Helloween performing live in 2008 (top) and 2016 (bottom)

Helloween are a German power metal band from Hamburg. Formed in 1984, the group was originally a quartet featuring Kai Hansen on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Michael Weikath on lead guitar and backing vocals, Markus Grosskopf on bass and backing vocals, and Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums. The band's current lineup includes constant members Weikath and Grosskopf, alongside Hansen (who rejoined in 2016 after leaving in 1989), co-lead vocalists Michael Kiske (from 1986 to 1993, and since 2016) and Andreas "Andi" Deris (since 1994), rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Sascha Gerstner (since 2002), and drummer Daniel "Dani" Löble (since 2005).

History

1984–1994

Helloween were formed in 1984 by Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf and Ingo Schwichtenberg.[1] The band signed with German heavy metal label Noise Records before the end of the year and released their self-titled debut EP in April 1985.[2] After the group issued their debut full-length album Walls of Jericho later the same year, Hansen decided to step back from the role of lead vocalist to focus on his guitar playing. After a lengthy process of trying to find a replacement, in November the role was filled by Michael Kiske.[3] Keeper of the Seven Keys: Parts I and II followed in 1987 and 1988, respectively, before Hansen left completely on New Year's Day 1989 due to "the ever-increasing stress of touring".[4] He was quickly replaced by Roland Grapow and the band returned to touring.[5]

With new guitarist Roland Grapow, the band released two studio albums – Pink Bubbles Go Ape in 1991 and Chameleon in 1993 – before more lineup changes occurred. During the 1993 tour in promotion of Chameleon, Schwichtenberg was fired due to drug addiction and mental health issues, with Riad "Ritchie" Abdel-Nabi taking his place for the rest of the shows.[2][6] By the end of the year, Kiske had also been fired after growing tensions between the two members had led Weikath to refuse to work with the vocalist.[6] Schwichtenberg would later commit suicide in 1995.[2]

1994–2003

After firing two members in late 1993, Helloween returned early the following year with new vocalist Andreas "Andi" Deris and drummer Ulrich "Uli" Kusch.[7] This lineup remained stable for several years, issuing a string of commercially successful albums.[8] However, in August 2001 it was announced that both Kusch and guitarist Roland Grapow had parted ways with Helloween.[9] In a statement issued the day after the official announcement, the dismissals were credited to "differences in priority", with a spokesman for the band adding that "It was felt Roland and Uli were paying too much time and attention to their solo projects. After a very successful tour behind The Dark Ride album Michael, Markus and Andi felt quite rightly that the focus of Helloween members must be 100% on Helloween."[10]

In early September, Kusch's replacement was announced as former Metalium drummer Mark Cross.[11] Helloween remained without a second guitarist until August 2002, when it was announced that Sascha Gerstner, who had left Freedom Call a year earlier, had joined the band.[12] Recording subsequently began for the group's next album, however Cross was forced to sit out after contracting mononucleosis, with Mikkey Dee of Motörhead taking his place in the studio.[13] In February 2003, Cross was officially replaced by former U.D.O. and Accept drummer Stefan Schwarzmann.[14]

Since 2003

Within two years of joining, drummer Stefan Schwarzmann had left Helloween, with Daniel "Dani" Löble taking his place in February 2005.[15] The lineup remained stable for more than ten years, before it was announced in November 2016 that founding member Kai Hansen and former vocalist Michael Kiske would be returning to Helloween for the Pumpkins United World Tour starting the following year.[16] At the start of the tour, the newly expanded group released the single "Pumpkins United", featuring Kiske, Hansen and continuing vocalist Andi Deris on vocals.[17] Following the touring cycle, the seven-piece incarnation of Helloween remained in place, for the 2021 studio album Helloween.[18]

Official members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Helloween 2016-3.jpg
Michael Weikath 1984–present
  • lead and rhythm guitars
  • backing vocals
all Helloween releases
Markus Grosskopf, Michael Kiske-Helloween by vSpectrum.jpg
Markus Grosskopf
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Helloween-Kai Hansen by vSpectrum.jpg
Kai Hansen
  • 1984–1989
  • 2016–present
  • rhythm and lead guitars
  • vocals (lead 1984–86, backing 1986–89, co-lead since 2016)
Helloween-Michael Kiske by vSpectrum.jpg
Michael Kiske
  • 1986–1993
  • 2016–present
lead and backing vocals
Helloween 2016-20 (cropped).jpg
Andreas "Andi" Deris 1994–present all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) onwards
Helloween 2016-5.jpg
Sascha Gerstner 2002–present
  • rhythm and lead guitars
  • occasional keyboards
  • backing vocals
all Helloween releases from Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) onwards
Helloween - Pumpkins United - Wacken Open Air 2018 36.jpg
Daniel "Dani" Löble 2005–present drums all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) onwards

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Ingo Schwichtenberg 1984–1993 (died 1995) drums all Helloween releases from Helloween (1985) to Chameleon (1993)
Masterplan – Headbangers Open Air 2015 09.jpg
Roland Grapow 1989–2001
  • rhythm and lead guitars
  • backing vocals
all Helloween releases from Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) to The Dark Ride (2000)
Ulrich "Uli" Kusch 1994–2001
  • drums
  • backing vocals
all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) to The Dark Ride (2001)
Mark Cross 2001–2003 drums Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) – two tracks each only
Stefan Schwarzmann – Wacken Open Air 2014 02.jpg
Stefan Schwarzmann 2003–2005

Backup musicians

Session

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
James Hardaway 1985 synthesisers Walls of Jericho (1985)
Peter Iversen 1990 keyboards Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991)
Phil Nicholas
Corinna Wolke 1992 backing vocals Chameleon (1993) – one track only
Lenny Wolf
2015-08-01 Jutta Weinhold Band (Bäääm festival 2015) 001.jpg
Jutta Weinhold 1997 Better Than Raw (1998)
Ralf Maurer
Christina Hahne
Billy King
  • 2000

  • 2004–2015
  • The Dark Ride (2000)
  • all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) to My God-Given Right (2015)
Rolf Köhler 2000 (died 2007) The Dark Ride (2000)
Mikkey Dee (PK) – Wacken Open Air 2015 02.jpg
Mikkey Dee 2002–2003 drums Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)
Olaf Senkbeil 2004–2015 backing vocals all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) to My God-Given Right (2015)
Friedel Amon 2004–2005 keyboards Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005)
Avantasia Rockharz 2016 06.jpg
Oliver Hartmann backing vocals
Matthias Ulmer 2007–present keyboards all Helloween releases from Gambling with the Devil (2007) to Helloween (2021)

Touring

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Jørn Ellerbrock 1988–2003
  • keyboards
  • programming
  • Live in the U.K. (1989)
  • all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) to The Dark Ride (2000)
Ritchie Abdel-Nabi 1993 drums none – live performances only

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
1984 – November 1986
November 1986 – January 1989
  • Kai Hansen – guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums
  • Michael Kiske – lead vocals
January 1989 – fall 1993
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums
  • Michael Kiske – lead vocals
  • Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals
Fall – late 1993
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Kiske – lead vocals
  • Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ritchie Abdel-Nabi – drums
none – live performances only
Early 1994 – August 2001
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Uli Kusch – drums, backing vocals
September 2001 – August 2002
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Mark Cross – drums
none – writing and rehearsals only
August 2002 – February 2003
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Mark Cross – drums
  • Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals
February 2003 – February 2005
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals
  • Stefan Schwarzmann – drums
  • Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)
    (two special edition bonus tracks only)
February 2005 – November 2016
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals
  • Dani Löble – drums
November 2016 – present
  • Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals
  • Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals
  • Andi Deris – lead vocals
  • Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals
  • Dani Löble – drums
  • Kai Hansen – guitar, backing and lead vocals
  • Michael Kiske – lead vocals

References

  1. Everley, Dave (21 June 2017). "Helloween: "We're not as big as Maiden, but we're way bigger than Spinal Tap"". Classic Rock. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Helloween: Former Drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg Dies Aged 29". Metal Forces. 8 March 1995. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  3. Ristić, Jovan (15 September 2017). "The Story of Kai Hansen, Part 1 – Heavy Metal is the Law". Hardwired. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  4. Garza, Janiss (8 April 1989). "The Heavy Metals" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 52, no. 39. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publications. p. 13. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  5. Cooper, Mike (3 February 1989). "Music Now!" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 114. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: Hard Report. p. 35. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 Diamond Oz. (20 January 2013). "Sunday Old School: Helloween". Metal Underground. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  7. Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (20 March 2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-313-34801-3. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  8. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Helloween: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. "Archive News Aug 21, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. 21 August 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. "Archive News Aug 23, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. 23 August 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  11. "Archive News Sep 10, 2001 – update 1". Blabbermouth.net. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  12. "Helloween Announce Addition Of Ex-Freedom Call Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. 22 August 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  13. "Motörhead Drummer To Guest On New Helloween CD". Blabbermouth.net. 2 December 2002. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  14. "Helloween Name CD, Confirm New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. "Helloween Part Ways With Drummer, Announce Replacement". Blabbermouth.net. 11 February 2005. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. "Helloween To Be Rejoined By Michael Kiske, Kai Hansen For 'Pumpkins United' World Tour". Blabbermouth.net. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. "Listen To Audio Sample Of Helloween's First New Song Featuring Michael Kiske, Kai Hansen". Blabbermouth.net. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. "Helloween Feat. Kiske, Hansen: Concert CD, DVD To Arrive In Early 2019; New Studio Album Due For 2020, though due to other matters, it was postponed until summer 2021". Blabbermouth.net. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
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