Kai Hansen

**Kai Hansen** is a German metal legend often hailed as one of the founding fathers of power metal. Best known as the original guitarist and vocalist of Helloween, he helped shape the genre’s signature sound with his soaring vocals, blistering riffs, and epic songwriting in the ’80s. After leaving Helloween, he formed Gamma Ray in 1989, another powerhouse band that kept the speed/power metal flame burning bright. Over the decades, Hansen’s become a beloved figure in the scene, earning nicknames like “The Axe” for his guitar wizardry and “The Voice” for his distinct high-pitched screams.

These days, Hansen stays busy with solo projects, collaborations, and celebrating his legacy. Recent releases like *XXX – Three Decades in Metal* (a career-spanning compilation) and *Thank You Wacken (Live)* showcase his enduring energy onstage, while *Rock Bottom* and *Born Free* highlight his knack for anthemic, fist-pumping metal. Whether he’s shredding with Gamma Ray, guesting on tracks by younger bands, or diving into raw demos (like *XTRAX: THE DEMOS*), Kai Hansen remains a riff machine who’s never lost his passion for loud, proud, unapologetic heavy metal.