Photo: Allan Allport
Helmet
Recorded & mixed by Branko Cosic
Recorded at the Brightside, Brisbane, 30th April 2017
The original Helmet line up, consisting of Page Hamilton on guitar and vocals, Brisbane-born Peter Mengede on guitar, Henry Bogdan on bass and John Stainer on drums, formed in 1989 in New York City. Quickly signing to Amphetamine Reptile Records, they release their debut album Strap It On the year after.
This led the band to be signed by Interscope Records in early 1992, with label mates including Primus, Nine Inch Nails, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Their first Interscope release Meantime (1992) was certified gold and remains Helmets biggest commercial success to date. Betty (1994) soon followed, bringing the band to our shores to play the now legendary Livid Festival 1994 line up featuring Beastie Boys, Superchunk, Frank Black and Tumbleweed.
A falling out between Hamilton and Mengede in 1993 meant Peter didn’t make the trip out, but returned to reside in Brisbane in later years. This would be the first of many line up changes for the band, with Hamilton remaining the only constant member. Once touring Aftertaste over 1997-98, Helmet disbanded before reforming again in 2004 to release Size Matters. They have released a total of 8 studios albums and remain one of the most influential bands of the alternative rock movement.
In 2017, Helmet returned to Brisbane for the first time since 2011, as part of their ‘Betty’ retrospective tour. This set features selections from the album as well as tracks from their latest LP Dead To The World and fan favourites from their lengthy back catalogue. Spliced in throughout the set is an interview conducted by Branko Cosic with founding member Page Hamilton.
Airing details: Originally via Zed Digital, 7-8pm, Sunday 8th of July 2018.
Show production and engineering: Reuben Aptroot.