HELIX mainman Brian Vollmer has issued the following update:

"Well, it finally happened! The Helix band is back together with the line-up that Helix fans of the '80’s knew so well-Brent 'The Doctor' Doerner on lead guitar, Greg 'Fritz' Hinz on drums, Daryl Gray on bass, and myself on vocals. We’ll be taking this show on the road in October throughout western Canada so look out. Everyone in the band is pumped and ready to rock and roll. Bernie Aubin, our western Canadian agent, has told me some of these dates will be with the reformed KICKAXE. Stay tuned.

Spent most of Tuesday in Toronto writing with Sean Kelly (CRASH KELLY). We have three tracks left to go on this disc, so now it’s a matter of whether or not we can get everything tied up in the next couple of weeks and off to press. The last three tracks are titled: The Best Mistake I Never Made, Go Hard or Go Home, and Jack It Up. The CD is called Vagabond Bones, and we hope to have it out by October, in time for the reunion tour. Sean is already playing for NELLY FURTADO and the “A” Room (where we record) is presently down ‘cos it’s under construction, so there’s only a very small window of opportunity to get this done. Once everything is recorded we will have to go immediately to mix, then to mastering in N.Y.C. at Sterling Sound, and then off to John Ball in Brantford where it’s shipped to Cinram in Toronto to be pressed. All these processes take time. Once the CD is pressed it will go immediately to Fontana/Universal, where it will be shipped to stores across Canada.

I have been very lucky along the way to have worked people on the cutting edge of music, particularly Aaron Murray and Sean Kelly. Aaron was the top graduate of Fanshaw college’s audio/visual course, which was taught up until last year by Jack Richardson, who produced most of the GUESS WHO albums. When Aaron graduated he went to work for Danny Broadbeck at EMAC Studios here in London, and from there opened his own “A” Studios. He’s a rising star for sure.

When Sean Kelly joined Helix I knew it was only a matter of time before some other band snatched him away from me. Not only is he one of the most skilled guitar players I’ve ever met, he has a uplifting personality that attracts people to him. We hit it off as writers right from the start, and the tunes we’ve produced so far have been getting great feedback. I’ve been playing them not only for industry people but to fans as well. One thing for sure-whether you love or hate this CD you’ll find it very different from anything we’ve done in the past. In particular, Monday Morning Meltdown is a real stretch for us. It’s BEATLE/CHEAP TRICK influenced, which led Rudy Blair of 680 News to comment to me that '…if he hadn’t known who it was us he would have thought it was a young band.'

I don’t know if that’s good or not, but it does illustrate my point. At this stage of my career I try to write songs that make me happy and hopefully the fans will like them too. Writing with Sean Kelly has really brought out some of my other musical influences like DAVID BOWIE, T. REX, AND ALICE COOPER. You can hear traces of them in different songs we’ve put together.

We hope everyone will support our two benefit concerts coming up on September 11th (The Portuguese Club in Strathroy, ON) and September 12th (The Edleweiss Tavern in Kitchener, ON). At both gigs Helix and MOONDOG UPROAR will be playing."