Laura Patrizia Fleischer (*1986) obtained a teacher’s degree in Music at the University of Music and Dance, Cologne and English Studies at the University of Cologne. She became a research assistant at the University of Siegen in 2015. Her research field are questions of gender in popular music and culture with a focus on masculinity studies.

Aleksandar Golovin (*1990 in Varna, Bulgaria) completed his Bachelor of Music studies in 2012 (with First Class Honours), and subsequently Master of Music studies in 2013 (with Merit), in Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury, UK. From October 2015, he holds the position of Research Assistant in Popular Music and Gender Studies in University of Siegen. Research interests: metal music, progressive rock, Central and Eastern European studies, video game studies.

Florian Heesch (*1974) studied Music, Literature, Music Education and Musicology in Hanover, Cologne and Gothenburg. PhD in musicology at the University of Gothenburg in 2006. He was research fellow in the projects “Edda-Rezeption / Reception of the Eddas” (Scandinavian institute, University of Frankfurt) and “History / Herstory”
(University of Music and Dance Cologne); guest professor of music history at the research centre for music and gender (FMG) at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover. In 2013 he became professor of popular music at the University of Siegen. In 2015 the denomination of his professorship was extended to gender studies.

Reinhard Kopanski (*1978), Master of Arts degree in Musicology, Politics and Media Studies in Bonn, graduated 2012, thereafter lecturer in Bonn. Since April 2014 research assistant at the University of Siegen. Freelance work in the field of audio production. Research fields: ‘dark culture’, music and politics, metal music, music and technology.