Helloween one of the undisputed pillars of power metal, celebrates its 40-year career not with nostalgia, but with the vibrant force of a new chapter. The band is about to release its newest album, Giants & Monsters , on August 29th, a work that promises to further consolidate the powerful "Pumpkins United" lineup. This new record represents the next step in the band's journey after the success of its self-titled album, proving that the creative energy generated by the union of seven legendary musicians is stronger than ever.
To delve into the details of this highly anticipated release and celebrate four decades of history, Wikimetal spoke with Markus Grosskopf , bassist and founding member of the band. In a relaxed chat, the musician guided us through the behind-the-scenes creative process of the new album, addressing the unique dynamic of a band with such a robust and talented lineup. He also commented on Helloween's journey and the strong connection they maintain with their fans around the world, with a special fondness for the Brazilian audience.
The conversation also touched on the past and the future, with Markus reflecting on Helloween's immense legacy and what still drives the band after so much time on the road. With good humor, he shared his vision for the next steps following the album release and the big anniversary tour, making it clear that the German band still has plenty of energy to continue its trajectory of achievements.
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Wikimetal: Regarding the creative process of the new album, what were the biggest challenges the band faced? We'd love to hear about the "Giants and Monsters" you had to tame, both during the songwriting phase and the studio recordings.
Markus Grosskopf: It was a very, very long process. We had five or six composers involved, many discussions, and the challenge of putting this album together. In the end, we had all these tracks, all these ideas, all these songs, you know? And we needed to decide which song would go on the album, which one we might keep up our sleeve, or how we were going to arrange these songs. Most of them were ready, but then the discussion arose: "Do we put this part here or not?"
It was a very long process, especially when you have more songwriters than most bands, which usually have two. We're talking about five or six songwriters, and it's always a challenge to get them all together and put everything on the table to decide which songs will be on the album. Because we're so close to our own music, we can't be objective. So, we rely on management and producers, who give their opinions, listening more with the ears of a fan, so to speak. And that helps a lot, you know? That was the challenge of putting this album together this way. (laughs)
Wikimetal: Focusing especially on the bass, how did you approach the sound of your instrument on Giants and Monsters ? Did you try to drastically vary its tone between tracks, or was the main challenge finding a single sound that would unite the entire album?
Markus Grosskopf: It was both. I wanted a sound that really stood out, but that was there, building a foundation along with the drums, without getting in the way of everything else, you know? We found that killer, cutting bass sound with Dennis Ward . He just set up some machines, I don't know what he did, but suddenly we had an incredible sound and we didn't touch it anymore. We didn't even need to use much equalization in the final mix; we already had that sound. We used different bass lines that I played, and the sound was just there, you know? And it fit into each of the songs.
I'll never record bass again without Dennis Ward. He's an incredible producer and a better bassist than I am. It's great to have someone sitting there when I have an idea, and he says, "Okay, that's a great idea, but just change two notes and it'll be even better." So, we brainstorm to create the right bass line for the song, because each song calls for a specific bass performance. And that's what we try to figure out. We like to do some phrasing here and there, but we can't overdo it to the point of ruining the chorus line, for example. The vocal line is, of course, important. And in the chorus, you don't want to destroy it with too many notes or notes that are too strange. But we still find ways to say, "Hello, this is the bassist!" (laughs). And it sounds great, that's the challenge.
Wikimetal: The 40th anniversary tour promises some surprises, with hints that you'll be playing songs that haven't been heard in a long time, or perhaps never have been. Could you give us a clue?
Markus Grosskopf: I don't know, we're still rehearsing. We're still discussing the possibilities we have, because we have so many songs. And we have so many songs that we haven't played in the past. But we'll see what's possible now with three guitarists; it's even more complicated to make the songs. We have to find a new arrangement for the third guitar. That's the part where I sit there, bored, while they try to figure out which guitarist plays which line… (laughs). But that's also a challenge. We're trying our best, you know? It's not easy, but it works very well, yes. We're right in the middle of this process.
Wikimetal: Is there a particular song or era that you especially like and want to play?
Markus Grosskopf: Oh, I'm not going to tell you! It'll be a surprise, at least for the first show. After that, it'll go on the internet and everyone will know anyway. But I want to keep it a secret for the first show. (laughs)
Wikimetal: As a bassist and founding member, what would you say is your specific role in the band's chemistry, especially considering the different creative energies of Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, and Andi Deris?
Markus Grosskopf: Ah, that's great, you know? I mean, these guys get along really, really well, like brothers here and there. And that's the basis of the whole idea. If they didn't agree with each other, nothing would have happened. We have two singers who don't want to get in each other's way. They wanted to do their own thing, but they're very open. They say, "Oh, let's sing this together," or Mike says, "No, that's not really my thing, it's probably something for your voice." And the opposite also happens. It's great to see how they work. It's fun, it's the chemistry… the chemistry thing works, and it's very sincere, they work together with a lot of soul.
Wikimetal: Helloween has an incredibly strong and lasting connection with Brazilian fans. Looking back over these four decades, what is your most memorable moment from a show or interaction with Brazilian fans that truly exemplifies this special relationship with us?
Markus Grosskopf: It's great to go out and about, to bars everywhere. And when you get to the hotels, they want autographs and things like that. I tell them, “Okay, give me a minute, I'll leave my things in the room and I'll be right back to sign your things, no problem. But when I come back, I want you to have some cold beers!” (laughs). And then we talk, drink, and have fun. I mean, they know how to party, they know how to turn a Helloween show into a very, very special event. I've seen people almost crying in the front row watching Helloween, you know? It's so much energy, and you can feel it on stage. The more energy you get from people, the more energy you give back. It becomes a unity, a unified thing.
And then there was this one day I went to a bar and there was a Helloween cover band playing all the Helloween songs. I was already a little drunk, so they invited me to play all the songs with them. But they played songs that we never actually played live, that were recorded years and years ago and I never played them again. So I had to play those old songs… I couldn't remember anything! (laughs). It was pretty funny.
Wikimetal: Are there any dates or more shows in Brazil for the upcoming tour?
Markus Grosskopf: Of course! We'll be there in March or April. We'll do South America. After that, we'll do North America, or vice versa. That's when I'll come back and do it all again. You won't get rid of us, we'll keep coming back!
Wikimetal: In most Helloween albums, there are always moments that stand out for the musicians themselves. Now, with Giants & Monsters , is there a specific song or passage where the bass line you created makes you particularly proud?
Markus Grosskopf: The bass line… oh, oh… I have to listen to it a few more times to figure out which bass line I'll be most proud of. There's a lot of good stuff, but I still can't decide. I have to wait and see. (laughs).
Wikimetal: The “Pumpkins United” tour was about reunion and celebration. The Helloween proved that this lineup could create something new and powerful. What will the 40th-anniversary tour and the “Giants and Monsters” album represent for Helloween's legacy? What message do you want to send to the metal world in 2025?
Markus Grosskopf: The best message you can give people is simply to tell them and show them: never give up. Always keep going, even if there are bad times in your life. Keep going with what's important, discover what's important in your life. And every now and then, go to a great rock concert and forget all obligations and doubts, and have a blast. But at the end of the day, you have to go through shitty times and you have to go through good times, through bad times. But keep going, keep being positive. That's the message that Helloween would like to give, that I would like to give to people.
Wikimetal: The album Giants & Monsters will be released on August 29th, when Helloween celebrates its 40th anniversary. Looking back at the young Markus who recorded Walls of Jericho , what do you think he would think upon hearing the complexity and production of this new work?
Markus Grosskopf: I love that young guy. I love that young guy, full of energy, full of testosterone, going out into the world at 20. I still remember those stories and I still laugh about them. Those were great times, but that doesn't mean we don't have great times now. It's different, you know? You get a little older, your back hurts a little more and all that… (laughs). But still, it's going great. I'm having a lot of fun now with Helloween, playing all these records, going on tour, getting ready for the live shows now in the rehearsal room, still playing all those old songs like "Ride the Sky," even with Kai singing. It's like bringing back memories. It's a journey, a real and great journey through time. Do you remember when you were little Markus? (laughs). Yes, it's great, it makes me feel very, very good.
Wikimetal: Over the course of four decades, the music industry has changed dramatically, from the era of vinyl and cassette tapes to streaming. Helloween has not only survived all these changes, but seems to be stronger than ever. In your opinion, what was the secret ingredient that allowed Helloween to maintain such a loyal and passionate fanbase for four decades, regardless of current trends and technologies?
Markus Grosskopf: I think one of the secrets, which isn't really a secret at all, is a method we kind of follow: we try to be ourselves. We don't go on stage pretending, "Oh, we have to be bad, we have to be metal, we have to look bad and act bad." No, we've never done that. We go out there and we are Helloween. We are ourselves. We're not pretending to be something different or someone else, we're not acting. I mean, on stage and off stage, we're just funny guys having a few beers. No, we are who we are. And I think that's what people really like and believe. We're not pretending to be anything other than Helloween. The seven guys you see are the same seven guys on stage and off stage. We're not playing a role, it's who we are. What you see is who we are. And that's what people maybe appreciate. I think they want something real in their lives. (laughs)
Wikimetal: With the addition of Beast in Black as a special guest on the European tour, the band shows that it's paying attention to the new generation of metal. Besides them, what other newer bands have caught your attention and that you believe are carrying the torch of power metal into the future?
Markus Grosskopf: Ah, I don't know. I don't hear about very new things that often because I'm very busy with our things, with myself, with friends and everything else, you know? So, I'm not really that immersed in that scene. I don't delve deep enough into the scene to observe what's happening, where the new talents are, or what the new trend is. I have no idea. Actually, I'm a senile old man. (laughs).
Wikimetal: The “Pumpkins United” lineup features three guitarists and three vocalists, creating a massive wall of sound. How does this affect your role as bassist in Giants & Monsters ? Did you and Dani Löble have to approach the rhythm section differently to give everyone space without losing the heaviness and melody that are your trademark?
Markus Grosskopf: Well, this shows you, and me, that you can have as many guitarists as you want, and it sounds very interesting, powerful. The variety of the three guys playing in very different ways gives a very distinct approach to the songs, a variety that makes them very interesting. But it also tells you that I only need one bass to get the job done, to build the fundamental base along with the drums. And that's cool. There's no one coming up to my side to play a second bass, it would be like swimming in the depths (laughs). You only need one bass that everyone can build on. And I like that job, it's my thing as a team player. I'll be there, I'll be the concrete, and everyone can jump on top of me and do whatever they want. And I find ways to play like, "Hello, it's me, I'm here!" So that it fits the music. You don't overdo it when there's a killer chorus line coming from the vocals, because you don't want to ruin it. But I find my ways to pull off my freedom tricks, so to speak.
Wikimetal: After the new album and the anniversary world tour, many might think about slowing down, but Helloween seems more energized than ever. Besides the plans already announced, what is the next "giant" that Markus Grosskopf personally still dreams of conquering with the band?
Markus Grosskopf: Well, we do it all again and just survive. And we do it again and again, and we'll do it as long as we can. And hopefully, we'll headline again, and hopefully… I don't know what else there is to achieve. Maybe play a few more British shows or something like that. We'll do the Hammersmith Odeon again, you know? Where we recorded Live in the UK … that funny one with the drawn picture on the cover. That was done at the Hammersmith Odeon, and that's where we're going back to. I mean, it's just about continuing to come back and conquering the whole world! That's it! (laughs).
Wikimetal: You guys have done almost everything, all the festivals…
Markus Grosskopf: We'd love to play in Antarctica! (laughs). In front of a few thousand penguins. That would be cool, we could make a DVD.
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