1980 - New Territories |
This was the year that would see us tour Texas in support of our first independent release, "Breaking Loose". We would play Houston , Dallas , Amarillo , and San Antonio . These dates were the direct result of the radio support we were receiving from Joe Anthony at KISS/KMAC ( San Antonio ) and Chris Johnson, the program director at Amarillo College.
This would establish a relationship between us and the Lone Star State which would last for many years to come. Our promoter was a guy named Joe Miller, and he would also do many dates for us in years to come.
Back home we were starting to gain more and more confidence as a band. While other groups would stay at home and "milk" the circuit, we thrived on conquering new territories, and were always on the road. We became known as the "hardest working band in Canada ", playing 6 to 7 nights a week, 50 weeks a year. It was a hard life, and it would take it's toll, with 2 more membership changes. Brian Doerner would be replaced by Leo Nebudeck, and Keith (Bert) Zurbrigg would be replaced by Mike Uzelac.
We were also starting to become one of the highest paid bar bands in Canada, and were receiving massive publicity through Music Express, a Canadian Music magazine run by Keith Sharpe.
The write-up of the first concert Helix ever did…
BANDS IN SEARCH OF A BREAK
by Jason Mitchell
Kitchener-Waterloo Record - Tuesday, December 30, 1980
If there's a common denominator among the three bands that rocked the auditorium Monday night, it has to be that all three are at a turning point in there respective careers.
Max Webster is trying to make the jump from big-draw bar band to concert act. Local champs Helix are fighting to break out of the sleezy-watering hole ciruit that's held them for years, and B.B. Gabor is trying to jell his fairly new band and regain the momentum his career had six months ago. Monday's show may be indicitave of what's in store in the future for the three.
Joe played black music in the United States when it was unfashionable to do so, and extended the same courtesies to Heavy Metal before it started to receive recognition. He was responsible for breaking such acts as Triumph and Judas Priest in the U.S. , and was a huge supporter of Canadian music. Joe was also instrumental in the launch of Z-Rock.
With a sound tailored for clubs, where the subtlety of his music comes through, Gabor sounded horrendous, with nothing but off-key vocals and fuzzy bass drums coming through.
His band, which wouldn't have sounded good singing Christmas carols in the shower, looked uninspired, but it didn't matter because they couldn't be heard anyway.
The biggest surpirse of Gabor's set was that he got off without being lynched.
It took Helix only about 30 seconds of Breaking Loose to rouse the crowd, and by the time the song was over, most people were peeling their eyeballs off the back of their skulls.
Throwing all subtlety to the wind, Helix assaulted with a loud, powerful, tight show that only years of playing bars can produce.
Yes, they may be playing music that wasn't new five years ago, and yes, they tend to dwell on sex and rock 'n' roll and drugs and rock 'n' roll, but their still devastating.
I'm glad I was sitting behind the far end glass.
The band's future really ought to be bright, and a sharp manager and some record company money would probably do the trick for them.
