Helloween vocalist Andi Deris recently discussed how the band successfully managed their “Pumpkins United” reunion. He explained how they learned from Van Halen’s failed attempt to unite David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, in an interview with Wanted Record.
Deris reflected on Van Halen’s disappointing Las Vegas reunion show. He explained how it influenced Helloween’s approach to bringing together returning members Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen.
“I’m a huge fan of Van Halen, and I remember back in the days there was this reunion with David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, and they played one show in Las Vegas,” Deris said. “But it was the one and only show because in the middle of the concert, they kicked their asses. I mean, seriously.”
“Probably Diamond Dave had too much cocaine, and maybe Sammy Hagar was too much on vodka — I don’t know — or tequila,” he continued. “But they really kicked their ass on stage in front of everybody. And my dream was destroyed, because I love ’em both; I love Diamond Dave, I love Sammy Hagar. Yeah, that, for me, would’ve been the greatest ‘Pumpkins United’. But they didn’t do it.”
The Helloween frontman explained how this experience shaped their own reunion strategy.
“And I remember back in the days when we had the first meetings with Kai and Michael Kiske, we talked about that too,” Deris said. “That was a shock for everybody, because nearly all the guys in the band are Van Halen fans and everybody would have celebrated having both of the singers on stage. And that gave us, yeah, the focus, so to say, not to f*ck it up, if possible, because I realized I was not the only guy completely disappointed.”
“There were millions of people disappointed because Van Halen didn’t go through with it; they couldn’t do it. Idiots,” he continued with a laugh. “But, yeah, that’s life. But that was something to learn from. I mean, you cannot force it. If people don’t like themselves, you should not put them on stage together. I think that’s the moral of the story.”
Deris’s comments highlight the careful planning that went into Helloween’s successful reunion. The reunion brought together multiple generations of the band’s history in what many considered an impossible feat.
Helloween took deliberate steps to ensure their reunion would work, unlike Van Halen’s failed attempt. Louder Sound reported that managers required Kiske to bond with Deris at his Tenerife studio for two weeks. They connected deeply despite 25 years apart. This careful approach to rebuilding relationships proved crucial to the reunion’s success.
The “Pumpkins United” tour represented a unique configuration in metal history. Outburn described the reunion as featuring a seven-piece lineup including three vocalists and three guitarists. The publication called it “a once in a lifetime reunion gig with two lead singers, three guitarists, and a whole lot of expectation.”
The reunion’s success stemmed from the band’s emphasis on maturity and mutual respect among all members. Scary Monsters Music noted that the Pumpkins United World Tour brought together original vocalist/guitarist Kai Hansen and vocalist Michael Kiske with the current lineup. This created three-hour performances that showcased the band’s entire history.
The careful planning and mutual respect that characterized Helloween’s approach stood in stark contrast to the ego clashes and personal conflicts that derailed Van Halen’s reunion attempt. This proved that successful band reunions require more than just musical talent.
