European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 3, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Amps m a the men of helmet from left Henry Bogdan John Stanier /?o6 Echeverria and Page Hamilton Fito helmet no More angry Young Man band by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer it ready for another barrage of heavy guitar assault fire from helmet arguably the hardest jazz Iest guitar band around. A new album Betty is on its Way to music store shelves and the new York based four Man attack team a last heard from on 1992 s ale inf me is staging a major concert Campaign in Europe this summer. Let the name Betty hint at helmet s slight change of course Quot it sort of came from touring Quot said frontman Page Hamilton in a Telephone interview. Quot you know what it s like when you be got a Bunch of Guys on a tour bus. Hey there s a Betty on the left Betty on the right Quot slightly embarrassed Hamilton explained further Quot you know the language these crazy kids today the helmet sound Hamilton went on to say is Quot so associated with the boy thing. It s heavy hard this time around Hamilton and his band mates decided that Quot this is getting real tiresome a heavier harder louder More male Quot and made a conscious move toward Quot doing what we do and develop. Quot let us show other moods a i d hate to be pigeonholed into the angry Young Man the evolved helmet still plays hard and heavy but Hamilton has for the most part abandoned the demonic snarl that signified the bulk of the vocals on meantime in favor of cleaner More dispassionate readings. The songs on Betty Shorter. The music s crisper a still assaultive but the attack s More focused. Quot it was a matter of paring Down the fat trying. Different things Quot Hamilton said. Quot i Felt like i was getting Down to the the International version of Betty has 15 cuts including Milquetoast which helmet performed slightly differently for the soundtrack of the Crow. That s the recently released movie notorious for the on set death of Star Brandon Lee during filming. Helmet s involvement with the Crow began before Lee s death. Quot we were sent a script. I thought the script a Little Holl Woodish but the concept was awesome Quot Hamilton said. The band also was offered a Chance to perform in the movie which it turned Down. When Lee was killed Hamilton thought the movie would be pulled altogether. Quot i m glad they put it out but it s very dark very violent Quot said Hamilton who was born in Portland ., and raised in Medford in Southern Oregon. The most unexpected track on Betty is Sam hell a Banjo Pickin tune that has the tinny sound of an old blues song from depression farmlands. The song an oddity for helmet s repertoire came to Hamilton when he was Quot sitting on mom and dad s Couch in Medford Over . Quot everyone fixed it Quot Hamilton said of the piece which it has the helmet signature of a Power chord but it could be played on a Banjo. Quot i thought Man this is groovy Quot Quot even morons like me who can Only play one instrument can play it Quot Hamilton said of the Banjo. And a new Side to helmet was revealed. Helmet s big Bucks recording Deal in 1992 with inter scope immediately placed it among the higher profile bands to emerge from the alternative Metal scene. The Deal gave Hamilton carte Blanche to quit his Job As a Limo Driver but it teased helmet s underground fans with the notion that their favorite most uncompromising band had sold out. That idea still riles Hamilton. Quot i thought we got what we deserved. Why should t everyone hear helmet asked Hamilton who remembers when he worked four jobs to pay $700 a month for rehearsal space As Well As live. A enjoying a particular band he added does t give one membership in Quot an exclusive club it does t belong to you. It does t belong to the sweetest illusion Basia epic t Asia is a bit of a Chameleon a a polish Export. With an earthy and relaxed Stylo that s straight out of Brazil. When she sings third time Lucky you practically transported to the land of Sun scorched beaches. After a hiatus of several years Basia shows sophisticated musical growth especially on the title track a playful Salute to love s perplexing Powers. A. A a a a a Connie Johnson los Angeles times Jimi Hendrix blues Jimi Hendrix Mca he cover and album notes argue that the essence of Hendrix was blues. The music including eight previously unreleased performances makes a different. Case that his nature was protean his Milisic a Boundary jumping transformation of the blues. No a other guitarist could have put this much sizzle and Surprise into a collection that is 90 percent blues. A Mike Boehm los Angeles times Hendrix ten feet tall and bulletproof Travis Tritt Warner Bros positioning himself As the modern inheritor of the 70s outlaw movement May make for Good copy but truth is Tritt fits As squarely within the mainstream nowadays As his frequent target Billy Ray Cyrus. He s still reasonably charming if not nearly charming enough to justify the ego. Tritt s Choice of weepers ranges from cloying to Clever he s better As an exceedingly Frisky Southern Rocker his preferred performance Mode. Chris Wellman los Angeles times the divine comedy Millo wbk Orget that russian born Milla Jovovich is a supermodel actress. Forget that she s just 18 years old. Forget the pretentious album title. This debut would be a solid Effort even for a seasoned Veteran. Millais Strong writing and mature vocals both somewhat in the Kate Bush Mode make one Hope that this is not just a Dile Tantish Side trip but the Start of a full music career. A stove Hochman los Angeles times t i a l i i in amp a singles 1. Back amp Forth Aasiya 2. Your body a calling r. Kelly 3. Any time any place and on and on Janet Jackson 4. You mean the world to me Toni Braxton 5. Anything from above the rim Sov 6. In a ready Tevin Campbell 7. Got me waiting heavy d. Amp the Boyz 8. Bump no grind r. Kelly 9. Part time lovers i m still in love with you b. Sure 10. Willing to forgive aretha Franklin modern Rock tracks classical albums 1. Selling the drama live 2. Longview Green Day 3. Night in my veins pretenders 4. Fall Down Toad the wet sprocket 5. Shine collective soul 6. Black Hole Sun sound Garden 7. Round Here counting crows 8. Always erasure 9. Big empty Stone Temple pilots 10. Possession Sarah Mclachlan 1. Chant Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de silos 2. The Plano Munich philharmonic orchestra 3. Schindler a a list Williams Perlman 4. Gershwin plays Gershwin Gershwin 5. To concert Carreras Domingo Pavarotti 6. My heart s Delight Pavarotti 7. Romantic classics various artists 8. Vivaldi the four seasons various artists. 9. Chopin romantic Plano various artists 10. Pachelbel Canon Wurt Memborg chamber orchestra focus a entertainment editor. A ceded Arrington Doc editorial assistant .r.,. Mcdee Morrison listing contributors stall writers Marian Hamilton a sue Palumbo Nancy a Tomer also Ferenc Pajtas. Joo Olano. Send entertainment news tips Story ideas and listings to the stars and stripes entertain rent unit 29480, Apo a 09211 civilian up stench 1 1 14 37, 64278 Darmstadt Germany Telephone Dan 348 8390, Civ. 06199 001390. Tel fax 06199 co 141g. Outside Germany the country code is 49 drop Trio 0 from the prel x. Friday june 3, 1994 the stars and stripes 25
