A Canadian Hard Rock institution founded in Ontario during 1975 by the Doerner brothers, Brent on guitar and Brian on drums, renowned frontman BRIAN VOLLMER, guitarist Paul Hackman and bass player Keith 'Bert' Zurbrigg. HELIX have made an indelible mark on the international Rock scene with their catchy Hard Rock numbers, notoriously racy videos and their undoubted staying power. The band have two platinum albums and four gold records to their name.

Based in Ontario, HELIX, initially titled THE HELIX FIELD BAND, cut their teeth with their first gig opening for MAX WEBSTER at their hometown Kitchener Auditorium. To earn their keep in these early days the band would back incoming American artists as a live backing band. In this capacity HELIX performed numerous gigs with 50's crooner DEL SHANNON. In their formative years one unsuccessful applicant for the position of bass player was one Michael J. Fox!

The band's debut came with the now exceptionally rare 1979 album 'Breaking Loose'. After recording HELIX opted to change their entire rhythm section shortly after. Keith Zurbrigg lost his bass position to Mike Uzelac while Brian Doerner, who joined REFUGEE, was supplanted by Leo Niebudek for 1982's 'White Lace And Black Leather'. Newly signed to major label Capitol HELIX supported KISS on their 1982 European 'Lick It Up' dates.

HELIX finally found a permanent drummer in former STARCHILD man Greg Hinz for their 1983 Capitol debut. Live dates found the band opening for HEADPINS in Canada. However, the bass slot saw further ructions as Uzelac made way for Daryl Gray. HELIX gained valuable exposure on MTV for the video of their SPENCER DAVIS GROUP cover 'Gimme, Gimme Good Lovin', especially as it was revealed that one of the scantily clad models in the shoot was renowned porn star Tracii Lords. The humourous concept video was filmed in Los Angeles, including a second X-rated version which featured a number of prominent L.A. pornstars (including Lords) prancing about in various states of undress, much to the delight of the band and young male fans alike.

The 'Long Way To Heaven' release saw the band enjoying success driven in part by the humourous video for 'The Kid's Are All A Shakin'' which received heavy rotation in North America. Today, Vollmer considers that album to be his least favorite and some critics were unhappy with the change in image to a more glamourous look, with teased hair and white leather.

Although failing to match its predecessor's sales in America 'Long Way To Heaven' gave the band a number 14 album in Sweden. The 'Wild In The Streets' album included a sessioning DON AIREY, previously of RAINBOW, on keyboards. The album also saw original sticksman Doerner returning in a guest capacity. The album was well received featuring a couple of videos, the title track and the ballad 'Dream On'. The release also featured a cover of sorts, a tune called 'She's Too Tough' which was originally penned by DEF LEPPARD and later appeared on DEF LEPPARD's compilation release, 'Retro-Active' More touring followed and general good times. The original cassette pressing of "Wild In The Sheets", as it came to be called, was a neon-green, glow in the dark tape!

After the end of their major label deal with saw a contractual obligation release, 'Over 60 Minutes with Helix', which included 2 unreleased tracks, the band feel into a bit of a decline, with various members battling an assortment of exhaustion, substance abuse and financial woes.

1990 saw a surprisingly revitalized HELIX re-appear again on the small H&S label for their seventh studio CD, 'Back For Another Taste'. The band now consisted of Vollmer, Hackman, Gray and Hinz, with Doerner appearing as a guest drummer. The band had a stripped down look and but not loosing the good time party anthems they were known for. The album yielded two singles and videos, 'The Storm' and 'Running Wild in the 21st Century'. The latter was an extremely innovative combination of black and white footage and text, which helped it win a prestigious video award from Much Music. Capitalizing on the brief resurgence in popularity, Vollmer re-issued the first two very rare HELIX releases in 1991 on a double CD compilation called 'The Early Years' on Maximum Records.

After the tragic death of Paul Hackman in a van roll-over accident while on tour in British Columbia during 1992, the band went into a bit of retreat. The various members scattered to the four winds and Vollmer set to work on his solo album.

In 1993 the album 'It's A Business Doing Pleasure' surfaced on Aquarius Records. Originally intended as Vollmer's solo project, pressure from the label decided that the name HELIX would be attached to the release. By now Hackman had been replaced by Greg Fraser of BRIGHTON ROCK. It yielded one video, 'That Day Is Gonna Come' which received little notice, which was unfortunate because the song was a touching tribute to Hackman. The album was a star studded affair with LEE ARRON providing lead vocals on the track, 'Look Me Straight In The Heart' and KIM MITCHELL providing lead guitar work on the track 'Sleeping in The Doghouse Again'. Other guests included Rob Laidlaw of WINTER ROSE and GYPSY ROSE and as usual Brent Doerner. All the talent afforded the project couldn't save the ballad-like songs, which were considered by many HELIX fans to be weak and too slow, with only the track 'Sleeping In The Doghouse Again' reaching the tempo or intensity of the previous releases. By all accounts the release flopped in terms of sales and critical acclaim and the band parted ways.

An extended five year hiatus saw the band virtually inactive except for the occasional gig. Vollmer settled in Ontario with his family and made a living being a professional vocal coach. One of his students includes the singer of the Canadian teen rock combo, KITTIE.

The 1998 album 'Half Alive' comprised, as the title suggests, half vintage live tracks and new studio recordings. The latter feature various guitarists including Gary Borden, Mark Chichkan, Chip Gall and Rick Mead. The 'Half-Alive' release was quite well received by nostalgic fans who were hungry for more. The climate for rock was slowly becoming more favorable and Vollmer was not content to let his creation die. A combination of luck and hard work, saw Vollmer gain the rights to his back catalogue from Capitol/EMI.

1999 saw a flurry of activity as Vollmer aided by the internet, and E-bay, saw him reissuing much of the HELIX catalogue as well as two new compilations. 'Deep Cuts; The Best of Helix' was an indie compilation with some two unreleased tracks on the Razor & Tie label. Shortly after came 'B-Sides' which had rare tracks, demo's and of course B-sides. It also featured three new tunes (Jaws of The tiger, Danger Zone & S.E.X.-Rated) with a re-united 80's line-up of, Vollmer, Gray, Hinz and Doerner. The Capitol re-issues sold quite well as that material from the early 80's was quite hard to come by on CD. The same year BRIAN VOLLMER struck out on the solo trail releasing the tongue in cheek 'When Pigs Fly' album.

Rejuvenated, HELIX, namely Vollmer and Gray with a variety of hired guns did a number of small Canadian tours, coast to coast playing in small towns from a van, much like the early days of the band. The constant exposure saw the crowds growing each successive time and soon the band was playing large clubs and small halls in the major centers. The band also issued a DVD version of their rare home video, 'S.E.X.-Rated' which features the two adult versions of 'Gimmie Good Lovin' and 'Rock You', as well as many of their other videos.

The 2000 line up of HELIX found Vollmer and Gray joined by the ex-KILLER DWARFS guitar pairing of Jerry Finn and Mike Hall together with drummer Glen Gamble. Bizarrely both Finn and ex-HELIX drummer Greg Hinz are members of Disco band SUPERFREAK!

A vintage HELIX live recording taped in Buffalo during 1983 surfaced on CD in late 2001. Early 2001 saw Helix release yet another CD, 'Live In Buffalo'. Vollmer had pulled out some old tapes from the vault, including a live show in 1983 capturing the bands (then) youthful energy and enthusiasm. Two more Canadian tours followed including one with LEE AARON in her "Metal" persona. Darren Smith of HAREM SCAREM joined the band on guitar for the early 2002 Western Canadian tour and would occasionally take the microphone to belt out a rendition of '30 Days in the Hole'!

By mid 2002, HELIX was back in full swing. Sales were good, tours well attended but the fans were getting restless. After almost ten years there had been no new studio CD. The band realized they could not continue without some new material and so the band is currently working in Ontario on a new studio CD. There are also rumours of a Christmas album (!) and another Vollmer solo CD. In the meantime, Vollmer would be working up his auto-biography, projecting publication by the end of 2002. HELIX's 'Rock You' would be reworked by Nu-Punks SUM 41 as part of the soundtrack to the 'Fubar's' movie.

HELIX 2003 numbered Vollmer alongside the guitar pairing of Shaun Sanders and Dan Fawcett, bassist Jeff Fountain and drummer Glen Gamble. In In 2004 former guitarist Mike Hall formed up a new band outfit entitled BLACK STAR, led by HAREM SCAREM drummer Darren Smith. That same year HELIX themselves inducted a fresh guitar team of Rainer Wiechmann and Jim Lawson.

During 2006 former HELIX guitarist Brent Doerner launched his new band DECIBEL, an alliance with guitarists Chick Schumilas, of JUNO and DIRECT DRIVE, and Shane Schedler with Dan Laurin on drums.

Guitarist Sean Kelly opted out following the band's July 'Rocklahoma' festival performance to join Pop singer Nelly Furtado's band.