In the beginning (Early '80s), Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, & Ingo Schwichtenberg were playing
in a band called Gentry, when one Michael Weikath heard Kai play and asked him to join his band,
Powerfool. In the long run, Michael quit Powerfool to join Kai and his band, which Markus then
named Helloween. The band started to write songs together and was asked to contribute 2 songs to
a Noise Records compilation album called Death Metal. So, they used one song Weiki wrote with
Powerfool, Oernst Of Life, and wrote another called Metal Invaders, which then appeared as
Helloween's first album exposure. Soon after, Noise released three Helloween albums: a mini-LP
simply entitled Helloween, a full-length LP called Walls of Jericho, and the Judas EP. The
line-up for all these album were Kai on vocals and guitar, Weiki on guitar,
Markus on bass, and Ingo on drums.

While touring to promote these releases, Kai found it difficult to play and sing at the same
time. So the search began for someone to take his place as the vocalist for the group. So
while on tour, they tested Weiki's ability to sing and eventually nabbed the singer for
Tyran Pace, Ralf Sheepers. Ralf committed to completing the tour the band, but did not want
the full-time position. So, after the tour was over, the race was restarted, and an
18-year-old silver-throated screamer named Michael Kiske tour the helm in 1986.

As soon the vocals spot had been filled, recording commenced again, and the band wishing to
showcase their new melodic sound, wished to record a double album. Byt Noise said no. So in
1987, Helloween released what would become their most popular album, Keeper Of The Seven
Keys Pt. I. Helloween enjoyed world-wide success., becoming particularily popular in
Japan and the America's. Shortly after a tour, the band quickly released 1988's Keeper Of
The Seven Keys Pt. II and became an MTV's Headbanger's Ball favorite with their video for
I Want Out. the release of albums in Japan was picked up by Victor / JVC.

The band was more popular than ever, but rifts began to occur between Kai, Michi, and Weiki.
As a result near the end of the Keeper II tour and the 1989 release of their first live
album, released under different covers and names (I Want Out - Live in the Americas, Keepers
Live in Japan, and Live In The U.K. in Europe) around the globe, Kai left the band to pursue
other options. In 1990, this would translate into Kai Hansen's Gamma Ray. This band was then
fronted by none other than former Helloween temporary vocalist, Ralf Sheepers. Later, after
cementing a stable line-up (including drummer Uli Kusch), the band would simply be called
Gamma Ray. To fill Kai's vacant spot, Weiki & Co. turned to former Rampage guitarist Roland
Grapow and the new improved Helloween then finished up the tour.

In an effort to gain a wider audience with a greater distribution of their albums, Helloween
left Noise Records and turned to EMI. Noise filed suit that Helloween had broken their
contract and the band was disallowed to release their material anywhere where Noise was able
to, outside the UK. This meant no Helloween in the America's and left the dwindling number
of metal fans in the States wondering, "What happened to Helloween?"

Now, 1991, EMI released the first single from the new album, Pink Bubbles Go Ape, with a message
from the band explaining where they had been for the last 3 years since Keeper II. Pink Bubbles
was the first album not produced by Tommy Hansen, but by Chris Tsangaris. The band, and in
particular, Weiki, was not happy with his job, and this album was met with limited success.
Tensions began to again form in the band pitting Michi and Ingo against Weiki and Roland with
Markus in the middle of it all. But the band continued on.

And in 1992, the first single from an album to take a whole new direction for the band was
released. The single was When The Sinner, which featured distorted vocals, keyboards,
and a sapprano saxophone outro. Chameleon was released in 1993, and the tensions in the
band got worse and worse. To add to the problem, Ingo was getting hooked on drugs and
alcohol, which seriously start to affect his playing. During the subsequent tour, he fell
very ill and he was replaced by temporary drummer Ritchie Abdel-Nabi. After the tour,
Helloween reluctantly asked Ingo to leave the band and clean himself up. Furthermore, Michi
also left the band. There are conflicting stories from Michi and Weiki, as to whether Michi
quit or was fired, but both agree that they could no longer work together.

Helloween lost no time in trying to find a replacement for Michi. One of Weiki's favorite
bands, Pink Cream 69 was also having personel problems, and Weiki recruited Andi Deris to
take the vocal spotlight. To fill the vacant hole in the rhythm section, former Gamma Ray
drummer, Uli Kusch was picked up. Gamma Ray was also having personel problems, and had
lost it's rhythm secion after their 2nd release, and then Ralf after their 3rd. The media
was crazy at this point creating rumors that Michi would fill the vacant position, or
would take the helm of Iron Maiden after Bruce Dickinson left, but they proved to be
rumors only. Kai would reclaim the microphone and head up Gamma Ray, and Blaze Bailey
would claim the vocal spot for Iron Maiden. Meanwhile Ralf would try out and be a finalist
for the vacant Rob Halford spot in Judas Priest. He was not chosen.

So now, with a new energy and spirit proclaimed in their song, Still We Go, Helloween burst on
the scene, reuniting with Tommy Hansen to release Master Of The Rings in 1994. Tragedy struck
the band's history as Ingo commit suicide on March 8. (R.I.P. Ingo) Around this time, Michi
began work on his solo album, with the help of Kai, and former Iron Maiden axeman, Adrian
Smith. And then in March of 1995, Helloween mania returns to the States and worldwide as the
band is picked up by Castle Records and Raw Power in Europe. A special bonus disc was released
in the US and Canada containing 7 bonus tracks to commemorate the event.

A year later, Helloween, with the same stable line-up, returned with an album dedicated in
Ingo's memory, The Time Of The Oath. Less than six months later, a double live album and
matching video called High Live were released. The band mentioned in various places
(including this web site) that they have never been happier together. they are all on the
same level as far as the direction of the band, the music to write, and despite the rumor
mill, they are not breaking up. They plan to record to together for quite a while.

In 95, Gamma Ray released thier highly anticipated album with Kai's return to the microphone,
Land Of The Free, which features Michi on 2 tracks, doing backgorund vocals for one track and
lead vocals on another. Weiki was quoted giving the thumbs up on this album, proving that the
tension the media had created between the two bands does not exist anymore. Then after the fans
of Michi's incredible voice had their lips wet, we were given a full album to enjoy in August of
'96. Hit first solo album, Instant Clarity was released showcasing his new direction in the
pop/hard rock market featuring many songs that have been compared to the Chameleon-era Helloween.
In fact, the song, So Sick, was first conceived for Chameleon, but did not make the final cut.
Both albums contained a song each written in Ingo's memory. 

Now in 1997, we are scheduled for a solo album from both Andi and Roland each. The former in
late March / early April and the latter in the summer. And towards the end of the year, a new
Helloween album and a tour with fellow Castle Records band, Iron Maiden! 1997 will prove to be a
good year for Helloween fans. Gamma Ray also has a maxi-ep single scheduled for May with a full
album to follow in September.