HELMET Mainman Weighs In On AXL ROSE, Former Bandmates

October 6, 2004

In a recent interview with Chart Attack, HELMET mainman Page Hamilton explained that growing and experimenting musically are essential for not getting stuck in one place.

"I mean, look at Axl Rose," he said. "He put out the GUNS N' ROSES album like 20 years ago and he's blocked. I mean, I'm just assuming, but I hear a lot about it and I have friends that play with him. They say he's a great guy, he's still creative, but he just kind of wanders off into the desert for days on end. He's stuck. You need to get with other musicians."

With regards to HELMET's just-released first record in seven years, "Size Matters", Hamilton said, "It still sounds like HELMET. My stuff is pretty much completed when it's presented to the band. And it's up to them to come up with their drum fills, bass fills, their articulation. And yes, [current drummer] John Tempesta and [original drummer] John Stanier articulate differently, but they're both amazing drummers. The deal is John Stanier and I don't speak anymore, so it's kind of hard to be in a band with him."

Hamilton said that after nine years together, the members of the original HELMET had built up a lot of tension and that was taking a toll on everyone involved.

"Our communication was built on resistance more than cooperation, by the end of it," he said. "That's unhealthy, that's unnecessary. It was time for us to move on. And I'm glad John and Henry are happy, I think, and doing their thing. God bless 'em." Read more.

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