KISKE: 'Metal Loves To Turn Everything Around: Morality, The Cross, The Pentagram, The Truth'

MetalSymphony.com recently conducted an interview with former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow.

MetalSymphony.com: I see you have included in [new solo career album "Past In Different Ways", featuring acoustic and stripped down reworked versions of some of HELLOWEEN's classics] some songs from the (HELLOWEEN) album "Chameleon". What's your opinion about this album? Why do you think that many HELLOWEEN fans don't like this album?

Kiske: "The best records we did (during my time [with HELLOWEEN]) were the 'Keeper' records, in my eyes, because that was the time when we were functioning as a band. After Kai Hansen's [guitar] departure, it didn't work anymore on a personal level. Mr. Weikath [HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath] was starting his false games, especially behind my back. But I think 'Chameleon' was an honest record, and that's all that matters to me in the end. But it wasn't a band record anymore. I also just re-recorded MY OWN songs from 'Chameleon'."

MetalSymphony.com: Do you think that old HELLOWEEN fans may consider [your new solo] album ["Past In Different Ways"] as a kind heresy due to [the fact that you chose to re-record] these tracks from the German band?

Kiske: "I don't really care anymore about these types of music popes and philistines, I must say. I can record my own music even as Spanish folk songs if I feel like it, and I don't need to ask for anyone's permission about that. I personally think, after how the band has treated me and talked bullshit about me over the years, it would be rather a heresy NOT to take my beautiful songs back again. This makes morally a lot of sense to me; but the metal scene has totally false morals anyway. That's because this scene is kissing the ass of a false god far too much = the antichrist. I don't believe in metal morals. I believe in free (= true) music and in Jesus Christ."

MetalSymphony.com: What's your opinion about your participation in the new AVANTASIA album, I think you already participated in the first Tobias Sammet's [EDGUY/AVANTASIA mainman] album. Do you think that with this third album, AVANTASIA is changing the musical point to a new one near to rock and far from heavy metal?

Kiske: "I like the new material of Tobi and I support him for having the guts to move on and be a more FREE musician. Musicians shall NEVER make records to please markets or critics; THAT'S false music. But as I said, the metal world tends to have its own 'morals' here... As a FREE musician, you will always be a 'betrayer' for metal fascists. But you have to be true to yourself, because that makes true music. If you're not true to yourself, you're a betrayer of yourself and GOD. We both know that's when certain mentalities call you 'true' again, but it's just a lie. Metal generally loves to turn everything around: morality, the cross, the pentagram, the truth ... I learned trough metal a lot about what it right and what is wrong, so I thank that scene for that! I can still enjoy a good-hearted rocking song, but I don't need false music scenes or dogmas to follow in my life. [AVANTASIA's] 'Lost in Space' is my favorite songs on Tobi's album. Unfortunately, my vocals didn't make it on the album, just on a download version."

Read the entire interview at MetalSymphony.com.