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Biography
Originally comprised of vocalist and guitarist Kai Hansen, guitarist Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Ingo Schwchtenberg, in 1984 Halloween signed with Noise Records. The group’s recording debut came with a pair of tracks for the Noise Records compilation “Death Metal”, featuring label-mates Hellhammer, Running Wild, and Dark Avenger. Halloween’s debut self-titled EP was released in 1985 earning a spread of positive reviews. Featuring the intensity of speed metal and introducing the band to a wide audience, the record was followed by the full-length album “Walls of Jericho” in October 1985. Once again proving popular among fans, the album would be the last before Helloween took the reigns of a new power metal genre, becoming pioneers of a new sound.
A subsequent EP “Judas”, released in 1986, marked the removal of Kai Hansen as vocalist, who had been unable to fulfil both singing and guitar duties. Hansen moved to playing just guitar and vocal responsibilities fell to 18-year old Hamburg local Michael Kiske, who recorded on Helloween’s sophomore album “Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 1”. Dubbed the album that invented power metal, the record earned widespread critical acclaim and peaked at No. 15 on the German Album Chart. A year later the album’s follow-up “Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2” was released, with which the single “I Want Out” was generously featured on MTV in support of its “Headbager’s Ball”. The group subsequently supported Anthrax on the Headbanger’s Ball Tour, exposing the group to a U.S. audience, and ultimately paving the way for worldwide success.
Guitarist Hansen left the band following the European leg of the “Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II” tour and was replaced by Roland Grapow. The live album “Live in the U.K.” arrived in 1989 after which Halloween experienced difficulties with Noise Records, which resulted in the band not putting out any new material until 1991’s “Pink Bubbles Go Ape”. Spawning the singles “Kids of the Century” and “Number One”, the record was most popular in Scandinavia but also found modest success in Austria, Japan, and the UK. Adopting synthesisers, horns, and acoustic guitars for their next release, 1993’s “Chameleon”, peaked at No. 8 in Japan despite performing poorly elsewhere. The band’s supporting tour highlighted a tumultuous period for the group and by 1993 Helloween were without singer Kiske and drummer Abdel-Nabi. A year later, with vocalist Andi Deris and drummer Uli Kusch, Halloween reappeared to release “Master of the Rings”, marking a return to form for the band. Following the suicide of former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg, the band issued the tribute album “The Time of the Oath” which saw Halloween return to the heights of the European metal hierarchy. The full-length “Better Than Raw” followed in 1998, supported by a relentless world tour including dates in Europe, Japan, Brazil, and the U.S.
An album of Scorpions, Jethro Tull, Faith No More, and ABBA covers appeared in 1999 entitled “Metal Jukebox”, following which the band released their ninth studio album “The Dark Ride” in 2000. Guitarist Grapow and drummer Kusch were let go after the release and were replaced by Sascha Gerstner and Mark Cross respectively, who recorded on “Rabbit Don’t Come Easy” in 2003. The full-length “Gambling with the Devil” hit the shelves in 2007, followed three years later by “7 Sinners” in 2010. 2013’s “Straight Out of Hell” was led by the single “Burning Sun”, and suceeded by the full-length “My God-Given Right” in 2015.
Live reviews
Helloween was phenominal. From the first song "Helloween" through the final encore song "I Want Out" Helloween gave the crowd a heavy dose of German Power Metal that one could only hope to experience. Andi Deris and Michael Kiske worked the crowd and were fantastic vocalists sharing the same stage as Kai Hansen, Sascha Gerstener, and Michael Weikath pounded the crowd with unyeilding guitar work. Markus Graosskopf (bass) and Daniel Loble (drums) were the same. The stage show was very good as well.
My only complaint is the the venue, Concord Music Hall. It may be a fine venue for smaller crowd, but fans showed up in droves and filled the Hall to capacity to the point where no one could barely move (because we were packed in like sardines). The stage certainly appeared to be way undersized for Helloween's band members to move around and the video effects were almost rendered inneffective. I certainly am not blaming the Concord Music Hall for these woes, but management for underestimating Helloween's popularity in the States. Only a few shows were booked for North America to the point where my son and I drove the 500 miles to Chicago (beautiful City by the way) from Pittsburgh to see the band. I am sure tha there are other fans who did something similar.
All in all though, I would do it all over again because the band was that great and as I said earlier, simply phenominal. The Pumpkins United Tour was a success in so many ways and it is a shame that more fans could not be exposed to it.
If you happen to have the chance to see the Pumpkins United tour, and are even a casual fan of Helloween, I would advise that you take advantage of attending their show if possible!
sds171
Great show delivered with enthusiasm to an appreciative audience. Helloween has been delivering power metal since the '80s. In fact, I saw them back in '89 when they warmed up for Queensryche on the Operation Mindcrime tour. Of course, that was back when Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske were still around.
Anyway, Andi Deris does a fantastic job with the vocals these days and quite frankly, the albums that have come out since 2000, including Dark Ride, Gambling with the Devil, 7-Sinners, Straight out of Hell, and the namesake of the current tour My God-Given Right are the hardest rocking the band has made.
Well, the band dipped into all of those albums and more on Tuesday at the Playstation in NYC. The dual guitarist fronted metal is lick filled and in your face. Like Jack Black said, it's a face melter.
The crowd was a mix of old guard Helloween fans (you could tell by the thinning hair and 20 year old tour jackets) and young brash headbangers looking to be kicked in the teeth. No one should have left disappointed. The band rocked for the better part of two hours and was able to enlist the crowd's help on several sing alongs.
The venue has decent acoustics and sight lines. Drink prices are typical of NYC bars.
If you get a chance to catch Helloween on this your, get it done. They're not going to be able to continue at this level for ever. I for one am glad I caught them this time around and sincerely hope the crew has a couple more albums in them.
paw65
Power metal has been an integral genre to the musical landscape of Germany and one of the country's most internationally recognised groups is Helloween. If only for their incredible band name, this group of performers have been tearing a blistering trial since they formed way back in 1984. The lineup has gone through a variety of alterations yet fortunately for fans the musical identity and intense live show has remained the group's incredibly strong constant.
Michael Weikath stomps out onto the stage tonight and raises his hands in command for larger cheers before he allows guitarists Markus Grosskopf and Sascha Gerstner to rip into the introducing strings of 'Wanna Be God'. With almost a thousand appearances around the globe, this group's seem completely at home onstage and they know their discography inside out yet this does not mean that the show is static in any way this evening. There is a deep pulsating darkness running through all their tracks and an instrumental extremity tying everything together which is in turn fuelled by the huge enthusiasm of the fanbase. They cheer one final rapturous time as the final beats of 'Power' fade and stop rippling the battered speaker system.
sean-ward
What’s better than metal you ask? Why, I think this audience would say. THRASH METAL, their hands raised in the horn position as they make an excruciatingly painful face, but hey, each to their own. This band has been doing what they’re doing for almost thirty years. Formed in Germany in 1984, they have released four EPs, and 15 studio albums. All of which are on sale tonight, in this pretty cool metal flight case. The distortion is set to high, with the gain turned up to eleven as they deliver their thrashing guitar riffs, complete with blast beats on the drums. Tonight they perform a slew of some of their biggest singles such as “Sole Survivor” which has people with their horns up in the air throughout the song from start to finish. “Mr Ego” follows. One of the things that I wonder with this band is why they released so much material; maybe they’re more of a studio band than a live band. Their peers Metallica have seen a career the same length as theirs but with half the amount of albums. Fair play to them.
Lannistaar
1. Halloween
2. Dr. Stein
3. I'm Alive
4. If I Could Fly
5. Are You Metal?
6. Rise and Fall
7. Waiting for the Thunder
8. Perfect Gentleman
9. Starlight / Ride the Sky / Judas / Heavy Metal (Is the Law)
10. Forever and One (Neverland)
11. A Tale That Wasn't Right
12. I Can
13. Drum Solo
14. Why?
15. Livin' Ain't No Crime / A Little Time
16. Sole Survivor
17. Power
18. How Many Tears
Bis 1:
19. Eagle Fly Free
20. Keeper of the Seven Keys
Bis 2:
21. Future World
22. I Want Out
luiz-pasquini
Fantastic! Amazing! No words to describe a dream concert with the classic line-up and a big enthouasmic from the band. In Madrid, at least, it was very special, with more than 12.000 people waiting for them, waiting for this reunion.
This is the review that I write for my own web -> http://www.alvarolamela.com/2017/12/helloween-cumple-el-sueno-de-los.html
xeneizes
I highly recommend any fans to see them. They put on a great show, everything sounds beautiful. They are great to watch and listen to, seeing them enjoy playing and the vibe they send is so welcoming and warming. I am so glad I got to see them live. I wont forget seeing them.
Sindyma1
The Concert was .... as A Helloween Concert always is... Brilliant..... It was epic.. and a 2hr 43 minute set was unreal and pure brilliance... :)
Only question i have is were can i get a Helloween Leather Jacket...( As two lead singers were wearing them...
Joker736
Absolutely unforgettable experience!! The best vocals and music from a live concert that I've ever heard! Seeing Helloween live is the opportunity of a lifetime!! They are The very Best!
Leopardlynxx
