Roel van Helden
Powerwolf
Overview
Roel van Helden, a talented drummer born on September 2, 1980, in Lottum, Netherlands, has built an impressive musical career marked by diverse experiences and accomplishments.
Roel’s journey began at the age of 11 when his parents bought a drum kit for him and his brother. Over the years, they expanded their basic setup into an extensive kit, fueled by earnings from summer jobs. Roel’s passion for drumming grew, leading him to take weekly lessons and eventually form his first band, Gramoxone, in 1996, later renamed DVLO, a punk group that marked his initial foray into music.
In 2000, Roel, alongside guitarist Coert Bouten, formed a metal band that evolved into Delphian after numerous lineup changes. Delphian began performing live in 2003 and secured a record deal with Finnish label Lion Music, resulting in the release of their debut album, “Oracle,” in July 2005, and their second album, “Unravel,” in April 2007, before disbanding.
Roel’s musical journey continued with progressive metal band Sun Caged, recording albums “Artemisia” (2007) and “The Lotus Effect” (2011), and with the band Subsignal, producing “Beautiful & Monstrous” (2009) and “The Size of Light on Earth” (2011). His passion for creativity and recording culminated in his debut solo album, “RvH,” released in late 2012 by German label Hands of Blue.
Beyond his original projects, Roel has been active in cover and tribute bands. He recreates the drumming styles of Clive Burr and Nicko McBrain in the Iron Maiden tribute band Up the Irons and plays classic rock covers with System Pilot, covering bands like Aerosmith, Whitesnake, ZZ Top, and Queen. He has also participated in various tributes to Kiss, Manowar, and Mötley Crüe.
The pinnacle of Roel’s career is his role in the German power metal band Powerwolf, with whom he achieved significant success, including reaching No. 1 on the German album charts and performing at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Graspop.
In addition to his rock and metal repertoire, Roel has a background in jazz, Latin, and funk, honed through his studies at Fontys Conservatorium in Tilburg, where he graduated in April 2006. His education included courses in improvised music and certification as a drum and percussion teacher.
