This is just For you North. Pretty much.
Power Metal is huge in Germany and is said to be birthed in Hamburg by Kai Hansen. Others were there before them though, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Dio, etc but not with the sound that it turned into.
Kai Hansen & Michael Weikath started Helloween in the 80s. After their first album The Walls of Jericho, Hansen had trouble singing and playing guitar at the same time. They bought in a promising young singer, Michael Kiske, who has a loud falsetto voice which was perfect for their new breed of metal, power metal. It was 'happier' than thrash metal and other scenes at the time.
Hansen is credited as the father of the genre, but that IMO is Dio.
Helloween release Keeper of the Seven Keys Pts I & II. Helloween becomes HUGE.
Problems within the record label causes trouble with the band. Singer Kiske wants to go to a more pop sound. Hansen leaves the band and starts his new band Gamma Ray. Kiske leads two albums, with this newfound pop/hard rock sound. They both BOMB.
Kiske is fired, along with the drummer Ingo Schichtenblderger (sp?), one of the most prolific drummers in metal, then killed himself by walking in front of a subway train. He had mental trouble in the past, but i believe if he wasnt kicked out like he had been, he wouldnt have done it.
Andi Deris joins Helloween as their new vocalist. They release some decent material, but it isnt really power metal and far from anything as stellar Keepers. IMO its just like Deris' old band, Pink Cream 69.
Michael Weikath leaves in the 2000s and forms Masterplan, with other members of Helloween..
Finally having heard Gamma Ray and Masterplan all i can say is WOW. Kai Hansen is so awesome, he was the man behind Helloweens greatest work, and its like a modern metal throwback.
Anyone who remotely likes metal and may not have heard of these guys i highly advise check out Masterplan and especially Gamma Ray. I love Gamma Ray Somewhere out in Space album its epic.
