Michael Weikath

Michael Weikath
Background information
Birth name Michael Ingo Joachim Weikath
Born 7 August 1962 (1962-08-07) (age 49)
Hamburg, Germany
Genres Power metal, Speed metal, Heavy metal
Occupations Guitarist, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active 1978–present
Associated acts Powerfool, Helloween

Michael Ingo Joachim Weikath (born 7 August 1962) is the guitarist of the German Power metal band Helloween.

"Weiki" was born in Hamburg, Germany. He is one of the Helloween founding members, along with the musicians Kai Hansen (vocals/guitars), Markus Grosskopf (bass) and Ingo Schwichtenberg (drums). Along with Grosskopf he is the only other original member still active in the band. Weikath integrated the first Helloween line up in 1982. In 1984, the band had signed a deal with Noise Records and recorded two songs for a Noise compilation record called Death Metal. In this album, he was responsible for the track "Oernst Of Life". Nowadays Michael Weikath lives in his home in Tenerife, Spain.

In a 2002 interview with Chaotic Critiques webzine, Michael Weikath was asked if the band was somewhat spiritual, pointing out the occasional spiritual themes on songs such as "Hey Lord". Weikath replied:

Well most of the guys in the band are Christian, apart from Uli [Kusch] who cannot say that he has decided to accept the existence of a God. Our lyrics tend to have a spiritual feeling, as Uli doesn't mind that kind of lyrics because they express no bad or wrong thinking. It's also necessary to make [our positive lyrics] a point to other people, because just doing negative lyrics in order to hide the fact that one has no self-developed thinking would not satisfy us. I also think there's no excuse in saying “well, when I wrote this I was young and didn't know better.” Well then, DON'T write lyrics or think before you do. A lot of people will listen to what a lyricist is saying, and so you should bear in mind the responsibility that you have to the fans.[1]

Discography

with Helloween

Equipment

Div and 1973 Marshall amp 50 Watt Div and 1982 Marshall amp 100 Watt Div ENGL amps VOX AC 30, Orange Overdrive. 1990 - Gibson Les Paul black; 1990 - Gibson Les Paul white, 1990 - Gibson Flying V white, 198? - Gibson Explorer custom black/white, 1976 - Gibson L6 S 1974/75/79 Fender Stratocasters. Gibson Les Paul Goldtop

References