Page 12 - ISSUE 14

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