Helix, the talented rock band that churned out such anthemic hits in the 80's like "Heavy Metal Love" and "Rock You!" are back! Well actually, they never left. But due to a lasting string of poor luck and gross underexposure, there was cause for many to believe the band simply vanished. Fighting back against the odds, retooled and focused on the future, they released their first album in over five years with "Half Alive" featuring the best of the bands' past caught live and a few brand new tunes to wet the appetites of eager fans. I caught up with vocalist and founding member Brian Vollmer-and nearly put him to sleep by the time the last question rolled in-to touch upon many items that have been left buried for far too long.

AMZ - First the obvious question-why has it been so long since rock fans have heard from the band?

Brian - After the "It's a Business Doing Pleasure" album (in '93) I had had it with the music business. I was nearly 40 years old and broke. I had just gone through a divorce, the band was on the decline, and I wasn't seeing eye to eye with my manager. In 1996 I split with William Seip, caught my second wind, and we set about to release "Half Alive."

AMZ - Back in 1990, Helix released "Back for Another Taste," which was one of their most commercially successful albums to date. Then it seemed the band disappeared into relative obscurity at a time when it looked like you were hitting a stride. What happened?

Brian - Music was changing at this period and live dates started to dry up for the band. We had been dropped by Capitol in the U.S. and our new label, Grudge, ripped us off for over $40,000. Then Paul (Hackman, guitarist) was killed in a van accident. It was a bad time for us.

AMZ - What was the idea behind doing "It's a Business Doing Pleasure?" It was obviously a pretty drastic change of direction for the band that it seemed not many fans (or at least those who were aware of its existence) received it very well.

Brian - The "Business" album was never intended to be a Helix album. I had been writing songs with Marc Ribbler in New York. Marc and I had written "Big Bang Boom," "Good to the Last Drop," and "Midnite Express." This was intended as a side project and Paul was to be writing the Helix album. But when he died, he hadn't written anything. My manager talked me into releasing it under the "Helix" name. In retrospect, this was a gross mistake. Not only was this not a "real" Helix album, a lot of songs that I was very proud of writing were wasted because they were marketed incorrectly. Incidentally, this album still produced 3 songs which charted in the top 40 in Canada.

AMZ - Why come back now? With all of the changes in the heavy music industry, it seems a longer shot than ever that a band many have seemingly forgotten could still make a go of it.

Brian - I'm not coming back. I never left. Besides, I couldn't care less where music is at. I've always been in music because I love writing songs-it was never the money. I think the fact that I've been in this over 25 years and until very recently have never made any money is an attestment to this.

AMZ - What is the band's makeup as it stands today? How many of the original members are still left?

Brian - Two, Daryl and myself, and I'm the only one who has been here from the start.

AMZ - Obviously you've been touring here and there and gathered enough material for the live portion of the latest release. If you can compare and contrast what that's been like now as opposed to say 10 years ago, is it still fun? Is the fan base still there?

Brian - The fans are still there, only they are not in the clubs. Every day I receive e-mail from all over the world from fans expressing their support for the band. These aren't necessarily people who still go out and see bands in clubs. The fans are older and don't appreciate going into smoky bars with ultra loud music and then having to worry about getting busted for drunk driving on the way home. They are now the "middle class," have money, and are still buying albums however. And they are fanatics about this.

AMZ - Have you just been touring Canada exclusively?

Brian - Yes.

AMZ - I've read that your current plans include gaining back the rights to the group's back catalog and reissuing them. What approach will you take in getting these out to the listening public? Probably a good place to start is with some of those mail order companies you see in the rock magazines.

Brian - My first step to accomplish this was to release the first two independent albums ("White Lace & Black Leather" and "Breaking Loose") on CD which I've done. I'm using the money raised from these two albums to try and buy back the Capitol catalog. This has also been instrumental in introducing me to many people in the business who deal in this type of music. On the Capitol albums, I am now in the midst of negotiations which I hope will see me buy units of our past albums to sell to our fans.

AMZ - You're easily one of the most gifted vocalists in rock. Even in the early days when it was a little rough around the edges, you could always bring a lot of flexibility to singing a style of music that was always thought of as one-dimensional-in other words, heavy metal being loud, abrasive, and no one actually "sings" very often. Have you ever thought of getting out on your own to cut an album? Or what about contributing material to some other artist's work? Have you been approached to do this and if so what have you done and who've you worked with?

Brian - I am presently in the midst of recording my own album which will be out in September. I think it's some of the best stuff I've ever written. I like to think of it as "No Rest for the Wicked 1999." "No Rest" in my opinion, was the most genuine Helix album and my most favorite. I've also just finished singing all the lead tracks for the new Cherry Street album. Cherry Street is an Austin-based band with two previous CDs.

AMZ - The two bonus cuts that were on the hard to find "Over 60 Minutes with Helix" were excellent-especially "Jaws of the Tiger." From what period were they originally recorded and will they ever turn up on future recordings-the reissues perhaps?

Brian - I don't know. These tracks belong to Capitol.

AMZ - What is the current status of Helix? Was "Half Alive" something of a new start toward reestablishing this band? And your experience with Derock? Are you still dealing with them? If not, who are you dealing with and what are your current plans?

Brian - "Half Alive" was meant as a stepping stone to our next studio album. I have no desire to deal with Derock again. If we can't be on a major label, I'd rather record and sell the album myself. At least that way I only have myself to blame when things screw up. You know yourself that you asked for an interview and it couldn't be brought together. You're not the first person to tell me that. The problem with small labels like Derock is that they don't have the personnel to get done what needs to get done unless it's a cake walk.

AMZ - Does the band have another "Walkin' the Razor's Edge" in them? What I mean is, the sound you once had during those earlier years was much more raw and aggressive than in recent years. I know that bands mature and songwriting styles progress and all that but which is the best way for you to go today? Are you damned anyway if you shoot for a commercially acceptable style or is a return to that heavier sound necessary to strike a nerve in today's loud rock listeners?

Brian - Wait until you hear my solo album!

AMZ - Any closing comments?

Brian - I'm tired.