Background information
Origin	New York City / Los Angeles, USA
Genre(s)	Alternative metal Post-Hardcore Heavy metal
Years active	1989–1998, 2004–present
Label(s)	Amphetamine Reptile, Interscope, Warcon
Website	helmetmusic.com
Members
Page Hamilton (vocals/guitar, 1989–) Jimmy Thompson (guitar, 2006–) Kyle Stevenson (drums, 2006–) Jon Fuller (bass, 2006–)
Former members
First Era (1989–1998) Peter Mengede (guitar, 1989–93) Rob Echeverria (guitar, 1994–96) Chris Traynor (guitar, 1997–98) Henry Bogdan (bass, 1989–98) John Stanier (drums, 1989–98) Second Era (2004–Present) Frank Bello (bass, 2004) John Tempesta (drums, 2004–05) Chris Traynor (guitar/bass, 2004–06) Mike Jost (drums, 2006) Jeremy Chatelain (bass, 2005–06)

Helmet is an American Post-Hardcore band formed in New York City by Page Hamilton (vocals/guitar) with Henry Bogdan (bass), Peter Mengede (guitar) and John Stanier (drums) in 1989. They are considered one of the founding bands of the Post-Hardcore genre. Image File history File links Helmet_band_logo. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative metal is an form of music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. ... Post-hardcore; this specific genre was created by others as a sourse to relaese the emotion that builds inside, making the music intimate and touching to listeners. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Interscope Records is a record label currently owned by the Universal Music Group. ... The company logo of Warcon Enterprises Warcon Enterprises is a New York based independent record label, focused on post-hardcore, and screamo and was started by Bob Chiappardi and Kevin Lyman in 2004. ... Page Hamilton (born May 18, 1960 in Portland, Oregon) is a singer, guitarist and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet. ... James Richard (Jimmy) Thomson (1927-1991) was a NHL player and former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. ... Peter Mengede (born in 1962) is a guitarist from Brisbane, Australia. ... Chris Traynor (b. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... John Stanier first came into the spotlight as the drummer for Helmet. ... Frank Bello replaced Dan Lilker on bass guitar in Anthrax, a thrash metal band, on the Spreading the Disease album. ... John Tempesta is a rock drummer, that has worked with a few bands, namely Exodus, Testament, White Zombie. ... Chris Traynor (b. ... Mike Jost (born 17 January 1979 in St. ... Jeremy Chatelain is the new bass player for the band Helmet. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Page Hamilton (born May 18, 1960 in Portland, Oregon) is a singer, guitarist and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Peter Mengede (born in 1962) is a guitarist from Brisbane, Australia. ... John Stanier first came into the spotlight as the drummer for Helmet. ...

Early years

Helmet appeared on the New York underground scene in 1989 after Hamilton had left Band of Susans. They were spotted by Tom Hazelmeyer and signed to his Amphetamine Reptile Records label, releasing their debut 7 inch single, Born Annoying, later that year. AmRep released their first album, Strap It On, in 1990. Band of Susans is a band formed in New York in 1986 by Robert Poss (guitar/vocals), Susan Stenger (bass/vocals) and Ron Spitzer (drums) with Susan Lyall (guitar), Susan Tallman (guitar) and Alva Rogers (vocals). ... Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep) was founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmeyer. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Born Annoying is a compilation album of Helmets early songs, released in 1993 by their old label, Amphetamine Reptile. ... Strap It On is the title of two notable albums: Strap It On by Helmet. ...

Helmet was acclaimed as a "Thinking person's heavy metal band." Eschewing the traditional heavy metal image of long hair and black clothing, the band stood out with their preference for simple t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers, along with short haircuts. Their music is characterized by repetitive, syncopated, staccato guitar riffs, often in odd time signatures, and almost always in a minor key with drop-D or drop-C tuning. The guitar sound is heavily distorted and dissonant, with choruses that often involve guitar feedback waves. “Heavy metal” redirects here. ... In music, syncopation is when a stressing of a normally unstressed beat in a bar or failure to sound a tone on an accented beat occurs. ... In musical notation, the Italian word staccato (literally detached, plural staccatos or staccati) indicates that notes are sounded in a detached and distinctly separate manner, with silence making up the latter part of the time allocated to each note. ... The time signature (also known as meter signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each bar and what note value constitutes one beat. ... A minor scale in musical theory can be viewed as the sixth mode of the major scale. ... Drop D tuning (or simply drop-D) is a guitar tuning style in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned (dropped) to D rather than E as in standard tuning. ...

Before Hamilton had settled on a name for the group, Peter Mengede's then-girlfriend suggested the name "Helmut". Opting for the Anglicized spelling, Hamilton thought Helmet "sounded like a cool name for a band."^[1] Other names considered were "Cry Ruth" and "Poly Orchids", along with the more esoteric "Tuna Lorenzo" and "Froth Albumen".

In the meantime

The group rose to international stardom in 1992 after signing to Interscope Records. With the record industry hot to pick up burgeoning metal acts, Helmet was courted by a number of major labels. It is rumored that the members received in excess of $1 million at signing, along with an unprecedented amount of control over their work. Their first Interscope release, 1992's Meantime, was produced entirely by the band and was certified gold in the U.S. by 1994. The album has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and remains Helmet's top-selling album. Interscope Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Meantime was released in 1992 by Helmet though Interscope Records. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RIAA certification. ...

Helmet toured the U.S., Europe, and Asia relentlessly, generally with other AmRep recording artists. Internal tensions rose high at times. In early 1993, guitarist Peter Mengede left on bad terms and was replaced by Rob Echeverria. His debut with the band, Betty, was released in 1994. Despite managing the band's highest-ever chart position on the Billboard 200 at number 45, the album failed to sell as much as Meantime. Total U.S. sales of Betty are just over 275,000 as of April 2006.^{[citation needed]} After recording and touring in support of Betty, Echeverria left to join Biohazard; however, his departure was much more amicable than Mengede's. Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 through Interscope. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Biohazard was a band originally based out of Brooklyn, New York. ...

The band elected to push on and record 1997's Aftertaste as a three-piece. After recording was complete, guitarist Chris Traynor (formerly of Orange 9mm) was recruited for the supporting tour. Although "Exactly What You Wanted" became a moderate radio hit, the album spent only a few weeks on the Billboard 200 and has sold 135,000 copies as of April 2006.^{[citation needed]} The Aftertaste tour in 1997–98 would prove to be the band's last. Amid long-standing private disputes, the members decided to call it quits. Asked about the break up, Hamilton replied, "9 years, 1600 shows, 5 albums, and we found it hard to look at each other anymore."^[2] Aftertaste was released in 1997 by Helmet though Interscope Records. ... Chris Traynor (b. ... Orange 9mm was a post-hardcore band from New York City formed in 1994 by Chaka Malik and Chris Traynor after the breakup of Maliks band Burn. ...

Aftermath and reformation

Size Matters lineup

Hamilton relocated from New York to Los Angeles and became involved in many different projects, from playing guitar for David Bowie to doing sessions for film scores. He periodically returned to New York to work with his band Gandhi, which is where several of the songs appearing on Size Matters began. Bogdan returned home to Oregon and began playing steel guitar for the Midnight Serenaders. Stanier took a break from drumming for over a year, but returned to play drums for Tomahawk, The Mark of Cain and Battles. Image File history File links HelmetBand. ... Image File history File links HelmetBand. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 1947 January 8) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... Gandhi is a band formed by Page Hamilton (vocals/lead guitar), formerly of Helmet with Anthony Truglio (guitar), John Andrews (guitar/vocals) Christian Bongers (bass/vocals) and Matt Flynn (drums). ... Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. ... A Dobro style resonator guitar Steel guitar, strictly speaking, refers to a method of playing using a metal slide (or steel) on a guitar played horizontally, with the strings uppermost. ... Tomahawk is an experimental alternative metal/alternative rock supergroup from the United States. ... The Mark of Cain are a hard rock/alternative metal band from Adelaide, South Australia. ... Battles is an American math rock band. ...

After moving to Los Angeles, Hamilton began working with drummer John Tempesta (formerly of Testament and White Zombie) and was searching for a record label and a name for the project. By 2003, he had acquiesced to Jimmy Iovine's urging that he release music through Interscope under the established Helmet moniker, to which Interscope held the rights. Hamilton had resisted for some time under the belief that without Stanier and Bogdan it couldn't rightly be called Helmet. He had always wanted to revive Helmet, but his relationships with Bogdan and Stanier had not improved since 1998 and his offer to reunite was rebuffed and/or ignored.^[3][4] Fed up with the situation, and with Interscope's offer as a major catalyst, Hamilton became convinced that he was justified in moving on and putting out more music as Helmet without them. Chris Traynor, still on good terms with Hamilton, soon came on board to cover bass and guitar parts. With Tempesta on drums and Hamilton covering vocals and guitar, the three recorded Size Matters in early 2004. Frank Bello was later recruited to play bass on the supporting tour; however, he left before its conclusion to reunite with his old band, Anthrax. Jeremy Chatelain replaced Bello for the duration of the tour. John Tempesta left in early 2006 to join The Cult. John Tempesta is a rock drummer, that has worked with a few bands, namely Exodus, Testament, White Zombie. ... Testament is an American thrash metal band from California. ... White Zombie was an American band named after the 1932 film White Zombie, which starred Bela Lugosi. ... Jimmy Iovine was born on March 11, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. ... Interscope Records is a record label currently owned by the Universal Music Group. ... Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. ... Jeremy Chatelain is the new bass player for the band Helmet. ... The Cult is an English rock band. ...

In late 2005, Helmet parted ways with Interscope. Helmet then signed with Warcon Enterprises and announced that a new album was in the works for an early summer release. Helmet performed at the 2006 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, with a temporary lineup consisting of Charlie Walker on drums, Chris Traynor on bass, and Anthony Truglio (formerly of Gandhi) on guitar. The new album, Monochrome, was recorded and co-produced by Wharton Tiers, who recorded Helmet's first two albums, Strap It On and Meantime. For the album, Hamilton and Traynor returned to the studio with newly recruited drummer, Mike Jost (formerly of Adair). Helmet headlined the 2006 Warped Tour in support of Monochrome, with Jeremy Chatelain reprising his role from the 2005 Size Matters tour. The company logo of Warcon Enterprises Warcon Enterprises is a New York based independent record label, focused on post-hardcore, and screamo and was started by Bob Chiappardi and Kevin Lyman in 2004. ... Downtown Austin, Texas, where SXSW is held each spring Bloc Party performing at Stubbs BBQ in 2007 Carrie Rodriguez, a SXSW 2007 performer Morrissey at SXSW 2006 South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that have taken place every spring in... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, the county seat of Travis County, and home to the University of Texas at Austin. ... Gandhi is a band formed by Page Hamilton (vocals/lead guitar), formerly of Helmet with Anthony Truglio (guitar), John Andrews (guitar/vocals) Christian Bongers (bass/vocals) and Matt Flynn (drums). ... Monochrome is the sixth album by Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. ... Wharton Tiers, (born in Philadelphia in 1953) is engineer and producer for bands such as Sonic Youth, Glenn Branca, Dinosaur Jr, Helmet, and Gumball. ... Mike Jost (born 17 January 1979 in St. ... Adair is a post-hardcore band from St. ... Warped Tour Logo Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. ...

New developments

In September 2006, shortly after the conclusion of the Warped Tour, Chris Traynor announced that he had left the band after nearly a decade of working with Page Hamilton. A few days later, Mike Jost also left the band to attend to his duties as a new father. Jeremy Chatelain also made other commitments. Hamilton announced in early October 2006 that the new drummer is Kyle Stevenson and the bass player is Jon Fuller, both from Milwaukee. On 18 November, Hamilton announced that the new guitar player is Jimmy Thompson, a native of Perth, Australia. Due to changes in the lineup, Hamilton was forced to cancel many shows scheduled for late 2006 in the Northeastern US and Europe. Helmet opened up for Guns N' Roses for the remaining dates of their tour in December 2006. The band has been touring Australia extensively in 2007 and plans to do a European tour before coming back to the U.S. for a few shows. Work on a new album might begin before the end of 2007.^[5] Mike Jost (born 17 January 1979 in St. ... This article is about Milwaukee in Wisconsin. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Perth skyline viewed from the Swan River This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ... Guns N Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. ...

Discography

Albums

• Strap It On (Amphetamine Reptile, 1990)
• Meantime (Interscope, 1992)
• Betty (Interscope, 1994)
• Aftertaste (Interscope, 1997)
• Unsung: The Best of Helmet (1991–1997) (Interscope, 2004)
• Size Matters (Interscope, 2004)
• Monochrome (Warcon, 2006)

Strap It On is the title of two notable albums: Strap It On by Helmet. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Meantime was released in 1992 by Helmet though Interscope Records. ... Interscope Records is a record label currently owned by the Universal Music Group. ... Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 through Interscope. ... Aftertaste was released in 1997 by Helmet though Interscope Records. ... Size Matters is the fifth album by Helmet, released in 2004 through Interscope. ... Monochrome is the sixth album by Helmet, released in 2006 through Warcon. ... The company logo of Warcon Enterprises Warcon Enterprises is a New York based independent record label, focused on post-hardcore, and screamo and was started by Bob Chiappardi and Kevin Lyman in 2004. ...

Singles

• "Repetition" - 1990
• "Sinatra" - 1991
• "Unsung" - 1992
• "Give It" - 1992
• "In The Meantime" - 1993
• "Just Another Victim" (collaboration with House Of Pain) - 1993
• "Milquetoast" - 1994
• "Wilma's Rainbow" - 1994
• "Biscuits For Smut" - 1994
• "Disagreeable" - 1996
• "Exactly What You Wanted" - 1997
• "Insatiable" - 1997
• "See You Dead" - 2004
• "Crashing Foreign Cars" - 2004
• "Gone" - 2006
• "Monochrome" - 2006
• "Money Shot" - 2007

In early 1994, before Betty was released, an alternate version of "Milquetoast" (named "Milktoast") appeared on the motion picture soundtrack of The Crow. In 2004, "Unsung" appeared on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack, playing on fictional Alternative station Radio X. "Crashing Foreign Cars" appeared in 2004 on the Need For Speed: Underground 2 soundtrack. In 2005, "Unsung" was used in the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero. Unsung is a song by the band Helmet from their 1992 album, Meantime. ... H.O.P. on the Best Of Album cover House of Pain was an Irish-styled American hip-hop group who released three albums in the early to mid 90s before lead rapper Everlast decided to pursue his solo career again. ... It has been suggested that Crow face be merged into this article or section. ... Radio X could refer to: An Internet radio station and soon-to-be-off-air low-power FM radio station in Ridge, New York [1]. A radio station in the computer game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. ... Need for Speed: Underground 2 is a PlayStation 2 racing video game published and developed by Electronic Arts. ... “PS2” redirects here. ... This article is about the 2005 video game. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.bornannoying.com/faq/answers.htm#2
2. ^ http://helmetmusic.com/press/bowienet.htm
3. ^ http://helmetmusic.com/press/revolver04.htm
4. ^ http://helmetmusic.com/press/billboard04.htm
5. ^ http://beat.com.au/article.php?id=698

See also

• List of alternative rock artists

This is a list of alternative rock artists. ...

External links

• Official Site
• Helmet Home Page - fan site
• Helmet CD Discography
• Interview with Page Hamilton for Revolt-media.com