Helix: 40 Years of Loud, Proud, and Unstoppable Rock
Brian Vollmer opens up about Helix’s legacy, new tracks, their Trailer Park Boys connection, and what’s next.
Written by Lucy HallSince 1974, veteran rockers Helix has been touring the world and releasing memorable albums. During their forty-year-plus career, they have established a fine body of work. Helix continues today to release quality songs and they show no sign of slowing down. Their latest release, Eat Sleep Rock from Perris Records is a new compilation album. The quirky and touching ode to the band’s history, “The Story of Helix”, opens this collection and sets the template for the rest of the record with its setlist staples, and previously unreleased numbers accompanied by a few new songs. The tracks were hand-picked by Vollmer and meant to represent some of the band’s favorite songs from Helix’s years after their deal with Capitol/E.M.I records. The album is loaded with top-notch songs and stylistically covers a wide range of sounds. Tracks include the bluesy “Even Jesus (Wasn’t Loved In His Hometown)”, sing-along boogie songs like “Tequila Song” and “I’m A Live Frankenstein” that has a hint of industrial rock. The band goes back to their heavy Helix roots with straight-ahead rockers such as the title track, “Eat Sleep Rock”, “The Devil Is Having A Party Tonight” and the heavy melodic, “The Power of Rock and Roll Bluesy”.
Twisted Pulp: Helix formed in 1974, originally as a six-piece, and has gone through many lineup changes. You have remained the constant member throughout the band’s journey. How would you compare the band experience now to when it began? Is it harder now, or was it harder when it first began?
Brian Vollmer: It’s always been fun. Sure, it’s been hard at different points in my career, but life is a trade-off. If you want to work a 9-5 job and go home and now worry about the business or do more work, then that’s the life for you. I could retire tomorrow and not have to work another day. I can’t see the point of that when I’m living the life I want to live. Nobody forces me to do what I do. I do it for the love of it.
Listen to this playlist from Helix
Twisted Pulp: Your autobiography, Gimme An R is a compelling read that covers the ups and downs of Helix through their 40-year career. What was it that made you decide to share your amazing story with the world? Was it a project you had been thinking of doing for a long time?
Brian Vollmer: For me, it was closure to that period of my life and a turning point for HELIX as well. I had a “gut feel” that it was the correct time to do this.
Twisted Pulp: Helix experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to the band’s involvement with the television series Trailer Park Boys. There have been references to the band, songs have been featured, you have made cameo appearances and the band also performed at the premiere of the movie, Countdown to Liquor Day. How did you initially become involved with the series?
Brian Vollmer: Our drummer at the time, Archie Gamble, told me about the show and gave me an email address for Mike Clattenburg, the director. We connected and I asked Mike if I came out to Halifax on my own dime if I could come to watch them shoot the show. He told me, “Sure!” so I flew out. They sent a limo to the airport to pick me up and take me to the set, where I met all the guys. They were as thrilled to meet me as I was to meet them. I hit it off with all the guys and the rest is history.
Twisted Pulp: Considering Helix is a high-energy party band and the Trailer Party Boys is such a fun series I can only imagine what time on the set would have been like. Both make for edgy entertainment. Do you have any highlights to share? Is acting something you were ever interested in prior to the series?
Brian Vollmer: Well, I like acting but it isn’t my focus in life. I just have too much other shit to do. Touring with the guys, being in Countdown to Liquor Day & on SWEARNET all seem like it would be a party. It is, but business always comes first. The boys are very serious about their “craft” (which is acting) and are very good at it. They’re all millionaires. If it looks easy to you what they are doing, my only advice is to try it for yourself. The one skit I did with them (an outtake from the TV series) seemed like I was moving in slow motion and they were going 99MPH. They make it look easy it isn’t.
Twisted Pulp: Helix changed their image from a stripped-down look of jeans and t-shirts to a metal look with leather and studs in the 1980s’. In recent years the band seemed to evolve back to that original look from their beginning with an image that is more akin to a bar band. Also, in recent years it seems the band has also made a return to more bluesy sing-along type songs such as “The Tequila Song”. Was all this intentional? Do you feel that in terms of style and sound the band has come full circle?
Brian Vollmer: I don’t sit and plan out style and direction. I come from that old-school train of thought that your originals are just an extension of what you are listening to. We’ve always had a blues base; Hackman was one of the most sorrowful blues guitar players I’ve ever heard. Our influences are Steppenwolf, The Stones, Deep Purple, Stevie Marriot, Alice Cooper, and Joe Cocker- not Iron Maiden. As for clothes, having 60+years old men dressing in leather seems a bit ridiculous to me. About the only person I know of that can get away with it at that age is Dee Snider-but then again, he’s a god!
Twisted Pulp:The compilation tracks were hand-picked by you, how did you go about choosing those for the album?
Brian Vollmer: Just songs I really liked that had never really been on vinyl. I have at least 3 or 4 more albums I could release just like it.
Twisted Pulp: Helix has had several compilation albums. Concerning the choices for previous tracks and the four new recordings for this album, in terms of sound, what did you hope to accomplish this time around? What makes this one different from the previous compilations?
Brian Vollmer: These songs are post-Capitol/E.M.I. This release was primarily for fans of vinyl, as vinyl has now surpassed CDS in sales. Seeing as these songs had never been on vinyl and we weren’t ready to release a new studio album, this was the perfect way to keep our fans happy and bridge us over to the next studio release.
Twisted Pulp: Can you reflect on “The Story of Helix” for a minute, how did the concept for a spoken word/rap type song first pop into your mind?
Brian Vollmer: I was listening to Live at the El Macombo/CHUM broadcast from 1982 and we used to do a lot of raps in the show back then. The raps evolved out of playing every night in the bars. Songs like “The Helix Boogie” and “Crazy Woman” had raps that the fans had memorized from coming to see us every night. I started tinkering with the idea of putting some planned raps in the acoustic set and the idea just grew. I was at our house in North Fort Myers and every day I would fine-tune it and memorize it. In the end, it became 7 and a half minutes long. I’m sure fans probably skip over it after hearing it a couple of times but I wanted it recorded for posterities sake.
Twisted Pulp: You shot some fun and quirky music videos for the title track “Eat Sleep Rock” and “The Tequila Song”. What was that experience like? Are there any fun experiences from the set you would like to share? How do these rock videos differ from the ones you filmed in the past?
Brian Vollmer: As opposed to videos shot during the Capitol/E.M.I. years where we spent close to $120,000 U.S. on Gimme Good Lovin’ and Rock You, these videos are shot for around $2,000/each. Videos make $0 cash, so it’s a dead loss when you shoot one. However, I look at them like little mini commercials. The success of these videos all depends on pre-planning the locations, making sure all the props work properly, having your volunteers dependable, and filming and editing with competent creative people.
Twisted Pulp: The album is full of songs with great melodies, and infectious guitar harmonies. I tend to gravitate to towards songs with a harder edge. So, the hard rockin title track and “The Devil Is Having A Party Tonight” are my favorites. According to you, what is the best song on the album?
Brian Vollmer: I love’em all. They’re my kids-I don’t have a favorite. If I had to pick one though it would be “The Devil Is Having a Party Tonight”.
Twisted Pulp: Helix has survived ongoing wars, the end of the traditional record industry, the arrival of the internet and social media, and the Covid virus. What do you credit to your longevity and what would you like your legacy to be?
Brian Vollmer: I love what I’m doing and work towards my goals. I have a plan and I follow it. I never give up. Each day is a gift and I try not to lose sight of that.
Twisted Pulp: Where are you in terms of your next album? do you know what direction you hope to take yet?
Brian Vollmer: Not too much written because of COVID. We do have one song that will come out soon however-NOT MY CIRCUS, NOT MY CLOWNS. Daryl Gray produced and Seigfried Meier is mixing.
Helix’s cool riffs, lush harmonies, and their ability to produce easy choruses to sing along to has always caught my ear. These guys can rock! And the album features superb melodic songwriting, flawless vocals, infectious guitar harmonies, and beastly bass and drums. The eye-catching cover art was done by former guitarist, Brent “The Doctor” Doerner. The album art and sound gives off that not slowing down anytime soon vibe, so, Eat Sleep Rock! And pick up the album, available on The Planet Helix website.
Date Modified: 11-22-2025
