German Power Metal pioneers Helloween have lined up the following dates in Russia/Ukraine during October 2006:

Oct. 05 - Ekaterinburg - KOSMOS Koncert Hall
Oct. 06 - Ufa Ogni - UFA Club
Oct. 07 - Kiev - DK Nau club
Oct. 08 - Moskow - DK Gorbunova
Oct. 10 - St. Petersburg - Port Club

The band is going to release a double DVD, featuring footage that was filmed during shows in Sofia, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. Alongside the live footage, the double DVD will include lots of exciting bonus material. The exact release date will be announced by SPV in the coming weeks.

A number of European festival appearances are scheduled in the coming weeks. The band will perform a best-of set, featuring all their important hits, including the odd cult number, for the first time performed by the current lineup. An extensive tour of North America and Canada will take place in the fall.

Source:	metal-temple.com
Band profile:	Helloween

Steamhammer/SPV, along with Cargo, have announced plans to release HELLOWEEN's "Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy" album in a sought-after, popular-with-collectors vinyl version (double LP in a gatefold sleeve) around mid-June.

The band have also announced the impending release of a double DVD, filmed during shows in Sofia, Tokyo and Sao Paulo. In Sao Paulo alone, Helloween played in front of over 6,000 enthusiastic fans. Alongside the live footage, the double DVD will include lots of exciting bonus material. The exact release date will be announced by SPV in the coming weeks.

Source:	blabbermouth.net
Band profile:	Helloween

The german band Helloween announced the tittle of their new album scheduled to be released at October 31th, 2005, it will be called: "Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy".

The band explains the causes that lead them to choose this tittle:

"The new HELLOWEEN songs inherit elements that connect to the lyrical concept of the first two highly successful 'Keeper OF The Seven Keys' albums. The new HELLOWEEN compositions offer intricate arrangements, many speed changes, gifted drum breaks and epic sounds. A renewed team spirit prevailing during pre-production encouraged the band members to hold intense rehearsal room sessions with a fresh inspiration, resulting in the band choosing "Keeper of The Seven Keys - The Legacy"."

They also make an clarification about their new DVD "Hellish Videos":

"The statement from Sanctuary says that the DVD contains all of the band's videos up to the "Time Of The Oath". This is untrue as the DVD contains ALLof the band's videos from Rabbit Don't Come Easy and back."

Their first Single, "Mrs. God", will be released at July 4th, and will "will contain various bonus features such as an exclusive non album track, one album track and the video for "Mrs. God", which will be shot in Nueremberg / Germany beginning of May."

They also plan to make a tour called "'Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy' World Tour 2005/2006". "On November 18th, their world tour will kick off in the Czech Republic. Europe will be toured extensively until end of January; in February the band will be playing in Asia, followed by concerts in North and South America from March on."

You can check some tourdates that have been already announced on their Tour Section, and some photos of the band on their News Section, in their website.

Source:	helloween.org
Band profile:	Helloween

HELLOWEEN and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann have parted ways amicably. The former RUNNING WILD & UDO drummer, who played the drums during the pumpkin heads' RABBIT DON'T COME EASY world tour, will not be playing for the Hamburg based band any longer. During the tour it became apparent to Stefan and to the rest of the members of Helloween that, although things were going extremely well on the human side of things, Stefan and the band did not entirely share the same views musically. Stefan decided to stay to help out the band during their pre-production until a replacement was found.

Dani Löble, highly acclaimed ex-drummer of RAWHEAD REXX turned out to be the perfect man for HELLOWEEN. Dani, an exceptional talent known to many musical insiders, has already finished most of the drum recordings for Helloween´s follow-up album to RABBIT DON'T COME EASY. Helloween fans can anticipate awe-inspiring loads of double bass madness and the trademark Helloween style of songs and arrangements on their upcoming album.

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Source:	The Official Homepage]
Band profile:	Helloween

Acclaimed German producer/engineer Charlie Bauerfeind (SAXON, HAMMERFALL, RAGE, BLIND GUARDIAN) has posted the following update at his official web site:

"Finally we started the pre-production phase of the next HELLOWEEN record about a week ago. The guys are already in songwriting and rehearsal mode since month and are working very hard to shape up some truly great songs. I joined them for the first time on 24th of November in their rehearsal room and got some great vibes. Sascha (Gerstner, guitar) and Stefan (Schwarzmann, drums) seem to be solidly integrated now into HELLOWEEN and everything was sounding really tight. The keyboards also melt very well into the sound-picture. German keyboard veteran Friedl Amon, who used to mastermind hardrock/'metal' shootingstar formation REVOLVER in the early '80s, adds some great stuff to the lot. He will handle the keyboard arrangements at his studio in Germany throughout the next months.

"I think we're gonna be starting to record the basic tracks at around middle of December and after a short Christmas break, commence our work 'till March 2005."

Band profile:

Helloween

Helloween has signed a new record deal with Steamhammer/SPV records. After 20 years, 18 published records, and a killer performance in front of 40,000 people at this year's Wacken Open Air Festival, the band has signed with SPV yet again! In 1987/1988, Helloween were already under contract with SPV and this collaboration brought Manfred Schütz and SPV the first two golden records - at that time 250,000 units - for "Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 1 & 2

Original member Michael Weikath stated: "SPV was the at the beginning of it all and that is already the basis for a successful co-operation.

SPV managing director Manfred Schütz stated: "Helloween is one of the first Metal Acts, which set the standard for German Heavy Metal world-wide. The outstanding success with the first two golden records still remains for me as one of the most beautiful moments in memory and I am proud that Helloween is now a SPV/Steamhammer act"

At the end of of 2004, the band will begin the production of a new album with producer Charlie Bauerfeind. The publication date is planned for summer 2005, the world tour begins in October 2005

Band profile:

Helloween

Veteran German power metallers HELLOWEEN have been officially confirmed for the 2004 edition of Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-8, 2004 in Wacken, Germany.

According to an official newsletter from the festival's organizers, next year's event will be a celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary with special performances by "new hits, old hits, reunions, newcomers and top acts."

The list of bands currently scheduled to appear at the festival is as follows:

AFTER FOREVER
AMON AMARTH
ANTHRAX
BAL-SAGOTH
BRAINSTORM
BÖHSE ONKELZ
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CATHEDRAL
CHILDREN OF BODOM
DEATH ANGEL
DEICIDE
DESTRUCTION
DIO
EKTOMORF
GRAVE DIGGER
HELLOWEEN
HYPOCRISY
MAYHEM
MOTÖRHEAD
NEVERMORE
SAXON
SCHANDMAUL
THUNDERSTONE
ZODIAC MINDWARP

More confirmations will be announced soon.

Band profile:

Helloween

Former STRATOVARIUS drummer Jörg Michael and current HELLOWEEN skinsman Stefan Schwarzmann have recorded guest appearances for the solo project of FEUERENGEL frontman Boris, dubbed DER BOTE.

The band's debut album, which has yet to be officially released, features Jörg on six songs ("Intro", "Einsam", "Todgeweiht", "Vorbei", "Kalt" and "2003") and Stefan on three ("Ich Bin Gekommen", "Lebendig Begraben" and "Ich Bekenne Mich Schuldig"). More information on the project, including audio and video samples, can be downloaded from the official web site: www.der-bote.com.

Band profile:

Helloween