1985 - First Platinum Album |
This was the year we were to release "Long Way to Heaven", our third Capitol album, and to embark on our first ever national headline tour of Canada.
The year before we had backed up the Headpins, suddenly the roles were reversed and they were backing us up. At times this caused a little tension between the two bands. The Headpins played with us for the front end of the tour, and then our old buddies Kick Axe came in for the remainder. We also did a min-tour with Triumph.
In the U.S. we toured with Accept and Keel, and towards the end of the year we did about a month with Krokus and W.A.S.P.
This was also the year we embarked on our first ever headline tour of Sweden , playing right around the country, even inside the Arctic Circle . For all our hard work we received our first #1 album in that country and in Canada the album achieved platinum status.
Opener For Triumph Concert
by Coral Andrews - Guelph Chronicle
"I hope they blow the roof off. Then we can get a new rink," said an amused old security guard, as he surveyed the crowds at Guelph Memorial Arena, Saturday during the sell-out Triumph / Helix concert.
Meanwhile ... behind the scenes ...
"This place looked like an animal house," said Helix bass player Daryl Gray in a sardine-filled backstage dressing room.
Helix, from modest K-W beginnings, is becoming Canada 's prime rock band, currently working with contemporaries Triumph, and mixing their next album literally between dates.
Their current release, Walkin' the Razor's Edge, has produced three gigantic hit singles including the mid-' 70's classic Make Me Do Anything You Want, with Gimme Gimme Good Lovin, and Rock You.
On Make Me Do Anything You Want lead singer Brian Vollmer is tender and melodic, giving the familiar rock and roll heroes a tasteful edge to their hard-core personna. This single has received massive air-play.
The video for Make Me, is also a change, featuring basically Vollmer in softlight, romantic and raspy.
Backstage, Vollmer is animated and anxious.
"It was great to do this gig, a good time, but I'm tired, and I just got back from New York."
After greeting friends and fans, Vollmer and wife scurried out the door. Vollmer has been in New York mixing Helix's next album with producer Tom Treumuth and mixer Rodney Mills.
To the frenzied strains of Van Halen's Jump, guitarist Brent Doerner circulated around the dressing room, handing out roses and critiquing the concert.
Helix performed their usual hit fare, with Doerner and Hackman's sizzling guitar stylings, complete with light wizardry, a Helix human pyramid, and a rocking sing-along Rock You finale which displayed members Hackman, Doerner, Vollmer and Gray in choreographed chorus-line splendor.
Doerner explained why too many bewildered friends and followers alike.
"When you are the opener, you have a choice. You either play a set with one encore, or you just play straight through. Helix wanted to give the crowd as much as they could, so we just played straight through. It would have seemed too short with the encore," said Doerner, never at a loss for words.
"It was wonderful, stupendous, rocking, rolling and we love the support."
As the spirits and autographs flowed, Greg 'Fritz' Hinz, appeared clad in his traditional black and white snake-skin tight-legs and added his comments. The hard hitting Helix drummer seemed pleased about the whole affair.
Lot 's of fun. More fun to come," said Hinz with a wide grin.
Guitarist Paul Hackman did his concert notes and talked about Helix's next album.
"I had a great time tonight," said Hackman. "There were lots of good looking women," he said his eyes brightening. "But seriously, we are coming out with a new album, Long Way To Heaven. It should be released by the end of May. We recorded it at Phase One studios in Toronto , and we are mixing it in New York . After we finish the Triumph dates we are off to Sweden for a few weeks."
Helix has played Sweden with great success. Like the world's music publications say, it's true. There's just no rest for Helix.
