Helloween

Helloween, a seminal German power metal band, emerged from Hamburg in 1984. Formed by musicians from Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell, and Powerfool, the band's initial lineup featured Kai Hansen on vocals and guitar, Markus Grosskopf on bass, Michael Weikath on guitar, and Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums. By 1989, with Michael Kiske stepping in as lead vocalist, Helloween had expanded to a five-piece, as Hansen departed to form Gamma Ray.

The band experienced significant lineup changes throughout its history. Schwichtenberg and Kiske both left Helloween in 1993, with Schwichtenberg tragically passing away two years later. For decades, Grosskopf and Weikath remained the sole original members, navigating numerous shifts in personnel. By 2016, Helloween had evolved into a septet, notably reuniting four-fifths of the iconic lineup from the Keeper of the Seven Keys Parts I and II era (1987–1988). The current configuration includes vocalist Andi Deris (who replaced Kiske in 1994), guitarist Sascha Gerstner, and drummer Daniel Löble, alongside three other members.