Interview by Brian McLean
Twenty years ago, America had the edge on Europe in the metal war with West coast bands like Slayer, Exodus and Metallica. These three bands were in their embryonic stages as well as others stationed throughout the union.
Of the three, one would stay true to the metal and still has rabid fans worldwide. One would have career ups and downs but has returned with a vengeance releasing a contender for album of the year after a seven-year absence. And the last would hit the multimillion-dollar music lottery alienating those faithful to their metal militia thus forcing the loyalist to move on and re-enlist with other metal allied forces.
Even though there's a few respected American metal bands scattered throughout the states, generally speaking, two decades later the tables have turned and it is now Europe that is giving birth and nurturing the respectful metal bands.
Many are new. Some have been around a few years and one in particular; a band that took its name with a little tweaking by replacing the letter “a” with the letter “e” from a 1980s American horror film is 20-years old.
For Germany's metal legends Helloween, longevity doesn't come easy. It comes with personnel changes, tragedy and setbacks but that hasn't stopped them. From the original line up that debuted as Helloween only two original members remain; guitarist Michael Weikath and Markus Grosskopf the bass player.
According to Grosskopf with a laugh, “It’s just habit for us. You go through sad times and you have discussions and disagreements. Sometimes you have to make cruel decisions if you don't agree. There has to be change in the band if you're in a situation that just isn't right.”
Grosskopf continues, “You have to make decisions and keep it together somehow if you feel it's not working. If some members have the feelings about the situation, then there's something you have to change. It's not always easy.”
The latest set back for Helloween was the unfortunate illness of drummer Mark Cross who came from a German band called Metalium. Cross replaced Uli Kusch who had departed earlier.
Grosskopf says Helloween had great rehearsals in the studio with Cross but after the first track he put down on tape, he had a breakdown that resulted from the malicious Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) which affects the system and makes it difficult to handle stressful activities.
“After eight weeks he couldn't do it, so we had to bring Mickie Dee (Motorhead) back in to do the rest of the album.”
But Dee isn't the drummer on tour, that would be is Stefan Schwarzmann.
According to Grosskopf, Schwarzmann has spent time in Accept, U.D.O., Running Wild and a few other bands.
Along with Grosskopf, Weikath and Schwarzmann, there's vocalist Andreas Deris and guitarist Sascha Gerstner rounding out the current line up of Helloween.
Helloween, a very humorous band lyrically and have recently completed the second leg of a small North American tour in support of their 18th overall release called ‘Rabbit Don't Come Easy’. The tour celebrated the 20th year of Helloween's career.
The set list for both legs of the tour remained the same. Grosskopf said Helloween just didn't have the time to rehearse and change up the set.
From Helloween's beginning to the present, the set list leaves no room for additions in their allotted time. The song list would satisfy any Helloween fan's heavy metal hunger. All treats, no trickery needed.
The ‘Rabbit Don't Come Easy’ tour was the first time Helloween has been back to the states since 1989.
Some may remember Helloween from their two successful albums called ‘Keeper of the Seven Keys’ parts I and II which received massive airplay on the Z-Rock stations back in the day. Others may remember the original Headbangers Ball Tour that Helloween was part of with tour mates Anthrax and Exodus.
Grosskopf calls the gap between tours a bit of a break in typical Helloween humor.
“We needed a rest after our second American tour. We have been constantly touring and doing records all over the place but not in America for some horrible reason.”
Grosskopf is looking forward to getting back to America and feels that the small tour was a way to test the American market since it's been so long between visits.
“Once you're here, you have to find out what places are best for you to go. We don't play the venues like we play in Spain, Europe or Japan. We don't know what to expect so we have to come here build it up. We have to come here more.”
“We don't know much about the American markets, that's why we have to come back and find out.”
Grosskopf and band mates have already seen some stronger and weaker markets since Helloween's latest visit.
The Key Club wasn't really good but New York was. Chicago could've been better if there wasn't the huge football game Grosskopf said with a chuckle. No explanation was given.
But coming over to tour the states has a price. Expenses.
“We tour different here than we do in Europe. We rent equipment. You can lose a lot of money if you don't do it the right way. It's not easy for some bands selling fewer records than us. You have to be careful with the budget.”
Grosskopf says if you don't really know what's going on it's easy to lose money if you come from Europe to America.
As for the next tour and release from Helloween, Grosskopf just doesn't know. But one thing is for sure, when things happen in the Helloween camp, it's not for the Hell of it. It's for the Helloween of it.