HELLBOOK

ANDREAS DERIS was born in Karlsruhe on 18 August 1964. He is the current vocalist and one of the main songwriters
for Helloween.
Additionally, he co-founded the German melodic metal band Pink Cream 69, in which he was the lead singer. He
also has an active solo career, as well as his own recording studio in Tenerife called Mi Sueño.
Deris started to sing in his first band, Paranoid, when he was 15 years old, changing the band’s
name to Nameless some years later. He stayed in this band along with his school friend and
drummer Ralf Maurer.
In late 1984 Andi Deris joined a band called Dragon with the two brothers Bruno and Oscar Di
Blasio (Di Blasio Bros) on guitar and Bernd and Stefan Lüddemann on bass and drums. After
playing live concerts in the Karlsruhe area, they went to Edo Zanki’s Studio in Karlsdorf
and to Arco Studio, Munich to record their first demo with producer Tony Monn. In 1986,
Bruno and Oscar Di Blasio, together with Andi Deris, met the Italian bass player Daniel
De Niro and... Kymera was born! Ralf Maurer alias “Ralph Mason” was “again” recruited
as the band’s new drummer. After a few concerts, Ralf quit Kymera and was replaced
by the talented young drummer Kosta Zafiriou.
That early friendship between Andi Deris and Kosta led to the formation of Pink
Cream 69 early in 1987. The original line-up was Dennis Ward, Kosta Zafiriou,
Alfred Koffler and Deris. They became popular enough to attract interest from
numerous record companies, ultimately choosing to sign with CBS (now known
as Sony Music) and toured in Europe, America and Japan, recording 3 successful
albums.
In 1993 Michael Kiske left Helloween and was replaced by Deris. The new
Helloween line-up recorded Master of the Rings, a departure from the progressive
rock sound of Chameleon and a return to their classic power metal
sound. Deris immediately became the primary songwriter for the band together
with Weikath.
Deris then recorded his first solo album Come in from the Rain. The album
contained some power metal material such as The King of 7 Eyes, but
the album is remembered for its experimental side with more mellow
and mid-tempo material. Deris sang and played guitar, accompanied
by Peter Idera, Ralph Maison and Gisbert Royder.
Besides Helloween, Deris is a very active collaborator in parallel
projects. He provided the lead vocals for some songs in Ayreon
and Rage’s albums and he sang with an ensemble of singers in
the 20 Years Anniversary Song by the band Axxis.
He appeared together with Uli in the Tribute to Rainbow album
with the song Catch the Rainbow, and he sings with Angry
Anderson and Lemmy Kilmister on the Saxon anthem I’ve
Got to Rock to Stay Alive.
In 2010 he recorded guest vocals with the band Wicked
Sensation for a duet in My Turn to Fly. In 2011 he
appeared in the duet Black Widow with the vocalist
of Eden’s Curse on their Trinity album. In addition,
he worked on the charity project “Help! For Japan
EP” where he sang along with other well-known
metal players such as former Helloween singer
Michael Kiske.
He also works as a producer in his own studio, producing
Tenerife-based band Meridian Zero’s first album
Doors of Creation and Esclavitud’s album Condenados
Al Paraíso.
ANDI KEEPS THE FLAME OF THE PUMPKIN!!!
ANDI
DERIS