'The Four Seasons Of Life' album, released in 1997, proved to be the debut solo outing by HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow, who had begun his recording career in the early 80s with RAMPAGE. Guests included PRIMAL FEAR's Ralf Scheepers, HELLOWEEN's rhythm section of bassist Marcus Großkopf and drummer Uli Kusch, ROUGH SILK keyboard player FERDY DOERNBERG and German guitar hero AXEL RUDI PELL. Initial copies of the album had to be withdrawn because the cover artwork was deemed to be too close to that of famed Classical label Deutsche Gramaphon.

The 1999 album 'Kaleidoscope', recorded at Crazy Cat Studios in Hamburg and mixed by Michael Wagener at Wireworld Studios in Tennessee, has vocals from ex-LOUDNESS and OBSESSION frontman Michael Vescera, bass from YNGWIE MALMSTEEN man Barry Sparks and drums courtesy of ARTENSION and METALIUM's MIKE TERRANA. Also featured would be keyboard player Jens Johansson.

Grapow would break away from HELLOWEEN in August 2002 founding MASTERPLAN with ex-HELLOWEEN colleague drummer Uli Kusch and the esteemed Norwegian vocalist JORN LANDE. The guitarist would also donate a session to the 2002 album 'Heavy Machinery' from Swedish Metal band LOCOMOTIVE BREATH and to STRATOVARIUS frontman TIMO KOTIPELTO's solo debut 'Waiting For The Dawn'.

As well as crafting a new MASTERPLAN album in 2004 Grapow would also guest on the all star EXECUTION project album assembled by Renato Tribuzy, vocalist of Brazilian act THOTEN, appearing on two tracks 'Absolution' and 'Web Of Life'. In November 2005 Grapow appeared live with TRIBUZY at two back to back gigs at Brazil's São Paulo's Credicard Hall in an all star band alongside BRUCE DICKINSON, PRIMAL FEAR's Mat Sinner and Ralf Scheepers, ANGRA's Kiko Loureiro and Roy Z.