Michael Kiske was born in Hamburg, Germany on January 24th, 1968.
His mu… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Kiske was born in Hamburg, Germany on January 24th, 1968.
His musical career began at age 16 when he was the vocalist for a band called Ill Prophecy. With this band he recorded a demo tape which had early versions of future Helloween songs.
Michael Kiske made his fame in the German power metal band Helloween as their lead singer. Kiske joined Helloween in 1987 and recorded Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I, widely considered to be one of Helloween best albums and a milestone in the creation of the Power metal genre. He stayed with the band for 3 more studio albums and 1 live album. The studio album called Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II which bringed success all over Europe, Asia and even the United States, the live album Live In The U.K. and 2 more studio albums called Pink Bubbles Go Ape and Chameleon.
Kiske has a vibrant and clean voice some fans and critics have likened his singing style and range to that of Geoff Tate or a young Samson-era Bruce Dickinson. He sings in a tenor manner and possesses an almost 4 octave vocal range, as he is capable of reaching extremely high notes (A5) and low baritone notes (C2) as well. Kiske's time in Helloween has proved to be highly influential, and many singers cite him as a major influence. He is often recognised as one of the greatest power metal singers of all time.

Three years after leaving Helloween, Kiske released his first solo album, Instant Clarity which featured guest appearances by Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden. His style is more rock than power metal now. His next solo album Readiness To Sacrifice was released only in Japan in 1999. This album was edited two years later in Europe by Noise Records.

Out of desire to make rock music again, Kiske formed a band, named SupaRed. It's a great rock album and they had opportunities to tour but Michael had problems with his stomach which eventually had to be operated on.This album was under promoted and it didn't have much success so they split.

In 2006, he recorded his third solo album titled Kiske. The new album has soft rock, acoustic songs. Also his debut solo album Instant Clarity was re-released with four bonus tracks.

In 2008 Michael released his fourth solo album Past In Different Ways where he remade his old Helloween songs acoustically.

Kiske from time to time has lent his voice to bands such as Masterplan for a song called Heroes which he duet with Jorn Lande, for a Brazilian band Tribuzy in a song called Absolution which he duet with Renato Tribuzy, in various songs for A Metal Opera called Avantasia, for another one called Aina, for ex-Helloween founding member, lead guitarist, and vocalist Kai Hansen band calledGamma Ray, Edguy and Revolution Renaissance.
He made a project with members of Pink Cream 69 called Place Vendome where Michael sings on all tracks. Two albums has been released by this project. This project is in AOR style and has a few Hard Rock songs.
He made a duet with Gisa Vatcky from Indigo Dying in a song called Breathe In Water.
He also did one with the Italian power metal band Trick Or Treat for two songs called Tears Against Your Smile and Hello Moon.
In 2010 he made a duet with Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray in a multilayered anthem titled All you need to know for their latest album.

On November 10, 2009, Michael formed the band Unisonic together with Dennis Ward, Mandy Meyer and Kosta Zafiriou. Unisonic began their first tour in June 2010, playing some warm-up shows in Germany and performing at festivals Sweden Rock 2010 and Masters of Rock 2010 as well. The band is scheduled to release its debut album in late 2010.

In 2010 an album called Kiske/Somerville is a result of the collaboration between vocalist Michael Kiske and American singer Amanda Somerville. This exciting album sees Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear) handling most of the songwriting (with more contributions from Sander Gommans formerly of After Forever and Amanda Somerville herself), with Sinner overseeing the production & mix at various recording studios in Europe.
Two videoclips were filmed for the songs Silence and If I Had A Wish in Nurnberg, Germany. Joining Kiske and Somerville for the shoot were bassist and main composer Mat Sinner], guitarist Sander Gommans (After Forever), drummer Rami Ali and keyboardist Jimmy Kresic (Voodoo Circle). The clips were directed by Martin Mueller of RCN TV, who previously helmed the videoclip production for Unheilig, Subway to Sally, Helloween, U.D.O. and Gotthard.
The digital only release of the single, Silence on August 20th, 2010, will precede the release of the full-length CD.
The Bonus DVD will include videoclips of “Silence” and “If I Had A Wish” plus a “Making of” documentary.

Thanx a Lot!
Michael Kiske Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Downstairs, left floor
No one opens that door
Next to the old man
Some light now and then
I do care, look everywhere
And when I get a chance I surely will share
Some say it's not my scene
But I think someone's got to keep the house clean

A middle class working man, that's what I am
People like me, we all do what we can

All these whole worlds in those heads
We'll see where it all gets
My fingers are crossed anyway
If time isn't on our side
I don't think we'll keep our pride

I get my thrills
With all kinds of overkills
Never get enough
I don't think I ever will
Have you seen the magazine
Where man kills wife and kids 'cause of a failed dream?
I think it's hot and: thanx a lot!
For the ten great shots of car crashes that now I got
Around the corner was an accident
Was cool blood, so I went

All these whole worlds in those heads
We'll see where it all gets
My fingers are crossed anyway
If time isn't on our side
I don't think we'll keep our pride

There is not much I feel
Can't tell what's fake or real
I've got to see some blood
Oh baby: Thanx a lot!

If I had some money
That would be so cool
I'd buy a lot of guns to be nobody's fool
I'm smarter than you and the president
I will be laughing in the end

All these whole worlds in those heads
We'll see where it all gets
My fingers are crossed anyway

If time isn't on our side
I don't think we'll keep our pride

Overall Meaning

The song "Thanx a Lot!" by Michael Kiske is a commentary on the state of modern society and the obsession with violence and death. The lyrics describe a character who is fascinated with destruction and death, seeking thrills through "overkills" and the gruesome details of car crashes and murders. He is disenchanted with his middle-class life and wishes for more excitement, even if it means harming others. The character is cynical, believing that time is running out for humanity and that he will ultimately have the last laugh.

The lyrics suggest a broader critique of a culture that glorifies violence and death, from the media's obsession with tragedy and disaster to the proliferation of guns and other weapons. Kiske's narrator embodies this darker side of humanity, seeking to find meaning in a world that seems to be falling apart. The song's title "Thanx a Lot!" is meant to be ironic, highlighting the singer's twisted view of the world and his morbid fascination with death and destruction.

Overall, "Thanx a Lot!" is a powerful commentary on the state of modern society and the toll that the obsession with violence takes on the human psyche. It is a reminder that there is a darker side to humanity and that we must confront it if we are to have any hope of creating a better world.

Line by Line Meaning

Downstairs, left floor
I am in a specific location on the left floor in a building

No one opens that door
The door near me is not often opened by anyone

Next to the old man
I am located next to an elderly man

Some light now and then
Occasionally there is light in the area around me

I do care, look everywhere
I am observant and concerned with my surroundings

And when I get a chance I surely will share
If given the opportunity, I will share what I have

Some say it's not my scene
Others may believe that my interests or location are not fitting for me

But I think someone's got to keep the house clean
I believe that someone needs to maintain the area or situation, and I am willing to do it

A middle class working man, that's what I am
I am a person of a particular social and economic class who works for a living

People like me, we all do what we can
Individuals similar to me all make an effort to contribute in their own way

All these whole worlds in those heads
People have intricate internal worlds within their minds

We'll see where it all gets
The consequences of our actions will reveal where we end up

My fingers are crossed anyway
I am hopeful despite the uncertainty

If time isn't on our side
If the circumstances do not work in our favor

I don't think we'll keep our pride
Our sense of self-respect will likely suffer

I get my thrills
I am entertained and pleased by certain things

With all kinds of overkills
I seek extreme levels of this pleasure

Never get enough
I am never fully satisfied with the amount of fun or excitement I experience

I don't think I ever will
I doubt that I will ever feel satisfied

Have you seen the magazine
I am asking if someone has viewed a particular publication

Where man kills wife and kids 'cause of a failed dream?
The magazine I am referring to features a story of a man who murders his family due to a failed aspiration

I think it's hot and: thanx a lot!
I find it arousing or exciting and express my appreciation for it

For the ten great shots of car crashes that now I got
I am now in possession of ten excellent photos of car accidents

Around the corner was an accident
A car accident occurred near my location

Was cool blood, so I went
I was intrigued by the blood resulting from the accident, so I approached the scene

There is not much I feel
I do not experience strong emotions frequently

Can't tell what's fake or real
I struggle to differentiate between what is genuine and what is superficial

I've got to see some blood
I feel a desire to observe bloodshed or violence

Oh baby: Thanx a lot!
I express my gratitude for the opportunity to witness something violent or disturbing

If I had some money
Hypothetically, if I possessed money

That would be so cool
I believe having money would be exciting or desirable

I'd buy a lot of guns to be nobody's fool
With my theoretical money, I would purchase guns to avoid being taken advantage of

I'm smarter than you and the president
I believe myself to be more intelligent than others, including those in high positions