Page Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Page Hamilton is a guitar
ist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal
band Helmet
. Most of his work has been in the heavy metal or hard rock
styles, but Hamilton, who was trained in jazz guitar, has also worked in other genres.
, Hamilton moved to New York
to study jazz
guitar
in the early 1980s. While there, he "discovered distortion
" and worked with composer Glenn Branca
. Hamilton then joined Band of Susans
for their Love Agenda
album, after which he started Helmet
.
Helmet recorded four albums in the 1990s: Strap It On
, Meantime, Betty
, and Aftertaste
. They had moderate chart success, with their last three albums reaching the Billboard top 100, but difficulty keeping his bandmates together caused them to disband in early 1998. After Helmet split up, Hamilton started Gandhi, and toured with David Bowie
. About this time he recorded with Ben Neill
.
He recorded Zulutime (duets with Caspar Brötzmann
), played guitar on Ben Neill
's Goldbug and Joe Henry
's Trampoline, and wrote some music
for the movie Heat. Hamilton has also made appearances on "Unbeliever" by Therapy?
, "No, You Don't" by Nine Inch Nails
, and "God Forbid" by P.O.D.
.
In 2003, Hamilton and Charlie Clouser
recorded the song "Throwing Punches" for the movie soundtrack, Underworld, which marks the first time the song was credited as a Page Hamilton track - mainly because it was about to be released as part of his "solo" album. However, when Hamilton restarted Helmet with an altered line-up in 2004, the song was released as part of the band's comeback album Size Matters
.
In 2004, Hamilton contributed to a KISS tribute album 'Spin the Bottle - An All-Star Tribute to KISS' with the song 'Calling Dr. Love'.
In 2005, Hamilton contributed to 'The Ultimate Tribute Album to Metallica', with the song 'Motorbreath' with Scott Ian of Anthrax.
On 18 July 2006, Helmet, with further lineup changes, released their second post-reunion album, Monochrome
.
Hamilton has also been involved in music production, most notably producing "Distort Yourself" by Gavin Rossdale
's band Institute
, Bullets and Octane
's second album, In The Mouth Of The Young
, released in 2006, and the Classic Case
album Losing at Life
.
During the 2008 tour of Australia, Hamilton told fans that he was going to work on a new Helmet album with the band over the next 18 months. Their latest album, Seeing Eye Dog
, was released on September 7, 2010.
In 2008, Hamilton co-wrote, recorded guest vocals and guitar on the Norma Jean
album entitled The Anti Mother
. He is featured on the eighth track titled "Opposite of Left and Wrong."
Recently, Hamilton was featured on P.O.D.
's album When Angels & Serpents Dance
.
since the early 1990s, and is best known for playing ESP Horizon
guitars with a Wilkinson Tremolo, Sperzel locking tuners, and DiMarzio Airzone
pickups.
It is also reported at Guitar Geek that Hamilton has used Paul Reed Smith
guitars. Daniel Johns
of Silverchair
recorded Freak Show
with a green Paul Reed Smith guitar which used to belong to Hamilton and still owns the instrument.
In 2006, ESP announced that they were producing a new Page Hamilton Signature model. This signature model differs from most standard ESP Guitars in that it uses DiMarzio
pickups rather than Seymour Duncan
's or EMG
's.
In 2009, ESP announced an updated Page Hamilton Signature model guitar. The guitar is modeled after Page's original Custom-Shop Magenta ESP Horizon
. The guitar comes with a distressed Magenta finish from the factory to emulate the original guitar's road wear and character, and is loaded with a single DiMarzio Air Zone
pickup.
Page Hamilton's current tour guitars:
In an interview with Guitar Edge, Hamilton spoke about a version of his original ESP Horizon Custom from the 1980s:
, for amplification Hamilton used a complex setup including a Marshall
head and Harry Kolbe Preamps and Speakers. Today, Hamilton now endorses and uses Fryette amplifiers.
Page Hamilton's current tour equipment:
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal
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 Helmet
Helmet (band)
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....
. Most of his work has been in the heavy metal or hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
styles, but Hamilton, who was trained in jazz guitar, has also worked in other genres.
Biography
Raised in Medford, OregonMedford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
, Hamilton moved to 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 study jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
in the early 1980s. While there, he "discovered distortion
Distortion
A distortion is the alteration of the original shape of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice...
" and worked with composer Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca
Glenn Branca is an American avant-garde composer and guitarist known for his use of volume, alternative guitar tunings, repetition, droning, and the harmonic series. In 2008 he was awarded an unrestricted grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.-Beginnings: 1960s and early 1970s:Branca...
. Hamilton then joined Band of Susans
Band 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...
for their Love Agenda
Love Agenda
Love Agenda is the second album by Band of Susans, released in 1989. Page Hamilton, later much more famous than any of the band's core members because of his work as frontman for Helmet, plays guitar on this album and some of the subsequent Peel Sessions that followed the tour to support it...
album, after which he started Helmet
Helmet (band)
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 recorded four albums in the 1990s: 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....
, Meantime, 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....
, 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...
. They had moderate chart success, with their last three albums reaching the Billboard top 100, but difficulty keeping his bandmates together caused them to disband in early 1998. After Helmet split up, Hamilton started Gandhi, and toured with 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...
. About this time he recorded with Ben Neill
Ben Neill
Ben Neill is a composer and trumpeter who has studied with La Monte Young. His music has been recorded on the Thirsty Ear, Astralwerks, Verve, and Six Degrees labels. Neill spent seven years as the music curator for The Kitchen in New York. He has collaborated with DJ Spooky, David Wojnarowicz...
.
He recorded Zulutime (duets with Caspar Brötzmann
Caspar Brötzmann
Caspar Brötzmann is an electric guitar player.While Brötzmann typically performs with the power trio lineup of Caspar Brötzmann Massaker , with guitar, bass guitar and drum set, he only uses rock and roll and heavy metal music as a basis for his music...
), played guitar on Ben Neill
Ben Neill
Ben Neill is a composer and trumpeter who has studied with La Monte Young. His music has been recorded on the Thirsty Ear, Astralwerks, Verve, and Six Degrees labels. Neill spent seven years as the music curator for The Kitchen in New York. He has collaborated with DJ Spooky, David Wojnarowicz...
's Goldbug and 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 :...
's Trampoline, and wrote some music
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...
for the movie Heat. Hamilton has also made appearances on "Unbeliever" by Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
, "No, You Don't" by Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
, and "God Forbid" by P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
.
In 2003, Hamilton and Charlie Clouser
Charlie Clouser
Charles Alexander "Charlie" Clouser is an American musician whose activities include playing keyboard, synth, theremin, and drums. He is known for his abilities in music programming, engineering, mixing, and remixing. He was a member of the band Nine Inch Nails 1994–2000. Before he was in Nine...
recorded the song "Throwing Punches" for the movie soundtrack, Underworld, which marks the first time the song was credited as a Page Hamilton track - mainly because it was about to be released as part of his "solo" album. However, when Hamilton restarted Helmet with an altered line-up in 2004, the song was released as part of the band's comeback 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...
.
In 2004, Hamilton contributed to a KISS tribute album 'Spin the Bottle - An All-Star Tribute to KISS' with the song 'Calling Dr. Love'.
In 2005, Hamilton contributed to 'The Ultimate Tribute Album to Metallica', with the song 'Motorbreath' with Scott Ian of Anthrax.
On 18 July 2006, Helmet, with further lineup changes, released their second post-reunion 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...
.
Hamilton has also been involved in music production, most notably producing "Distort Yourself" by Gavin Rossdale
Gavin Rossdale
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush as well as an actor. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. He...
's band Institute
Institute (band)
Institute was an alternative rock band featuring Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The band's only album, Distort Yourself, was released September 13, 2005.-History:...
, Bullets and Octane
Bullets and Octane
Bullets and Octane are a punk/hard rock band originally from St. Louis, Missouri and now based in Southern California . They originate from the band Ultrafink...
's second album, In The Mouth Of The Young
In the Mouth of the Young
In the Mouth of the Young is the second full-length and first major label album by the band Bullets and Octane. The album was released on April 11, 2006 on RCA and produced by Helmet guitarist Page Hamilton. It was the band's first and only release for RCA....
, released in 2006, and the Classic Case
Classic Case
Classic Case was an American rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina formed in 2002.-Biography:Vocalist/guitarist Jared Draughon and guitarist Mitchell Marlow formed the band in the early months of 2002 in their hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They had played in a punk band together...
album Losing at Life
Losing at Life
Losing at Life is the newest record from Classic Case, which is produced by Page Hamilton of Helmet fame, and was released on Fearless Records on February 20, 2007.-Track listing:# "Into a Nightmare" - 3:12# "Unsteady" - 2:57# "Scott Free" - 3:23...
.
During the 2008 tour of Australia, Hamilton told fans that he was going to work on a new Helmet album with the band over the next 18 months. Their latest 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...
, was released on September 7, 2010.
In 2008, Hamilton co-wrote, recorded guest vocals and guitar on the Norma Jean
Norma Jean (band)
Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day...
album entitled The Anti Mother
The Anti Mother
- Personnel :Norma Jean*Cory Brandan – lead vocals, guitars*Scottie Henry – guitars*Jake Schultz – bass*Chris Day – guitars*Chris Raines – drums, percussionGuest personnel*Chino Moreno – writing, guitars, vocals...
. He is featured on the eighth track titled "Opposite of Left and Wrong."
Recently, Hamilton was featured on P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
's album When Angels & Serpents Dance
When Angels & Serpents Dance
When Angels & Serpents Dance is the seventh studio album by P.O.D., released in 2008. It was the first album to include Marcos Curiel since his departure from the group and first to be released by INO/Columbia. It also includes Mike Muir from Suicidal Tendencies, Helmet guitarist Page Hamilton,...
.
Guitars
Hamilton has been a major endorser of ESP GuitarsESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
since the early 1990s, and is best known for playing ESP Horizon
ESP Horizon
ESP Horizon is a guitar model distributed by ESP....
guitars with a Wilkinson Tremolo, Sperzel locking tuners, and DiMarzio Airzone
DiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
pickups.
It is also reported at Guitar Geek that Hamilton has used Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
guitars. Daniel Johns
Daniel Johns
Daniel Paul Johns is an Australian musician, vocalist, composer, guitarist, and pianist, best known as the frontman of the rock band Silverchair. He is also part of The Dissociatives...
of Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
recorded Freak Show
Freak Show (album)
Freak Show is the second studio album from Australian rock band Silverchair. Freak Show was released on 3 February 1997. The album also gives listeners a glimpse into the band's experimental side, as can be heard in "Petrol & Chlorine" and "Cemetery"...
with a green Paul Reed Smith guitar which used to belong to Hamilton and still owns the instrument.
In 2006, ESP announced that they were producing a new Page Hamilton Signature model. This signature model differs from most standard ESP Guitars in that it uses DiMarzio
DiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
pickups rather than Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
's or EMG
EMG, Inc.
EMG, Inc. is the current legal name of a company based in Santa Rosa, California which manufactures guitar pickups and EQ accessories. Founded in 1976, the company was originally called Dirtywork Studios. The name was changed to "Overlend" in 1978 and then to the current name in 1983...
's.
In 2009, ESP announced an updated Page Hamilton Signature model guitar. The guitar is modeled after Page's original Custom-Shop Magenta ESP Horizon
ESP Horizon
ESP Horizon is a guitar model distributed by ESP....
. The guitar comes with a distressed Magenta finish from the factory to emulate the original guitar's road wear and character, and is loaded with a single DiMarzio Air Zone
DiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
pickup.
Page Hamilton's current tour guitars:
- ESP HorizonESP HorizonESP Horizon is a guitar model distributed by ESP....
Custom "Magenta" - This has been Hamilton's main tour guitar since the mid 90s. It has a magenta finish with black nickel hardware. http://www.monocase.com/images/Players/f_PageHamilton-3.jpg - ESP Page Hamilton Signature I - Hamilton's original signature model. It has an aluminum finish. The guitar features an alder body, ebony fretboard, black nickel hardware and DiMarzio Air ZoneDiMarzioDiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
pickups. Hamilton takes 2 or 3 of these guitars on tour; one as a backup. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/88452556_145ca9c371_o.jpg - ESP Page Hamilton MG - Hamilton's new signature model. New for 2009, it is based on his ESP Horizon Custom. It is magenta on an alder body with a "relic" finish, to create a "worn out" look. http://www.espguitars.com/images/guitars/Page-MG_ESP.jpg
In an interview with Guitar Edge, Hamilton spoke about a version of his original ESP Horizon Custom from the 1980s:
Amplifiers & Cabinets
In the early days of HelmetHelmet (band)
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....
, for amplification Hamilton used a complex setup including a Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
head and Harry Kolbe Preamps and Speakers. Today, Hamilton now endorses and uses Fryette amplifiers.
Page Hamilton's current tour equipment:
- FryetteFryette AmplificationFryette Amplification of Burbank, California is a manufacturer of high-quality hand built electric guitar amplifiers & speaker cabinets. The company was originally founded as VHT Amplification in Studio City, Los Angeles, California by Steven Fryette in January 1989 and was the first to produce a...
Valvulator - FryetteFryette AmplificationFryette Amplification of Burbank, California is a manufacturer of high-quality hand built electric guitar amplifiers & speaker cabinets. The company was originally founded as VHT Amplification in Studio City, Los Angeles, California by Steven Fryette in January 1989 and was the first to produce a...
Pittbull Ultra Lead Amplifier (x3) - FryetteFryette AmplificationFryette Amplification of Burbank, California is a manufacturer of high-quality hand built electric guitar amplifiers & speaker cabinets. The company was originally founded as VHT Amplification in Studio City, Los Angeles, California by Steven Fryette in January 1989 and was the first to produce a...
4x12 Cabinets - Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Custom Audio Controller
- Digitech Whammy
- Z.Vex Fuzz FactoryZ.Vex Fuzz FactoryThe Z.Vex Fuzz Factory is a fuzz box made by the American inventor and musician Zachary Vex of the Z.Vex Effects company.The Fuzz Factory is based on, yet vastly expands the tonal palette of, classic fuzztone designs from the 1960s...
- BossBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
RV-3 Digital Delay