Michael Kiske and Grapow interview in Japan '93

Michael Kiske and Roland Grapow interview in Japan '93. Sony Music Tv. Helloween Hard Rock Special.
Thanks to Meg from Michael Kiske Official Fanclub. www.michaelkiske.net

[@seansiewsarran]

realise when kiske mentioned the record selling great.. watch grapow's reaction.. :D 2:55 hahaha...

[@smutnamezatka]

The more I listen to Chameleon, the more it is becoming my ever fave Helloween album! :-)

[@remistaom]

There is nothing to dislike about this album!

[@goethe3290]

Everything good in metal music, every legendary band formation ended in 92/93. That was the peak of all we loved!

[@pervotheclown2199]

Chameleon is one of the best music albums of it's generation. It's really a shame that the album didn't do that well because all the songs are awesome.

[@WarthDader74]

Chameleon is one of the most depressing albums ever made. It was just incredible sad

[@afterburner8083]

I think it's shit. And I'm glad Kiske got kicked out of the band

[@themadmattster9647]

im a big fan. Got into it in the States when Metal was dead though in the later nineties, so I had no context because I had to buy it as an import and didn't know Helloween was still a thing by then so I just judged the music on it's own merit and loved what I heard. So much melody and passion though Time Of The Oath is the best 90's Helloween album

[@acdcking1234]

As a music fan it’s amazing,as a Helloween fan it’s not better than the keeper albums but I think because of the music style change from keeper 2 to pink bubbles was so much it’s like how with time people appreciate the music for what it was and plus I never liked it when I first got to into power metal but now i enjoy it and I like kiske’s opinions about it

[@ezequielperez7426]

Eran los noventa y la escena metalera estaba en una transición. Comercialmente hablando, el mundo no sabía que escuchar iba del glam al grunge en menos de tres años...En su momento se subestimaron mucho las producciones del Pink Bubble y Chameleon... Hoy son piezas únicas...Windmill & Longing son increíbles

[@seansiewsarran]

chameleon was a really good album.. not a good 'metal' album.. but a really excellent progresive rock / jazz album... its shows their diversity which is extremely important as musicans.... for a heads up.. listen to giants and when the sinner.. they're kickers! happy happy helloween :D

[@mattfitkovsky]

show me where you hear any jazz on this album...

[@seansiewsarran]

@@mattfitkovsky crazy cat

[@AndE667]

@@seansiewsarran Music

[@nnkyt]

I totally agree to this statement, and almost 15 years later, I really can see what Helloween really missed by loosing Kiske, despite at that time, and me being in my 16's, I really didn't understand and didn't know why such a different sound, and not speed/power metal sound, as I liked too, and sincerelly didn't quite like how it seemed to sound, really. Now, I realise that if they had had a bit of patiente? -say- they would've been a really great, big band, loved by any type of music fan.

[@soreshoulderblades3784]

Few month later Grapow wrote Take me Down for his friend.

[@eazye519]

Chameleon is a fun album. It's not their best but it's pretty good I like it.

[@andymaracz7199]

I don`t know what they have been through back in the early 90`s but I have always loved Chameleon. It has got a cool vibe. I know it`s everything but not typical Helloween, at least nothing what the people would expect. Yes, repeating, ripping off, re-writing the same old stuff (Keeper 1&2 in this case) is boring yes as a musician absolutely it is. "Pink.." was bashed even though it had a lot of up-tempo songs resembling their earlier stuff. They must have got bored of certain type of crowd

[@zorland876]

Kiske, really wise guy.

[@Aiko93]

I like Grapow so much *_____* And Kiske....

[@lanmetal]

Grapow's reaction at 7:34 and then his poker face for the next 20 seconds are simply priceless... They're on good terms now, but back then it was pretty apparent Grapow wanted to basically choke the life out of Kiske. That's why just a year later he wrote a song called "Mr. Ego" dedicated to Kiske himself lol

[@azzaki8971]

After Grapow been kicked he invite kiske to sing in his group masterplan. Lol.. He hate him but love him too.

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

I admit that I really hated Chameleon when it first came out. I was a young teenager at the time. I gave this album another chance when I was in my 20's and I appreciated it and enjoyed much more. I love songs like Giants, I Believe, and First Time alot. I also hated Pink Bubbles Go Ape when it first came out , but I have loved this album alot since my early 20's. It also has great songs like Kids Of The Century, Mankind, Someone's Crying, and The Chance that I really love to listen to. Helloween is one band that I have been a huge massive fan of since Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 1 album came out. They have been on my top five favorite bands ever list ever since.

[@Renatus22]

Is it possible to say that Chameleon is Helloween’s White Album? I love it

[@MattWeismiller1994]

It's the same with any form of well known metal band going soft in the 90's. The albums aren't as bad as people say.

[@justincase2271]

Their fans wanted another Keeper album over and over and over again. Especially Metal fans are very stereotype and narrow sighted and have a hard time to accept changes.

[@acdcking1234]

Justin Case I still think helloween is the best from 1984-1988

[@mateuszfitkowski8258]

@@acdcking1234 for me 1983-1984 era was cool

[@VictimofAtkins]

Andi Deris has wrote loads of good ones, he's brilliant. Kiske gave a couple of corkers too.

[@mpaoxi]

@shadiqrocker It's funny that you keep stating that after reading Weikath's words. Weikath -"It was just ‘no more speed metal please’. We Were sick of people demanding us to play faster & faster and sing higher & higher” Kiske on Bubbles -“ the loss of Kai Hansen was the biggest problem that the band had to face back then. The band's chemistry left together with Kai” on Chameleon - “ It was an honest album, but it wasn't a band any more, it was basically three songwriters making solo records”

[@nnkyt]

Me, personally, will buy Kiske's CD from '93 on, starting from 'Chamaleon' & 'Instant Clarity', and for sure, 'Past in different Ways'. I'll definitely buy those 3 cd's now, as I recently did 2 years ago, for instance, with JBJ's 'These Days' -only bought in its day the single "This ain't a love song"- 'Crush', 'Bounce' and 'Have a nice day' all at the same time, and after hearing over his music all thsoe years, and between 'Cross road' smash hit and nowadys. Cheers to all music fans!! ;)

[@qick07]

latest news everyone...right now michael kiske is currently working with guitarist ghavri dupraj on a metal project

[@Funzebub]

Well, now I can understand your opinion, too. And I also can agree with it, from this point of view. And to be honest I kinda liked the solo-album. I just would have wished he would have done it some more dareing. Many songs had the oportunitiy to get some Morricone-Style, in my opinion. But it's nice to hear, that he didn't lost any pint of his voice in 2008.

[@andymaracz7199]

Yeah, you are right. I quite like the albums by Queensryche released in the 90`s for example. Also many good new bands emerged at that time but the media did not pay any attention to them. Well, along came the internet...

[@enivannogueira3729]

Selling very good...

[@nnkyt]

I think that dispite he (Kiske) left the band, if he stayed, he would perform a 'Master of the Rings' type of album. All great groups (and all great singers) they always come, sooner or later, in some time of their carrer, back to their roots and origins, and, in my opinion, and almost 15 years after through, I can now really appreciate what Helloween missed by loosing finally Kiske. Genius always state in several years ahead, they say, and are incomprehended & misunderstood in due corse.

[@antere5]

@OreaSuaste it's strange that you say that as in Chameleon Weikath and Grapow wrote 4 songs each, the same as Kiske

[@nnkyt]

Kiske, when will we hear another 'Keeper' sound? hehe ;) Fight, and good wishes from Spain! :))

[@TheSunBurnsBright]

kiske = God

[@instereovideos]

Kiske says about a million things I agree with in this interview. Sadly, he was right at the wrong time. They wanted to experiment with this record and SOME of the things on it were really excellent. But honestly, the record is evidence that they still didn't know HOW to do most of the things they thought they wanted to do. Pink Bubbles has similar issues, moments where you just wince and wonder why they kept that idea. But both records had some very special moments and even some great songs.

[@hth7607]

I do love first two tracks the rest are as boring as you struggle to listen "And justice for all"entire album

[@jwillborg]

@marcosmetal2008 Unless you mean the intro which the show itself uses, it's "When the Sinner" with Helloween.

[@rossenrotten]

@shadiqrocker Sorry about you, but mr Kiske didn't write Windmill for example, so where is the crap?

[@instereovideos]

This would be a much better interview if the background music wasn't drowning out them talking.

[@nnkyt]

I feel really pitty that, first maybe Kai, and then Kiske, left the band. 15 Years later, I now realise that the sound I most like is, Kiske, not really the actual Helloween, despite is not a bad group at all no way, but I can imagine that long-running group such as Bon Jovi (who's sound has really evoluted through the years) and still not loosing that "Kai sound" or that "Kiske voice" at all, cause that's what makes the essence & trademark of that group.

[@CloudFactory]

Haha awesome, that's a typical "what did he just say?" moment

[@seansiewsarran]

Both Deris and Kiske have their contributions to the band. What's actaully "breakin" up the band is the constant arguing by its fans bout which line up is better.... APPRECIATE THE BAND AS THEY ARE - THE PAST AND PRESENT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And for those who say that Deris is fuckin' up the oldies,thats because those songs were made for kiske's voice.. so obviously it sounds better with kiske....

[@MrKenung]

Where is grapows now?

[@99theinvertedmoron]

Windmill?

[@MeatyCoon]

Nope, Chameleon is basically the same style as Keepers, Master, Land of the Free and about anything else. I would call it pop metal/pop rock. Heck, even Walls, while sounding rougher that everything else, have those poppy anthemic choruses.

[@acdcking1234]

MeatyCoon what keepers is not pop metal in my opinion helloween always reminds me of Maiden and Judas Priest, power metal is not pop it’s metal in its purest form

[@rockithoney]

It's interesting that Michael says "...the album (Chameloen) sales very good everywhere." It obviously didn't.

[@clelia999w9]

obviously sales well, 1 million japan only....butthe album was covered of shit by purposely,,,,and people is so idiot that believed reviews of shit magazines....people (masses) are shit , just a lie and they is out of heaven ahahhaaaa (they believe in shit only!)

[@theixxfactor]

Agree. He says it sales good, and Roland is laughing. But both are still very good musicians.

[@nnkyt]

Hmm, at composing I'll give a lot of credit to Weikath :)) some of, well, half of the greatest songs XD from Helloween are his. :)) Cheers! The other half from Kai :p :)

[@seansiewsarran]

weikath has actually composed allotta classic songs, apart from the keepers... Listen to the Better then Raw album, it had songs like midnight sun, excellent compostion. Ppl dont give Weiki the credit he deserves. One thing ppl dont realise is that he was able to "change the direction" of the band to accomodate for Deris's arrival. Plus... Better than Raw smashed me to the ground like a cindy lauper balad!!!!!!!

[@Funzebub]

Well, now I'm realy confused. Because, you say that he said the Keeper stuff is his best stuff he made. But in the PIDW booklet, he mentioned that he's pretty unhappy with his work back then because it's very naive and blue-eyed.

[@DanielQueirozGuitar]

2:10 I think he didn't expect that would happens with Ingo 2 years later ;|

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Chameleon is a brilliant record.

[@MeatyCoon]

I have.

[@Aiko93]

Roland is very Funny XD

[@seansiewsarran]

i think so.. not 100% sure on that Freyja.. but i think thats their first band and then they switched it the 2nd hell.. THEN helloween.. hopethat helped :)

[@airodd100]

wow, im listening right now to WALLS OF JERICHO, very tight,very metal. Just finished listen KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS1&2, vey melodic,still metal,masterpiece. But then i listen to CHAMELEON, and..shit, how different, very rock,jazz, and POP. Then i put some interviews from that time, and i can sense someone´s not happy

[@crusheverything4449]

Chameleon is eclectic, for sure, but Giants is one of the best power metal tunes ever, if you ask me and Music and I Believe are awesome, too. The song Longing is unique and simply beautiful. The rest of the album is pretty solid, but those songs I mentioned make it essential, IMO. I really think people are unfair in their assessment of the album. It’s not Keeper Pt. 1 or 2, but it wasn’t meant to be. I applaud the band for evolving and trying different things, instead of putting out the same record every time.

[@99theinvertedmoron]

they should have shown the door to Weikath at that point, and bring Hansen back. Weikath keeps firing the best ones...

[@instereovideos]

@cooliczka Dude, of the albums by Helloween that can be considered classics (and there are like 8 of them), Michael Kiske was on 2 of them, lol. So no, Helloween does not "equal" Michael Kiske.

[@Bart0kPL]

"Chameleon" isn't bad itself, but it's not Helloween in my opinion. It's Kiske, who doesn't like metal music. It's lack of Kai, who would say "Hey, Michael, we're a metal band, don't you know?". Keepers forever :)

[@MeatyCoon]

Can't see any prog on Chameleon - apart from the length of some (few) songs.

[@instereovideos]

@Bart0kPL Well, I agree that there's some quality issues with Chameleon, but Helloween isn't necessarily a "metal band."

[@littleaussierippa]

Helloween totally lost it after the Seven Keys albums. Alot of prominent metal band went down the commercial rock route in the nineties. I ditched Helloween once Kiske left. It would be like Hetfield leaving Metallica. It's just not the same.

[@Comin9]

look on roland's reaction around 2:53 :D no wonder kiske left the band....

[@marcosmetal2008]

Which is first song that sounds in the video?

[@gammanickify]

Kiske was falling far from metal... And the band followed him. Kai left before that. He wanted more freedom. After kai the rest put all on Kiske. Not fare to attack him for how it went.Andy is a perfect match for Helloween. And who saved hem is Michael W. Going back to the roots. Even if he did it on the clear intent of riding the old to get some fresh cash.Hail Kai, the true metal head.Pure and constant. Never left what he liked.

[@themadmattster9647]

it's funny because Sigh No More was a bit of a departure as well, but I prefer Chameleon to that

[@Сергей-м6ю9у]

Chameleon the best

[@instereovideos]

@Zaekencito So... album sales are the way to tell a good album from a bad one. Gotcha. : )

[@theixxfactor]

@kiskeforever Really? Chameleon sold 1 million, can't believe that. I mean, did the Keepers sell 1 million?

[@Bart0kPL]

Not really. Kiske enjoyed "Chameleon" the most, he wanted to express the power in their music by their feelings and passion. And IMO that was a bad idea and Chameleon is the album I enjoy the least. And don't call me stupid :)

[@mpaoxi]

@shadiqrocker I believe that you are totally clueless. Read Michael Weikath's opinion on both Pink Bubbles and Chameleon (from the albums expanded edition booklets) Bubbles- "I've got to admit that I was getting weary of coming up with heavy metal anthems. I wanted to wimp out and go commercial. That explains the crappy tracks of mine that are on there" Chameleon- "There was no criticism or co-operation...Everyone was just doing the best they could on their own tracks...It's quite a good album"

[@99theinvertedmoron]

I've got proof Freyja my friend: My ears and their live albums/videos :) And yes, send Weikath over here and I'll find him a good guitar teacher. Cheers!

[@MeatTycoon]

@seansiewsarran Frankly, I hear zero jazz or progressive stuff on Chameleon. It's your basic pop rock - same stuff they always made, just poppier. I have no idea if they tried to reach for more commercial success by doing so (that would probably not be the the way in the post-Nevermind climate), but it definitely shows Kiske as a man with no interesting ideas or vision - and so do his solo albums.

[@instereovideos]

@efinilkunfesin How did it "fail?" lol

[@PontusKay]

thats true the band had a good cooperation and everything fucked up when Hansen quit the band

[@Whackooyzero]

Did Kiske just say thrash metal had no energy but Cyndi Lauper did? And what he said about speed, uh, it does show emotion and energy just not the "i wanna go home" emotion that you accept. Sorry Mr. Kiske.

[@Twretborn]

Doesnt he sound a bit aussie or kiwi ??

[@instereovideos]

@TheKiskehelloween Nah, you're wrong on that.

[@99theinvertedmoron]

Why do you feel offended? Maybe you might be one of the ones who feels portrayed with that description? Then you have the problem in you. You should be happy that an artist is trying his/her best to stay true to what they feel is right for them at any given time. If he also has enough talent to do some session work... well, what's your job? any kids to feed? are you a traitor to metal because you work in an office/factory/shop...? Chill out mate! :)

[@eazye519]

Kiske would be fired like two months later

[@Funzebub]

Great to insult someone like that on the net, eh Duce:>? Well, Kai has a slightly better playing, because of his feeling. Roland sadly had gone the way of a Malmsteen-Copy, which is impressive, but not thaaaaaat exciting. Here on youtube are dozens of those. But I give you right, Helloween are realy the best!

[@Malik82691]

@bonfirejovi, next to Bruce Dickinson :]

[@seansiewsarran]

thanks frey... but michi really looks as if he 's startin to age pretty soon.. thankfully, his voice is not startin to age.. lol. he's still great though!!!!!!!!!

[@seansiewsarran]

hey.. wat suits u man...

[@mawbts530]

holy crap that was painful to watch...kiske talking about how "we lost our balance a little bit with pink bubbles go ape but we're back and we know exactly what we're doing!" and grapow is sitting there glaring at him... kiske is a great singer, but he wasn't the right personality for helloween in the long run

[@overclockedproductions]

Chameleon is like Reload Of Metallica, understanding...

[@scopchanov]

Please, do not compare apples to pears.

[@nnkyt]

hehe te lo puedo hacer yo, jorge ;)

[@instereovideos]

@Zaekencito Lol, well if you won't "waste your time with me," then I guess I'm not worthy of your worldly advice, haha. I was so bummed too when you said "See ya," cause I knew your sage wisdom was forever gone from my presence, lol. And if I say I've bought an album I didn't like, does that mean you won an argument? And btw, are you NOT a "very funny person?" Because I'm gathering that you take yourself a little TOO seriously : )

[@OreaSuaste]

Chamaleon isn´t a Helloween album, it´s like a Kiske album

[@qick07]

i know kiske personally and he's a kool guy but...i was there when cindy lauper smashed him to the ground

[@dafronasmia]

hahahahahah

[@hristianahristova704]

Ohhhh poor Grapowski!!! Again he wanted to say something but looked stupid!!

[@overaktive]

thankssss what a shame!!! obviously kiske was a joke inside helloween just a great voice.. nothing else...

[@hmcccpp]

wtf?no wonder they kicked him out hahahahahah

[@seansiewsarran]

lalloo wanna have cindy lauper smash him to the ground!!!!!!!!! lalloo = quik07

[@glide789]

Chameleon was a shit album and it's a good thing Kiske was kicked out of the band. Outstanding singer obviously, but for some reason he was out of his damn mind at the time and hated metal.

[@Luisfrantic]

chameleon the worst cd ever of helloween only gay music of kiske