An interesting thread is playing itself out on the Nuclear Blast affiliated Helloween board. Take it for what you will but the initial response to a fan's inquiry came from the label: "Helloween will record a new album with Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, but without Roland Grapow. Andi Deris will also appear on the album. We're not sure about the title yet but Keeper Of The Seven Keys III is one of the possibilities. And yes, the orchestra will also be there. So stay tune to the news from the band. Cheers! Nuclear Blast staff"
A response, credited to Michael Weikath follows: "It is indeed very likely that the next album may be called Keeper III, but what was written in the email is too far fetched and not at all true. There will only be a Keeper III if the circumstances will allow for it. The current line up is fit to DO something like this, thats why its been put into consideration. However, there will be no friggin ORCHESTRA let alone and neither will any former band members appear on that record, and what a crap idea that would be, this is Helloween and not some kind of Metal entertainment circus that maybe other bands have tried before, which didn't convince me at all even if some people seemed to have liked it, I DIDNT. An album should be the work of ONE line up, and no kindergarden left and right stuff cos of commercial considerations. Either a band is able to come up with a great thing ON and OF THEIR VERY OWN, or its a circus number and doesnt belong in Heavy Rock... We won't do a circus number."
Time will tell if this comes to pass. Stay tuned!
Thanks to Bravewords.com
A response, credited to Michael Weikath follows: "It is indeed very likely that the next album may be called Keeper III, but what was written in the email is too far fetched and not at all true. There will only be a Keeper III if the circumstances will allow for it. The current line up is fit to DO something like this, thats why its been put into consideration. However, there will be no friggin ORCHESTRA let alone and neither will any former band members appear on that record, and what a crap idea that would be, this is Helloween and not some kind of Metal entertainment circus that maybe other bands have tried before, which didn't convince me at all even if some people seemed to have liked it, I DIDNT. An album should be the work of ONE line up, and no kindergarden left and right stuff cos of commercial considerations. Either a band is able to come up with a great thing ON and OF THEIR VERY OWN, or its a circus number and doesnt belong in Heavy Rock... We won't do a circus number."
Time will tell if this comes to pass. Stay tuned!
Thanks to Bravewords.com