The original line-up featured Kai Hansen (Vocals/Guitars), Michael Weikath (Guitars), Markus Großkopf (Bass) and Ingo Schwichtenberg (Drums). In 1984 the band signed a deal with Noise Records and recorded two songs for a Noise compilation record called Death Metal. The two tracks were "Oernst of Life" by Weikath, and Hansen's "Metal Invaders" which later on ended up in a faster version on the bands first full-length album.
1985 came around and Helloween then recorded their first record Helloween, a self-titled EP containing 5 tracks. The EP was successful, and during that same year they recorded and released their first full-length album titled Walls of Jericho which became a critical smash, with its innovative mixture of speed and melodies redefining heavy metal. However, during the following tour, it became obvious that Kai had difficulties singing and playing the guitar at the same time. Kai's last performance as the band's lead-singer came in 1986 in form of a single EP titled Judas, which contained the song "Judas" along with some live tracks. After that Helloween began the search for a new vocalist...
The band ended up finding an 18-year-old talent from the local Hamburg band Ill Prophecy, named Michael Kiske. With their new lead singer they recorded Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 1, released in 1987, which established Helloween as one of the most successful Heavy Metal bands in Europe. In 1988 Helloween recorded Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II, their most well known album featuring the classic line-up. The band achieved even more success around the world than with "Keeper 1" and things were going extremely well.
Guitarist Kai Hansen surprisingly left the band soon after the European tour for the "Keeper 2" album due to conflicts within the band as well as troubles with the record company, and a growing dissatisfaction with life on tour. He was shortly after replaced by former Rampage guitarist Roland Grapow, who finished the rest of the "Keeper 2" tour with the band.
In 1989 the band released a live album called Live in the UK, featuring live material from their 1988 European tour, entitled Keepers Live in Japan and I Want Out Live in US. The remaining members continued on, but label problems kept them from touring and releasing new material until 1991 when, after several rumors about the band breaking up, they released Pink Bubbles Go Ape. The album was an utter failure commercially and critically, and soon tensions started to build up between the band members. The pop-influenced follow-up Chameleon, released in 1993, made the band lose most of their hardcore fans. During the Chameleon-tour, drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg fell ill due to personal- and drug-related problems, and was eventually forced to take a break from the band. Meanwhile the conflicts within the rest of the band had grown even worse, and the band decided to fire singer Michael Kiske.
Helloween returned in 1994 with former Pink Cream 69-singer Andi Deris as their new lead-singer, and Uli Kusch, formerly of Kai Hansen's new band Gamma Ray, on the drums, releasing their successful comeback Master Of Rings. However, in 1995 the band and its former members were badly shaken by the tragic suicide of original drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg, who never managed to recover from his illness. Dedicated to his memory, 1996's The Time of the Oath re-established the band as one of the most popular European metal bands. Following another world tour, a double live album called High Live was released.
In 1998 Helloween released Better Than Raw, one of the bands heaviest albums since the full length-debut. A cover-album called Metal Jukebox was released in 1999; 2000 saw the release of The Dark Ride, a more experimental and darker album than their previous releases. Immediately after the following world tour, Helloween parted ways with guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch who together formed Masterplan. Replacements were soon found in guitarist Sascha Gerstner (ex-Freedom Call, Neumond), and drummer Mark Cross (ex. Metalium) who was later to be replaced by Stefan Schwarzmann, former drummer of Running Wild and Accept. Another studio album titled Rabbit Don't Come Easy came in 2003 with a successful world tour following, including the bands first tour in the U.S. since 1989.
2005 saw yet another line-up change during the last tour as it became apparent that Helloween and Stefan Schwarzmann didn't share the same musical vision. As further noted by the band, he had some troubles at performing fast drum parts, so he was replaced by Dani Loeble, the previous drummer of German metallers Rawhead Rexx. Helloween's new studio album is called Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy and was released in October 28th, 2005 in Germany, and November 8th in the U.S.A. The story continues on tour, and Helloween has filmed and recorded already shows in Bulgaria, Tokyo and São Paulo for their forthcoming live-album/DVD.
Source : wikipedia.org
1985 came around and Helloween then recorded their first record Helloween, a self-titled EP containing 5 tracks. The EP was successful, and during that same year they recorded and released their first full-length album titled Walls of Jericho which became a critical smash, with its innovative mixture of speed and melodies redefining heavy metal. However, during the following tour, it became obvious that Kai had difficulties singing and playing the guitar at the same time. Kai's last performance as the band's lead-singer came in 1986 in form of a single EP titled Judas, which contained the song "Judas" along with some live tracks. After that Helloween began the search for a new vocalist...
The band ended up finding an 18-year-old talent from the local Hamburg band Ill Prophecy, named Michael Kiske. With their new lead singer they recorded Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part 1, released in 1987, which established Helloween as one of the most successful Heavy Metal bands in Europe. In 1988 Helloween recorded Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II, their most well known album featuring the classic line-up. The band achieved even more success around the world than with "Keeper 1" and things were going extremely well.
Guitarist Kai Hansen surprisingly left the band soon after the European tour for the "Keeper 2" album due to conflicts within the band as well as troubles with the record company, and a growing dissatisfaction with life on tour. He was shortly after replaced by former Rampage guitarist Roland Grapow, who finished the rest of the "Keeper 2" tour with the band.
In 1989 the band released a live album called Live in the UK, featuring live material from their 1988 European tour, entitled Keepers Live in Japan and I Want Out Live in US. The remaining members continued on, but label problems kept them from touring and releasing new material until 1991 when, after several rumors about the band breaking up, they released Pink Bubbles Go Ape. The album was an utter failure commercially and critically, and soon tensions started to build up between the band members. The pop-influenced follow-up Chameleon, released in 1993, made the band lose most of their hardcore fans. During the Chameleon-tour, drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg fell ill due to personal- and drug-related problems, and was eventually forced to take a break from the band. Meanwhile the conflicts within the rest of the band had grown even worse, and the band decided to fire singer Michael Kiske.
Helloween returned in 1994 with former Pink Cream 69-singer Andi Deris as their new lead-singer, and Uli Kusch, formerly of Kai Hansen's new band Gamma Ray, on the drums, releasing their successful comeback Master Of Rings. However, in 1995 the band and its former members were badly shaken by the tragic suicide of original drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg, who never managed to recover from his illness. Dedicated to his memory, 1996's The Time of the Oath re-established the band as one of the most popular European metal bands. Following another world tour, a double live album called High Live was released.
In 1998 Helloween released Better Than Raw, one of the bands heaviest albums since the full length-debut. A cover-album called Metal Jukebox was released in 1999; 2000 saw the release of The Dark Ride, a more experimental and darker album than their previous releases. Immediately after the following world tour, Helloween parted ways with guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch who together formed Masterplan. Replacements were soon found in guitarist Sascha Gerstner (ex-Freedom Call, Neumond), and drummer Mark Cross (ex. Metalium) who was later to be replaced by Stefan Schwarzmann, former drummer of Running Wild and Accept. Another studio album titled Rabbit Don't Come Easy came in 2003 with a successful world tour following, including the bands first tour in the U.S. since 1989.
2005 saw yet another line-up change during the last tour as it became apparent that Helloween and Stefan Schwarzmann didn't share the same musical vision. As further noted by the band, he had some troubles at performing fast drum parts, so he was replaced by Dani Loeble, the previous drummer of German metallers Rawhead Rexx. Helloween's new studio album is called Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy and was released in October 28th, 2005 in Germany, and November 8th in the U.S.A. The story continues on tour, and Helloween has filmed and recorded already shows in Bulgaria, Tokyo and São Paulo for their forthcoming live-album/DVD.
Source : wikipedia.org
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.