Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City, New York. Formed in 1989, the group originally featured guitarist and vocalist Page Hamilton, guitarist Peter Mengede, bassist Henry Bogdan and drummer John Stanier. [1] The group released its debut album Strap It On in 1990, followed by Meantime in 1992 on Interscope Records. [1] Due to increased tensions with frontman Hamilton, Mengede was fired from the band on February 17, 1993. [2] After his dismissal, the guitarist went on to form the supergroup Handsome. [3] Rob Echeverria was enlisted to perform on the 1994 album Betty , although he also left the band in 1996 to join Biohazard. [4] Helmet recorded Aftertaste as a three-piece, with Hamilton performing all guitars. [1] After touring with former Orange 9mm guitarist Chris Traynor, [1] the band broke up in 1998. [5]
In 2003, it was announced that Helmet had reformed with bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson and drummer John Tempesta joining Hamilton and Traynor. [6] A spokesperson for Hamilton later debunked the news, but noted that Hamilton and Traynor were working on an unidentified project. [7] In early 2004 the Helmet reformation was officially announced, with recently former Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and Tempesta joining the group. [8] Bello left to return to Anthrax in early 2005, with Jeremy Chatelain taking his place for remaining tour dates. [9] Tempesta left in early 2006 to join The Cult, [10] with Mike Jost taking his place a few months later. [11] In September, more lineup changes were announced as both Traynor and Jost left the group. [12] New additions Kyle Stevenson (drums) and Jon Fuller (bass) were announced the following month, which also marked Chatelain's departure. [13] Jimmy Thompson took Traynor's place later, although only remained with the band until late 2007 before being replaced by Dan Beeman the following February. [14]
Helmet returned with new studio album Seeing Eye Dog in 2010, which featured a returning Traynor on bass; [15] Dave Case was officially announced as the group's new touring bassist around the same time. [16] The band released its eighth studio album Dead to the World in 2016, which was the first to feature Case. [17]
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Page Hamilton |
|
| all Helmet releases | |
Kyle Stevenson | 2006–present |
|
| |
Dan Beeman | 2008–present |
|
| |
Dave Case | 2010–present |
|
|
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henry Bogdan | 1989–1998 | bass |
| |
John Stanier | drums | |||
Peter Mengede | 1989–1993 | rhythm guitar |
| |
Rob Echeverria | 1993–1996 |
| ||
Chris Traynor |
|
|
| |
John Tempesta | 2004–2006 | drums | Size Matters (2004) | |
Frank Bello | 2004–2005 (touring only) |
| none | |
Jeremy Chatelain | 2005–2006 (touring only) | Seeing Eye Dog (2010) – Live at Warped Tour bonus disc only | ||
Mike Jost | 2006 | drums |
| |
Jon Fuller | 2006–2010 (touring only) | bass | Seeing Eye Dog (2010) – bonus USB key live albums only | |
Jimmy Thompson | 2006–2007 | rhythm guitar | Seeing Eye Dog (2010) – Live in Detroit bonus USB key live album only | |
Rob De Luca | 2006 (substitute) |
| none – replaced Fuller who was refused entry into Canada [18] |
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
Early 1989 – February 1993 |
|
|
1993–1996 |
|
|
Mid-1996 – early 1997 |
|
|
Early 1997 – early 1998 |
| none – live performances only |
Band inactive 1998–2004 | ||
March – June 2004 |
|
|
June 2004 – April 2005 |
| none – live performances only |
June 2005 – February 2006 |
| |
May – September 2006 |
|
|
October – late 2006 |
| none – rehearsals only |
Late 2006 – late 2007 |
|
|
February 2008 – June 2010 |
|
|
June 2010 – present |
|
|
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is part of the "Big Four" of the genre, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast. The band's current lineup consists of Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante, bassist Frank Bello, vocalist Joey Belladonna and lead guitarist Jonathan Donais. Anthrax's lineup has changed numerous times over their career, leaving Ian as the only constant member of the band. Ian and Benante are the only two members to appear on all of Anthrax's albums, while Bello has been a member of Anthrax since 1984, replacing Lilker.
Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Helmet has had numerous lineup changes with Hamilton as the only constant member. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.
Aftertaste is the fourth studio album by American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 1997 on Interscope. It was the band's final album with original members John Stanier (drums) and Henry Bogdan (bass). Guitarist Rob Echeverria, who appeared on Helmet's previous outing, Betty, left the group to join Biohazard. Subsequently, the album was recorded as a three-piece, with Page Hamilton covering all the guitar parts. Guitarist Chris Traynor came on board for the supporting tour.
Size Matters is the fifth album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 2004 on Interscope Records. It is the first new album since the band ended with a bitter break-up in 1998, and it is also their final album to be released through Interscope.
Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band's current lineup comprises rhythm guitarist Eric Peterson, lead vocalist Chuck Billy, lead guitarist Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve Di Giorgio and drummer Chris Dovas. Testament has experienced many lineup changes over the years, with Peterson being the only remaining original member, though they have since reunited with Skolnick, who had been out of the band from 1992 to 2005. Billy has been a member of Testament since 1986, when he replaced original frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza, who had left to replace Paul Baloff in Exodus. Peterson and Billy are the only members to appear on all of Testament's studio albums. The band has released thirteen studio albums, four live albums, five compilation albums, thirteen singles and three DVDs. They are estimated to have sold over 1.4 million albums in the United States since the beginning of the SoundScan era, and over 14 million copies worldwide as of 2016.
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. Their current lineup consists of guitarists Gary Holt and Lee Altus, bassist Jack Gibson, drummer Tom Hunting, and lead vocalist Rob Dukes. There are no original members left in Exodus other than Hunting, who has departed from the band twice, in 1989 and 2004, but rejoined in 2007. Exodus is also notable for featuring a then-unknown Kirk Hammett, who was the band's lead guitarist from its inception until his departure in 1983, when he left to join fellow Bay Area thrash metal band Metallica as Dave Mustaine's replacement. Holt has been most consistent member throughout various lineup changes and breakups, and is the only member to appear on all of Exodus' recordings. Much of the band's career has also been affected by feuds between both band members and record companies, two extended hiatuses, deaths of former band members, and drug addictions.
John Tempesta is an American drummer known for his work in hard rock and heavy metal. He has been a member of British band the Cult since 2006. He is the brother of guitarist Mike Tempesta, who also had worked together in several projects.
Biohazard is an American hardcore band formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1987. They are one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel, and drummer Anthony Meo. Guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei joined soon after, and drummer Danny Schuler replaced Meo before the recording of their first album, thus solidifying the band's lineup from 1988 to 1995.
Unsung: The Best of Helmet (1991–1997) is a compilation album of Helmet in its original form, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton, bassist Henry Bogdan, drummer John Stanier, and guitarists Peter Mengede (1989–1993) and Rob Echeverria (1994–1996).
New World Disorder is the fifth studio album by American band Biohazard. It was released on June 8, 1999 by Mercury Records. It is the only record Biohazard released on Mercury, and their last major label album to date, as well as the only Biohazard studio release to feature former Helmet guitarist Rob Echiverria. It was produced by Ed Stasium, who previously produced State of the World Address.
Peter Mengede is an Australian musician best known as a former guitarist for alternative metal band Helmet. He formed his own group, Handsome, in 1995 with former members of Quicksand, Cro-Mags and Murphy's Law. They released one album in 1997 before disbanding.
Monochrome is the sixth album by the American alternative metal band Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. It is the third Helmet album in a row to be recorded as a three-piece, with new drummer Mike Jost joining veterans Page Hamilton and Chris Traynor. Bassist Jeremy Chatelain, who replaced Frank Bello on the Size Matters tour, rejoined the band for the 2006 Warped Tour in support of Monochrome. The album received a mixed reception upon release.
Jeremy Chatelain is a musician originally from Utah. He formed the Utah-based bands Insight and Iceburn, and went on to sing in NYC band Handsome and later formed Jets to Brazil with singer Blake Schwarzenbach. In 2005 Jeremy joined the band Helmet to play bass, but left in September 2006. Since 2000 he has written and performed with Cub Country.
The discography of Helmet, a New York–based alternative metal band formed in 1989, consists of nine full-length studio albums, two compilation albums, 15 singles, and 14 music videos. This list does not include material performed by members or former members of Helmet that was recorded with Adair, Anthrax, Band of Susans, Biohazard, The Cult, Disturbing the Peace, Exodus, Norma Jean, Testament, Tomahawk and White Zombie.
Handsome was an American rock supergroup formed in 1995. The group's lineup was singer Jeremy Chatelain, guitarists Peter Mengede, Tom Capone, bassist Eddie Nappi, and drummer Pete Hines. Capone would leave the group in 1997, replaced by Donny Campion. They released two 7" vinyl singles in 1995, two CD singles in 1997 and one album, Handsome (1997), through Epic/Sony before disbanding.
Billy Graziadei is an American musician who is the rhythm guitarist, one of the vocalists and the sole continuous founding member of the hardcore/metal band Biohazard. He is also the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Powerflo and frontman for BillyBio, his latest solo project. In addition, he is the former rhythm guitarist for Suicide City. Graziadei also performed as part of the Roadrunner United project in 2005 as well as Blood for Blood in 2010.
Straight Ahead was an American straight edge hardcore punk band formed in Queens, New York City in 1984 by drummer and vocalist Tommy Carroll, guitarist Gordon Ancis and bassist Tony Marc Shimkin.