Page 10 - ISSUE 21
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PAGE 10 ROCKNATION ISSUE 21
Interview by
Tom Mathers
Rocknation: Hello Brian Vollmer of Helix. and welcome to lack of trying) Sean and I wrote Vagabond Bones in
Rocknation. Your band will be releasing a CD called literally 10-15 hours! Ditto for this CD. Now, by writing
“Bastard Of The Blues” on Perris Records. Please tell us the songs I really mean that we came up with the skeleton
how the recording is comming and what to expect from of the song; the whole process from start to end is an
this release. evolving process. First we write the song on an acoustic
Brian: We started recording this week (Mar. 4th & 5th) guitar in Sean’s living room and then we send ideas back
although we’ve been going through the “demo” process and forth through email. By the time we meet again we
for over a month now. This CD has turned out to be a fine tune the song some more until we think it’s ready for
reflection of the title track “Bastard of the Blues”. What Daryl and Fritz to learn the beds. Then we go to the stu-
that means is this: That metal (at least when it comes to dio with Aaron Murray our producer and hash it out even
Helix) is the product of rock n’ roll breeding with blues. more. We like to call it “Helix-sizing” the song. LOL. Then
LOL. The songs are have an R&B feel with a metal tinge. Aaron plays around with the rough recording on pro-tools
Rocknation: You wrote many of your hits with Paul and sends out the demos to all of us to listen to, just in
Hackman, how different is it working with your new writing case we hear any last changes or fix-it’s we’d like to do.
partner Sean Kelly? Lastly, we go into the studio and record the bed tracks
Brian: Up to 1991 I wrote primarily with Paul Hackman. (bass/drums/rhythm guitar) and that’s the “foundation” to
When Paul died I went searching for other writers: Marc build the rest of the song on.
Ribbler ( with whom I wrote Good to the Last Drop and Rocknation: I had the pleasure to see you at Sweden Rock
That Day is Gonna Come), Tony Paleschi & Bill Gadd (two festival a few years ago. Please tell us about your future
friends from my weekend cover band 7 Year Itch) Gord Europe tour.
Prior and Steve Georgakopoulos, (The Power of Rock and Brian: Whereas I had all sorts or “rental players” when
Roll) and then finally Sean Kelly. In many ways, Sean is a we played Sweden Rock Festival back in the mid 90’s, this
lot like Paul-very creative, a great guitar player. The time around I have Daryl and Fritz back in the band along
difference is in the speed at which we write. Whereas Paul with Kaleb Duck (handpicked to join the band in 2008 by
and I would go months without writing anything (not for Brent Doerner himself) and newcomer Chris Julke. Chris
