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PAGE 12                                                                                                        ROCKNATION ISSUE 14
    Interview with Brian Vollmer      still do his solo project, and in fact,   this time we’ve established the skel-  There’s something to say about the
           by Tom Mathers             the connections he could make from   eton of the song.  From there we take   original members playing the tunes.
                                      being back in Helix would help with   the song to the band and have them   You can bring in the best musicians
  Rocknation: Welcome to Rocknation,   that project.  Furthermore, we traveled   fine tune their parts and add sugges-  in the world to play the tracks note for
                                                                         tions.  From there the songs go to the
  your “Vagabond Bones” CD was one of   in style and stayed in very comfortable   studio.  This is where the real “shine”   note and it still isn’t going to sound the
                                      acomodations (not like the old days),
  the ROCKNATION TOP 10 HARD ROCK    Interview with James Christian      is put on them.  Sometimes we end up   same as the original guys.
                                          by Brian Rademacher
  PICKS OF 2009 along with Chickenfoot,   got paid well, and rubbed elbows with   editing parts as we go along.  With pro   Rocknation: Your CD artwork is incred-
  Shinedown, Nickelback, Creed, Kiss &   some of the biggest names in the biz.    tools you can move parts around easily,   able who did that for you?
  Dynazty. Please describe the writing   He was in.  Next I recruited Sean Kelly.    drop out parts, anything.  We don’t go   Brian: Matt Broods of Baby Jack Design
  process to your new “Vagabond Bones”   Sean was actually a guitar player, but he   nuts with this process because you can   out of Toronto did the artwork.  I found
  CD?                                 wanted the gig so bad he volunteered to   get caught up easily in “production”.     Matt through Sean Kelly.
  Brian: The two CDs previous to Vaga-  play bass.  He had grown up listening   The very last process to the writing   Rocknation: Are you shooting any vid-
  bond Bones were The Power of Rock   to Helix and was a big fan.  At the same   of the song comes in the mix where   eos for this release?
  and Roll and A Heavy Mental Christmas.    time I knew Daryl was also sending   Aaron added some                                 Brian: Yes.  We
  I had established a writing & business   feelers to me by way of Rob that he also   sounds, dropped                              shot two last
  relationship with Gord Prior and Steve   wanted back in, but the problem I had   some things out,                                weekend-Make
  Georgakopoulos on those CDs, and    was that if I asked him to join the next   and created some                                  ‘em Dance &
  felt things were going very well.  On   logical step would be to get Fritz back in   things with the                             Monday Morn-
  Power we had gotten licensing (with   as well, and what to do with Rob?    So   magic of record-                                 ing Meltdown.
  advances!) from Sanctuary for Europe,   Sean joined as my new bass player,   ing, ie. the rythym                                 We expect the
  E.M.I. for Canada, and Perris Records   Brent became my new/old guitarist, Jim   percussion behind                               videos to be
  for the U.S. and on the Christmas CD   was still the rythym guitarist, and Rob   the vocals in the                               done within
  Gord had talked Walmart Canada into   was my drummer.  At the same time all   breakdown for                                      the next cou-
  handling it, a bonus.  So I was very   this was going down suddenly things   Monday Morning                                      ple of weeks.
  excited about the CD we were going to   started to get weird with Gord.   Gord   Meltdown.                                       Rockntion:
  write. One problem that seemed to be   had been the lead singer for    Rocknation: What
  rearing it’s ugly head at the time was   numerous bands over the years, and   is your favorite                                   You sang on
  the fact that my live band was not the   out of the blue he got a tryout for the   track right now                               my bands
  band I used to play in the studio.  They   lead singer position of Velvet Revolver.    from Vagabond                             Cherry
  didn’t write the songs, so why have   I only wished him the best of luck with   Bones and why?                                   St.”Buster
  them come hundreds of miles from out   the project, but over time it became   Brian: My favorite                                 Cherry” CD a
  of town to play the parts in the studio?    evident he was nearly unavailable to   track is “When the                            few years ago,
  However, the live band seemed to be   work on the next Helix CD. Finally we   Bitter’s Got the                                   have you did
  really working out well in a live situa-  had a showdown and the truth came   Better of You”.  I                                 any other out-
  tion, so on the Christmas CD Gord and I   out:  He could no longer devote the time   thought the lyrics                          side projects
  decided to give them a try at playing the   required for the project.  I was devas-  were a step up.                             than Helix?
  songs in the studio, as kind of a test as   tated. Sean Kelly had already asked me   Rocknation: You                             Brian: Yes. A
  to whether we wanted them to play on   to write, so I immediately booked time to  have some original                             couple of CDs
  the next studio CD. They did a fantas-  go to Toronto and get together with him.    members back in                              for my church
  tic job.  The problem was that as the   Our very first writing session produced   the band tell us                               and a solo CD
  project went on it was obvious Gord and   “The Animal Inside (Won’t be Denied)”   about that.                                    called “When
  my lead guitarist Rick Van Dyk couldn’t   and from there we never looked back.    Brian: The present                             Pigs Fly”.
  get along.  Things came to a head at the   We hit it off immediately as writers, and   live band consists                        Rocknation:
  last date of 2008.  It was a sold out show   before too long Sean also brought Moe   of Brent Doerner,                           Thank you for
  here in London, Ontario.  We played   Berg (Pursuit of Happiness) and Craig   Daryl Gray, Fritz                                 taking time out
  a great show and I thought, “...what a   McConnell to the project.  Sean and   Hinz, myself and newcomer shredder   for Rocknation.
  fantastic way to end the year!”...Imagine   Craig already had a writing relationship   Kaleb  Duck. Our first tour was through  Brian: That’s not a question, it’s a
  my surprise when the next morning (the   from putting together musical scores   eastern Canada and the band smoked!    statement.
  same day of my annual Vollmer Christ-  for Disney. We started banging out
  mas party here at Planet Helix) when I   songs and then going into A Studios
  talked to Gord and he told me that if the   here in London, Ontario and recording
  band was involved in the recording of   3 at a time per weekend.  This was an
  the CD, he was out.  At that point I had   incredible task and everyone worked
  no choice but to go to the band and   from early morning until the evening
  tell them that we would not need their   getting it done.   All the while Sean and
  services in the studio on the next disc.    I tried to stay ahead of the recording
  What choice did I have?   It was either   process by staying constantly in touch
  tell them they weren’t going to be in the   over the phone.  Even writing over the
  studio or find another business partner   phone!   Then in June Sean was offered
  and co-writer.  When I gave the band the   the job as the new guitar player for
  bad news they all quit (which I thought   Nelly Furtado.   He had to take the gig
  was rather foolish because none of   (I totally understood that) but he told
  them were on the Power CD anyway) At   me that he wanted to continue writing.
  that point I had to go find another band.    Problem was, we had to get it all done
  My first choice was Rob MacEachern for   by the end of September and we were
  drums.  He had drummed on “Power”   5 songs short!   We went into a writing                                             ROCKNATION
  and I had always loved his playing.  Jim   frenzie at that point, but we got in under
  Lawson was the only member of the   the wire, finishing up the week before                                                  TOP 10
  band who hadn’t quit, but I still needed   Sean jetted off to play the Tonight Show
  to find a lead guitarist.  I knew Brent had   and the Latin Music Awards, followed                                   HARD ROCK PICK
  a solo project together called My Wicked   by a promotional tour of Europe.  When
  Twin and had been out playing again,   Sean told me he was leaving I thought                                               OF 2009
  so I went straight to him and asked him   to myself, “...Not again!”   I was starting
  to get back in the band.  At first he was   to get burnt out working in new people. I
  pretty hesitant, but I pointed out to him   decided that the time was ripe to get the
  that he was a star, and that he deserved   original band back together.  I emailed
  to be on a stage fit for a star.  He could   Daryl and talked to Fritz and eventually
                                      they came onboard as well.  Rob politely                                                 CHERRY ST.
                                                          stepped aside to
                                                          let Fritz re-join.                                                “Buster Cherry” CD
                                                          The old songs
                                                          fell into place
                                                          quickly and the      “Vagabond Bones” CD
                                                          studio was just
                                                          like old times
                                                          again. When we
                                                          wrote the songs        15th Studio release from
                                                          there was a cer-
                                                          tain process they
                                                          went through.            these Canada Legends
                                                          Usually Sean
                                                          or myself work
                                                          from the hook
                                                          backwards
                                                          until the song is      now available in                      Featuring vocalist:
                                                          done.   On four
                                                          of the songs                                                Brian Vollmer-HELIX
                                                          Moe Berg came         all fine CD stores                     Jason McMaster - Broken
                                                          in and helped to                                              Teeth & Dangerous Toys
                                                          fine-tune.   By
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