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Interview: Helmet

12
Oct
2010

Interview: Helmet

Posted ByAaron Fowler, Films Editor for Buzzbin Magazine
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Helmet

For a band that has been rockin’ your socks off for the last 21 years, one would think the singer would be a grumpy know-it-all, too tired of talking about his own music. Not so for Page Hamilton, singer and guitarist for the band Helmet.  As a matter of fact, Page is one of the most gentle and kindest individuals you are ever likely to meet. After forming in 1989 and releasing their first full length record a year later, the band cemented their name in rock history in 1992 with the release of their second record, Meantime. Never a man to sit still, Page expanded to other outlets beyond the band when he decided to tackle the film industry as well. “I worked on the movie Heat in 1993. That had come about through Warner Brothers and they recommended me to Elliot Goldenthal because they were looking for a new sound. He contacted me and I have had a life long bond with him,” he says. “It has been amazing that I have been able to work with him on a movie every year and a half or so. It has been great.” As long as he is able to squeeze in the time, Page would like to continue working on this whole film thing some more. That is, if his busy lifestyle allows him. “There are two scripts right now that I hope to be able to squeeze in depending on when they shoot. At some point next year I would like to have a humane life outside of the band,” Page admits. “Hopefully I will have time to do these scores. I love doing it.” Sadly after releasing two more solid records, Betty and Aftertaste, Helmet decided to call it a day. After touring throughout 1997 and 1998, the band parted ways. With a lot of free time on his hands, Page was offered a deal he couldn’t refuse- a gig playing guitar for David Bowie. “He just called me up. I wasn’t doing anything; my band had split up a year earlier. I was just horsing around doing different things and was just going through a divorce,” he says. “It was a four-month long stint. They had just lost their guitar player after 14 years. It was great time and such an incredible thing.” After bouncing back and forth between working on film scores and other projects, Page wanted to get his feet wet again fronting a band. Hamilton was urged by Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records to release the new project under the established Helmet name and so the band was reformed. With a new line-up of musicians to back Page, Helmet returned and released a record in 2004, Size Matters, and one in 2006, Monochrome. This September saw the release Seeing Eye Dog, the band’s third album since reuniting. “I have a really hard time comparing albums. My goal is always to make a great album. You write what you are kind of going through at the time. Like, what you have experienced over the year,” Page says. “This one was a lot of fun to make, a lot more than the last one. I felt that I was in a very comfortable environment. Everyone involved was really passionate about it and knew their roles its creation, which made it easier on me.  Musically you don’t try to throw the baby out with the bath water. I continue and expand with what I know and can do.” Seeing Eye Dog is a record that Page is extremely passionate about. Most musicians claim they love the latest album the best. But when Page says it, you can tell he honestly means it. “This album was a joy and I am really proud of it. I feel it is the best album I have ever done. We are playing the songs live and everyone is really digging them,” he says. The new album even contains a cover track of the Beatles “And Your Bird Can Sing” that was originally featured on the famed Revolver record. Page worked on the film Across the Universe and enjoyed the track so much so he wanted to record it for his own band. “A lot of people are nervous to record a Beatles song but I really don’t see a problem. As long as you do it as a homage, it is alright,” he says. Page turned 50 just a few short months ago but nothing seems to faze him. A few years back he mentioned possibly calling it quits after two more albums but Page now has other plans. “As long as I can continue to write and record the music I want to, I will keep on going,” he says. “I mean I don’t want to go out on stage wearing diapers.”