HELLOWEEN Guitarist Michael Weikath - "The New Lineup Has It's Advantages And The Old Classic One Had It's Disadvantages"
April 9, 2013, 11 years ago
Metal-Rules.com's Marko Syrjala has posted a new interview conducted with HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath. The following is an excerpt from the interview:
Q: In your opinion, what is the classic lineup of Helloween?
A: "The classic lineup—that’s the one with Michael Kiske and Ingo (Schwichtenberg, drums) and (Kai) Hansen. That’s a time… that’s something that time passed by. Now we’re in the present and that’s what we do to make a good living and whatever. You know, the new lineup has its advantages and the old classic one had its disadvantages. Actually, it wasn’t an easy life. I mean, you hear the complaints about me and what kind of asshole and dictator I was or whatever... and the people who say that, they know themselves that it’s not true if they really reflect. They know what was going on back then and it’s actually just easy to put the blame just on me."
Q: Yeah, but everybody has their own side of the story.
A: "It could have all been so cool if not for the fucking bikers around and it could have been so cool if I wouldn’t have been around because then I wouldn’t have had to have that entire struggle that was going on. For me what counts is that you have a great act that works and functions and is looked upon by the people as something important or great or something and that is indispensable. Because you can do so many bands which are not really necessary. Then you can go and say hmm or whatever."
Q: Would I dare to ask that how is your relationship with Roland Grapow on these days?
A: "None."
Read the full interview at this location.
Helloween recently announced a 10-date North American tour this fall. Tickets are on sale now at this location.
Confirmed dates include:
September
24 - New York, NY - Stage 4825 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
26 - Quebec City, QC - Theater Imperial
28 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
29 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
30 - Joliet, IL - Mojoes
October
2 - Engelwood, CO - Gothic Theater3 - Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
5 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
7 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove
Remaining Hellish Rock Part II dates include:
April
9 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage10 - Langen, Germany - Neue Stadthalle
12 - Kaufbeuren, Germany - Allgäu Event Center
13 - Bochum, Germany - Ruhrcongress
14 - Mons, Belgium - PPM-Fest
16 - London, UK - HMV Forum
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
19 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall
20 - Balingen, Germany - Volksbankmesse
21 - Schwandorf, Germany - Oberpfalzhalle
The Hellish Rock Part II tour hit the Fuzz Club in Athens, Greece on March 9th with GAMMA RAY in tow. Check out video footage of both bands jamming the Helloween classic 'I Want Out' below:
