# List of Helloween members

Helloween are a German power metal band from Hamburg. Formed in 1984, the group was originally a quartet featuring Kai Hansen on lead vocals and guitar, Michael Weikath on guitar and backing vocals, Markus Grosskopf on bass and backing vocals, and Ingo Schwichtenberg on drums. The band's current lineup includes constant members Weikath and Grosskopf, alongside Hansen (who rejoined in 2016 after leaving in 1989), co-lead vocalists Michael Kiske (from 1986 to 1993, and since 2016) and Andreas "Andi" Deris (since 1994), rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Sascha Gerstner (since 2002), and drummer Daniel "Dani" Löble (since 2005).

## History
### 1984–1994

Helloween were formed in 1984 by Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf and Ingo Schwichtenberg. The band signed with German heavy metal label Noise Records before the end of the year and released their self-titled debut EP in April 1985. After the group issued their debut full-length album Walls of Jericho later the same year, Hansen decided to step back from the role of lead vocalist to focus on his guitar playing. After a lengthy process of trying to find a replacement, in November the role was filled by Michael Kiske. Keeper of the Seven Keys: Parts I and II followed in 1987 and 1988, respectively, before Hansen left completely on New Year's Day 1989 due to "the ever-increasing stress of touring". He was quickly replaced by Roland Grapow and the band returned to touring.
With new guitarist Roland Grapow, the band released two studio albums – Pink Bubbles Go Ape in 1991 and Chameleon in 1993 – before more lineup changes occurred. During the 1993 tour in promotion of Chameleon, Schwichtenberg was fired due to drug addiction and mental health issues, with Riad "Ritchie" Abdel-Nabi taking his place for the rest of the shows. By the end of the year, Kiske had also been fired after growing tensions between the two members had led Weikath to refuse to work with the vocalist. Schwichtenberg would later commit suicide in 1995.

### 1994–2003

After firing two members in late 1993, Helloween returned early the following year with new vocalist Andreas "Andi" Deris and drummer Ulrich "Uli" Kusch. This lineup remained stable for several years, issuing a string of commercially successful albums. However, in August 2001 it was announced that both Kusch and guitarist Roland Grapow had parted ways with Helloween. In a statement issued the day after the official announcement, the dismissals were credited to "differences in priority", with a spokesman for the band adding that "It was felt Roland and Uli were paying too much time and attention to their solo projects. After a very successful tour behind The Dark Ride album Michael, Markus and Andi felt quite rightly that the focus of Helloween members must be 100% on Helloween."
In early September, Kusch's replacement was announced as former Metalium drummer Mark Cross. Helloween remained without a second guitarist until August 2002, when it was announced that Sascha Gerstner, who had left Freedom Call a year earlier, had joined the band. Recording subsequently began for the group's next album, however Cross was forced to sit out after contracting mononucleosis, with Mikkey Dee of Motörhead taking his place in the studio. In February 2003, Cross was officially replaced by former U.D.O. and Accept drummer Stefan Schwarzmann.

### Since 2003

Within two years of joining, drummer Stefan Schwarzmann had left Helloween, with Daniel "Dani" Löble taking his place in February 2005. The lineup remained stable for more than ten years, before it was announced in November 2016 that founding member Kai Hansen and former vocalist Michael Kiske would be returning to Helloween for the Pumpkins United World Tour starting the following year. At the start of the tour, the newly expanded group released the single "Pumpkins United", featuring Kiske, Hansen and continuing vocalist Andi Deris on vocals. Following the touring cycle, the seven-piece incarnation of Helloween remained in place, for the 2021 studio album Helloween.

## Official members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Michael Weikath | 1984–present | guitarsbacking vocals | all Helloween releases |
| Markus Grosskopf | 1984–present | bassbacking vocals | all Helloween releases |
| Kai Hansen | 1984–19892016–present | guitarslead and backing vocals | all Helloween releases from Helloween (1985) to Live in the U.K. (1989)United Alive in Madrid (2019)Helloween (2021) |
| Michael Kiske | 1986–19932016–present | lead and backing vocals | all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987) to Chameleon (1993)United Alive in Madrid (2019)Helloween (2021) |
| Andreas "Andi" Deris | 1994–present | lead and backing vocals | all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) onwards |
| Sascha Gerstner | 2002–present | guitarsoccasional keyboardsbacking vocals | all Helloween releases from Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) onwards |
| Daniel "Dani" Löble | 2005–present | drums | all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) onwards |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Ingo Schwichtenberg | 1984–1993 (died 1995) | drums | all Helloween releases from Helloween (1985) to Chameleon (1993) |
| Roland Grapow | 1989–2001 | guitarsbacking vocals | all Helloween releases from Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) to The Dark Ride (2000) |
| Ulrich "Uli" Kusch | 1994–2001 | drumsbacking vocals | all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) to The Dark Ride (2001) |
| Mark Cross | 2001–2003 | drums | Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) – two tracks each only |
| Stefan Schwarzmann | 2003–2005 | drums | Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) – two tracks each only |

## Backup musicians
### Session

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| James Hardaway | 1985 | synthesisers | Walls of Jericho (1985) |
| Peter Iversen | 1990 | keyboards | Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) |
| Phil Nicholas | 1990 | keyboards | Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) |
| Corinna Wolke | 1992 | backing vocals | Chameleon (1993) – one track only |
| Lenny Wolf | 1992 | backing vocals | Chameleon (1993) – one track only |
| Jutta Weinhold | 1997 | backing vocals | Better Than Raw (1998) |
| Ralf Maurer | 1997 | backing vocals | Better Than Raw (1998) |
| Christina Hahne | 1997 | backing vocals | Better Than Raw (1998) |
| Billy King | 2000 2004–2015 | backing vocals | The Dark Ride (2000)all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) to My God-Given Right (2015) |
| Rolf Köhler | 2000 (died 2007) | backing vocals | The Dark Ride (2000) |
| Mikkey Dee | 2002–2003 | drums | Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) |
| Olaf Senkbeil | 2004–2015 | backing vocals | all Helloween releases from Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) to My God-Given Right (2015) |
| Oliver Hartmann | 2004–2005 | backing vocals | Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) |
| Friedel Amon | 2004–2005 | keyboards | Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) |
| Matthias Ulmer | 2007–present | keyboards | all Helloween releases from Gambling with the Devil (2007) to Helloween (2021) |

### Touring

| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| | Jørn Ellerbrock | 1988–2003 | keyboardsprogramming | Live in the U.K. (1989)all Helloween releases from Master of the Rings (1994) to The Dark Ride (2000) |
| | Ritchie Abdel-Nabi | 1993 | drums | none – live performances only |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| 1984 – November 1986 | Kai Hansen – lead vocals, guitar Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums | Helloween (1985) Walls of Jericho (1985) |
| November 1986 – January 1989 | Kai Hansen – guitar, backing vocals Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums Michael Kiske – lead vocals | Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I (1987) Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II (1988) Live in the U.K. (1989) |
| January 1989 – fall 1993 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Ingo Schwichtenberg – drums Michael Kiske – lead vocals Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals | Pink Bubbles Go Ape (1991) Chameleon (1993) |
| Fall – late 1993 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Michael Kiske – lead vocals Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals Ritchie Abdel-Nabi – drums | none – live performances only |
| Early 1994 – August 2001 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Roland Grapow – guitar, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Uli Kusch – drums, backing vocals | Master of the Rings (1994) The Time of the Oath (1996) High Live (1996) Better Than Raw (1998) Metal Jukebox (1999) The Dark Ride (2000) |
| September 2001 – August 2002 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Mark Cross – drums | none – writing and rehearsals only |
| August 2002 – February 2003 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Mark Cross – drums Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals | Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) (Cross appears on two tracks only) |
| February 2003 – February 2005 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals Stefan Schwarzmann – drums | Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) (two special edition bonus tracks only) |
| February 2005 – November 2016 | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals Dani Löble – drums | Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005) Live in Sao Paulo (2007) Gambling with the Devil (2007) Unarmed: Best of 25th Anniversary (2009) 7 Sinners (2010) Burning Sun (2012) Straight Out of Hell (2013) My God-Given Right (2015) |
| November 2016 – present | Michael Weikath – guitar, backing vocals Markus Grosskopf – bass, backing vocals Andi Deris – lead vocals Sascha Gerstner – guitar, backing vocals Dani Löble – drums Kai Hansen – guitar, backing and lead vocals Michael Kiske – lead vocals | "Pumpkins United" (2017) United Alive in Madrid (2019) Helloween (2021) |