Helmet is an American alternative metal band formed in New York City by Page Hamilton (vocals/guitar) with Henry Bogdan (bass), Peter Mengede (guitar) and John Stanier (drums) in 1989.
= Helmet appeared on the New York underground scene in 1989 and quickly rose into the top ranks. They were spotted by Tom Hazelmeyer and signed to his Amphetamine Reptile Records label, releasing their debut 7 inch single, Born Annoying, later that year. AmRep? released their first album, Strap It On, in 1990.
Helmet was acclaimed as a "Thinking person's heavy metal band." Eschewing the traditional heavy metal image of long hair and black clothing, the band preferred simple sweaters and jeans, with short haircuts. Their music is characterized by repetitive, syncopated, staccato guitar riffs, often in odd time signatures, and almost always in a minor key with drop-D tuning. The guitar sound is heavily distorted and dissonant, with choruses that often involve guitar feedback waves.
Before Hamilton had settled on a name for the group, Peter Mengede's then-girlfriend suggested the name ...
| origin | New York City |
| years active | 1989–1998, 2004— |
| music genre | Alternative rock Alternative metal Post-hardcore |
| current members | Page Hamilton Chris Traynor Jeremy Chatelain (bassist) |
| past members | Peter Mengede Rob Echeverria Henry Bogdan John Stanier (drummer) |
| website | helmetmusic.com |
