MICHAEL KISKE: Reunion With HELLOWEEN 'Will Never Happen'

Ex-HELLOWEEN frontman Michael Kiske has once again shot down the possibility of a reunion with his former bandmates. Despite the fact that the singer stated in a recent interview that he would consider playing a one-off show with HELLOWEEN at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival, a full-fledged reunion "will never happen," according to Kiske, "because I don't make music or go on stage with people who deeply hate me. Especially Michael Weikath [HELLOWEEN guitarist/songwriter] is not in love with me at all. Don't forget, he tricked me out of the band 13 years ago! So why should I return now? I will always refuse to sing his music now; that's a plain question of self-respect! Most of the fans are far too abstract in their thinking. Life doesn't work that way. At least not mine. MichaelWeikath was working hard (and pretty successfully) to ruin my name in the heavy-rock world. I can promise you: I will always forgive, and he IS long forgiven! But I will never forget."

On the topic of the other HELLOWEEN members and ex-members, Kiske said, "I was never at war with Kai Hansen [former HELLOWEEN and current GAMMA RAY guitarist/vocalist]. It was always fun to be with him, and I even had dinner with him two month ago. I also did meet Markus Großkopf [bass] six weeks ago, and we had a very nice and friendly conversation; there seems to be no more bad feelings. And if I meet Michael Weikath, of course I will give him my hand for peace. I don't hold much hatred in myself anyway; I am trying to work in the direct OTHER direction, you know? Some anger sometimes, oh yes, but I don't want to hate anyone. So I don't hate Michael Weikath either. Life is too precious! But I doubt that we will ever get friends, we are far too different in moral-ideals and thinking; and we also never really were friends. I never talked to Andi Deris [current HELLOWEEN vocalist]; just a short 'Hi' in the beginning of Weikath's and Andi's friendship before Deris got into the band, so I don't know his personality. He probably is very OK and just trying to make the best out of the situation, like we all would do."

Regarding his future, Kiske said, "I will find new audiences who like the stuff that I am doing these days, or I will be leaving the music scene soon. It's all pretty much depending on my next solo record; IF I can do it, and also how much it will sell, and if I will still be able to keep on being a professional musician after that. I won't become a weekend warrior! That's for sure! I do it fully with all my energy, or I don't do it. I will make a decision for my future life after that next solo record."

Michael Kiske is believed to be working on a new solo album for Italy's Frontiers Records, tentatively due in early 2006. More information will be made available soon.