Zildjian
20-04-2006, 15:58
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HELLOWEEN'S HISTORY
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[b]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 is offered the vocal spot but he 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.
Produced by 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 J
HELLOWEEN'S HISTORY
.........................................................
[b]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 is offered the vocal spot but he 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.
Produced by 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 J