Brian Vollmer

Last updated
Brian Vollmer
Born (1955-06-30) June 30, 1955 (age 69)
Origin Listowel, Ontario, Canada
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s) Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active1974-present
LabelsH&S Records, Aquarius, A&M, Dirty Dog Records, Capitol, EMI/Sanctuary, Vollmer Records, DeRock Records

Brian Joseph Vollmer (born June 30, 1955) [1] is the lead singer and only remaining original member of Canadian hard rock group Helix. [2] Since the band's inception in 1974, Vollmer had gone from lead singer to de facto leader of the band, weathering numerous lineup changes. Vollmer was born in Listowel, Ontario before relocating to Kitchener.

Contents

Life and career

Helix

Helix were formed in 1974 for a Battle of the Bands contest in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada by drummer Bruce Arnold. Their original name was the Helix Field Band, soon shortened to simply Helix. [3] By 1976 the band lineup had solidified to include twins Brent "The Doctor" Doerner (guitar) & Brian Doerner (drums), as well as Paul Hackman (guitar) and Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg (bass). With management under Kitchener's William Seip, Helix released two independent albums on their own H&S Records, entitled Breaking Loose and White Lace & Black Leather , in 1979 and 1981 respectively. Their second album, White Lace & Black Leather saw more lineup changes, with Brian Vollmer now the last remaining original member.

In 1983, Helix finally signed to Capitol Records after being rejected by them three times. In 1983 they released No Rest for the Wicked , their major label debut. The "classic" '80s lineup of Helix formed after this, now consisting of Brent Doerner, Paul Hackman, Greg "Fritz" Hinz (drums) and Daryl Gray (bass). This lineup recorded three more records for Capitol: Walkin' the Razor's Edge (1984), Long Way to Heaven (1985), and Wild in the Streets (1987). By 1990, Brent Doerner had left the band, setting off a chain of member changes that would leave Vollmer as the sole constant member. [4]

The 1990s started off with the Back for Another Taste album,and a special reunion show in Kitchener featuring Keith Zurbrigg and the Doerner brothers. At this time Brian Vollmer began working on his first solo album. However, in 1992, Vollmer's longtime bandmate Paul Hackman was killed when the group's van rolled down a 40-foot embankment after a concert in Vancouver. [5] [6] Recovering from the shock of his death, he took the songs he had recorded for his solo album, and released them as the next Helix record, It's a Business Doing Pleasure (released on Aquarius) in 1993. Vollmer would later call the album, "a huge mistake on my part, and I take full credit for the blunder. The really sad thing about it all was that I was really proud of all those songs on the album and they were wasted because they did not fit under the Helix name." [7]

Helix continued to tour after this tragedy, with new drummer Glen "Archie" Gamble, bassist Daryl Gray, and a rotating lineup of guitar players. [4] In 1999, he released his first proper solo album featuring Brian Doerner on drums, called When Pigs Fly . This was released under the band name "Vollmer". In 2004, the 30th anniversary of Helix, the band played a special concert at Brantford, Ontario's Sanderson Centre. The then-current lineup of Helix played a short set, followed by members of the original 1974 Helix lineup. Other past members made appearances on hits and rarely played songs from the independent albums. [8]

Around this time, Vollmer filmed a cameo (as himself) during the fourth season of the Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys that was included on that DVD as a deleted scene. Helix was mentioned in several other episodes after this as well, as it was revealed they are one of the characters' favourite concerts to see, and sell marijuana at. Vollmer also published his autobiography, Gimme An R, in December 2005. The book covered the numerous lineup changes and ups and downs of Helix through their 30-year career, along with many rare photos. [9]

In 2009, Brian Vollmer reunited the surviving members of the classic '80s lineup: Daryl Gray, Greg "Fritz" Hinz, and Brent Doerner. Vollmer cited fatigue of the rotating Helix lineups: "Daryl, Brent and Fritz have all 'been there, done that, got the T-shirt.' So I thought, 'What the hell? Why not just get the original band back together and save myself a big headache?'...We just realized we're better as a unit — and I got sick of working in new people." [10]

Brian Vollmer had a cameo appearance in the 2009 Trailer Park Boys movie Countdown To Liquor Day, released September 25, 2009. [10] [11] Helix also performed at the opening gala of the premier of the new Trailer Park Boys movie at the Halifax Metro Center. [12]

Since 2008, Vollmer has co-produced every Helix release alongside Aaron Murray, and occasionally his co-writers Sean Kelly, Steve Georgakopoulos and Gord Prior.

Personal life

At various stages of his career, Brian Vollmer thought seriously of folding Helix. The first time came at the end of 1989 when Brent Doerner quit the band. Vollmer and manager Bill Seip decided to keep the band going despite the loss. After the 1990/1991 tour for Back for Another Taste , which saw the band playing smaller venues, Vollmer again talked to Seip about folding the band. Seip's advice was to keep this information to himself, so he could either quit and do something else, or come back to Helix later. With the 2002 departure of Daryl Gray, who was like a partner in the Helix business, Vollmer again pondered quitting the band. Each time, he decided to keep going. [4]

In the late 80s, living in Kitchener, Ontario, Vollmer was divorced and working at a convenience store to make ends meet. It was during this time that he was mugged and decided to make the move to London, Ontario to live with friends and make a fresh start. His vocal cords, however, were in very bad shape due to years of touring and no vocal training. He met a vocal coach, Ed Johnson, who taught him the techniques of Bel canto, which helped to restore his voice to full strength. [4]

Teaching and Planet Helix

In addition to running the Helix business, Brian Vollmer also currently teaches the classical vocal technique, Bel canto, in London, Ontario, as well as singing classical music at weddings and funerals throughout southern Ontario. [13] He has given vocal lessons to Mercedes Lander of the heavy metal band Kittie who also hail from London. His wife Lynda now helps with the running of the business from their home, which they have dubbed "Planet Helix". [4] "Planet Helix" was featured in a 2007 episode of MTV Cribs . [14]

Discography

With Helix

For a more comprehensive list, see Helix discography.

Solo (as Vollmer)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helix (band)</span> Canadian hard rock band

Helix is a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don Simmons, and bassist Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg. However, their most well known lineup, and the one that recorded "Rock You", was the 1980s version of the band: Vollmer on vocals, accompanied by guitarists Brent "The Doctor" Doerner and Paul Hackman, bassist Daryl Gray, and drummer Greg "Fritz" Hinz. The history of the band has been marked by many lineup changes, with Vollmer being the sole constant member and only remaining member of the original lineup. Although Hackman was killed in a tour bus accident in 1992, the surviving members of the 1980s lineup reunited in 2009 for an album and have continued to tour since 2011. Watson died in 2019. Simmons died in 2021. Hinz died in 2024.

<i>Wild in the Streets</i> (Helix album) 1987 studio album by Helix

Wild in the Streets was the sixth album by the rock band Helix, released in 1987.

<i>Long Way to Heaven</i> 1985 studio album by Helix

Long Way to Heaven is the fifth studio album by the Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. This album was their third for Capitol Records, and there were bigger expectations from the band after the success of the previous Walkin' the Razor's Edge. The first single was "Deep Cuts the Knife", co-written by Paul Hackman and Bob Halligan Jr. The song received heavy airplay in the U.S., gaining "double breaker" status, and in Canada was added to heavy video play on MuchMusic. Q107 in Toronto had the song riding at number 1 for several weeks on their "Top Ten at Ten". Their first tour to kick off the album was in Sweden where they became the first Canadian rock band ever to tour that country extensively. For this they achieved their first number 1 album in that country.

<i>No Rest for the Wicked</i> (Helix album) 1983 studio album by Helix

No Rest for the Wicked is the third studio album by the Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. It is also their major label debut, on Capitol Records.

<i>Over 60 Minutes With...</i> 1989 greatest hits album by Helix

Over 60 Minutes With... is the seventh album release by Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. Their first compilation, it collects music from their first three Capitol Records albums but includes nothing from Wild in the Streets (1987). It was released on cassette and CD. Along with past singles and album tracks, the compilation album also includes previously unreleased songs "Everybody Pays the Price" and "Give It To You". Also included is "Jaws of the Tiger", which had first been released in 1986 as the B-side of the "It's Too Late" single.

<i>White Lace & Black Leather</i> 1981 studio album by Helix

White Lace & Black Leather is the second studio album by Canadian hard rock band Helix. Recorded at Springfield Sound in Aylmer, Ontario with producer Lachlan MacFadyen, it was released in 1981 on the band's own label H&S Records. The release was the group's first to feature bassist Mike Uzelac and their only to feature drummer Leo Niebudek, the pair of whom replaced Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg and drummer Brian Doerner, respectively.

<i>Breaking Loose</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Helix

Breaking Loose is the debut studio album by Canadian hard rock band Helix. Recorded primarily at Springfield Sound in Aylmer, Ontario with producer R.A. "Bob" Morten, it was released in 1979 on the band's own label H&S Records. The album features all original material, written by the band's frontman Brian Vollmer, and two guitarists Paul Hackman and Brent Doerner. It was supported by the release of Hackman's "Don't Hide Your Love" and Doerner's "Billy Oxygen" as singles.

<i>Back for Another Taste</i> 1990 studio album by Helix

Back For Another Taste is the seventh Helix studio album and eighth album altogether. It was also their last album of their original Capitol Records contract. In a fall 1987 interview on MuchMusic with Erica Ehm, lead vocalist Brian Vollmer jokingly stated that this album would be titled Blood, Sweat & Beer. One of the album's singles, "Running Wild in the 21st Century", reached #1 on the RPM Cancon chart.

<i>The Early Years</i> (Helix album) 1991 compilation album by Helix

The Early Years was the ninth Helix album and their second compilation album, issued in 1991. It reissued all the tracks from the band's first two independent albums, Breaking Loose (1979) and White Lace & Black Leather (1981), with new cover art. This was the first ever Compact Disc release of these two albums.

<i>Half-Alive</i> 1998 live album by Helix

half-ALIVE was the first official live album by Canadian heavy metal band Helix, following the promotional-only Live At The Marquee. It was also their 11th album altogether and featured five new studio songs. It was their only release on DeROCK Records and was recorded at various gigs throughout the 1990s.

<i>Vagabond Bones</i> 2009 studio album by Helix

Vagabond Bones is a studio album by heavy metal band Helix, released on November 17, 2009. It is Helix' 12th full-length studio album and 21st album released overall. It contains performances from members of the 1980s Helix lineup: Brian Vollmer, Brent Doerner, Daryl Gray and Greg Hinz, as well as former member and co-producer Sean Kelly. Kelly departed Helix during the production of Vagabond Bones, prompting the reunion of the 1980s band. Kelly remained on hand to finish the record before leaving to tour with Nelly Furtado.

<i>Deep Cuts: The Best Of</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Helix

Deep Cuts is a compilation album by the Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is their 12th official release, and their third compilation album. It collects music from both their early indi career as well as their catalogue with Capitol Records and rare tracks.

"Rock You" is a hard rock song written by Bob Halligan, Jr., and the first track from Helix's 1984 album Walkin' the Razor's Edge. It is best known for its call and response refrain of "Gimme an R, O, C, K." It peaked at number 27 on the RPM Pop Chart in Canada, although it received much higher levels of play on Canadian rock radio stations, but no national rock track chart exists for Canada for this time period.

<i>B-Sides</i> (Helix album) 1999 compilation album by Helix

B-Sides is a compilation album by the Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is their 13th official release and their fourth compilation album. Despite the title, it actually consists of no B-sides. It was released in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Helix and featured a reunion of surviving members of the "classic" 1980s lineup on three tracks. It also compiled previously unreleased tracks from 1989 to 1998. As a bonus, it included two unreleased songs from the Helix independent years.

<i>Live! in Buffalo</i> 2001 live album by Helix

Live! in Buffalo is a live album by Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. It was recorded on September 29, 1983 in Buffalo, New York. It is their 14th official release. It includes several songs that were road-tested versions of new tracks that were written for 1984's Walkin' the Razor's Edge, but were yet to be recorded. It also features the song "Hot on the Heels of Love" that has never been released in any other form.

<i>Rockin in My Outer Space</i> 2004 studio album by Helix

Rockin' in My Outer Space is a CD released by hard rock/heavy metal band Helix on May 24, 2004. It is Helix' 9th full-length studio album, and 15th official album release. It is also their first studio album since 1993's It's a Business Doing Pleasure, an 11-year gap and the longest gap between studio albums in Helix history.

<i>30th Anniversary Concert</i> 2004 video by Helix

30th Anniversary Concert is a DVD release by Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is a live concert recorded on July 17, 2004 at the Brantford, Ontario Sanderson Centre. It is a complete concert and it features appearances from band members past and present to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band. The concert is interspersed with interviews, studio recordings and photo montages.

Paul Wayne Hackman was a Canadian guitarist who performed with the rock band Helix from 1976 until his death in a road accident. Among the hits which contain his playing are the #32 Canadian single "Rock You" and the #20 mainstream Canadian rock single "Deep Cuts the Knife", which he co-wrote with Bob Halligan Jr.

<i>Smash Hits...Unplugged!</i> 2010 studio album by Helix

Smash Hits...Unplugged! is an acoustic studio album by the heavy metal band Helix. It was released in November 2010 via the band's official site and at shows, with a wider release via EMI in January 2011. It is composed of acoustic versions of Helix hits from albums past as well as a new cover version of "Touch Of Magic" by the late Canadian singer, James Leroy. It is the first studio recording by the current Helix lineup of vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Brent Doerner and Kaleb Duck, bassist Daryl Gray and drummer Greg Hinz. It also features guitar performances by ex-member and co-producer Sean Kelly. It is Helix' 13th full-length studio album and 22nd album released overall.

References

  1. ↑ Brian Vollmer (September 13, 2015). "The Sunday Update". Facebook.
  2. ↑ Heisel, Tammy (2021-03-20). "Meet your Neighbour: Brian Vollmer-Helix's front man and so much more!". London. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  3. ↑ "Hair Metal Mansion - Interview with Helix vocalist Brian Vollmer". Archived from the original on 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Vollmer, Brian (2004). Gimme An R! the story of Brian Vollmer, lead vocalist of Helix. Ball Media Corporation. ISBN   0-9739849-0-2.
  5. ↑ Sleaze Roxx - Paul Hackman Archived 2011-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Canadian Music Periodical Index Archived 2012-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Helix History - 1993 Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Metal Shrine - Mail-intervju - Brian Vollmer, Helix Archived 2009-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ HELIX - Release Date Confirmed For Gimme An R! Autobiography
  10. 1 2 A Helix story with a happy ending
  11. ↑ Bravewords - HELIX Mainman Brian Vollmer Issues Year-End Update
  12. ↑ HELIX Perform At Gala For New Trailer Park Boys Movie
  13. ↑ "Calgary Herald - 25 years later, Helix still wants to rock you". Archived from the original on 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  14. ↑ The Jack Richardson Music Awards: Hall of Fame Inductee: Helix Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
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