HELIX
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 6th November 2009.
Canadian band Helix hand been around since 1974, admittedly with a few rest-periods along the way, but they are now back with a brand new album and a fair slab of the original line-up.
Vocalist Brian Vollmer answers questions on behalf of the band.
Hi Brian, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Back when you started (what, 35 years ago?) did you envisage that Helix would still be going as we passed into 2010?
Brian: No, never thought of it. When I got into the music business I had no idea of the wonderful road it would take me down.
Did you even think people would still be listening to hard rock (possibly in their flying cars)?
Brian: I think rock and roll will live forever.
Who were the big influences when you started out and what made you become a singer as opposed to say a lead guitarist?
Brian: Burton Cummings/John Kay/Mick Jagger/Steve Marriot/Ian Gillan. I never had the patience to learn guitar.
I’ve read that you, as well as fronting Helix, teach vocal training. Have you had lessons yourself to improve your voice over the years, or is everything you have natural? I assume you are a firm believer in the teaching route to gain a quality voice?
Brian: I had no choice but to learn how to sing properly. I had nodes on my vocal chords and was told I would never sing again. My voice instructor, Ed Johnson, took me aside and said, "...just do what I tell you to do and your nodes will go away. It won't happen overnight because they took a while to get there, but eventually they'll go away if you learn how to sing properly..." And they did...
Bel Canto, (what I teach) is the only way to sing without damaging the vocal chords. The thing that makes Bel Canto different from every other technique out there is that with Bel Canto you "inhale" your voice as you sing, or take breath into the head as you are singing.
I’ve just had a quick look at the video for ‘Rock You’. Do you cringe looking back at the visuals, or is the rock smashing and plethora of bosom-toting ladies a subtle artistic masterpiece?
Brian: No, I think it's a great video.
Did you ever feel the band had ‘made it’ in a big way?
Brian: No, I always wanted more success.
Before your new album, which we’ll get onto in a minute, what would you rate as Helix’s finest work?
Brian: No Rest for the Wicked.
For someone who hadn’t heard your work before, what albums would you recommend they bought to get a good feel for the band?
Brian: That's like asking, "...what chapter should I read to get a feel for the book...?" Every Helix album is just another chapter in the history of the band.
Is there a definite Helix sound, or has the band’s style varied over the years?
Brian: The constant in the Helix sound has always been my vocals and lyrics, although the 80's line-up of Paul/Brent/Daryl/Fritz had a sound all of its own. We've played every style of music from heavy metal to country, which makes sense because all those different types of music influenced me over the years. The first artist I ever listened to was Johnny Cash, and I'm still a big fan today. Those different styles in the music reflect our roots.
Helix developed to a large extent on the Canadian bar circuit, where the band had to be a traveling jukebox and fill the audience's many varied tastes. We traveled right across the country, which incidentally just happens to be the biggest in the world. You had to go over in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan just like you went over in Toronto, so our "sound" was really the sound of a thousand different bands/musical styles rolled into one.
When you play live dates, is it a struggle sorting through the back catalogue working out what to play?
Brian: Not really. We play the hits ('cos that's what fans expect) and about three songs from the new disc. There's also songs in the set like Heavy Metal Cowboys and Get Up! from past CDs.
Do you still party when you go out on tour, or is it all a touch more gentlemanly these days?
Brian: I'm married now and I don't drink, so that eliminates two things that can no longer kill me. LOL.
What are the best bands you’ve shared a stage with? Are there any truly memorable gigs, or simply too many to mention?
Brian: Motorhead. Ian Gillan. Mitch Ryder. Whitesnake. KISS. Alvin Lee. RUSH. Most memorable gig: CNE Stadium with Scorpions (70,000)
Any chance we may see you touring in the UK?
Brian: Only if the money is right. It's very expensive for North American bands to come to Europe nowadays. Only a few of the festivals make sense to come and play at. The other day I had someone contact me from Belgium about coming to play their festival. They told me they had a "modest" budget. Well, the flights alone would have cost $8,700.00, so....
How does new album Vagabond Bones compare to your other work?
Brian: They're my children. I love them all equally. LOL. Seriously though, I believe this is my best work ever. My voice is in great shape and I believe the writing relationship I have with Sean Kelly and Moe Berg is something very special. Both of the aforementioned (singing and writing) I consider my "crafts" and I have been working my whole career to become better at them. Am I succeeding? I guess the fans will decide, not me.
What sort of fan is the album going to appeal to? Can you categorize the sound or does it defy classification by crossing several genres?
Brian: Shit, if I knew which fans the album was going to appeal to I'd be a rich man. It sounds like an 80's record to me.
What are your favourite moments on the album?
Brian: My favourite song is "When the Bitter's Got the Better of You". I was very proud of the lyrics in this song, even though most of them were written by Sean. Mostly I edited them and added a few in the middle 8. Singing with my good buddy Russ Graham of The Killer Dwarfs was another special moment.
What’s the release schedule, and do you plan on releasing any singles or videos?
Brian: The CD is out NOW. As for singles, I send the whole CD to Canadian radio stations and web radio stations by digital download. I let the station pick the single really. As for videos, Brent is always putting together something for Youtube, but other than that I can't see spending the money. MTV and Much Music don't play videos anymore, didn't you know!?????????????????
Who did the artwork?
Brian: Matt from Babyjack Design
What question do you hate being asked? Have I avoided it?
Brian: Nothing bothers me.
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Brian: Nope.
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Brian: Watching the hockey game.
Anything else you would like to mention?
Brian: I have a small part in the new Trailer Park Boy's movie "Countdown to Liquor Day." The movie is hilarious. I'm in the same scene as Alex Lifeson in drag. Incidentally, it's my first role and my first semi-gay role! LOL.
Thanks for your time :)
The new Helix album, Vagabond Bones, is out now. Check back on Rock Realms soon for a review. Thanks again to Brian for his time.
http://www.myspace.com/helixonmyspace
