***POWER/ SYMPHONIC/ PROGRESSIVE METAL: Third wave of metal in Europe of the 90's/00's

Articles

Statistiques

Total : 5337 visiteurs
Aujourd'hui : 91 visites
En ce moment : 1 visiteur
Mis à jour le 26-06-2008
Créé le 00-00-0000

HELLOWEEN / GAMMA RAY / BASSINVADERS

HELLOWEEN

http://www.helloween.org/

www.myspace.com/helloween

http://www.myspace.com/gmmaray

Andreas "Andi" Deris - Vocals

kai hansen

MICHAEL KISKE

Biography

The history of Helloween begins in 1978, when Kai Hansen (vocals/guitar) and Piet Sielck (vocals/guitar) are playing in a band called "Gentry" in Hamburg. Until 1981, Gentry changes it's moniker to "Second Hell", which then features Markus Großkopf (ex-Traumschiff) on bass and Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums. After Sielck leaves Second Hell to become a sound engineer, the band again changes to "Iron Fist". In 1982 Michael Weikath, guitarist of the local band "Powerfool", tries to lure Kai into his band, but then decides to join Iron Fist instead. In 1984, the small record-company Noise invites the band to contribute songs to the compilation "Death Metal". Still not satisfied with their outfit, Iron Fist again change to "Helloween", a name which Ingo Schwichtenberg comes up with, along with the ideas to replace the "o" with a pumpkin and to draw pumpkin-projects for specific songs, which will later become a trademark of Helloween. The first contribution to the "Death Metal"-record is a slower, sloppier version of "Metal Invaders" and the second is a track Weikath wrote for Powerfool called "Oernst Of Life". In 1985 Helloween release the 5-track mini album "Helloween", also called "the Mini-LP", and in October the long player "Walls Of Jericho" featuring an improved version of "Metal Invaders". Both records are produced by Harris Johns. They are followed by an EP called "Judas" that is produced in order to test the "Horus" studio in Hamburg. Helloween are able to catch the media's attention and are received with positive reviews. In November 1986, while touring to promote these records, Hansen realizes that his singing abilities are inadequate, for the band is now striving upwards. Moreover, he feels overcharged with doing extensive touring and long gigs, which are no good for his voice. Ralf Scheepers from the band Tyran Pace agrees to finish the tour together with Helloween but does not want join the band. Luckily, after the tour a perfect singer is found in the 18-year old silver-throat Michael Kiske (ex-Ill Prophecy). In December feels confident to do a double-album but Noise, their label, refuses. Therefore the next record released in 1987 is volume one of a concept for 2-discs.

Line-up 1987-1989
Ingo Schwichtenberg, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf and Michael Kiske

Produced Tommy Newton/Tommy Hansen, "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I" is met with enthusiastic reviews. Helloween even gains success overseas in America and Japan and is able to establish a large fan base. The second part is released in 1988 with "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II", which turns out to become even more successful than its predecessor. Before the following tour, Helloween hire keyboarder Jörn Ellerbrock permanently for touring. The "Pumpkins Fly Free" world-tour is a success but in December Kai Hansen leaves because of personal problems with the other band members. He then moves on to form his own band "Gamma Ray". In January 1989, Helloween find a replacement in the guitarist Roland Grapow (ex-Rampage) from Hamburg, with whom they finish the tour off. The same year a live-album is released with various titles: "Live In The U.K." in Europe, "I Want Out - Live" in the U.S. and "Keepers Live" in Japan. To keep the money flowing in, Noise releases two best-of-albums "The Best, The Rest, The Rare" and "Pumpkin Tracks" in 1989. Then Helloween finds out about being ripped off by Noise and signs to the major label EMI. Noise files a lawsuit arguing that Helloween broke their contract. Helloween wins in the lower courts but loses in the fourth. Helloween are faced with harsh restrictions on releasing their material. They are not allowed to release their material anywhere else than where Noise is able to. This leaves fans outside Europe wondering about what has happened to Helloween.

Line-up 1989-1993
Ingo Schwichtenberg, Michael Weikath, Michael Kiske, Markus Grosskopf, Roland Grapow

Finally in 1991 the single "Kids Of The Century" for the new album contains a message of the band about where they have been in the last 3 years and that they couldn't release their new record as long as their sessions in court took place. The first album with Grapow, "Pink Bubbles Go Ape", becomes a commercial success but is seen as a poor successor to the previous albums. Most of the blame goes to producer Chris Tsangarides as far as the production and mix are concerned, but also the song writing is somewhat unfocused. Nevertheless, the album contains some very good songs by all members. To add to the problems, there are growing conflicts between Kiske/Schwichtenberg on one side and Weikath/Grapow on the other. Weikath tries to make his friend Andi Deris, singer of Pink Cream 69, join Helloween, but he feels loyal to his band. Because of their huge debts, Helloween are afraid of not getting anything in, and so they quickly release the following album "Chameleon" in early 1993, which sees the reunion with producer Tommy Hansen but is not successful at all. Despite the pretty good production and overall song quality, it drives off a lot of Helloween's remaining fans, for few can accept the new music which now leans more towards AOR and mainstream rock, which is not how they expect Helloween to sound like. The poor performance on tour shows much of the tensions immanent in the band at that time. Before a gig in Japan, drummer Schwichtenberg collapses due to his misusing of drugs, and is replaced by session-drummer Richie Abdel-Nabi. Even worse, Helloween are fired by EMI.

Line-up 1993
Mchael Kiske, Roland Grapow, Markus Grosskopf, Richie Abdel-Nabi, Michael Weikath

After the end of the tour in December 1993, Abdel-Nabi is dismissed from his position for most of the band members think that he does not fit the position. Tensions grow worse and worse and two weeks before the studio for the next production is booked, Helloween fire Kiske, for the rest of the band is not willing to share a studio with him another time. Weikath calls Deris again to convince him to take the vacant spot. The band chemistry in Pink Cream 69 is rotten at that time, and since he thinks he will not steal someone's job, Deris decides to take his chances. Shortly thereafter in January 1994, the band manages to hire Uli Kusch as the new drummer (ex-Axe La Chapelle/Gamma Ray) and signs to Castle Communications.
During the production of the next album, the new Helloween feel the urge to come at least close to what they were hailed for in the Keeper-Era, for the last album did only harm to the band. They know that if they do not have success with the new record, there will probably be no Helloween anymore. To the media?s surprise, "Master Of The Rings" becomes an immediate success and Helloween are able to regain some of their old power and Andi Deris proves to be a worthy replacement for Kiske. Nearly a year after, the album is released in the U.S. with a bonus disc containing no less than 7 b-sides to commemorate the event. But on March, 8th 1995, a tragedy happens when former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg commits suicide in Hamburg. Helloween dedicate their next album to him. "The Time Of The Oath", produced by Tommy Hansen and released in 1996, is based on the visions of Nostradamus, who foresaw troubled times for the years before the millennium. On the following word-tour, the fans celebrate Halloween?s return to top of the genre. Less than six months later, the live album ?High Live? is released, which is recorded on concerts Italy and Spain. The Japanese magazine "BURRN" elects Helloween as the best band of 1996.

Line-up 1994-2001
Markus Grosskopf, Michael Weikath, Andi Deris, Uli Kusch, Roland Grapow

The year 1998 begins with the release of a 4-cd box called "Pumpkin Box" in Japan, which is a present for all Helloween collectors containing Helloween's best material and some interviews. Later that year, Helloween present their third album with the new line-up. "Better Than Raw shows the band's willingness for taking risks as the album combines new elements with the more traditional Helloween-style. The band tours as an opening act for Iron Maiden. In 1999 Helloween want to sign to a new record company but they still have to do one more record for Castle. Instead of throwing a best-of album on the market, they record "Metal Jukebox", a cover album containing rock, pop, and metal classics that influenced them in their past. Then in the year 2000, in order to receive a better promotion, Helloween sign to Nuclear Blast. Following suggestions of both the management and outside people, Helloween record the Roy Z/Charlie Bauerfeind-produced "The Dark Ride", an album that is totally different from their previous records, for it uses a lot of down tuned guitars and is characterised by a dark atmosphere. However, cohesion within the band is beginning to crack up as Michael Weikath, who is totally against this sudden change, gets into arguments with Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch about the musical direction they have in mind for Helloween. He later complains about not being allowed to take any part in the production of the album. At one point Weikath offers to leave the band in order to start something new. But Großkopf and Deris are not willing to let this happen as Weikath is seen as the main man by the fans and without him, Helloween would not be Helloween anymore. Besides, they both intend to continue with the music they have done on previous albums, whereas Grapow/Kusch want to stick the musical direction of "The Dark Ride". So shortly after the tour in 2001, they ask Grapow/Kusch to leave. The official reason for this is that they concentrated too much on their solo-projects. Later it becomes clear that "The Dark Ride" is Helloween's worst selling album since "Chameleon". Definitely not what Nuclear Blast expected for their contract with Helloween.

Helloween is joined by Mark Cross (ex-Metalium), who replaces Uli Kusch on drums. It remains unclear who will be the new guitarist. Meanwhile, Kusch and Grapow upgrade "Masterplan", a project they would have done anyway, to a full band.

Line-up 2002-2005
Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf, Stefan Schwarzmann, Sascha Gerstner, Andi Deris

After trying to lure his friend Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray) into the band, Michael Weikath follows a suggestion made by producer Charlie Bauerfeind and calls up guitarist Sascha Gerstner (ex-Freedom Call). Rehearsals with him on Tenerife show that he is a good choice, both as a guitarist and as member of the band, for the line-up gets along very well. Helloween then initiate their next production. Right at the beginning of the recordings in 2003, Mark Cross is diagnosed with mononucleosis, an illness that affects the organs and by which one is forced to refrain from any exhaustive work. Since Cross cannot go on with drumming, Helloween turn to Mikkey Dee (Motörhead, ex-King Diamond) to help them out. They choose him because he is known as a very talented drummer and most importantly, will not be mistaken for a replacement for Mark Cross' as with Motörhead, he comes from a different genre. The recordings go pretty well, but soon Helloween have to realise that the insurance side won't cover Cross' absence because his illness could well last for over 2 years. Hence they are forced to look for a new drummer again. Since they are pressed by the management to record some more tracks for b-sides, Helloween invite Stefan Schwarzmann (ex-Accept, ex-UDO), a drummer Weikath knew back in the 80s, to Großkopf's home studio, where they record the drums. It turns out that Schwarzmann is willing to join the band. A little after, the Charlie Bauerfeind-produced "Rabbit Don't Come Easy" is released May 2003. The title was chosen to show that the band has returned to their more "happy"-side, for which they were known in the past and revolves about how similar the release of an album is compared to performing the trick of pulling about a rabbit out of a hat. In July 2003 Helloween are rehearsing in Hamburg, preparing for their longest world-tour ever. From the beginning of the tour in September, fans all over the world commend Helloween's performance, which is better than ever. A sign of how well the new line-up is getting along. In October 2004, Helloween begin pre-production of their newest album. In February 2005, Schwarzmann and Helloween part ways amicably. During the tour it became apparent to him and to the rest of the band that, although things were going extremely well on the human side of things, they did not entirely share the same views musically. Schwarzmann decided to stay to help out the band during their pre-production until a replacement was found in Dani Löble, highly acclaimed ex-drummer of RAWHEAD REXX turned out to be the perfect man for Helloween.

Line-up 2005 - present
Michael Weikath, Andi Deris, Markus Grosskopf, Dani Loeble and Sascha Gerstner

There had long been rumours that Helloween intended to release a follow up to the two legendary "Keeper"-albums but it is not until June that the band confirms "Keeper Of The Seven Keys – The Legacy". A first single called "Mrs. God" is released on July 4th in South East Asia, followed by a world-wide release on September 5th. After the album's international release on October 31th, initial comments are talking of a landmark release.

****

Andreas "Andi" Deris - Vocals (1994-present)
Michael "Michi" Kiske - Vocals (1986-1993)
Kai Hansen - Vocals and guitar (1978-1986)

Michael "Weiki" Weikath - Guitars (1978-present)

Markus Grosskopf - Bass (1980-present)

Daniel "Dani" Löble - Drums (2005-present)
Mark Cross - Drums (2002)
Uli Kusch - Drums (1994-2001)
Ingo Schwichtenberg - Drums (1980-1993)

Sascha Gerstner - Guitars (2002-present)
Roland Grapow - Guitars (1988-2001)

*****

Studio albums

Kai Hansen era

Helloween (1985)
Walls of Jericho (1985)

Michael "Michi" Kiske era

Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 (1987)
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2 (1988)
Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991)
Chameleon (1993)

Andreas Deris era

Master of the Rings (1994)
The Time of the Oath (1996)
Better Than Raw (1998)
The Dark Ride (2000)
Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)
Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy (2005)
Gambling with the Devil (2007)

Live
I Want Out Live (1989) - US only.
Keepers Live (1989) - Japan only.
Live in the UK (1989)
High Live (1996)
Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 (2007)

**************************

GAMMA RAY

http://www.gamma-ray.com/

In 1988, after four years with Helloween, guitarist and songwriter Kai Hansen decided, for reasons that are still the subject of much debate, to leave the band. Hansen claimed that Helloween had become too big for him to handle, although the group's troubles with financial issues and the record company most likely played a part as well. He proceeded to do some studio work with Blind Guardian. Eventually, Hansen decided to form his own project with long-time friend Ralf Scheepers from Tyran Pace. This two-man project grew into a four-man band with the addition of Uwe Wessel (bass) and Mathias Burchard (drums). Thus was Gamma Ray born, bearing a sound understandably close to that of Hansen's former band, Helloween.

The original line-up released the album Heading for Tomorrow in February of 1990, and later that year the 'Heaven Can Wait EP' with new guitarist Dirk Schlächter and new drummer Uli Kusch.

In February 1991 the band began rehearsing for the recording of their second album in a small, remote house in Denmark. With some brand new songs written, Gamma Ray entered the studio under the supervision of producer Tommy Newton, and produced their second album Sigh No More, which was released in September 1991. The style vastly differs from that of Heading for Tomorrow, featuring darker lyrics as a result of the Gulf War that was raging at the time. A 50-date worldwide tour followed.

After the Japanese tour at the beginning of 1992, Gamma Ray were in the media again, but this time with no good news for the fans: the rhythm section (Uli & Uwe) left because of a personal disagreement and were replaced by Jan Rubach (bass) and Thomas Nack (drums) of one of Hamburg's old bands, Anesthesia. The band also began to build their own studio, so work on their new album didn't start until 1993. The album Insanity and Genius was released in June 1993, with a style which was closer to that of Heading for Tomorrow than Sigh No More. In September, Gamma Ray, along with Rage, Helicon and Conception embarked on the Melodic Metal Strikes Back tour. The tour contributed to the release of the double CD The Power of Metal, and the videos Power of Metal and Lust for Live, in December.

More changes in the lineup were to follow. Scheepers lived quite far way away from Hamburg, meaning that the band could only rehearse weekends, which was preventing progress with the new album. Since Scheepers wrote his appliction for the job of vocalist for Judas Priest, and he had a good chance of getting the position, Hansen asked him if he really felt that staying with Gamma Ray was the right thing to do. In the same time Hansen and Schlächter begun to sing their own songs on the new album "Insanity and Genius" which also was not healthy for the relationship. Hansen and Scheepers decided that it would be for the best if Scheepers left the band, and so, with no hard feelings on either side, Scheepers left Gamma Ray. Hansen then began to search for a new vocalist, but due to demand from friends and fans took on the guitar-vocal duties as he had for the first Helloween EP and album.

In 1995 the fourth album, Land of the Free, the first to feature Hansen on vocals, was released. Critics around the globe were ecstatic. The following tour, Men on a Tour, brought the recording and release of the live album Alive '95 in 1996.

Soon, both Hansen and Schlächter decided that yet another change was needed. Jan Rubach and Thomas Nack both left in order to return to Anesthesia, and in came new drummer Dan Zimmermann, who was also the drummer of Freedom Call. Schlächter wanted to drop the guitar and pick up the bass duties as that was his original instrument, as can be seen on the earlier Heading for the East video when he and Wessel switch instruments for a few songs, and Schlächter performs a bass solo at one point. Henjo Richter came in to fill the second guitar spot. This lineup survives to this day.

Work started on the next full-length album, and 1997 saw the release of Somewhere Out in Space, which marked the beginning of the band's thematic concentration on space. After two years of touring came the album Powerplant, which was a continuation of Somewhere Out In Space's lyrical approach, but a new direction musically. The album was highly acclaimed throughout the world.

The time came for a "Best Of..." album, and Hansen decided to do things differently: he let the fans decide by voting on their website for their three favorite songs on each album, then the band went back to the studio to re-record the old classics on the first three albums and made remixed versions for the songs on the later ones. Blast from the Past was the name chosen for this double album.

After a break of one year where Hansen concentrated on his side project Iron Savior, the band was ready for the recording and release of the album No World Order, with a lot of heavy riffs like classic 80's bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, just as rumored. Yet again the album was highly praised. The No Order World Tour saw the band visiting dozens of European countries and Japan. After resting from the tour, the band went on with the Skeletons in the Closet tour, which saw the band performing songs that they never or rarely played live before. Once again, the setlist was voted by the fans on the band's website. Only a few shows were played but two of those were recorded for the live album Skeletons in the Closet.

Gamma Ray's latest studio album, Majestic, was released on September 23, 2005.

Kai Hansen and Henjo Richter also participated in Tobias Sammet's project Avantasia, on both The Metal Opera and The Metal Opera Part II, which are also notably as an another collaboration of Kai with his ex-bandmates from Helloween, namely Markus Grosskopf and Michael Kiske.

A live DVD, "Hell Yeah - The Awesome Foursome (And The Finnish Keyboarder Who Didn't Want To Wear His Donald Duck Costume) Live in Montreal" was recorded on May 6th, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec.

Land of the Free II has been announced and is scheduled for release on November 16, 2007 in Germany, November 19, 2007 in Europe, November 21, 2007 in Japan, and January 15, 2008 in the US.

In recent years Gamma Ray have made use of touring keyboard players to fully augment their sound in a live environment. Axel Mackenrott of Masterplan has fulfilled these duties in the past, and the role is currently occupied by Eero Kaukomies, a Finn who plays in a Gamma Ray tribute band. His bandmate, guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen, also played on part of the Majestic tour in 2006 following an injury to Henjo Richter.

Gamma Ray are to be the "very special guest" on Helloween's HELLISH ROCK 2007/2008 Tour, on some shows along with the band Axxis.

******

Members

Current members
Kai Hansen - Vocals, Guitars (1988-Present)
Henjo Richter - Guitars (1997-Present)
Dirk Schlächter - Guitars (1990-1997), Bass (1997-Present)
Dan Zimmermann - Drums (1997-Present)

Former members

Vocals
Ralf Scheepers - Vocals (1989-1994)

Bass
Uwe Wessel - Bass (1988-1993)
Jan Rubach - Bass (1993-1997)

Drums
Mathias Burchard - Drums (1989-1990)
Uli Kusch - Drums (1990-1992)
Thomas Nack - Drums (1993-1997)

Guest studio musicians
Michael Kiske - Vocals (1995) on Time to Break Free song
Hansi Kürsch - Vocals (1995) on Farewell song
Tommy Newton - Guitars (1990, 1991)
Tammo Vollmers - Drums (1990)
Mischa Gerlach - Keyboards (1990)
Sascha Paeth - Keyboards (1995)

Guest live musicians
Mike Terrana - Drums (1998)
Jörg Schrör - Bass (2000)
Axel Mackenrott - Keyboards (2004)
Kasperi Heikkinen - Guitars (2006)
Eero Kaukomies - Keyboards (2006, 2007)
Alessio Gori - Keyboards (2007)

******

Studio albums

Heading for Tomorrow (1990)
Sigh No More (1991)
Insanity and Genius (1993)
Land of the Free (1995)
Somewhere Out in Space (1997)
Powerplant (1999)
No World Order (2001)
Majestic (2005)
Land of the Free II (2007)

_____________________________________

Bassinvaders

The side project was created and in the actual line up only features Markus Grosskopf, most notably the bass player for German Power metal band Helloween and also a bassist for Tobias Sammet's Symphonic metal project Avantasia and Classic rock group Kickhunter.

While he was sitting in the bar and drinking, Grosskopf was inspired to created a bass guitar based band, which will feature no guitars at all, and instead will focus on the bass, and will feature a a lead solo bass guitar, a rhythm bass guitar, and an actual bass guitar to play the bass parts, along with accompanying drums, and vocals.
He came to Frontier Records with the idea in the beggining of 2007 and presented the concept to them. The record label was immediately intrigued and gave it a go.

For the project, Grosskopf invited some well-known singing bass players from the German Heavy metal scene to join him and record with him. Those are Tom Angelripper (Sodom), Peavy Wagner (Rage) and Marcel Schirmer (Destruction).

To push the project ever further and add to the variety of the record, Markus invited some of his bass heroes to play solos on the record. He expected to get a response from 2 or 3 musicians, while ended up more than 13 people to have a solo appearance on the record. Those include Billy Sheehan (ex-Mr. Big, Steve Vai's band), Rudy Sarzo (Dio, ex-Whitesnake, ex-Quiet Riot), Lee Rocker (Stray Cats), Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, ex-Whitesnake), Nibbs Carter (Saxon) and much more from D.A.D., GAMMA RAY, STRAY CATS, OVERKILL, EDGUY, ACCEPT, PINCK CREAM 69, ARMORED SAINT, MASTERPLAN,JADED HEART...

drums André HILGERS (RAGE, AXXIS, ...)
Stephan ARNOLD (GRAVE DIGGER).

guest singers:
Appolo PAPATHANASIO (EVIL MASQUERADE, MAJESTIC, FIREWIND, ...)

esper BINZER (D.A.D.)

Article ajouté le 2007-11-14 , consulté 39 fois

Commentaires

Liens

Voir les articles de la catégorie " ***POWER/ SYMPHONIC/ PROGRESSIVE METAL: Third wave of metal in Europe of the 90's/00's "

Retour aux articles

Recommander ce blog | Contacter l'auteur | Blog illicite ? | S'abonner au blog

| Espace de gestion

Créer un blog gratuit avec Blog4ever - Discuter de musique

Design by Kulko et krek : kits graphiques