Helmet (band)
Helmet is an American rock band.
Band History
Helmet was founded in the late 1980s in New York City by Page Hamilton ( lead guitar, vocals ), Peter Mengede (guitar), Henry Bogdan (bass) and John Stanier (drums). The band combined NY- hardcore with Sonic Youth -style noise attacks and jazz - influenced harmonies and rhythm.
This Helmet played one outside of the hardcore scene previously unknown style. The simple, bone-dry guitar riffs combined with a unique rhythmic precision and a song that Page Hamilton as the rhythm section belonging designated. The D to E string tuned down (Dropped D tuning ) made it possible to play chords with one finger. This " hacking" on the fretboard is one of the essential features of the first albums.
Because of this uniqueness has been Helmets style inspiration for many musicians from the harder rock area. Just music groups from the area of the later arisen Nu Metals often invoke Helmet and put out their role model.
After constantly changing cast and a longer break from 1997 to 2004 the band around mastermind Page Hamilton exist again today, but in almost completely new cast: In the meantime, the band consists of the anthrax member Frank Bello on bass, former Testament and White Zombie drummer John Tempesta and the former Orange 9mm guitarist Chris Traynor, who is also employed by Gavin Rossdale's new band Institute.
The album Size Matters on which the typical Helmet sound is particularly enhanced with melodic variants, disappointed many critics to copy the Page Hamilton accused his epigones.
On 18 July 2006, the album Monochrome appeared. This Helmet return partially revert back to their old sound. New features in the cast as a drummer Mike Jost and Jeremy Chatelain on bass.
After release of the video for the title track were Monochrome Helmet headlined the Vans Warped Tour 2006, shortly after the end of the tour the band members Chris Traynor and Mike Jost withdrew from personal and family reasons, and Jeremy Chatelain left the band. Page Hamilton now stood alone, but made himself a short time later on the search for new band members.
In the autumn of the same year Page Hamilton presented a completely new line-up together, consisting of Jimmy Thompson ( guitar), Jon Fuller ( bass) and Kyle Stevenson (drums). In January 2007, a small tour along the U.S. west coast as tour support for the band Guns N ' Roses.
In March 2007, the band went on tour of Australia, which was enthusiastically received by critics and fans. In April, the video for the song Money Shot has been released, can also be seen on the MySpace site of the band.
In January 2009, Page Hamilton toured in completely new Helmet - occupation by small clubs in Europe.
On 17 September 2010, the seventh studio album Helmet Seeing Eye Dog was released via Work Song label. The special edition of the album includes a second CD with live recordings from the Warped Tour 2006 in San Francisco.