INTERVIEW AND LIVE PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJALA

The German band Helloween is one of the pioneering forces and most successful bands in the power metal world and its related subgenres. The band was originally formed in 1984 by Michael Weikath, bassist Markus Grosskopf, vocalist/guitarist Kai Hansen, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. Their early albums, KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS I and KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS II, featuring vocalist Michael Kiske, are considered genre masterpieces.

The band underwent significant changes during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Hansen left in 1988, formed his band Gamma Ray, and was replaced by Roland Grapow. Kiske and Schwichtenberg left in 1993, and they were replaced by drummer Uli Kusch and current vocalist Andi Deris (ex-Pink Cream 69). The renewed lineup re-established the band’s popularity, and THE TIME OF THE OATH (1996) remains their best-selling album.

Despite continued success, the band underwent another set of changes starting in 2001. Today, the band consists of Deris, Weikath, Grosskopf, guitarist Sascha Gerstner, and drummer Dani Löble. This lineup has released four studio albums, and it seems that Helloween is even more popular than during their “heyday’s” in the mid-’80s.

Three sold-out shows spoke for themselves when the band arrived in Finland in late March as part of the massive “Hellish Rock II” tour featuring Gamma Ray. In Helsinki, we were fortunate to sit down with the band’s guitarist and founding member, Michael Weikath, to discuss various topics, including the current tour, the latest opus, STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL, Helloween’s 30th Anniversary, and reunion rumors.

HELLISH ROCK TOUR AND MORE

Metal-Rules.com: Let’s start with this current tour, which started about a month ago, right?

Michael Weikath: Yeah.

Metal-Rules.com: This is the second “Hellish Rock” tour you’re doing with Gamma Ray. How has everything gone so far?

Michael Weikath: Well, first of all, I think it’s an interesting thing to do. Whoever came up with the idea—I’ve said this in various interviews—I like that we’re doing something a bit unconventional, like the second part of a tour, which you usually wouldn’t do. Normally, you’d think, “That’s impossible; we already did it.” And there are many reasons not to do it again. But I thought it was fun to go against all odds and do it anyway. That’s what I like about it. Plus, we know the guys, and we have a lot of fun and good times together. It’s strange—everything is different, but it still kind of feels like déjà vu: time travel, different dimensions, or something else that’s both strange and funny.

Metal-Rules.com: You and Kai Hansen have a long shared history, starting in 1984. A lot of time has passed since then, and there were periods when you didn’t get along, let’s say … in the best possible way. How does it feel to play with your old bandmate again?

Michael Weikath: I don’t know, it’s like a time machine effect. Back then, when I was playing with Kai on stage, I didn’t talk to him for about a year—just the necessary things. We still did rehearsals, but apart from that, I didn’t want to talk to him anymore for certain reasons. But now, 15 or 20 years later, here we are, doing it all in a friendly way and having a lot of fun. He’s learned from me, I’ve learned from him, and over the years, we’ve changed or improved or maybe gotten worse, but we’re still heading in the same direction. There’s now a better understanding of each other. We’re both strong-willed, but that also means there’s a deeper mutual understanding. But ultimately, I have my life, and he has his. It doesn’t really matter. What matters are those magic moments—like when the audience’s energy transfers to us. Sometimes, not always, you get these special little moments, and you think, “This was cool.” You can’t deny what happens when you do things like this.

Metal-Rules.com: Do you think that, after all these years, now that you’re older and wiser, there’s still some kind of…

Michael Weikath: Yeah, but wiser doesn’t necessarily mean better. [Laughs]

Metal-Rules.com: But have you seen any kind of competition between you two after all these years?

Michael Weikath: I don’t think so. I mean, everything’s been said and done. We both have our strengths in different areas—he’s stronger in certain aspects of his guitar work, and I’m stronger in others. I don’t think either of us cares if the other is better at something. We’re content with bringing our own personal magic to the table as best as we can.

Metal-Rules.com: There’s no need to prove anything anymore, right?

Michael Weikath: I wouldn’t think so.

Metal-Rules.com: On this tour, you’re playing a set of early Helloween classics with Hansen on stage. Before the tour started, how much did you have to practice or re-learn some old songs like “Heavy Metal Is the Law”?

Michael Weikath: A few emails were sent back and forth. It’s mostly stuff we’ve played before, though not necessarily everyone. For instance, Dani [Löble] has never played “Heavy Metal Is the Law,” and I’m not sure if he’s ever played “How Many Tears” before. But that was the only thing we really needed to figure out. Hansen and I had played most of it before, except for “Heavy Metal Is the Law,” which wasn’t familiar to anyone in the current Helloween lineup apart from Markus and Andi [Deris]. We did play it in Korea and on the Dark Ride tour on a few occasions.

Metal-Rules.com: I heard that you’ll be playing at the Rock in Rio festival in late September, with Kai Hansen as a special guest. Can you tell us more about that show?

Michael Weikath: I think it will be similar to what we’re doing here, except that Gamma Ray won’t be around. Kai will be there just for a special medley or something like that.

Metal-Rules.com: After the Rio show, you’re doing about ten shows in North America without Gamma Ray. Why is that?

Michael Weikath: I suppose that’s how it’s going to be, but I don’t know why. Maybe it’s due to cost factors or Gamma Ray has other commitments. Or maybe they just don’t see the point. I’m not sure of the background reason—it could be logistics or something else.

Metal-Rules.com: Anyway, this tour will continue for a while. You have plenty of shows across Europe, including some in Russia, European festivals, Japan, and then those U.S. dates. Do you have plans to continue the tour after those dates?

Michael Weikath: That always depends on whether something comes in. If a promoter makes us an offer that fits the time frame, we’ll consider it. Our booking agent is extremely critical and can tell from the start whether a show is reliable or potentially problematic. Sometimes, well-meaning promoters are inexperienced, and things can get tricky—like not knowing when you’ll have time to eat or where you can get water. Basic stuff but important.

Metal-Rules.com: Do you plan to document any of these “Hellish Rock” shows? Maybe release a DVD or something?

Michael Weikath: Probably.

Metal-Rules.com: But you haven’t filmed anything yet?

Michael Weikath: I can’t say for sure. Sometimes, we’re not told about it in advance. Last time, we didn’t know it was being recorded during Woodstock (Poland), and that’s probably for the best.

Metal-Rules.com: Then you don’t feel any pressure?

Michael Weikath: Exactly. You’re not as nervous when you don’t know. You just act differently when you’re unaware it’s being recorded for something bigger. Knowing you’re being filmed for a higher cause or something like that can make you act differently—you get nervous.

STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL, AND PURPLE STUFF

Metal-Rules.com: Let’s discuss your latest album, STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL. I would say the album is one of your strongest in a while. It does have a perfect and positive vibe, and the song material is fresh and strong overall. How do you like the album three months after its release?

Michael Weikath: I think it’s one of those really good albums we’ve done. It has magic, and it’s kind of very accessible to the listener. And it’s a fun album. It’s an album that doesn’t give you the creeps or annoys you or whatever; it’s very playable. There is an overall good song that you can play it often. It could be a classic record or a hit record or something.

Metal-Rules.com: Charlie Bauerfeind once again produces this album. Some people say that his work is a bit generic, but it seems you are delighted with it because you have been working with him for ten years already.

Michael Weikath: Yeah, and that’s why. He is capable of ending the production within a given time frame. He plans it, and you finally get your album delivered by him. He always says he puts his name under the production. That’s not an easy task with anyone or everyone, mainly if you choose to check out a different producer; it can always end in a fiasco. You never know. Even though everyone involved may be cool or whatever, but then something goes wrong. Never change a winning team if not necessary. We were very afraid of what would happen after most of the band decided there should be a different producer, not Tommy Hansen. That kind of worked out. Even THE DARK RIDE was a different theming, and everything was a generally great product in itself; it sounded good, but the production was flawless, more or less. What can you say? It’s been ten years or a little bit longer already. And that’s okay as long as he has the time, nerve, and interest to do it.

Metal-Rules.com: There are only two songs written by Michael Weikath on the new album. How are we now come to a situation where Andy Deris and Sascha Gerstner are the primary songwriters, and even Markus does more writing for Helloween nowadays than you?

Michael Weikath: That’s okay because maybe they have a different approach, or sometimes I’m not really happy with the material I come up with, and then I don’t do it. Or it takes too much time or whatever. Or does it take longer to get arranged, played, recorded, or whatever? There is a lot of detailed work involved. Then what I’m mainly interested in is not messing around and not behaving like a cunt only because I don’t have more tracks ready or if I have more tracks ready that don’t get accepted, then for me, what’s important is to have peace inside the band and have great tracks on one album that you can call a great album. Yeah, it’s not so much that I have to prove what I can do big time. If there are only two tracks and the people say, why didn’t he write more? Well, I did. They just somehow didn’t make it. Then I’m rather proud that something like “Burning Sun” is there or “Years” rather than something that had nothing to say that was very important to me by the time I did it, and it is there, and that’s fine. It would be a different life without that track, but I’m not fond of “Nothing to Say,” for instance. “Do You Know What You Are Fighting For” is very important because it goes like the Deep Purple scene and whatever. People come and say, “That track is unnecessary, and I find it boring, and I don’t know what he wanted to express with it. What crap!”

Metal-Rules.com: Now, when you mentioned Deep Purple, I have the limited edition version of the album, which includes the “Hammond” version of the track “Burning Sun,” and it’s dedicated to the late Jon Lord. Tell me something about the meaning of Jon Lord to you.

Michael Weikath: As I said in a few interviews before, he was one of the pioneers of rock music with Hammond organ, which wasn’t exactly…from Deep Purple, you could tell ever since they were called Carousel or Carousel or whatever, that they were searching for a brand mark sound which they didn’t succeed in getting so quick. They had a singer who sounded like everyone else who was a good singer, but he just sounded like fucking everyone. They sounded like yet another beat band. They tried classical excursions with April and stuff, and still, it was all the same, not very distinct from what other bands were around by that time. Given all their talent and all the musicians’ knowledge, they were just looking for a thing that would culminate and rock. Then suddenly, there it was. They just needed to ride it out, and they were enjoying the style they had found, which wasn’t easy. As you must imagine, even nowadays, living in England, it’s not so easy being a musician or wanting to be a musician, whatever. If you don’t have the particular magic or something that’s putting you apart from the rest—there are so many cynical dark-haired or blonde or whatever “coolettes” who want to play the rock and roll guitar, and what can a poor guy do except play in a rock and roll band, and it doesn’t work out. There are so many people—they take their cocaine, and they want to be so cool, and they are all capable, and somehow it doesn’t work out. Can you imagine how it was back then?

Metal-Rules.com: No, actually, I can’t even imagine that, but I have read many books written by bands and people who made their living with music and lived in England in the’60ss/the ’70s. There were some harsh stories there.

Michael Weikath: It’s almost unbelievable. It was almost impossible. They were pioneers of doing something, and they did it, and they lived it, and it was so fucking dangerous. They could have ended up somewhere else. They could have starved from hunger, or they could have…whatever. It could have ended just that way. They had that talent and that thing they do—same as Black Sabbath and bands later on. There was so much stuff because you had management, record companies, and a radio. That was all kind of known, but before it was out in the wild, creeping around. Fleetwood Mac, whoever—bands, dudes with guitars, and David Bowie, and all this was so fucking insecure. If you didn’t have a record company that would put out your stuff and publishes it to the mainstream, you could simply just get lost and fucking die. They did something extraordinary. They weren’t even one of the biggest bands.

I think Ritchie Blackmore was always a bit angry that there was someone from Spooky Tooth who made Foreigner and went this up. They were all starting at the same time. Then it’s like, why did he get that far with his fucking music and his damn records. Why was fucking Black Sabbath so strong? Why did they outsell us? What about freakin Led Zeppelin? They have come this far to be the biggest band ever. What about the freakin Beatles. Why can’t we get that fame? That’s been that situation; Jon Lord was playing his keyboards and organ. There was Brian Auger and Ken Hensley, and there were other people, but that was Jon Lord. He’s been that character.

THE BAND LINEUP AND CHEMISTRY

Metal-Rules.com: STRAIGHT OUT OF HELL is the fourth album of the current lineup. By next year, you will have been together for about ten years. So, what’s the secret to this longevity? It’s a fact that Helloween has gone through many changes in the past.

Michael Weikath: I think it’s because we now have a good mix of characters. You can always let egos get in the way and make things difficult for yourself, but things usually run smoothly. It’s all about chemistry. If things were different, you would see issues like the ones we had in the past. So far, we haven’t reached a point where anything like that needed to happen. What’s good for everyone inside and outside the band is when you have a lineup that works. People like consistency—they get used to a lineup. Everyone liked a particular Rainbow lineup, and there was a Black Sabbath or Michael Schenker lineup that people were fond of. Either you know what I mean or disagree and prefer a different lineup. We have something like that now, and I’m happy with it.

Metal-Rules.com: In your opinion, what is the classic lineup of Helloween?

Michael Weikath: The classic lineup would be the one with Michael Kiske, Ingo Schwichtenberg, and Kai Hansen. That was a special time, but it’s in the past. Now, we’re in the present and focused on making a good living with what we have. The new lineup has its advantages, and the old classic lineup had its challenges. Life wasn’t easy back then. You hear complaints about me—what kind of dictator or asshole I supposedly was—but the people who say that know deep down it’s not true. If they reflect on what was really happening, they know what was going on. It’s just easier to put the blame on me.

Metal-Rules.com: Yeah, but everyone has their own side of the story.

Michael Weikath: Exactly. Things could have been cool if not for certain things—like the bikers around at the time—or even if I hadn’t been there. Then, I wouldn’t have had to deal with the struggles that were happening. But what matters to me is that we have a great band that works, functions, and is respected as something important, something that people see as indispensable. There are plenty of unnecessary bands out there, but Helloween has always been something meaningful.

Metal-Rules.com: May I ask how your relationship with Roland Grapow is these days?

Michael Weikath: None.

Metal-Rules.com: There were rumors that his current band, Masterplan, would be part of this ongoing Hellish Rock II tour. Was there any truth to that?

Michael Weikath: Those were just rumors. There are always reasons why people aren’t in the band anymore, and it’s better to stick to that. We’re in the process of solidifying our position in the public eye. We are Helloween, and everything we do—reunion talk or whatever—can cause distraction and waste time presenting our identity. If we did a Hellish Rock III, it could end up being really boring to the few people who aren’t interested in it. Some people might be into it, but others might grow cynical. It doesn’t guarantee great success even if you sold half the tickets.

Metal-Rules.com: Right, but as you said earlier, the band is in great shape now, and it’s very stable. It also seems like you’ve found some stability with record companies. Do you feel secure on that front now?

Michael Weikath: I don’t even know if we still have a record company. I assume we do, but I’m not sure.

Metal-Rules.com: So, you don’t closely follow the business side of things?

Michael Weikath: It’s always changing. Someone might say one thing, and a week or a month later, it’s different. Even if someone said we’re no longer with Sony, I’d wait and think, “That can’t be right.” I’ve gotten used to the fact that things change and often revert to what they were. I don’t even bother with concert dates because I always think they might change. If someone asks when we’re playing, I’ll say, “Well, we’re doing Rock in Rio, so that’s probably on that day.” But I wouldn’t count on it.

RE-UNION FACTS AND RUMORS

Metal-Rules.com: Speaking of rumors, it wasn’t long ago that Helloween announced it would do some shows with the “classic” lineup in 2015. Is that going to happen?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, at first, it was 2014, but now it’s 2015 after I said something to them. That’s a more likely date because 2014 would have been completely impossible. Whatever happens in 2015 might be different, though, because, as Michael Kiske says, he needs a reunion like a pimple on his ass—or something like that. I’m not sure exactly what he said. People dream publicly and in interviews about a reunion, but that’s not me. Maybe he thought I was dreaming about it, but I’m not. When management says we have to do a reunion, we’ll probably try something, but I don’t need it unless they say so.

Metal-Rules.com: But you wouldn’t mind doing a show or a small tour with the classic lineup?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, sure. I’ll do it if someone tells me about it. [Laughs]

Metal-Rules.com: Even if it was never officially stated, it was all over the news.

Michael Weikath: Oh yeah, that’s how it always goes. It’s actually instrumental in getting bands back together, like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, or Led Zeppelin with their Celebration Day show, where everyone was happy to leave the stage afterward. I thought Celebration Day was a great concert, apart from a few things, but… I have it on my iTunes, and it’s definitely something special.

30 YEARS OF HELLOWEEN

Metal-Rules.com: If I’m correct, next year will be Helloween’s 30th anniversary?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, we just had the 25th.

Metal-Rules.com: Yes, but it’s the 30th of next year. Do you have any plans to celebrate it?

Michael Weikath: I’d be tired of doing something right then. If management comes up with a great idea that’s doable for the 30th, then fine with me, but I’m not going to come up with a specific idea to celebrate 30 years of existence—maybe for 50 years.

Metal-Rules.com: When you started this band in 1984 with Markus, Kai, and Ingo, did you ever imagine you’d still be here 30 years later?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, it’s just what we did. It was kind of planned, and we were very well prepared. We used to rehearse for five, six, and sometimes seven hours a day except on Sundays for several months. Once the career took off and the records were selling, we cut back on rehearsals because that would have been overkill. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had any private time with all the madness going on. As everyone says, I’ve even recently heard a second person say we have more fans now than we did when we were famous. What we did was kind of expected, and that’s the direction we’ve always worked towards.

Metal-Rules.com: So, has the original plan worked out well?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, it was quite good for Noise Records. [Laughs]

Metal-Rules.com: 30 years hold a lot, but in your opinion, what have been the highlights of Helloween’s career so far?

Michael Weikath: Well, those would be the Donington Festivals. Back then, Guns N’ Roses played right after us, and the Monsters of Rock festival in Germany with 110,000 people.

Metal-Rules.com: With Kiss and Iron Maiden…

Michael Weikath: And Cinderella, Deep Purple, and Dio. Then there was the Polish Woodstock festival, where supposedly 750,000 people were there. I also remember our first show in Indonesia—that was crazy. We had a great show in the old Kiss Stadium in Hungary, which was impressive. Or the Phillips show with Iron Maiden in Brazil—that was our first time in Brazil. Those were memorable moments. And then, yeah, there’s Dr. Stein, I Want Out, all that stuff, and the record sales of Keeper 1 and Keeper 2. Those were the highlights.

Metal-Rules.com: That must have been a fantastic time, but some tough years followed. After going through those ups and downs, how do you find the motivation to keep going with Helloween?

Michael Weikath: Well, the idea to go more pop didn’t work out, so we had to switch. You have to understand when the fans don’t want something. In the ‘70s, you could transform a band musically, and fans might accept it if the material was strong enough. Look at Queen, for example. They did strong enough stuff that the masses accepted it. That didn’t work for us, so we had to admit we were wrong and turn the ship around.

Metal-Rules.com: I remember the Master of the Rings tour in 1994. You played in a much smaller venue back then, like the club Tavastia in Helsinki.

Michael Weikath: Helsinki was always a bit strange, like Berlin or something. The people are there, but Finns are curious by nature. In Helsinki, there are many people with their opinions, so it wasn’t a big surprise that we played in a small club there. [Laughs]

Metal-Rules.com: Right… Now for the final question. You and Markus are the only remaining members from the early days. Who owns the name Helloween these days?

Michael Weikath: Ingo’s step-brother.

Metal-Rules.com: Really?

Michael Weikath: Yeah, but he has no problem with us using the name because he fully supports us.

Metal-Rules.com: Do you have to pay him royalties or anything?

Michael Weikath: No, no. He doesn’t want anything. He just wants to have a good life.

Metal-Rules.com: That’s interesting. I had heard a rumor that Andi Deris owned the name. Maybe that’s not true, then.

Michael Weikath: That’s just a rumor. You know, people like to make up exciting stories that make everyone go, “What?” If that were true, I’m also not gay, I don’t have sexless children, I’m not traveling to Thailand, and I don’t have a Japanese wife in Holland. [Laughs]

Metal-Rules.com: You don’t? [Laughs]

WWW.HELLOWEEN.ORG

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO LIVENATION FINLAND FOR PHOTO PASS 

AND KOSTA ZAFIRIOU FROM BOTTOM ROW FOR SETTING THIS INTERVIEW UP !!