bottrop Feldhausen, organized by Uli Jon Roth. Victor Smolski will be one of the special guests, presenting some songs of his new solo CD. Rock-Meets-Renaissance

26.07.2004 Greetings from Victor Hallo. First I would like to say thanks a lot to all, who visited me in hospital during my illness. Also all the inquiries of friends and fans, who were worried about my health, helped me, to get better quicker. My blind gut was bursted and infected other organs. After 2 operations (one during dangerous situation to life) and loss of 15 kg weight in 2 weeks, I often thought about the fate of Jason Becker, what a horror thought... After 1 1/2 months in hospital it's a great feeling, being home again. A first present was coming to know, that the song "Straight To Hell" out of the RAGE Album "Welcome To The Other Side" and composed by myself was also used as soundtrack for the second Bully Herbig Film "Traumschiff Surprise". I'm also happy, that I finished my parts for the RAGE DVD including history and recorded my solo CD before the break out of my illness. It's a pity, that some guests couldn't manage it to co-operate with their solo parts on my solo CD due to time problems. (Vinnie Moore...) Nevertheless I'm realy happy and satisfied with the result and I would like to say thanks to all the participants. Majesty & Passion is the biggest project I set on foot. Also my solo CD "The Heretic" was released in a Classic Meets Metal 3 CD's box by Drakkar Classic. Now I do sports every day to get fit again. Next week I already fly to Korea again to play a concert together with Black Hole at the International Busan Rock Festival, where also Steve Vai & Band is one of the participating bands. Best regards Victor Smolski

17.06.2004 Victor has been operated After intensive tests Victor has been operated on Tuesday and is out of danger to life now. Surely it will take some more weeks until he will be strong as before. We would like to send Victor all the heartiest regards and "hope you will be better soon"!!!!! Victors inner abdominal area before the operation.

11.06.2004 Victor in hospital Already at the "Gods of Metal" festival Victor had some pain, now he's in hospital, falling ill seriously. He will not take part at the 24h race at the Nürburgring, and he also can't play the Helfenstein concert in Geislingen. We would like to send Victor all the heartiest regards and "hope you will be better soon"!!!!!

17.05.2004 Successful at SPA Francochamps What a race!!! Beautiful conditions, a perfect car and courage enough to stay on the accelerator at the "Eau Rouge" at least one time let Victor jump on the stairs at the end of the 300 km challenge at SPA Francochamps. (see report at the motorsport section)

26.04.2004 Victor Smolski working on new Solo CD Since a couple of days Victor Smolski, his RAGE colleagues Peavy Wagner and Mike Terrana as well as many other musicians are at the VPS Studios to produce and record another solo album. Songs of the "Old Master" J.S.Bach were arranged into some harder versions by Victor and are the basis for "Majesty & Passion", the working title of his new solo CD. A detailed report you'll find by clicking on "New Solo CD" below. New Solo CD Studio

12.03.2004 Jubilee CD by Siggi Braun Fine Young Guitars On the occasion of the 10 years jubilee of Siggi Braun Fine Young Guitars Victor Smolski and Siggi Braun produced a jubilee CD, on which all the endorsers of Siggi Guitars are presented. The two opener songs are played by Victor. At the music fair in Frankfurt this CD will be presented to the visitors of Siggi Braun Fine Young Guitars booth.

04.03.2004 Lot's of news this time There are lot's of news available at the webpage this time. Victor will play a concert at the Music Fair Frankfurt (see the "Dates" section), news and dates also at the "Motorsport" section and last but not least you can find a guitar workshop (MP3 file, notes and tabulatures) out of the Guitar magazine 01 / 04 at the "Workshop" section.

08.01.2004 High honour for Prof. Dmitry Smolski Victors father, Professor Dmitry Smolski, one of the leaders of the Russian composers of the present time, was personaly decorated by the Belarussian President as "Man Of The Year" in culture matters. Congratulation Mr.Smolski!!

08.01.2004 RAGE in Wacken Open Air Calendar 2004 and on Wacken DVD In the Wacken Open Air Calendar 2004 RAGE filled up the month of June with photos out of the show 2003. At the ultimate Wacken Open Air DVD "Metal Overdrive" 2001/2002 RAGE are presenting their song "Don't Fear The Winter".

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