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Kai Hansen

Kai Hansen

Real/full name:
Kai Michael Hansen
Age:
61 (born Jan 17th, 1963)
Place of birth:
Germany (Hamburg)
Gender:
Male

Biography

Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of Gamma Ray, and the co-founder of Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide. He is regarded as "the grandfather of power metal", having founded the two above-mentioned seminal bands in the genre.

After briefly appearing in a band called Ancient Call, his musical career began in earnest in ...

Trivia

For almost twenty years, Kai has played ESP Guitars. He first started using them during his days with Helloween after hearing testimonials from artists such as George Lynch and Kirk Hammett of Metallica. Before Helloween, he had owned a white Ibanez guitar and a Les Paul, then saved up for a Marshall amplifier by delivering newspapers.

He's father of Tim Hansen.

Gamma Ray

Guitars (1989-present), Vocals (1995-present)

1990 Heaven Can Wait (Single) Guitars, Vocals (backing)
1990 Heaven Can Wait / Mr. Outlaw (Single) Vocals, Guitars
1990 Space Eater / The Silence (Single) Guitars
1990 Heading for Tomorrow Guitars, Vocals (additional) (tracks 5, 9), Songwriting (tracks 1-7, 9), Lyrics (tracks 2-7, 9)
1990 Kerrang! Plastic Explosive (Split) Guitars
1990 Heaven Can Wait (EP) Guitars
1990 Who Do You Think You Are? (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1990 Heading for the East (Video) Guitars, Vocals
1991 Sigh No More (Single) Guitars
1991 One with the World (Single) Guitars
1991 Sigh No More Lyrics (tracks 1-4, 6, 8-10), Guitars, Vocals (backing), Vocals (additional) (track 3), Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6, 8-10)
1993 Power of Metal (Split video) Guitars, Vocals
1993 Insanity and Genius Lyrics (tracks 1-5, 9-11), Vocals (lead) (track 10), Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 1-5, 11), Vocals (backing)
1993 Future Madhouse (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1993 Lust for Live (Video) Guitars, Vocals
1994 Power of Metal (Split) Guitars, Vocals
1995 Land of the Free (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1995 Rebellion in Dreamland (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1995 Land of the Free Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1-5, 9-12), Lyrics (tracks 1-4, 6, 9-13)
1996 Silent Miracles (EP) Guitars, Vocals
1996 Alive '95 (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
1997 Valley of the Kings (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1997 Somewhere Out in Space Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 7, 12), Lyrics (tracks 1-4, 6-8, 11, 12, 14)
1999 Power Plant Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 11), Lyrics (tracks 1, 2, 4-6, 8, 10, 11)
2000 Blast from the Past (Compilation) Vocals, Guitars
2001 Heaven or Hell (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2001 No World Order! Lyrics (tracks 1, 3-5, 7, 8, 10), Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 3-5, 7, 8, 10), Guitars
2003 Skeletons in the Closet (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
2005 Majestic Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 3-5, 8, 9), Lyrics (tracks 1, 3-5, 8, 9)
2007 Land of the Free II Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Lyrics (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
2008 Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome - Live in Montreal (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
2008 Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome - Live in Montreal (Video) Guitars, Vocals
2009 Wacken Open Air 2009 (Video) Guitars, Vocals
2010 To the Metal! (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2010 To the Metal! Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8), Lyrics (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8)
2011 Skeletons & Majesties (EP) Guitars, Vocals
2012 Skeletons & Majesties Live (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
2012 Skeletons & Majesties Live (Video) Guitars, Vocals
2013 Master of Confusion (EP) Guitars, Vocals
2014 Someday / Demonseed (Single) Vocals, Guitars
2014 Hellbent (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2014 Empire of the Undead Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 11), Lyrics (tracks 1-3, 5-9, 11)
2014 Avalon (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2014 Time for Deliverance (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2014 Pale Rider (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2014 I Will Return (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2015 The Best Of (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals (lead) (CD1; CD2 tracks 1-3, 6-10, 12, 13)
2015 Heading for the East (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
2016 Lust for Live (Live album) Vocals, Guitars
2021 Avalon (live) (Single) Vocals, Guitars
2021 Land of the Free (live) (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2021 Lust for Life (Single) Guitars, Vocals (additional)
2021 30 Years Live Anniversary (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
(show all)

Helloween

Guitars, Vocals (1983-1988, 2017-present)

1984 Death Metal Demo (Demo) Guitars, Vocals
1984 Death Metal (Split) Guitars, Vocals
1985 Helloween (EP) Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting, Lyrics
1985 Metal Attack Vol. 1 (Split) Guitars, Vocals
1985 Walls of Jericho Lyrics (tracks 2, 5-8), Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 2, 5-8), Guitars
1986 Judas (Single) Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2), Lyrics (tracks 1, 2)
1987 Halloween (Single) Guitars
1987 Hell on Wheels Tour Sampler (Split) Guitars, Vocals
1987 Future World (Single) Guitars
1987 Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I Lyrics (tracks 2, 4, 6-8), Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing), Songwriting (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-8)
1987 Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I Vocals (lead) (track 6)
1988 ...Pumpkin Noise (Single) Guitars
1988 Save Us (EP) Guitars, Vocals
1988 Dr. Stein (Single) Guitars
1988 Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II Lyrics (tracks 7, 8), Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing), Songwriting (tracks 7, 8)
1988 I Want Out (Single) Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 1, 2), Lyrics (tracks 1, 2)
1989 I Want Out Live (Live album) Guitars
1989 I Want Out Live (Single) Guitars
1989 MTV Headbangers Ball (Split) Guitars, Vocals
1989 Live in the U.K. (Live album) Guitars
1989 Keepers Live (Live album) Guitars
1989 Pumpkin Tracks (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals
1991 The Best • The Rest • The Rare (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals (tracks 4, 6)
1993 Keeper of the Seven Keys Parts 1 & 2 (Compilation) Guitars
1994 The Pumpkin Video (Video) Guitars (tracks 1, 2)
1998 Helloween / Master of the Rings (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals (tracks 1-5)
2000 The Pumpkin Video (Video) Guitars (tracks 1-2)
2002 Treasure Chest (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals
2016 Ride the Sky - The Very Best of the Noise Years 1985-1998 (Compilation) Vocals (tracks 1-7, CD1), Guitars (tracks 1-15, CD1)
2017 Pumpkins United (Single) Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting, Lyrics
2019 Halloween - Live (Single) Guitars
2019 United Alive in Madrid (Live album) Guitars, Vocals
2019 United Alive (Video) Guitars, Vocals
2020 The Game Is On (EP) Guitars, Vocals
2021 Skyfall (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2021 Skyfall (Single) Guitars, Vocals
2021 United Forces (Compilation) Guitars, Vocals
2021 Helloween Guitars, Vocals
2022 Best Time (Single) Guitars, Vocals
(show all)

Ancient Call

Guitars

Gentry

Guitars, Vocals (1978-1981)

Hansen & Friends

Vocals, Guitars (2016-2017)

2016 XXX - Three Decades in Metal Vocals, Guitars
2017 Thank You Wacken (Live album) Vocals, Guitars

Iron Fist

Guitars, Vocals (1982-1983)

Iron Savior

Guitars, Vocals (additional) (1996-2001)

1997 Iron Savior (EP) Guitars
1997 Iron Savior Guitars, Vocals (lead) (tracks 6, 10), Songwriting (track 10), Lyrics (track 10)
1998 Coming Home (Single) Guitars, Vocals
1999 Unification Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (tracks 3, 12), Lyrics (tracks 3, 12)
1999 Interlude (EP) Guitars, Vocals, Songwriting (track 3), Lyrics (track 3)
2000 I've Been to Hell (Single) Guitars, Vocals (backing)
2001 Dark Assault Lyrics (track 3), Guitars, Vocals (backing), Vocals (lead) (track 3), Vocals (additional) (track 6), Songwriting (track 3)

Powerfool

Guitars (1983)

Second Hell

Guitars, Vocals (1981-1982)

Unisonic

Guitars (2011-2017)

2012 Ignition (EP) Guitars
2012 Unisonic Guitars, Vocals (backing, choirs)
2014 For the Kingdom (EP) Guitars
2014 Light of Dawn Guitars
2017 Live in Wacken (Live album) Guitars

Avantasia

Vocals (2008), Vocals, Guitars (2010-2011)

Angra

1993 Angels Cry Guitars (lead) (track 6)
1998 Angels Cry / Holy Land (Compilation) Guitars (lead) (track 6)
2004 Temple of Shadows Vocals (track 6)

Avantasia

2001 The Metal Opera Vocals (lead) (tracks 11, 12) (as Regrin, the Dwarf)
2002 The Metal Opera Pt. II Vocals (lead) (tracks 1, 8) [as Regrin, the Dwarf]
2008 The Scarecrow Guitars (lead) (track 3)
2011 The Flying Opera - Around the World in 20 Days - Live (Video) Vocals (additional)

Blind Guardian

1989 Follow the Blind Vocals (track 8), Guitars (lead) (tracks 5, 8)
1990 Tales from the Twilight World Vocals (additional) (tracks 5, 6), Guitars (lead) (track 9), Vocals (backing)
1992 Somewhere Far Beyond Guitars (lead) (track 5)
2012 Memories of a Time to Come (Compilation) Vocals (Disc 2, track 3)

Dark Age

2009 Acedia Vocals (track 12)
2010 Acedia Vocals (track 13)

Doro

2004 Classic Diamonds Guitars (track 13), Bass (track 13), Guitars (acoustic), Vocals (backing)

Edu Falaschi

2020 Temple of Shadows in Concert (Live album) Vocals (track 8)

HammerFall

1999 I Want Out (Single) Guitars (track 1), Vocals (track 1), Keyboards (track 1), Vocals (backing) (track 3)
2000 I Want Out / Hunting High and Low (Split) Guitars (track 1), Vocals (track 1), Keyboards (track 1), Vocals (backing) (track 3)

Headhunter

1990 Parody of Life Guitars (lead) (track 7)

Heavenly

2000 Coming from the Sky Vocals (track 4)

Heavens Gate

1992 Hell for Sale! Vocals (spoken word) (track 2), Guitars (track 7)

Heavenwood

1998 Heartquake / Downcast (Single) Vocals (track 2)
1998 Swallow Vocals (tracks 6, 9)

Hevisaurus

2019 Bändikouluun! Guitars (lead) (track 10)

In Arkadia

2010 Wasteland Chronicles Vocals (track 9)

Induction

2019 Induction Guitars (lead), Vocals (track 6)

Iron Savior

2022 Solar Wings (Single) Vocals
2022 Reforged - Ironbound Guitars (lead, CD1 tracks 2, 6, 7, 10), Vocals (lead, CD1 tracks 4, 10)

Lanzer

1995 Under a Different Sun Vocals (lead), Guitars (lead) (track 4)

Maverick

2012 Natural Born Steel Vocals (lead) (track 5)

Merging Flare

2011 Reverence Vocals (additional lead) (tracks 1, 6), Guitars (lead) (tracks 4, 10)

Night Laser

2017 Laserhead Vocals

NorthTale

2021 Eternal Flame Vocals (track 3)

Paragon

2012 Force of Destruction Vocals (tracks 6, 13)

Place Vendome

2017 Close to the Sun Guitars (lead) (tracks 5, 6)

Primal Fear

1997 Primal Fear Guitars (lead) (tracks 5, 6, 9)

Scheepers

2011 Scheepers Guitars (lead) (track 10)

Stormwarrior

2002 Stormwarrior Vocals, Guitars (track 12)
2003 Heavy Metal Fire (EP) Guitars (track 6), Vocals (track 6)
2004 Northern Rage Guitars (lead) (track 5), Vocals (additional) (track 2)

Tragedian

2017 Unholy Divine Guitars (lead) (track 4)

Van Canto

2018 Trust in Rust Vocals (track 4)

Velvet Viper

2018 Respice Finem Guitars (tracks 3, 7), Vocals (choirs)

Alley Cat

1989 Cat Songs 89 (Demo) Producer, Mixing

Blind Guardian

1992 Somewhere Far Beyond Songwriting (track 5)

Gamma Ray

1990 Heaven Can Wait / Mr. Outlaw (Single) Producer
1990 Heading for Tomorrow Producer
1990 Heaven Can Wait (EP) Producer
1990 Who Do You Think You Are? (Single) Producer
1990 Heading for the East (Video) Remixing, Producer
1991 Sigh No More (Single) Lyrics, Songwriting (as "Hansen")
1991 Sigh No More Liner notes
1993 Insanity and Genius Engineering, Producer
1993 Future Madhouse (Single) Producer
1995 Rebellion in Dreamland (Single) Producer, Engineering, Mixing
1995 Land of the Free Producer, Engineering, Mixing
1996 Silent Miracles (EP) Producer
1996 Alive '95 (Live album) Producer, Mixing
1997 Valley of the Kings (Single) Producer
1997 Somewhere Out in Space Producer, Mixing
1997 The Karaoke Album (Compilation) Producer
1999 Power Plant Producer
2000 Blast from the Past (Compilation) Engineering, Producer
2001 Heaven or Hell (Single) Producing
2001 No World Order! Producer, Engineering
2003 Skeletons in the Closet (Live album) Mixing, Mastering
2005 Majestic Producer
2007 Land of the Free II Producer, Engineering
2008 Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome - Live in Montreal (Live album) Producer
2008 Hell Yeah!!! The Awesome Foursome - Live in Montreal (Video) Producer
2010 To the Metal! Producer, Recording, Mixing, Mastering
2011 Skeletons & Majesties (EP) Producer
2013 Master of Confusion (EP) Recording, Mixing, Engineering
2014 Empire of the Undead Producer, Recording
2014 Avalon (Single) Producer, Recording
2015 The Best Of (Compilation) Liner notes
(show all)

HammerFall

1999 I Want Out (Single) Producer (tracks 1, 3)
2000 I Want Out / Hunting High and Low (Split) Producer (tracks 1, 3)
2008 Masterpieces (Compilation) Recording, Mixing (tracks 5-7)

Hansen & Friends

2016 XXX - Three Decades in Metal Producer, Recording, Engineering

Helloween

1986 Judas (Single) Cover concept
1987 Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I Cover concept

Iron Savior

1997 Iron Savior Co-producer, Recording
1998 Coming Home (Single) Co-producer
1999 Unification Mixing (track 3)
2001 Dark Assault Producer (additional, track 3; vocals, tracks 7, 10)

Megace

1990 This Is the News (Demo) Producer, Engineering

Merging Flare

2011 Reverence Recording (additional)

Steelpreacher

2011 Hellraiser Mastering

Stormwarrior

2002 Stormwarrior Producer, Recording, Engineering, Mixing
2003 Heavy Metal Fire (EP) Producer (tracks 5, 6), Recording (tracks 5,6), Engineering (tracks 5, 6)
2003 Heavy Metal Fire (EP) Mixing, Mastering
2004 Odens Krigare (EP) Producer, Recording (drums), Mixing, Mastering
2004 Northern Rage Producer, Recording (drums), Mixing, Mastering

Unisonic

2012 Ignition (EP) Producer
2012 Unisonic Co-producer

Velvet Viper

2018 Respice Finem Producer

Ynis Witrin

1992 Peace's Dying (Demo) Remixing
Added by: DMR Modified by: SectaZ
Added on: 2011-04-09 11:38:20 Last modified on: 2024-02-11 22:55:07
 
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