Markus Grosskopf

Markus Peter Grosskopf (born Markus Peter Großkopf; born 21 September 1965, Hamburg) is a German musician and songwriter, best known as the bass guitarist, backing vocalist and founding member of power metal band Helloween, and one of only two remaining original members who have remained in the band since their formation, the other being Michael Weikath [1] until 2019 when founding member Kai Hansen rejoined the band. Markus Grosskopf's family members currently live in South Africa, Canada, the United States, and Germany.

Markus Grosskopf
Markus playing live with Helloween in 2010
Background information
Born (1965-09-21) 21 September 1965
OriginHamburg, Germany
GenresPower metal, speed metal, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsBass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, fretless bass, upright bass, acoustic bass, washtub bass, keyboard
Years active1978-present
LabelsNuclear Blast
Associated actsHelloween, Bassinvaders, Avantasia
Websitewww.helloween.org

Biography

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 the Sex Pistols, the 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 met Kai Hansen and his band Second Hell, with whom he started playing. The band soon joined forces with former Powerfool guitarist Michael Weikath and adopted the name Helloween, with the original lineup being Kai Hansen (guitars/vocals), Michael Weikath (guitars), Grosskopf (bass) and Ingo Schwichtenberg (drums).

Main article: Helloween

Grosskopf writes some of the band's songs, which were initially mostly used as B-sides, but since Rabbit Don't Come Easy (which contained 3 songs credited to Markus), tracks written by him are regularly present on their albums.

In 2011 Grosskopf with Helloween band performed in Greece. During that time, he along with Andi Deris and Uli Kusch had recorded Master of the Rings.[2]

In 2017 he and his fellow band mates Kai Hansen, Michael Kiske, Sascha Gerstner, Andi Deris, Michael Weikath and Dani Löble had participated in the 'Pumpkins United' Reunion Tour.[3]

Discography

Side projects

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 of Edguy vocalist Tobias Sammet's project, Avantasia, issued in 2001 and 2002. He played on Uriah Heep members' arranged orchestral version of Salisbury released on video in 2001.[4]

He also worked with the band Kickhunter, which released in 2002 their first album Hearts and Bones on which Markus played the roles of bassist, guitarist and producer, then again on the Little Monsters album released in 2007.[5] His most recent endeavour is his bassguitar-focused side-project, Markus Grosskopf's Bassinvaders.[6]

In 2015, Grosskopf performed with Judas Priest in Belgrade, Serbia and following it, performed in countries such as Russia, Japan, Australia and the United States.[7]

In 2016 he performed with Gotthard.[4]

Playing style

Grosskopf's playing style has been known to include prominent basslines, 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 in I Want Out or Just a Little Sign, and fingers for more lead-type playing, as on Eagle Fly Free or Halloween.

His playing style expanded on one of Helloween's more recent albums Keeper 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" from Pink Bubbles Go Ape, where one can hear slap for the first time in Helloween's discography.[8]

Regarding new ideas for the songs, he was quoted saying to the Metal 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."[4]

Amplifiers
  • Ampeg SVT 400 Watt amplifier
  • Ampeg SVT 8/10" Cabinets

Bass guitars
  • Dommenget Telecaster Bass
  • Fender Precision Bass
  • Fender Jazz Bass
  • Sandberg California Basses
  • BC Rich Eagle Bass
  • Warwick Streamer Bass
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References
  1. Interview with Helloween Bassist Markus Grosskopf by Luxi Lahtinen. Archived 8 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine metal-rules.com 18 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  2. "Helloween Bassist Markus Grosskopf - "If You Are Scared To Do Something You Shouldn't Be Working In This Business"; Video Interview Available". Brave Words. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  3. "MARKUS GROSSKOPF On HELLOWEEN's 'Pumpkins United' Reunion Tour: 'It's Getting Better And Better Every Day'". Blabbermouth.net. 11 November 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  4. Eddie Jorgensen (1 March 2016). "Interview: Helloween's Markus Grosskopf talks tour, albums". Metal Insider. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  5. Grigoris Chronis (10 July 2010). "Kickhunter - All In". Metal Temple. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  6. Dimitris Kontogeorgakos (21 January 2008). "Bassinvaders - Hellbassbeaters (CD)". Metal Temple. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  7. Jovan Ristić (7 January 2017). "Markus Grosskopf, HELLOWEEN: "Keeping up the traditional heavy metal"". Hard Wired.
  8. Orpheus Spiliotopoulos (4 October 2005). "Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy (CD)". Metal Temple. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
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