Brian Vollmer ponders what Helix would sound like in 2019 if guitarist Paul Hackman was still alive
Brian Vollmer ponders what Helix would sound like in 2019 if guitarist Paul Hackman was still alive
Helix frontman Brian Vollmer continues to post some interesting commentary about the band via Facebook. The Canadian veteran heavy metal rockers are close to releasing a new album titled Old School, which consists of songs written by Vollmer and now deceased guitarist Paul Hackman from almost 30 years ago.
The following message was posted on Vollmer‘s Facebook page earlier today (with slight edits):
“Next week we go into “mix mode” on the new Helix album OLD SCHOOL. I must say, Daryl has done a great job recording the tracks and playing/singing his parts, as have Kaleb & Chris. Former Helix guitarist Brent Doerner executed all the artwork and blew everyone away (as usual).
I should also mention here that this album is being dedicated to Paul Hackman. Paul and I wrote most of these songs and he plays on 2 of them here: ‘Games Mother Never Taught You’ and ‘Your Turn To Cry.’ He was an underestimated guitar player (what feel!) and an even better song writer. I once heard someone say that when Paul died so did the sound of the band. I don’t think that’s a 100% true, but we certainly lost a lot when we lost him. Who knows what we’d sound like in 2019 if he was still around or what songs we’d be writing-that’s all hypothetical conjecture-but this album going to be a nice flashback for fans, as none of these songs have ever been released before.
I should also mention here that I talked to Greg Campbell of Merch in Motion yesterday and he tells me that advance orders have taken all the product I had planned to give him. In other words, we’re sold out of the 3 pack deal. (Old School/Breaking Loose/White Lace & Black Leather) I had 100 un.its of each of these titles. What this means is that I will have to get more pressed-a good thing.”
Wikipedia states the following in part about Hackman‘s death and legacy (with slight edits):
“Hackman and Brian Vollmer agreed to take a short break, during which Vollmer would compose songs for a solo album, while Hackman would write for the next Helix CD. A tour of Western Canada was booked for the 1992 summer touring season. On July 5, following a concert in Vancouver, the group’s van veered off and rolled down a 40-foot embankment and Paul Hackman, asleep in a seat behind the driver, was thrown from the vehicle and died upon being taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Kamloops. He was 38 years old and lived with his wife, Connie in Port Franks, a village in his native Southwestern Ontario.
After Hackman‘s death, Vollmer released the solo album he was working on as the next Helix album, It’s a Business Doing Pleasure, in 1993. He included the song “That Day Is Gonna Come” as a tribute to Hackman, with the song’s video featuring unique Super 8 and video footage shot by Vollmer on the road over the years.”