You just came back from long world tour which led from Europe, USA to Asia. Can you summarize it briefly?
MW: As always we visited many countries. You can summarize briefly festivals, not several months long tournee. But all tournees look alike: we go to many places and play many shows. I'd be very for making shorter tours. But I think it's rather impossible. We have to support sale of our albums. Everybody's praises our last release: 'Rabbit Don't Come Easy', but it's not being sold very good. It makes us worry.
Do you think that it's internet what blocks it? That people prefer to download mp3 to buy a cd?
MW: A year ago I was saying that I didn't see any danger from Internet. I have changed my opinion.
Does a famous phrase drugs, sex and rock'n'roll describe current Helloween?
MW: You are wrong, it's sex, drugs & rock'n'roll. Sex is first. But my answer is no, it does not describe us. It's pure rock'n'roll. I think that rock'n'roll is more like fun. We don't have enough time for sex when we are on tour. You can do it if you are very fast, you know, if a restroom at an airport is enough for you. 10 minutes, no more. We even don't have time to sleep long enough. And drugs? If we were using drugs on tour we wouldn't be able to play good. I think sex, drugs & rock'n'roll is for musicians who play 20 shows a year and they don't have to worry if they fill venue of capacity like Wembley Arena.
What are your relationships with Sascha? He's much younger than you. Is he more like a baby for you or a good company for a drink?
MW: Sascha doesn't drink. I don't know what do you want to hear. We are not a bunch of men who likes to sit with a bottle of alcohol.
Well, but I guess there are some partys on tours...
MW: We don't have time for it. It's for younger bands. A tour is a very hard job, I'll keep on saying that. After shows we are too tired. Look at me, at my black-ringed eyes. I had just a few hours of sleep. Please, don't see it as complaining. You're just asking me about things that are not possible in our profession. I wouldn't like to break our band just because of parties.
So is music for you more like job than pure joy?
MW: There comes a moment when it becomes a job. I don't do anything else. I need to calculate everything otherwise I would have no money for my everyday expenses. We have to keep our minds on good playing and people's expectations. We are obliged to. It was much different in 60's or 70's. We have to be very good in playing.
Has your point of view for music changed since you formed the band and achieved first successes?
MW: No. The only differences are in how music industry works now and how it worked in the 70's. There were much less bands being rubbed by music companies, record labels and managers. It also happened to us. I think that we can say, among many other bands which have survived for many years, that we were very lucky. We still play and we want to play and we have someone to play for. We are still popular. People fill venues. Not every bands can say so about themselves.
Now people spend too much money for newest technologies: cameras, video games, cd-recorders, not for music. Albums are being sold as bad as it was in the 70's but then it was much harder to purchase them. Sometimes it was just a dream to buy an album.
People are very egoistic, all they care of is to make themselves happy. They go to a techno or disco party, not for a rock concert. And it happens very rarely when they are looking for idols. Personally I have all albums of David Bowie and I know a lot about him. I can't imagine saying 'stop' and not admiring him anymore. 'Fuck Bowie, let's go to disco' - can you imagine anything like that?
So, do you think that rock'n'roll is dead?
It was a chance to win 'the most stupid excuse' contest because of my explanation of being 25 minutes late! We settled at Hamburg's House of Fear... Then I got lost and eventually on last drops of gas I got to a very fancy cafe which had been chosen by Markus and Weiki for our interview. When I was running towards Cafe Linder there came a taxi cab from which Michael got off. I introduced myself and together we entered the cafe looking for Markus. Weiki called him up. Unfortunately Markus was not too come because being ill. What a pity! No matter what I shouldn't complain. I was sitting face to face with Helloween's guitarist!!!
MW: No, it's not dead. It's just not on the top at the moment.
Whom you’d like to make a cover of a Helloween's song?
MW: Judas Priest. It'd be nice. I've always liked them.
How does Helloween celebrates Halloween?
MW: We often call each other with wishes: Happy Halloween or sending such e-mails. Then we reply 'yes, we are happy'.
If there was a movie about Helloween made, who would play main parts?
MW: Hmmm, I could be played by Michael Douglas. Probably he would look wild with a guitar. Maybe he would star to shoot with it! But he needs his hair to be longer. And I probably would like to be played by Michael Douglas. I don't know who could play Sascha and Stefan... And Markus? He's irreplaceable!
Do you support any bands which have come out during last few years?
MW: Edguy sounds very good.
If you were to form a dream band, what musicians would you ask to participate in it?
MW: If John Lennon returns from his grave for sure I'd ask him. We watched with Markus whole The Beatles' 'Anthology' on last tour. Good job! We even started to compare us to themselves but we weren't successful because there were four people in The Beatles and we are five. But this is my favorite band, I can't imagine better one.
And your favorite alcohol?
MW: I like sweet alcohols. I can do many drinks...
If you weren't a musician then who?
MW: I don't know. Maybe a painter.
I got also several questions from Polish fan club of Helloween. Would you mind if I asked you to answer them?
MW: No if you don't ask me about Michael Kiske.
No, about Kiske no but I have a question about somebody whose name is Richie Abdul - Nabi. And the question: why he didn't become a regular member of Helloween?
MW: He didn't become our drummer partly because it would take too long to learn play together. Later it came clear that there were plenty of things which were more important for him than the band. It was nice to play together but we noticed that he didn't match with us. The music we play wasn't music for him. It was pretty hard for him to learn to play all what had been composed by other people, all what he had never taken part in. He didn't match with Helloween at all. Maybe there was not enough passion. Something was wrong although he knew what Helloween was.
Next question is about a person too. His name is Ralf Scheepers. How many times he performed with you and did you consider him as a member of Helloween?
MW: What people could read on the message board on our website it wasn't true. All were gossips. He has never played with us. He appeared once or twice with me and Markus when we were performing with Future World. Nothing more. We had no plans for him in Helloween.
And Mark Cross? What's up with him?
MW: It's very sad what happened to Mark. He is ill and his illness is called mononucleosis. We had been waiting for him very long and he had hope that he would be playing with us. I called him up many times and asked if he could play with us. When he was better he said that he would play. Came to our studio and we started rehearsals. But he was weaker and weaker... After several hours he had no power at all. Eventually we had to take the decision about hiring someone else. I met Stefan then. We are very sorry for Mark. Unfortunately it happens. I had troubles with my neck too. My doctor advised me not to shake with my head. But’s it's my choice (laughs).
Why you decided to call your band Helloween? Is it truth that it was Markus' idea after watching Carpenter's movie 'Helloween'?
MW: Yes. We were watching that movie in the times when we were forming the band. We liked it and we realized that the name Helloween illustrates what we want to do and what we want to say and give to people. Its sound is great too.
Can you share with your fans your memories from all gigs you played in Poland? Maybe there were some funny situations, nice meetings?
MW: I have good memories from Poland. We have great fans there and there are many people coming to our shows. They sing and dance, always have fun. They are very loud and full of energy. Since the political situation in your country has changed we have great relationships with the fans and it's also easier to arrange a show there. We played once in Katowice and last year in Krakow. We were all very surprised by the fact that when we arrived at the venue there were already many fans waiting for us. Unfortunately we had no time to go and see the center of Krakow.
You should really do it someday. It's a very beautiful city!
MW: I'm sure it is! I remember that when I woke up and looked through a window I saw a castle almost like in Transylvania! Great impression. I didn't know where I was!
Your impression from the show in Krakow?
MW: Beside the fact that it was very rainy and cold day I had great memories. The venue was very nice. In the beginning I had problems with lights which were blinding me but later it was ok. It was much better than in Katowice.
Thank you very much for the interview. Now say something for your Polish fans.
MW: Hmm... Stay how you are! I hope to see you in Poland soon again!
This interview was originally published on Polish Helloween website
