ROCKNATION | Page 12

PAGE 12 ROCKNATION ISSUE 21 (continued from page 11) Rocknation: Please name of influences of other bands that help create your music. Brian: Helix is influenced by many bands-AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Stones, Alice Cooper, etc. You can hear those influences in our music. But we’re also influenced by who we happen to be with or listening to at the time. For instance, Sean toured the world throughout 2013 with Nelly Furtado, hardly a hard rock act. However, in “The Bitch is a Bullet” from the new CD we used a guitar idea he picked up from playing Nelly’s material. Rocknation: What is some of the music you listen to now? Brian: I listen to a variety of music. I love Kid Rock, Amy Winehouse, and Slash for instance. But I’ve also got CDs by the Black Eyed Peas and occasionally I take a trip down memory lane and pull out the first Montrose album. It depends... Rocknation: What other plans do you have for 2014? Brian: With the new CD and dates in North America and For more information visit: www.planethelix.com www.perrisrecords.com Europe, there isn’t going to be much time for anything else except my teaching when I get home. One of the projects I’ve been working on is to put together an E Learning site that explains the Bel Canto technique of singing which I teach. Bel Canto originated in the 1600’s but is largely a mysterious and misunderstood technique. My instructor, Ed Johnson, was probably the first person to ever develop a palatable way to teach it, and of the students he “allowed” to be teachers I was the only one he recommended. I studied for over 30 years to learn it and I want to put it down in a course so that it won’t be lost to future generations, as it is the only way to sing without putting tension on the vocal cords, the primary reason why singers develop sore throats. Tension is also the great limitator when it comes to singers. Rocknation: Thank you for taking time for this interview and last words to the fans? Brian: Last words to fans: Pick up the new CD. It’s the best thing we’ve ever put out and if you do you’ll help keep the band going for years to come. For fans of AC/DC, Aerosmith & Alice Cooper. NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL FINE CD STORES AND ONLINE. HELIX “Bastard Of The Blues” Catalog # PER4912 UPC # 670573049128