Gamma Ray’s Kai Hansen

Interviewed by EvilG

Transcription by Alxs / Live Pics By Arto Lehtinen & Hanntu

Kai Hansen is easily one of the best frontmen in heavy metal today. I recently caught up with my idol (ha) to talk about the band’s latest masterpiece LAND OF THE FTEE II and other things going on in the land of Gamma Ray. Since our conversation it was announced that Gamma Ray and Helloween would be making a stop at this year’s ProgPower USA festival. Plans for this to be more than a one city stop haven’t been announced yet but even when I spoke to him he said they were working on it…so lets hope it works out! Anyway, enough from me, onto the interview…… Prepare for glory!

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Helloween

Gamma Ray

Axxis

Hellish Rock Tour 2007/08

Mejeriet

Lund

Sweden

7/12 – 2007

Reviewed by: Anders Sandvall

Pictures by: Anders Sandvall

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Guitarist Michael Weikath

Interview & live pictures by Luxi Lahtinen

Transcription by Andy Osborn

The history of German speed/power metal force Helloween dates back to the late 70´s when Helloween was formed by guitarist Kai Hansen, guitarist/vocalist Piet Sielck, Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums and Marcus Grosskopf on bass. The band was still called Second Hell in 1981 – and then even later the name was changed to Iron Fist (in 1982) before the band took their current Helloween name in 1983 as the name of their band.

The band´s second guitarist Michael Weikath came to Helloween from a band called POwerfool, replacing Piet Sielck (who actually ever wasn´t quite in Helloween) – and also bringing over such known Helloween anthems as "Cry for Freedom" and "Starlight" that both appeared on the band´s self-titled 5-song EP in 1985.

That, as a brief introduction to Michael´s history as a part of this magnificent German metal band.

Ever since Helloween have released 13 studio albums (off which KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS – PT. 1 & 2 have undoubtedly become instant classics in Helloweeen´s own reportoire), done many successful world tours by covering nearly every single corner on this planet – and simply played their way out straight through the hearts of many new´n´old Helloween fans more than over 3 decades already.

The band´s current tour together with Gamma Ray and Axxis, going under "Hellish Rock Tour 2007-2008", reached Helsinki on December 11th, 2007, and always so curious Metal-Rules.com was there of course to find out how´s the tour been going for them thus far – amongst other things naturally as well. Mikhael Weikath stepped in as a volunteer to talk about the tour, etc., so let´s hand over a microphone to him up next…

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 Helloween

Gamma Ray

feat. Axxis

Shepherds Bush Empire, London

8th January 2008

All live pics and review by HannTu

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Helloween & Gamma Ray
special guest: Axxis

The 10th of December 2007 Tullikamari, Tampere
The 11th of December 2007 The Cable Factory, Helsinki FINLAND

Review and pictures by Arto Lehtinen and Marko Syrjälä

Both Helloween and Gamma Ray are without any doubts the leading names of the Power Metal genre in Europe and even worldwide. Helloween can be easily labelled as forefathers of modern melodic power metal as it has evolved within three decades. The band’s classic opuses KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS Pt I and Pt II have left immortal marks on the history of Heavy Metal, having influenced several musicians to create melodic powerful hymns of their own. Kai Hansen was one of the originators in Helloween and behind the creation process of these two albums. But Hansen’s own band, Gamma Ray, has as well conquered the heavy metal universe on their own mission. Thousands of metal fans arrived at the Cable Factory and Tullikamari shows in order to witness a special gig by these German metal veterans. Even though the event was historical in many ways, neither of the shows were completely sold out and that was little surprising.

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Gates Of Metal Festival
Hultsfred
Sweden
4-5/8 – 2006

By: Anders Sandvall
Pictures by: Anders Sandvall

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Rock To The River Festival
Imatra, Finland
12 & 13 August 2006

Review and photos by Brat

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Interview with Helloween Bassist Markus Grosskopf

Interview and pictures by Luxi Lahtinen 

Helloween started their KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS ? THE LEGACY World tour in Zlin, Czech Republic. As always, the band?s tour  is extensive, covering many countries in Europe, both South and North America and Japan. After many months of writing songs, recording and promoting the album the Pumpkin team felt a strong need to hit the road again. Maybe that was one of those tiny reasons why Finland was blessed by as many as 3 dates on this particular Helloween tour that the Finnish Helloween fans found a very pleasing surprise for them.

When Helloween arrived in Helsinki on the 26th of November 2005, we caught up with the band?s nearly 2-meter high bassist Markus Grosskopf for an interview. It was just 1 hour before one of the night?s two warm-up bands entered onstage to make the crowd ready for the band a majority of them had obviously come to see, the one and only Helloween.  

We found our way to the Helloween?s backstage, and it was almost immediately sensed from the overall atmosphere that both the crew and the band were in as high spirits as we were. We were quite surprisingly, greeted by a few free, ice-cold beers by the band members. Now that was a good sign to assume Markus might have been willing enough to push through this last interview of today, so we all sat down confortably, and the recorder started rolling…

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Michael Weikath of…

Interviewed in June 1999 By EvilG

Michael Weikath, as most of you know, is one of Helloween’s lead guitarists. I talked at length to Michael about Helloween, pumpkins, their music, tours, fans, the internet, legs, and the upcoming Helloween covers CD.

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Kai Hansen Interview
Interviewed May 19, 1999 by EvilG

Let me tell ya it’s not everyday that I get to chat with someone who I’m such a fan of. This interview was rescheduled about two or three times but thanks to Steve (Noise) it finally happened on May 19th, 1999.

For those unfortunate beings who have no clue as to who Kai Hansen is, well hang your head in shame. I won’t bother giving you a history lesson here. If you’re interested, there are a number of places on the web where you can read about Kai’s history with Helloween, Gamma Ray and Iron Savior.

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