Prior to the formation of Wir sind Helden, singer-songwriter and guitarist Judith Holofernes was performing in Berlin clubs as a solo artist and had self-released the EP Kamikazefliege (1999).
The band was founded in 2000 after she met drummer Pola Roy and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette at a pop music workshop in Hamburg.
Soon thereafter, Mark Tavassol joined the band as bassist.

The idea behind using the word "Helden" (which means "heroes") in the band name was to reclaim the word for the antiheroes ("Der Begriff 'Helden' wird jetzt so inflationär benutzt.
Wir wollten ihn zurückhaben für die Antihelden."
English: "The term 'heroes' is so inflated now.
We want it back for the anti-heroes.").
In addition, the band name was also inspired by German band Die Helden, which was the first band Holofernes saw performing live, and by the song "Heroes" by English singer David Bowie, whom Holofernes has cited as a role model for the band.

In 2002, Wir sind Helden self-released the EP Guten Tag.
Despite the band's lack of recording contract, the title song was played by German radio stations and its music video was aired on the rotation of MTV Germany.
The band consequently attracted the attention of several record companies and then signed with Labels, an EMI label.
The growing interest in the band also led to Holofernes being invited to appear on Die Harald Schmidt Show, a late-night talk show on German television.
Prior to the formation of Wir sind Helden, singer-songwriter and guitarist Judith Holofernes was performing in Berlin clubs as a solo artist and had self-released the EP Kamikazefliege (1999). The band was founded in 2000 after she met drummer Pola Roy and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette at a pop music workshop in Hamburg. Soon thereafter, Mark Tavassol joined the band as bassist.
The idea behind using the word "Helden" (which means "heroes") in the band name was to reclaim the word for the antiheroes ("Der Begriff 'Helden' wird jetzt so inflationär benutzt. Wir wollten ihn zurückhaben für die Antihelden." English: "The term 'heroes' is so inflated now. We want it back for the anti-heroes."). In addition, the band name was also inspired by German band Die Helden, which was the first band Holofernes saw performing live, and by the song "Heroes" by English singer David Bowie, whom Holofernes has cited as a role model for the band.
In 2002, Wir sind Helden self-released the EP Guten Tag. Despite the band's lack of recording contract, the title song was played by German radio stations and its music video was aired on the rotation of MTV Germany. The band consequently attracted the attention of several record companies and then signed with Labels, an EMI label. The growing interest in the band also led to Holofernes being invited to appear on Die Harald Schmidt Show, a late-night talk show on German television.
Wir sind Helden