A Helmet wouldn't have saved Gandhi

In a recent email to helmetband.com that has since been made public, former Helmet frontman and current leader of Gandhi, Page Hamilton revealed quite a bit about Gandhi's current status as well as any future Helmet activity. Among the revelations is that the door is open for a Helmet reunion, but that as of now all the members are busy with other projects (Gandhi, Tomahawk, and mastering steel guitar in Hawaii). As far as Gandhi goes, Page 'dissolved' the east coast version of the band and is now working with the John Tempesta, Rob Nicholson, and Charlie Clouser out west. He also plans on playing Helmet songs with Gandhi. Hit 'more' to read the entire email.

March 21, 2003

Hi Eric.

This Helmetband.com site is great. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your work in keeping information about the band available to Helmet fans. Thank you.

First I feel compelled to address a partial misquote of my retarded between-song banter from a Gandhi (more later) live show in Boston from last summer/fall that was forwarded to me by a friend. (normally I wouldn't give a shit but it has the potential to offend and alienate my former Helmet band mates so......)

A guy in the audience (Jon) asked me about a Helmet reunion and I responded jokingly that Helmet was a band full of assholes and that I was the only asshole in THIS band (Gandhi). Jon left off the last bit ("I'm the only asshole in this band") in his review of the show. I listened to a CD recording of the show, done for my own musical edification, and heard the on-stage conversation AND was reminded of the joke by the guys sharing the stage with me that night. No disrespect was intended or implied as far as I'm concerned but not everyone shares my sense of humor. That's fine with me as long as my lame chatter is shared accurately.

After 9 years, 3 world tours (1000, 1100, 1200 shows??), 5 albums worth of music etc. with John and Henry (portions of which were shared by Peter, Rob and Chris) I wouldn't want them believing that I had anything but respect for them as musicians and dedicated human beings.

As to the rumors of a Helmet reunion I have never ruled out the possibility. We've been thinking about a Helmet "live" album for a long time. It'd be great to do a few live shows around the release of a live record but it's nothing we've discussed.

John is happy in Tomahawk (great band with Patton, Denison and Kevin from Cows/Melvins) and Henry had his band The Moonlighters up until recently (I haven't heard them). Henry is going to move to Hawaii to study lap steel (Henry plays bass, drums, guitar, lap steel etc. you name it) with the masters.

As I mentioned above I have a new band and for now I'm calling it Gandhi. The east coast version has been dissolved as I am spending more time on the west coast now. I'm playing with John Tempesta (White/Rob Zombie, Testament) and Rob Nicholson (Rob Zombie/ Prong). Charlie Clouser (Nine Inch Nails) has been involved in much of the writing, buttless chap fashion and sonic genius. We recently recorded 3 songs with Jay Baumgardner at his studio in Los Angeles and are looking for someone to put out an album this year. I met Jay through my friend Rene Mata (Reach 454 from New York) and had a blast working with him and his NRG family.

We will start trying out guitar players in May here in LA and should be playing shows (I hope) by early summer. As for Helmet songs..... I wrote Helmet songs, I like Helmet songs and I will play Helmet songs with my new band and I will continue to talk about Helmet when asked (or not)........I'm hungry. Bye for now. Thanks again.

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