Helmet (band)
Encyclopedia
Helmet is an alternative metal
band from New York City
formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton
, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member.
Helmet has released seven studio albums and two compilation albums. The band found mainstream success with their 1992 major label debut Meantime, which debuted at number 68 on the Billboard 200
, with singles "Unsung
" and "In the Meantime". After the release of Betty
(1994) and Aftertaste
(1997), Helmet broke up in 1998, however reformed in 2004. The band released their fifth album, Size Matters
, later that year and it was their last release on their longtime label Interscope Records
. They were briefly signed with Warcon Records, who released their sixth album, Monochrome
, on July 18, 2006. Currently, Helmet are signed to Work Song Records, who released their seventh album Seeing Eye Dog
.
, Helmet formed in early 1989. They were spotted by Tom Hazelmyer and signed to Amphetamine Reptile Records
, releasing their debut 7 inch single
, "Born Annoying", later that year. AmRep released their first album, Strap it On
, in 1990.
Helmet was acclaimed as a "Thinking person's heavy metal
band." Eschewing the traditional heavy metal image of long hair and black clothing, the band stood out with their preference for simple t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers, and short haircuts. Their music is characterized by repetitive, syncopated
, staccato
guitar riffs, often in distorted time signature
s, and almost always in a minor key with drop-D or drop-C tuning. The guitar sound is heavily distorted and dissonant, with choruses that often involve guitar feedback waves.
Before Hamilton had settled on a name, the guitarist Peter Mengede's then-girlfriend suggested the name "Helmut". Opting for the Anglicized spelling, Hamilton thought Helmet "sounded like a cool name for a band." Other names considered were "Cry Ruth" and "Poly Orchids", along with the more esoteric "Tuna Lorenzo" and "Froth Albumen".
in early 1992. It is rumored that the members received in excess of $1 million at signing, along with an unprecedented amount of control over their work. Their first Interscope release, Meantime, was released in 1992 and certified Gold in 1994. The album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and remains Helmet's top-selling album.
Helmet toured the United States, Brazil, Europe, and Asia relentlessly, generally with other AmRep recording artists. Internal tensions rose high at times. In early 1993, guitarist Peter Mengede left the band and was replaced by Rob Echeverria, guitarist of hardcore band Rest in Pieces. The band's third album, Betty
, was released in 1994. Despite managing the band's highest-ever chart position on the Billboard 200
at number 45, the album failed to sell as much as Meantime. Total U.S. sales of Betty are just over 275,000 as of April 2006. After recording and touring in support of Betty, Echeverria left to join Biohazard
; however, his departure was much more amicable than Mengede's.
The band elected to push on and record 1997's Aftertaste
as a three-piece. After recording was complete, guitarist Chris Traynor
(formerly of Orange 9mm
) was recruited for the supporting tour. Although the song "Exactly What You Wanted" became a moderate radio hit, the album spent only a few weeks on the Billboard 200
and has sold 135,000 copies as of April 2006. The Aftertaste Tour in 1997–98 would prove to be the band's last. Amid long-standing private disputes, the members decided to call it quits. Asked about the breakup, Hamilton replied, "9 years, 1,600 shows, 5 albums, and we found it hard to look at each other anymore"
Hamilton relocated from New York
to Los Angeles, California
and became involved in many different projects, from playing guitar for David Bowie
to doing sessions for film scores, working with composer Elliot Goldenthal
on the 1999 soundtracks to In Dreams
and Titus
; Hamiltons second time working with Goldenthal, the first being the 1995 soundtrack to the movie Heat
. When working on film scores, he was part of a "guitar orchestra" called "Deaf Elk" with other guitarists of which he was the primary. He periodically returned to New York to work with his band Gandhi, which is where several of the songs appearing on Size Matters
began.
Bogdan formed the Moonlighters, for which he played steel guitar
, in New York with Bliss Blood
, before returning home to Oregon to play for the Midnight Serenaders. Stanier took a break from drumming for over a year, but returned to play drums for Tomahawk
, The Mark of Cain
and Battles
.
(formerly of Testament
and White Zombie
) on a new project. After searching for a record label and a name for the project, Hamilton was urged by Jimmy Iovine
of Interscope to release the new project under the established Helmet moniker, to which Interscope held the rights. Hamilton had resisted for some time, but since his relationships with Stanier and Bogdan had not improved since 1998, and his previous offers to reunite had been rebuffed and/or ignored, he decided to move on and release more music as Helmet without them.
Chris Traynor, still on good terms with Hamilton, soon came on board to cover bass and guitar parts. With Tempesta on drums and Hamilton covering vocals and guitar, the three recorded Size Matters
in early 2004. Frank Bello
was later recruited to play bass on the supporting tour; however, he left before its conclusion to reunite with his original band, Anthrax
. Jeremy Chatelain
replaced Bello for the duration of the tour. John Tempesta left in early 2006 to join The Cult
.
In late 2005, Helmet parted ways with Interscope. Helmet then signed with Warcon Enterprises
and announced that a new album was in the works. Helmet performed at the 2006 SXSW
festival in Austin, Texas
, with a temporary lineup consisting of Charlie Walker on drums, Chris Traynor on bass, and Anthony Truglio (formerly of Gandhi) on guitar. The new album, Monochrome
, was recorded and co-produced by Wharton Tiers
, who recorded Helmet's first two albums, Strap It On and Meantime. For the album, Hamilton and Traynor returned to the studio with newly recruited drummer, Mike Jost
(formerly of Adair
). Helmet headlined the 2006 Warped Tour
in support of Monochrome, with Jeremy Chatelain reprising his role from the 2005 Size Matters tour.
In September 2006, Chris Traynor announced that he had left the band after nearly a decade of working with Page Hamilton
. A few days later, Mike Jost
also left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. Jeremy Chatelain also made other commitments. Hamilton announced in early October 2006 that the new drummer and bassist was Kyle Stevenson and Jon Fuller, respectively, both from Milwaukee, and both previously members of The Big Collapse. Jimmy Thompson also joined the band on guitar in 2006, but was replaced by Dan Beeman by late 2008. Due to line-up changes, Hamilton was forced to cancel many shows scheduled for late 2006 in the U.S.
and Europe
. Helmet opened up for Guns N' Roses
for the remaining dates of their tour in December 2006. The band toured Australia
in April and May 2008, playing shows throughout the eastern and southern coasts.
In 2007, the band recorded the song called "Revenge Destroys Everything" for the movie soundtrack, TATUA. Based from the comic book of the same name by Paul Jenkins. A music video was made for the song. Helmet did another music video on "Money Shot" from their album, Monochrome, for another movie soundtrack, The Dreamless.
Helmet set Seeing Eye Dog
as the title of its new album. It was released September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry
and Helmet frontman Page Hamilton's manager. Stevenson and Beeman both reprise their roles for Seeing Eye Dog along with new bassist Dave Case.
Most recently, Helmet have contributed to a compilation album released by Engine Room Recordings
entitled Guilt by Association Vol. 3
. On the album, Helmet covered the song "Crazy Nights" by Loudness
.
.
In 1993, Helmet recorded "Just Another Victim" with hip-hop group House of Pain
for the soundtrack
to the film Judgment Night
.
In early 1994, prior to the album Betty being released, an alternate version of "Milquetoast" (titled "Milktoast") appeared on the motion picture soundtrack of The Crow
.
Helmet contributed a cover version of the theme to the cartoon Gigantor
to the tribute album
Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall
for MCA Records
.
Helmet appeared in the 1995 film The Jerky Boys performing a cover of Black Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe".
The song "Complete" appeared in the soundtrack to the 1995 movie Johnny Mnemonic.
In 2006, the song "Monochrome" was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Saw III
.
The videos for "Unsung" and "Wilma's Rainbow" have been featured on the 1990s MTV
series Beavis and Butt-Head
. The instrumental version was played on MTV
as well on the premiere of Nitro Circus
when Travis Pastrana
jumps out of a plane without a parachute.
covered the song "Sinatra" as a B-side for the single "Minerva
" from their 2003 album Deftones
. Lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter
is quoted as saying about "Sinatra": "One of the heaviest songs ever. We did this one just to play loud/hard."
The band Soulfly
feature a cover of the song "In the Meantime" on their 2004 album Prophecy.
The band Chevelle
cover "(High) Visibility" as a bonus track for their album Wonder What's Next
.
The Casket Lottery
included a cover of "In the Meantime", featuring Sean Ingram of Coalesce on vocals, on their rarities collection Possiblies and Maybes.
Pig Destroyer
covered the song "In the Meantime" on their album Painter of Dead Girls
.
, playing on fictional alternative radio station Radio X.
"Crashing Foreign Cars" appeared in 2004 on the Need For Speed: Underground 2
soundtrack.
In 2005, "Unsung" was used in the PlayStation 2
game Guitar Hero as well as True Crime: New York City
.
"Unsung" also appeared in 2008 on Saints Row 2
on the in-game radio station Krunch 106.66; was featured on Madden NFL 10
; and as a live recording on Guitar Hero Smash Hits in 2009.
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member.
Helmet has released seven studio albums and two compilation albums. The band found mainstream success with their 1992 major label debut Meantime, which debuted at number 68 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, with singles "Unsung
Unsung (song)
"Unsung" is a single by alternative metal band Helmet from their 1992 album, Meantime. It is the album's fourth track and easily the band's most well known song. A music video was produced for "Unsung" and found significant airplay on MTV in the early 1990s."Unsung" is recorded in Dropped D tuning...
" and "In the Meantime". After the release of Betty
Betty (album)
Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime....
(1994) and Aftertaste
Aftertaste (album)
Aftertaste is the fourth album by Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. This proved to be Helmet's final album with original members John Stanier and Henry Bogdan . Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard...
(1997), Helmet broke up in 1998, however reformed in 2004. The band released their fifth album, Size Matters
Size Matters
Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break up in 1998. Page Hamilton, the band's founder and chief songwriter, is the only original member appearing on the album. Therefore, many purists object...
, later that year and it was their last release on their longtime label Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. They were briefly signed with Warcon Records, who released their sixth album, Monochrome
Monochrome (album)
Monochrome is the sixth album by Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. This is the third Helmet album in a row to be recorded as a three-piece, with new drummer Mike Jost joining veterans Page Hamilton and Chris Traynor...
, on July 18, 2006. Currently, Helmet are signed to Work Song Records, who released their seventh album Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog is the seventh studio album by Helmet, released on September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager...
.
Early years (1989-1991)
After Hamilton had left the Band of SusansBand of Susans
Band of Susans was a noise rock band formed in New York City in 1986. It originally consisted of Robert Poss , Susan Stenger , Ron Spitzer , with Susan Lyall , Susan Tallman , and Alva Rogers . However, the band would undergo several permutations over the years, usually involving guitarists...
, Helmet formed in early 1989. They were spotted by Tom Hazelmyer and signed to Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records
Amphetamine Reptile Records is a nationally renowned record label which was founded in 1986 by then-US Marine Tom Hazelmyer in Washington State, US The label is best-known for its roster of noise rock artists, and its Dope, Guns 'n' Fucking In The Streets series of compilations.-History:Hazelmyer...
, releasing their debut 7 inch single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Born Annoying", later that year. AmRep released their first album, Strap it On
Strap It On (album)
Strap It On is the first album by Helmet. Originally released in 1990 through Amphetamine Reptile Records, it was subsequently rereleased by Interscope in November 1991....
, in 1990.
Helmet was acclaimed as a "Thinking person's heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band." Eschewing the traditional heavy metal image of long hair and black clothing, the band stood out with their preference for simple t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers, and short haircuts. Their music is characterized by repetitive, syncopated
Syncopation
In music, syncopation includes a variety of rhythms which are in some way unexpected in that they deviate from the strict succession of regularly spaced strong and weak but also powerful beats in a meter . These include a stress on a normally unstressed beat or a rest where one would normally be...
, staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
guitar riffs, often in distorted time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
s, and almost always in a minor key with drop-D or drop-C tuning. The guitar sound is heavily distorted and dissonant, with choruses that often involve guitar feedback waves.
Before Hamilton had settled on a name, the guitarist Peter Mengede's then-girlfriend suggested the name "Helmut". Opting for the Anglicized spelling, Hamilton thought Helmet "sounded like a cool name for a band." Other names considered were "Cry Ruth" and "Poly Orchids", along with the more esoteric "Tuna Lorenzo" and "Froth Albumen".
Mainstream success (1992-1998)
The band rose to the mainstream after signing to Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
in early 1992. It is rumored that the members received in excess of $1 million at signing, along with an unprecedented amount of control over their work. Their first Interscope release, Meantime, was released in 1992 and certified Gold in 1994. The album has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and remains Helmet's top-selling album.
Helmet toured the United States, Brazil, Europe, and Asia relentlessly, generally with other AmRep recording artists. Internal tensions rose high at times. In early 1993, guitarist Peter Mengede left the band and was replaced by Rob Echeverria, guitarist of hardcore band Rest in Pieces. The band's third album, Betty
Betty (album)
Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime....
, was released in 1994. Despite managing the band's highest-ever chart position on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at number 45, the album failed to sell as much as Meantime. Total U.S. sales of Betty are just over 275,000 as of April 2006. After recording and touring in support of Betty, Echeverria left to join Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
; however, his departure was much more amicable than Mengede's.
The band elected to push on and record 1997's Aftertaste
Aftertaste (album)
Aftertaste is the fourth album by Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. This proved to be Helmet's final album with original members John Stanier and Henry Bogdan . Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard...
as a three-piece. After recording was complete, guitarist Chris Traynor
Chris Traynor
Chris Traynor is an American guitarist, bassist and studio musician. He has played with Orange 9mm, Helmet, Bush, Rival Schools and Gavin Rossdale....
(formerly of Orange 9mm
Orange 9mm
Orange 9mm was a post-hardcore band from New York City formed in 1994 by Chaka Malik and Chris Traynor after the breakup of Malik's band Burn.-History:...
) was recruited for the supporting tour. Although the song "Exactly What You Wanted" became a moderate radio hit, the album spent only a few weeks on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and has sold 135,000 copies as of April 2006. The Aftertaste Tour in 1997–98 would prove to be the band's last. Amid long-standing private disputes, the members decided to call it quits. Asked about the breakup, Hamilton replied, "9 years, 1,600 shows, 5 albums, and we found it hard to look at each other anymore"
Aftermath and subsequent projects (1999-2003)
After the dissolution of Helmet, the members went on to numerous different projects.Hamilton relocated from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and became involved in many different projects, from playing guitar for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
to doing sessions for film scores, working with composer Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano, and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways...
on the 1999 soundtracks to In Dreams
In Dreams (soundtrack)
The score to the psychological thriller In Dreams by Elliot Goldenthal is an avante-garde work filled with his trademark techniques and dissonance...
and Titus
Titus (soundtrack)
Titus is the original soundtrack to the 1999 motion picture Titus. Elliot Goldenthal wrote the score for the film, an adaptation of Shakespeare's first, and bloodiest, tragedy Titus Andronicus; written and directed by Julie Taymor, Goldenthal's long-time friend and partner...
; Hamiltons second time working with Goldenthal, the first being the 1995 soundtrack to the movie Heat
Heat (soundtrack)
Heat is the soundtrack album to the 1995 film Heat. The score is compiled mostly with Elliot Goldenthal's orchestrations although there are a variety of other artists featured including U2/Brian Eno project Passengers, Lisa Gerrard, Moby and Terje Rypdal.-The score:The track "New Dawn Fades" is...
. When working on film scores, he was part of a "guitar orchestra" called "Deaf Elk" with other guitarists of which he was the primary. He periodically returned to New York to work with his band Gandhi, which is where several of the songs appearing on Size Matters
Size Matters
Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break up in 1998. Page Hamilton, the band's founder and chief songwriter, is the only original member appearing on the album. Therefore, many purists object...
began.
Bogdan formed the Moonlighters, for which he played steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
, in New York with Bliss Blood
Bliss Blood
Bliss Blood is a musician and songwriter from Houston, Texas. She moved to New York City, New York in 1996. She has written and recorded one album with Evanescent in 2011 , five albums with New York jazz band The Moonlighters from 2000-2009, and six albums from 1988-1995 with Houston noise rock...
, before returning home to Oregon to play for the Midnight Serenaders. Stanier took a break from drumming for over a year, but returned to play drums for Tomahawk
Tomahawk (band)
Tomahawk is an experimental alternative metal/alternative rock supergroup from the United States. They formed in 2000 when Fantômas, ex-Mr. Bungle and Faith No More singer/keyboardist Mike Patton and ex-The Jesus Lizard guitar player Duane Denison started swapping tapes with the intention of...
, The Mark of Cain
The Mark of Cain
The Mark of Cain is a hard rock/alternative metal band from Adelaide, South Australia. Their style has been likened to that of Helmet and Rollins Band, yet this band predates both of those groups and was influenced by the early work of Joy Division and US hardcore...
and Battles
Battles (band)
Battles is an American experimental rock group, founded in 2002 in New York City, comprising guitarists Ian Williams and Dave Konopka , and drummer John Stanier .-Biography:...
.
Reunion (2004-present)
After moving to Los Angeles, Hamilton began working with drummer John TempestaJohn Tempesta
John Tempesta is a heavy metal drummer who has worked several bands including: Exodus, Testament and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist and served as drum technician for heavy metal band Anthrax earlier in his career...
(formerly of Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
and White Zombie
White Zombie
White Zombie was a Grammy Award-nominated American heavy metal band. Based in New York City, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band. White Zombie are better-known for their later heavy metal-oriented sound...
) on a new project. After searching for a record label and a name for the project, Hamilton was urged by Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
of Interscope to release the new project under the established Helmet moniker, to which Interscope held the rights. Hamilton had resisted for some time, but since his relationships with Stanier and Bogdan had not improved since 1998, and his previous offers to reunite had been rebuffed and/or ignored, he decided to move on and release more music as Helmet without them.
Chris Traynor, still on good terms with Hamilton, soon came on board to cover bass and guitar parts. With Tempesta on drums and Hamilton covering vocals and guitar, the three recorded Size Matters
Size Matters
Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break up in 1998. Page Hamilton, the band's founder and chief songwriter, is the only original member appearing on the album. Therefore, many purists object...
in early 2004. Frank Bello
Frank Bello
Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
was later recruited to play bass on the supporting tour; however, he left before its conclusion to reunite with his original band, Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. Jeremy Chatelain
Jeremy Chatelain (bassist)
Jeremy Chatelain is a musician originally from Utah. He has performed with Utah-based Insight and Iceburn, and went on to join Jets to Brazil and Helmet. Since 2000 he has performed with Cub Country....
replaced Bello for the duration of the tour. John Tempesta left in early 2006 to join The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
.
In late 2005, Helmet parted ways with Interscope. Helmet then signed with Warcon Enterprises
Warcon Enterprises
Warcon Enterprises is a New York based independent record label focusing on mostly post-hardcore, started by Bob Chiappardi of Concrete Marketing and Kevin Lyman in 2004. Warcon was a sponsor of the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour. Warcon is distributed through Fontana Distribution.Warcon Enterprises...
and announced that a new album was in the works. Helmet performed at the 2006 SXSW
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, with a temporary lineup consisting of Charlie Walker on drums, Chris Traynor on bass, and Anthony Truglio (formerly of Gandhi) on guitar. The new album, Monochrome
Monochrome (album)
Monochrome is the sixth album by Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. This is the third Helmet album in a row to be recorded as a three-piece, with new drummer Mike Jost joining veterans Page Hamilton and Chris Traynor...
, was recorded and co-produced by Wharton Tiers
Wharton Tiers
Wharton Tiers is an American audio engineer, record producer, drummer and percussionist.- Biography :Diplomed from Villanova University , he moved to New York City in 1976 and was part of the No Wave scene.As an audio engineer and record producer, he has worked on projects such as Sonic Youth,...
, who recorded Helmet's first two albums, Strap It On and Meantime. For the album, Hamilton and Traynor returned to the studio with newly recruited drummer, Mike Jost
Mike Jost
Mike Jost was the drummer for the band Helmet on the 2006 release Monochrome and the subsequent supporting tour. He left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. He was formerly the drummer in St. Louis-based bands Seven, Adair, LucaBrasi and Disturbing the Peace. Mike Jost's brother is...
(formerly of Adair
Adair (band)
Adair was an American post-hardcore/screamo band from St. Louis, Missouri. The members of the band had performed together in St. Louis for eight years before formally founding Adair in 2001. The five-member band consisted of local St...
). Helmet headlined the 2006 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in support of Monochrome, with Jeremy Chatelain reprising his role from the 2005 Size Matters tour.
In September 2006, Chris Traynor announced that he had left the band after nearly a decade of working with Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
. A few days later, Mike Jost
Mike Jost
Mike Jost was the drummer for the band Helmet on the 2006 release Monochrome and the subsequent supporting tour. He left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. He was formerly the drummer in St. Louis-based bands Seven, Adair, LucaBrasi and Disturbing the Peace. Mike Jost's brother is...
also left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. Jeremy Chatelain also made other commitments. Hamilton announced in early October 2006 that the new drummer and bassist was Kyle Stevenson and Jon Fuller, respectively, both from Milwaukee, and both previously members of The Big Collapse. Jimmy Thompson also joined the band on guitar in 2006, but was replaced by Dan Beeman by late 2008. Due to line-up changes, Hamilton was forced to cancel many shows scheduled for late 2006 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Helmet opened up for Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
for the remaining dates of their tour in December 2006. The band toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in April and May 2008, playing shows throughout the eastern and southern coasts.
In 2007, the band recorded the song called "Revenge Destroys Everything" for the movie soundtrack, TATUA. Based from the comic book of the same name by Paul Jenkins. A music video was made for the song. Helmet did another music video on "Money Shot" from their album, Monochrome, for another movie soundtrack, The Dreamless.
Helmet set Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog
Seeing Eye Dog is the seventh studio album by Helmet, released on September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager...
as the title of its new album. It was released September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry
Joe Henry
Joseph Lee "Joe" Henry is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Henry's musical style spans several genres, including alt. country, rock, jazz and folk.- Early years :...
and Helmet frontman Page Hamilton's manager. Stevenson and Beeman both reprise their roles for Seeing Eye Dog along with new bassist Dave Case.
Most recently, Helmet have contributed to a compilation album released by Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of Indie rock and Alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management....
entitled Guilt by Association Vol. 3
Guilt by Association Vol. 3
Guilt by Association Vol. 3 is a compilation album released November 15, 2011 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its previous installments, Guilt by Association Vol. 1 and Guilt by Association Vol. 2, Guilt By Association Vol...
. On the album, Helmet covered the song "Crazy Nights" by Loudness
Loudness (band)
is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
.
Film and television
Helmet's "Ironhead" appeared in the 1992 film GuncrazyGuncrazy
Guncrazy is a 1992 American crime/drama/thriller film starring Drew Barrymore. It was directed by Tamra Davis and written by Matthew Bright. It is a loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name.- Plot :...
.
In 1993, Helmet recorded "Just Another Victim" with hip-hop group House of Pain
House of Pain
House of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
for the soundtrack
Judgment Night (soundtrack)
Judgment Night is the soundtrack to the film of the same name. It was released on September 14, 1993 through Epic Records and was produced by many of the album's performers. Every song on the soundtrack was a collaboration between hip-hop artists and rock / metal artists...
to the film Judgment Night
Judgment Night (film)
Judgment Night is a 1993 action thriller film directed by Stephen Hopkins and starring Emilio Estévez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jeremy Piven and Stephen Dorff as a group of friends on the run from a group of drug dealers after they witness a murder...
.
In early 1994, prior to the album Betty being released, an alternate version of "Milquetoast" (titled "Milktoast") appeared on the motion picture soundtrack of The Crow
The Crow (film)
The Crow is a 1994 American action film based on the 1989 comic book of the same name by James O'Barr. The film was written by David J. Schow and John Shirley, and directed by Alex Proyas...
.
Helmet contributed a cover version of the theme to the cartoon Gigantor
Gigantor
Gigantor is an American adaptation of the anime version of Tetsujin 28-go, a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama released in 1956. It debuted on U.S. television in 1964. As with Speed Racer, the characters' original names were altered and the original series' violence was toned down for American viewers...
to the tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits, produced by Ralph Sall
Ralph Sall
Ralph Sall is a record producer, music supervisor, composer, songwriter, and screenwriter. He is the president of Bulletproof Entertainment, a company involved in several facets of the entertainment industry, including film, television, comic books and graphic novels, music, internet and live...
for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
.
Helmet appeared in the 1995 film The Jerky Boys performing a cover of Black Sabbath's "Symptom of the Universe".
The song "Complete" appeared in the soundtrack to the 1995 movie Johnny Mnemonic.
In 2006, the song "Monochrome" was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Saw III
Saw III
Saw III is a 2006 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell and story by James Wan and Whannell. Wan and Whannell directed and wrote Saw and Bousman wrote and directed Saw II. It is the third film in the seven-part Saw film series and stars...
.
The videos for "Unsung" and "Wilma's Rainbow" have been featured on the 1990s MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
series Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
. The instrumental version was played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
as well on the premiere of Nitro Circus
Nitro Circus
Nitro Circus is an American television series that featured Travis Pastrana and his friends traveling around the world riding dirtbikes, base jumping, and performing reckless stunts. It was originally run as a miniseries in 2006 on Fuel TV. In January 2009, it began running as an episodic reality...
when Travis Pastrana
Travis Pastrana
Travis Alan Pastrana is an American motorsports competitor and stunt performer who has won championships and X Games gold medals in several events, including supercross, motocross, freestyle motocross, and rally racing. He runs a show called Nitro Circus with some of his friends...
jumps out of a plane without a parachute.
Tributes
The band DeftonesDeftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
covered the song "Sinatra" as a B-side for the single "Minerva
Minerva (song)
"Minerva" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones and the lead single from their fourth studio album, Deftones. Released in April 2003, it charted at #9 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, #16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #15 on the UK Singles Chart...
" from their 2003 album Deftones
Deftones (album)
Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
. Lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter
Stephen Carpenter
Stephen Carpenter is an American musician known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Deftones. His guitar technique makes use of both ringing open strings and dissonant chord voicings, as well as stock power chords in polyrhythms...
is quoted as saying about "Sinatra": "One of the heaviest songs ever. We did this one just to play loud/hard."
The band Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
feature a cover of the song "In the Meantime" on their 2004 album Prophecy.
The band Chevelle
Chevelle
Chevelle is an American alternative metal trio that formed in 1995 in Grayslake, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The band was originally composed of two brothers and a local friend: Pete Loeffler , Sam Loeffler , and Matt Scott . Matt was later replaced by brother Joe Loeffler...
cover "(High) Visibility" as a bonus track for their album Wonder What's Next
Wonder What's Next
-Chart positions:Album – Billboard Music Charts Singles – Billboard Music Charts...
.
The Casket Lottery
The Casket Lottery
The Casket Lottery is a three-piece indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, United States signed to Second Nature Recordings.-1997:The band started in 1997 after Nathan Ellis spent time on the road with Coalesce. He and Stacy Hilt struck up an instant friendship and love for music beyond the...
included a cover of "In the Meantime", featuring Sean Ingram of Coalesce on vocals, on their rarities collection Possiblies and Maybes.
Pig Destroyer
Pig Destroyer
-Biography:The band formed in 1997 with vocalist J. R. Hayes , guitarist Scott Hull , and drummer John Evans. Evans was later replaced by Brian Harvey...
covered the song "In the Meantime" on their album Painter of Dead Girls
Painter of Dead Girls
Painter of Dead Girls is a compilation album by the deathgrind band Pig Destroyer. It features songs from their Gnob and Benumb splits as well as a cover of the Helmet song "In the Meantime". J. R. Hayes claims that he does not remember the lyrics to the first seven tracks, and that he cannot...
.
Video games
In 2004, the song "Unsung" appeared on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrackGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack
The soundtrack of the computer and video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which is set in 1992 in the fictional U.S. West Coast state of San Andreas, required that the game's radio stations reflect the music tastes of the time and area, in addition to covering current events in the state of San...
, playing on fictional alternative radio station Radio X.
"Crashing Foreign Cars" appeared in 2004 on the Need For Speed: Underground 2
Need for Speed: Underground 2
Need for Speed: Underground 2 is a cross-platform racing video game published and developed by Electronic Arts. Released in 2004, it is the direct sequel to Need for Speed: Underground, and is part of the Need for Speed series, available on Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance,...
soundtrack.
In 2005, "Unsung" was used in the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
game Guitar Hero as well as True Crime: New York City
True Crime: New York City
True Crime: New York City is an urban sandbox-style action-adventure videogame published by Activision and developed by Luxoflux for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube consoles and Windows based computers. It is the second game of the True Crime series, released after True Crime: Streets of LA...
.
"Unsung" also appeared in 2008 on Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 systems. It is the second title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row in 2006. It is succeeded by Saints Row: The...
on the in-game radio station Krunch 106.66; was featured on Madden NFL 10
Madden NFL 10
For the tenth installment in the Madden series, see Madden 64Madden NFL 10 is an American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 21st annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise...
; and as a live recording on Guitar Hero Smash Hits in 2009.
Studio albums
- Strap It OnStrap It On (album)Strap It On is the first album by Helmet. Originally released in 1990 through Amphetamine Reptile Records, it was subsequently rereleased by Interscope in November 1991....
(1990) - Meantime (1992)
- BettyBetty (album)Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime....
(1994) - AftertasteAftertaste (album)Aftertaste is the fourth album by Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. This proved to be Helmet's final album with original members John Stanier and Henry Bogdan . Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard...
(1997) - Size MattersSize MattersSize Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break up in 1998. Page Hamilton, the band's founder and chief songwriter, is the only original member appearing on the album. Therefore, many purists object...
(2004) - MonochromeMonochrome (album)Monochrome is the sixth album by Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. This is the third Helmet album in a row to be recorded as a three-piece, with new drummer Mike Jost joining veterans Page Hamilton and Chris Traynor...
(2006) - Seeing Eye DogSeeing Eye DogSeeing Eye Dog is the seventh studio album by Helmet, released on September 7, 2010 via Work Song, the label imprint shared by singer/songwriter Joe Henry and Helmet mainman Page Hamilton's manager...
(2010)
Compilations
- Judgment NightJudgment Night (soundtrack)Judgment Night is the soundtrack to the film of the same name. It was released on September 14, 1993 through Epic Records and was produced by many of the album's performers. Every song on the soundtrack was a collaboration between hip-hop artists and rock / metal artists...
(1993) – "Just Another Victim" (with House of PainHouse of PainHouse of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
) - Volume Eleven: Reading Special (1994) – "Lord of This World" (Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover) - Born Annoying (1995)
- Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits (1995) – "Gigantor" (theme)
- Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (1995) – "Custard PieCustard Pie"Custard Pie" is the opening track on the English rock band Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. The lyrics to the riff-heavy song pay homage to the blues songs of the Robert Johnson era; specifically "Drop Down Mama" by Sleepy John Estes, "Shake 'Em on Down" by Bukka...
" (Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
cover) (with David YowDavid YowDavid Yow is an American musician born in Las Vegas, Nevada and best known as the vocalist for the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard.-Biography:...
of The Jesus LizardThe Jesus LizardThe Jesus Lizard was an American alternative rock and noise rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial...
) - The Jerky Boys (1995) – "Symptom of the Universe" (Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
cover) - Music for Our Mother Ocean (1996) – "Army of Me" (BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
cover) - Unsung: The Best of Helmet (1991–1997) (1997)
- Guilt by Association Vol. 3Guilt by Association Vol. 3Guilt by Association Vol. 3 is a compilation album released November 15, 2011 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its previous installments, Guilt by Association Vol. 1 and Guilt by Association Vol. 2, Guilt By Association Vol...
(2011) "Crazy Nights" (LoudnessLoudness (band)is a Japan-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. They were the first Japanese heavy metal act signed to a major label in the United States, releasing twenty-three studio albums...
cover)
Current members
- Page HamiltonPage HamiltonPage Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
- vocals/guitar (1989–present) - Dan Beeman - guitar (2008–present)
- Kyle Stevenson - drums (2006–present)
- Dave Case - bass (2010–present)
Former members
- Peter MengedePeter MengedePeter Mengede is a musician best known as the former guitarist for Helmet. He formed his own group, Handsome, in 1996 with former members of Quicksand, Cro-Mags and Murphy's Law...
- guitar (1989–1993) - Rob Echeverria - guitar (1993–1996)
- Chris TraynorChris TraynorChris Traynor is an American guitarist, bassist and studio musician. He has played with Orange 9mm, Helmet, Bush, Rival Schools and Gavin Rossdale....
- guitar/bass (1997–2006, 2010) - Henry BogdanHenry BogdanHenry Bogdan , is an American musician. He is perhaps best known as the original bass guitarist and a founding member of the alternative metal band, Helmet...
- bass (1989–1998) - John StanierJohn Stanier (drummer)John Stanier first came into the spotlight in 1989 as the drummer for the band Helmet. He is known for his speed, endurance, and precision as a performer....
- drums (1989–1998) - Frank BelloFrank BelloFrank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
- bass (2004–2005) - John TempestaJohn TempestaJohn Tempesta is a heavy metal drummer who has worked several bands including: Exodus, Testament and White Zombie. He also played with former White Zombie singer Rob Zombie as a solo artist and served as drum technician for heavy metal band Anthrax earlier in his career...
- drums (2004–2006) - Mike JostMike JostMike Jost was the drummer for the band Helmet on the 2006 release Monochrome and the subsequent supporting tour. He left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. He was formerly the drummer in St. Louis-based bands Seven, Adair, LucaBrasi and Disturbing the Peace. Mike Jost's brother is...
- drums (2005–2006) - Jeremy ChatelainJeremy Chatelain (bassist)Jeremy Chatelain is a musician originally from Utah. He has performed with Utah-based Insight and Iceburn, and went on to join Jets to Brazil and Helmet. Since 2000 he has performed with Cub Country....
- bass - Jimmy Thompson - guitar (2006-2008)
- Jon Fuller - drums (2006-2010)