Helloween

Helloween is a German heavy metal band from Hamburg, formed in 1984. The group is associated with heavy metal, metal, power metal and speed metal, and is often identified as one of the key European metal bands to emerge in the 1980s. It is also linked with the development of power metal in Germany.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms in Hamburg from members of Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. The original line-up consists of Kai Hansen on vocals and guitar, Markus Grosskopf on bass, Michael Weikath on guitar and Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums. In 1989, Hansen leaves to form Gamma Ray. By that point, Helloween expands into a five-piece with Michael Kiske as lead singer.

Line-up changes

Kiske and Schwichtenberg both leave in 1993. Schwichtenberg dies by suicide in 1995. Over the following years, the group goes through several changes in personnel. Grosskopf and Weikath remain the only original members for a period, before the line-up eventually includes surviving members of the “Keeper of the Seven Keys” era alongside later additions. The current line-up includes Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath, Michael Kiske, Markus Grosskopf, Andi Deris, Sascha Gerstner and Daniel Löble.

Career and recordings

Helloween releases 17 studio albums, five live albums, three EPs and 31 singles. The studio albums include Walls of Jericho, the two-part Keeper of the Seven Keys releases, Pink Bubbles Go Ape, Chameleon, Master of the Rings, The Time of the Oath, Better Than Raw, The Dark Ride, Rabbit Don't Come Easy, Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy, Gambling with the Devil, 7 Sinners, Straight Out of Hell, My God-Given Right, Helloween and Giants & Monsters.

Recognition

The band receives 14 gold awards and six platinum awards, and sells over 10 million records worldwide. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s and is described as part of the German “big four” of power metal alongside Grave Digger, Rage and Running Wild. It is also placed among the international “big four” of power metal with Blind Guardian, Sabaton and DragonForce.