Canuck hard rock legends HELIX performed at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma on Friday, July 10th. Frontman Brian Vollmer has issued the following post-show report:

"For several years I’ve been trying to get the band on the bill known as Rocklahoma, which is held each year in Pryor Creek, Oklahoma. Billed as the biggest classic heavy metal/heavy rock festival in North America, it attracts thousands of metal heads annually. This year we finally got booked to play at the show, thanks to our US agent Joe Miller of Artist’s International.

After a practice to tighten up the set on Wednesday we headed for Port Huron, our entry point into the US. We picked up our work permits and then headed for our hotel. The next morning we took a shuttle to Detroit County Airport and before we knew it, we were in Tulsa by way of St. Louis. American/Northwest airlines lost my luggage, which contained my $3,500 in-ears, all my stage clothes, and every toiletry item. (Déjà vu!) Once again we were picked up by shuttle, and along with KIP WINGER (who was also looking for a ride to the hotel) taken to our rooms at the Cherokee Casino, which was also a Hard Rock Hotel. The place was the size of a football field, with two bars and 4 or 5 restaurants. Our rooms were top notch and the staff accommodating and friendly.

Eventually my luggage showed up that evening from the airport, but I had to stay on the phone to get them to bring it. So much for air passenger rights! The next morning we were on site at about 11:00. Sean, Brent, and myself were filmed and the interview was projected onto two large jumbotrons on either side of the stage to introduce us right before our set.

The temperature was a 'brain-boiling' 111 degrees when we went on at 3:00 P.M. It was so hot I thought I was going to pass out, and I actually had to stop the show at one point to go backstage and pour some water over my head. I made it to the end of the set one line at a time. It was hard enough to breathe, let alone sing, so if I hit some shitty notes towards the end of our set, you know why."

Check out a video diary of Helix' Rocklahoma trip below: