Interview with HELIX vocalist
Brian Vollmer
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FIBM: What's new, what have you been up to lately and what's in the future?
Brian: Last year we released 3 CDs and 2 DVDS. One of the CDs (30 Years of Helix) was on
E.M.I. as was the "30th Helix Anniversary Concert" DVD. We also released our own anniversary CD entitled "NEVER TRUST ANYONE OVER 30" and our first full studio CD in 10 years: "Rockin' In My Outer Space." In December I also put together a Christmas CD to help raise money for my church. That CD was called "Raisin' the Roof on Mary Immaculate" and sold out in a few weeks, raising over $8,000. It's now out of print. This fall I'm going to be recording a cover album of Canadian songs called "Many are Cold but few are Frozen" and another classical CD under my own name.
As well as that I'm looking forward to releasing my autobiography "Gimme an R!" and starting to write the next studio CD.
FIBM: You guys recently played the Sweden Rock Festival. Who else
was on the bill and what are some of the highlights?
Brian: What a great festival! Over 26,000 people a
day. Some of the bands included Motley Crue, Accept, Motorhead, Status Quo, Sammy Hagar, Motorhead,
Sebastian Bach, Kansas, Styx, etc. etc. etc. I think there were 30 bands in all. The highlight of
the weekend was of course our show. Other than that I would say riding back from Ronneby, Sweden to
Copenhagen, Denmark at 5A.M. with Sebastian Bach sitting beside me was an experience I'll never
forget. Especially seeing as he hadn't gone to bed the night before.
FIBM: What kind of reaction did you receive from the crowd? Did
you have an encore? What was the set list?
Brian:
Swedish fans have been waiting a long time for us to come back. We had a number one album
there in 1985 with "Long Way to Heaven", but we really established ourselves there right from
our first E.M.I. album No Rest, when we toured in support of Kiss on the Lick it Up Tour. The
set was a combination of our hits plus a few songs we haven't played in awhile with a couple of
new tunes thrown in for good measure. For our encore we played "Bend Over Kiss Your Ass Goodbye."
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The 70's Version of
Brian Vollmer
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FIBM: On your way to the festival, you traveled by way of London. How
soon after you guys left, did the bombings occur? Did you use the Aldgate Station, or the King's Cross
Station, where the bombs went off?
Brian: We stayed in England before and after Sweden Rock Festial. We
used both King's Cross and Aldgate. We actually stayed with friends who live very close (a couple of blocks)
from Aldgate Station. I think we had only been home for two weeks when the bombings occurred.
FIBM: How close are you to having your autobiography published? What is
the current news behind that?
Brian: My autobiography is now done. (at least my part is). I'll be taking it
to a publisher sometime in the near future.
FIBM: Did you write it yourself, or did you have some assistance?
Brian: Myself
FIBM: What are some memories
of the recording sessions for Walkin' the Razors Edge?
Brian: One of the many memories I have from that session is
driving overnight to Atlanta, Georgia to do the mixes with Rodney Mills. He made a big difference
in the overall sound of that CD.
FIBM: How many copies of that were sold worldwide?
Brian: I dunno. The album is certified platinum in Canada but
worldwide I have no clue.
FIBM: Who were some of the bands you toured with on that album?
Brian: We toured Europe with Motorhead, Girlschool, and Mercyful
Fate. In the States we played on the Whitesnake / Quiet Riot tour, and in Canada with Triumph.
FIBM: How excited was the label about the song "Rock You"? I still
have a memory of seeing the video
and buying the album the next day. That was quite an infectious song.
Brian: The Canadian part of the company was very excited. It's hard to know
what the American part thought because they fired most of the guys at the
top of the company just as the song was getting airplay.
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FIBM: Why did it take so long to get No Rest for the Wicked re-released?
How does the licensing process work?
Tell us about your deal with Rock Candy Records.
Brian: Licensing is a process whereby anyone can "rent" or "license" the masters from the owners of the masters (in our case E.M.I.) and print and sell
them. I don't know what Rock Candy's deal with E.M.I. is. We get paid through publishing money which is paid by
Rock Candy on the # of units pressed.
Brian is not pictured with the rest of the band,
but how could we not
FIBM: What is the benefit of signing with a record
label, or having another label license your product? Since Helix has name recognition, wouldn't it be
more beneficial to have licensed your earlier releases yourself?
Brian: The benefit of signing to a label is money. Big record labels have the thousands of dollars needed
for studio time, top producers & engineers, etc. Most bands do not own their own masters in the beginning.
FIBM: How do bands like Motley Crue and WASP obtain
all the rights to their music?
Brian: You'll have to ask them.
FIBM: Is your royalty rate better now than it was with EMI? What was the rate when you were signed with EMI?
Brian: I don't disclose personal business info ie. what my royalty rate was with
E.M.I. I will tell you what I make nowadays though. My normal
budget on my CDs is around $10,000. It takes about 1,000 units to break even. After that I make about $18.00/unit.
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FIBM: I still remember reading an interview long ago
and you saying that you listened to Bon Jovi albums over and over, while writing your album. What
release were you working on at that time and why Bon Jovi?
Brian: I don't remember ever saying that
FIBM: What are some memories from the "Long Way to Heaven" recording session?
What was your reaction, after hearing the final mix of "Deep Cuts the Knife"?
Brian: Can't remember, but we all thought the song was a hit.
FIBM: How many copies of Long Way to Heaven were sold?
Brian: Dunno once again. It was certified platinum
in Canada however and went to number one in Sweden.
FIBM: Did you guys ever receive payments for royalties, or were you always recouping?
Brian: Recouping.
FIBM: I have heard that bands don't make money from touring, only hoping to break even.
If bands never make money on sales,
then how is it that they make anything at all?
Brian: Easy-most bands don't make money. Nowadays I do, because
I run things myself. I know where every penny goes.
FIBM: Was anything left over, after the "Long Way from Heaven" tour?
Brian: Any money we made at that stage of our career went
straight back into the band. We each took a very moderate wage of $200/week. Re-investing in
ourselves helped us survive the lean years which were to follow.
FIBM: Collectively, how many Helix cd's have been sold?
Brian: We've probably sold around 2 million albums total.
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Helix
Long Way to Heaven
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FIBM: What year did you part ways with EMI? What were you doing at
that time? How did you feel about it?
Brian: Our relationship with E.M.I./Capitol ended in 1993. It was a low point
for the band and one of the hardest periods in my life.
FIBM: What year did Helix tour with Ian Gillan?
Brian: 1990
FIBM: Did he play any songs from the Black Sabbath, Born Again
album? Jesus Christ Superstar? Deep Purple? Or did he only play songs from Gillan?
Brian: Gillan & Purple
FIBM: What was he like to tour with? Did you ever watch any of his
performances? Any stand out from the others?
Brian: He was the greatest. Very accessible and friendly. I watched
him almost every night fromt the side of the stage. Our show together at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and also our
show in Luxumbourg stick out in my mind.
FIBM: In retrospect, is there anything you would have done differently?
Brian: I would have learned to play an instrument earlier in life.
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THE FAST 5
FIBM: What is your most disgusting habit?
Brian: Talking too much.
FIBM: What is the most feminine thing you do?
Brian: Sometimes put on make-up
FIBM: If there is a God, what is the first question you would ask God when you arrive?
Brian: Why he loves me so much
FIBM: Greatest Rock band of all time?
Brian: AC/DC
FIBM: What were you doing 40 minutes before you sat down to do this interview?
Brian: Practicing on my new piano
Brian Vollmer
Many thanks to Brian for the wonderful interview.
Make sure you check out his website,
www.planethelix.com
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