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Markus Grosskopf | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Grosskopf performing withHelloween in 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1965-09-21)21 September 1965 (age 59) Hamburg,West Germany |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Bass |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | Avantasia |
| Website | helloween |
Markus Grosskopf (born 21 September 1965) is a German musician best known as the bass guitarist, backing vocalist and a founding member of thepower metal bandHelloween.[1]
Grosskopf started playing bass at the age of 15 when he became friends with a drummer and a guitar player. They were looking for a bass player, so he bought his first bass and started jamming with covers of theSex Pistols,Ramones, and the like. They covered songs from the Sex Pistols, the Ramones,Sid Vicious,XTC,The Stranglers, and others. Some time later, he decided to leave in hope of finding a heavier band with more live playing opportunities, then he metKai Hansen and his band Second Hell, with whom he started playing. The band soon joined forces with former Powerfool guitaristMichael Weikath and adopted the nameHelloween, with the original lineup beingKai Hansen (guitars/vocals), Michael Weikath (guitars), Grosskopf (bass) andIngo Schwichtenberg (drums).
Grosskopf writes some of the band's songs, which were initially mostly used asB-sides, but sinceRabbit Don't Come Easy (which contained three songs credited to Markus), tracks written by him are regularly present on their albums.
In 2017, he and his bandmatesKai Hansen,Michael Kiske,Sascha Gerstner,Andi Deris,Michael Weikath andDani Löble participated in the 'Pumpkins United' Reunion Tour.[2]
Grosskopf's first side project was Shockmachine where he played both bass and rhythm guitars. They released their first album,Shockmachine, in 1998. He played bass on the first two albums ofEdguy vocalistTobias Sammet's project,Avantasia, issued in 2001 and 2002. He played onUriah Heep members' arranged orchestral version ofSalisbury released on video in 2001.[3]
He also worked with the band Kickhunter, which released in 2002 their first albumHearts and Bones on which Markus played the roles of bassist, guitarist and producer, then again on theLittle Monsters album released in 2007.[4] His most recent endeavour is his bassguitar-focused side-project,Markus Grosskopf's Bassinvaders.[5]
In 2015, Grosskopf performed withJudas Priest inBelgrade, Serbia, and following it, performed in countries such as Russia, Japan, Australia and the United States.[6]
In 2016, he performed withGotthard.[3]
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Grosskopf's playing style has been known to include prominentbasslines, and occasionally he has a solo such as in "Heavy Metal (Is the Law)" or "Eagle Fly Free", which is one of his most famous. He is known to use both his fingers and a pick, depending on the song. He regularly uses a pick for the more straightforward, simple bass lines, as inI Want Out orJust a Little Sign, and fingers for more lead-type playing, as onEagle Fly Free orHalloween.
His playing style expanded on one of Helloween's more recent albumsKeeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy, where many more bass solos and lead parts are heard, like "Invisible Man", "Light the Universe" and even some slap bass on the first single "Mrs. God", as well as "Goin' Home" fromPink Bubbles Go Ape, where one can hear slap for the first time inHelloween's discography.[7]
Regarding new ideas for the songs, he was quoted saying to theMetal Insider: "Sometimes I shout them into my mobile phone wherever I am at whether it be on a toilet, backstage, or somewhere else. There is a big collection of riffs and more saved up and I plan to sort all these out when I get home."[3]
Loudwire considered him one of the best hard rock/metal bassists of all time.[8]
9. Video interview on RockpagesTV (2012)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoIYWZl4CfE&t=22s
Media related toMarkus Grosskopf at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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