# List of Helix band members

Helix is a Canadian hard rock band from Kitchener, Ontario. Formed in 1974, the group originally featured lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, bassist Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg, and drummer Bruce Arnold. By the time they recorded their debut album Breaking Loose in 1979, Vollmer and Zurbrigg were joined by guitarists Brent Doerner and Paul Hackman, and drummer Brian Doerner. The band's current lineup includes Vollmer alongside bassist Daryl Gray (from 1984 to 2002, and since 2009), and guitarists Gary Borden (from 1996 to 1998, and since 2019) and Chris Julke (since 2014).

## History
### 1974–1989

Helix was formed in 1974 by Brian Vollmer, Ron Watson, Rick Trembley, Keith Zurbrigg, Bruce Arnold and Don Simmons. The group was initially known as the Helix Field Band, before they brought in manager Bill Seip who encouraged the members to shorten the name. Around the same time as Seip's arrival, roughly six months after the group formed, Trembley was fired by band leaders Arnold and Watson and was not replaced. Watson left shortly thereafter, replaced by Brent "The Doctor" Doerner. Helix began touring Canadian bars after Seip took over management, although early on both Arnold and Simmons left the band. The pair were replaced by Doerner's brother Brian and Paul Hackman, respectively. This lineup recorded and released the band's debut album Breaking Loose in 1979.
After touring in promotion of Breaking Loose, Brian Doerner was replaced by Leo Niebudek; after recording one track for White Lace & Black Leather, Zurbrigg was also replaced by Mike Uzelac. In 1982, Niebudek was replaced by former Starchild drummer Greg "Fritz" Hinz, who debuted on No Rest for the Wicked. Just before a US tour to promote the album, bassist Uzelac became a born again Christian and left the band, replaced by touring member Pete Guy. Uzelac briefly returned later in the summer, before Mark Rector took over until the end of the year, starting with a European tour supporting Kiss. Daryl Gray took over as full-time bassist at the beginning of 1984 to record Walkin' the Razor's Edge. This lineup also released Long Way to Heaven in 1985 and Wild in the Streets in 1987.

### 1989–2002

After the touring cycle for Wild in the Streets, guitarist Brent Doerner departed from Helix in 1989. The remaining four members recorded Back for Another Taste without a second guitarist. For the album's tour starting the following summer, the group was joined by its first American member, guitarist Denny Balicki (later Blake). On July 5, 1992, when the band was travelling back to Kitchener after a short local tour, a bus carrying Paul Hackman, Daryl Gray and two of Helix's road crew members crashed near the city of Kamloops, killing Hackman on impact. Despite this tragedy, Helix continued later in the year, with Brent Doerner returning and Greg "Shredder" Fraser taking over from Hackman. The new lineup released It's a Business Doing Pleasure on Aquarius Records in 1993.
Following the release of the album, Doerner left again and Helix toured with rotating part-time touring guitarists alongside Fraser, including Gary Borden, Rick Mead and Mark Chichkan. When Fraser left in 1996, Borden took over as his official replacement; when drummer Greg Hinz left later the same year, Glen "Archie" Gamble took his place. During this flexible period, the band recorded the bulk of the material for 1998's Half-Alive, which also included a handful of tracks recorded with Hackman before his death. By 2000, Helix had returned to a more regular touring schedule and settled on a lineup of Vollmer, Gray and Gamble alongside guitarists Gerry Finn and Mike Hall. In 2001, Harem Scarem drummer Darren Smith took over from Gerry Finn, who left to join David Usher's band.

### 2002–2007

In early 2002, Vollmer and Gray fell out after a recording session and the bassist left the band. He was replaced by Stan Miczek, also formerly of Harem Scarem, before all but Gamble were dismissed in the summer as the band relocated to London; the new lineup included guitarists Shawn Sanders and Dan Fawcett, and bassist Jeff "Stan" Fountain. Before the new incarnation could record anything, however, Vollmer fired Fawcett in early 2004 and Sanders chose to leave. In May the group released Rockin' in My Outer Space, which featured Rainer "Rhino" (lead guitar, keyboards) and Cindy Weichmann (backing vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboards); both musicians became official members of the band, and after the album's recording Jim Lawson was brought in on second lead guitar.
On July 17, 2004, Helix marked its 30th anniversary with a special concert featuring a wide range of former band members, which was released as 30th Anniversary Concert. Included were original members Ron Watson, Keith Zurbrigg, Bruce Arnold and Don Simmons, alongside numerous other performers. The next February, it was announced that Gamble had left the band after nearly ten years to focus on his other group Popjoy, with Brian Doerner returning in his place. The following spring, Vollmer decided to part with the Weichmanns and brought in Rick VanDyk as a new guitarist. At the same time, Doerner departed again and was replaced by Brent "Ned" Niemi. In March 2007, Fountain was replaced on bass by Paul Fonseca, a bandmate of both VanDyk and Niemi.

### Since 2007

Helix released The Power of Rock and Roll in 2007, although none of the current members besides Vollmer performed on the album. This was followed the next year by A Heavy Mental Christmas, which featured all but Lawson. In February 2009, it was announced that Crash Kelly's Sean Kelly had replaced Fonseca on bass. The following month, Helix also revealed that Brent Doerner had replaced VanDyk for a third tenure in the band, while Rob MacEachern (who played drums on several recent Helix releases) had taken over from Niemi. By August that year, a reunion of the 'classic' 1984–1989 lineup of Vollmer, Doerner, Daryl Gray and Greg Hinz had been announced for a tour starting in October; later, Kaleb "Duckman" Duck was announced as the group's second guitarist.
In June 2012, Helix announced that Brent Doerner would be leaving the band for a third time in September. He was replaced by John Claus. By February 2014, Claus had been replaced by Chris Julke, who recorded the band's next album Bastard of the Blues. This was followed in 2019 by Old School, before Duck left in November that year and was replaced briefly by former guitarist Mark Chichkan and then by Gary Borden.
Original keyboardist Don Simmons passed away on July 25, 2021. Dan Fawcett, guitarist for Helix from 2002 to 2004, died on 6 November 2022 at age 52 after being stabbed in Gibbons Park, in London, Ontario. Craig Allan, 48, was charged with second degree murder, while Allana Lebars, 41, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after being originally charged with second-degree murder.
Drummer Greg "Fritz" Hinz died on February 16, 2024.

## Members
### Current

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Brian Vollmer | 1974–present | lead vocalscowbell | all Helix releases |
| Daryl Gray | 1984–20022009–present | basskeyboardsmandolinpercussionguitarbacking vocals | all Helix releases from Walkin' the Razor's Edge (1984) to Half-Alive (1998), and from Vagabond Bones (2009) onwards30th Anniversary Concert (2009) – two tracks only |
| Gary Borden | 1996–1998 (part-time touring 1993–1996)2019–present | guitarbacking vocals | Half-Alive (1998) |
| Chris Julke | 2014–present | guitarbacking vocals | Bastard of the Blues (2014)A Helix Christmas (2018) |

### Former

| Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
| Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg | 1974–1980 | bassbacking vocals | Breaking Loose (1979)White Lace & Black Leather (1981) – one track only30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Bruce Arnold | 1974–1976 | drums | 30th Anniversary Concert (2004) – one track only |
| Don Simmons | 1974–1976 (died 2021) | keyboards | 30th Anniversary Concert (2004) – one track only |
| Ron Watson | 1974–1976 (died 2019) | guitar | 30th Anniversary Concert (2004) – one track only |
| Rick "Minstrel" Trembley | 1974–1975 | guitar | none |
| Brent "The Doctor" Doerner | 1976–19891992–19932009–2012 | guitarmandolinbacking and additional lead vocals | all Helix releases from Breaking Loose (1979) to It's a Business Doing Pleasure (1993)Live! in Buffalo (2001)Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004) – one track only30th Anniversary Concert (2004)Vagabond Bones (2009)Smash Hits... Unplugged! (2010)Skin in the Game (2011) |
| Paul Hackman | 1976–1992 (until his death) | guitarbacking vocals | all Helix releases from Breaking Loose (1979) to Back for Another Taste (1990)Half-Alive (1998)Live! in Buffalo (2001)Old School (2019) |
| Brian Doerner | 1976–19802005–2006 | drumsbacking vocals | Breaking Loose (1979)Wild in the Streets (1987)Back for Another Taste (1990) – three tracks onlyIt's a Business Doing Pleasure (1993)Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004) – two tracks only30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Leo Niebudek | 1980–1982 | drums | White Lace & Black Leather (1981)30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Greg "Fritz" Hinz | 1982–19962009–2024 (died 2024) | drumspercussionbacking vocals | all Helix releases from No Rest for the Wicked (1983) to Live! in Buffalo (2001), and from Vagabond Bones (2009) onwards30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Mike Uzelac | 1980–19831983 (stand-in) | bassbacking vocals | White Lace & Black Leather (1981)No Rest for the Wicked (1983)Live! in Buffalo (2001) |
| Pete Guy | 1983 | bass | none |
| Mark Rektor | 1983 | bass | none |
| Denny Balicki (later known as Denny Blake) | 1990–1992 | guitarbacking vocals | Half-Alive (1998) |
| Greg "Shredder" Fraser | 1992–1996 | guitarbacking vocals | It's a Business Doing Pleasure (1993) |
| Mark Chichkan | 1993–1999 (part-time) | guitarbacking vocals | Half-Alive (1998) |
| Rick Mead | 1993–1998 (part-time) | guitar | Half-Alive (1998) |
| Glen "Archie" Gamble | 1996–2005 | drums | Half-Alive (1998)Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004)30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Gerry Finn | 2000–2002 (part-time touring 1998–2000) | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Mike Hall | 2000–2002 | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Darren Smith | 2001–2002 | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Stan Miczek | 2002 | bassbacking vocals | none |
| Jeff "Stan" Fountain | 2002–2007 | bassbacking vocals | all Helix releases from Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004) to The Power of Rock and Roll (2007) |
| Shawn Sanders | 2002–2004 | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Dan Fawcett (died 2022) | 2002–2004 | guitarbacking vocals | none |
| Rainer "Rhino" Wiechmann | 2004–2006 | guitarkeyboardsbacking vocals | Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004)30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Cindy Weichmann | 2004–2006 | backing vocalsguitarpercussionkeyboards | Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004)30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Jim Lawson | 2004–2009 (touring only) | guitarbacking vocals | 30th Anniversary Concert (2004) |
| Rick VanDyk | 2006–2009 | guitarbacking vocals | A Heavy Mental Christmas (2008) |
| Brent "Ned" Niemi | 2006–2009 | drumsbacking vocals | A Heavy Mental Christmas (2008) |
| Paul Fonseca | 2007–2009 | bassbacking vocals | A Heavy Mental Christmas (2008) |
| Sean Kelly | 2009 | bassguitarbanjobacking vocals | Vagabond Bones (2009)Smash Hits... Unplugged! (2010) |
| Rob MacEachern | 2009 | drumspercussion | Get Up! (2006)The Power of Rock and Roll (2007)Vagabond Bones (2009) |
| Kaleb "Duckman" Duck | 2009–2019 | guitarbacking vocals | all Helix releases from Smash Hits... Unplugged! (2010) to Old School (2019) |
| John Claus | 2012–2014 | guitarkeyboardsbacking vocals | none |

## Lineups

| Period | Members | Releases |
| 1974–1975 (as the Helix Field Band) | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Ron Watson – guitar Rick Trembley – guitar Keith Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals Bruce Arnold – drums Don Simmons – keyboards | none |
| 1975–1976 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Ron Watson – guitar Keith Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals Bruce Arnold – drums Don Simmons – keyboards | none |
| 1976 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Keith Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals Bruce Arnold – drums Don Simmons – keyboards | none |
| 1976–1980 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Keith Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals Brian Doerner – drums, backing vocals | Breaking Loose (1979) |
| 1980 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Keith Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals Leo Niebudek – drums | White Lace & Black Leather (1981) – Zurbrigg recorded one track before leaving |
| 1980–1982 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Mike Uzelac – bass, backing vocals Leo Niebudek – drums | White Lace & Black Leather (1981) – Zurbrigg recorded one track before leaving |
| 1982–1983 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Mike Uzelac – bass, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | No Rest for the Wicked (1983) |
| June – July 1983 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals Pete Guy – bass (touring member) | none |
| August – September 1983 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Mike Uzelac – bass, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Live! in Buffalo (2001) |
| October – December 1983 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals Mark Rector – bass (touring member) | none |
| January 1984 – fall 1989 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Walkin' the Razor's Edge (1984) Live at the Marquee (1985) Long Way to Heaven (1985) Wild in the Streets (1987) Over 60 Minutes With... (1989) – two previously unreleased tracks Half-Alive (1998) – one track |
| Fall 1989 – summer 1990 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Back for Another Taste (1990) |
| Summer 1990 – July 1992 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Paul Hackman – guitar, backing vocals Denny Balicki – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Half-Alive (1998) – three tracks |
| Fall 1992 – summer 1993 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Greg Fraser – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | It's a Business Doing Pleasure (1993) |
| 1993–1996 (rotating touring lineup) | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Greg Fraser – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals Gary Borden – guitar (part-time member) Mark Chichkan – guitar (part-time member) Rick Mead – guitar (part-time member) | none |
| 1996 (rotating touring lineup) | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals Gary Borden – guitar (part-time member) Mark Chichkan – guitar (part-time member) Rick Mead – guitar (part-time member) | Half-Alive (1998) – remaining tracks |
| 1996–1998 (rotating touring lineup) | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums Gary Borden – guitar (part-time member) Mark Chichkan – guitar (part-time member) Rick Mead – guitar (part-time member) | Half-Alive (1998) – remaining tracks |
| 1998–1999 (part-time touring lineup) | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums Mark Chichkan – guitar (part-time member) Gerry Finn – guitar (part-time member) | none |
| 2000–2001 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Gerry Finn – guitar, backing vocals Mike Hall – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | none |
| 2001–2002 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Mike Hall – guitar, backing vocals Darren Smith – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | none |
| Early – summer 2002 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Mike Hall – guitar, backing vocals Darren Smith – guitar, backing vocals Stan Miczek – bass, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | none |
| Fall 2002 – early 2004 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Shawn Sanders – guitar, backing vocals Dan Fawcett – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Fountain – bass, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | none |
| Early – spring 2004 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Rainer Wiechmann – guitar, keyboards, vocals Cindy Wiechmann – guitar, percussion, vocals Jeff Fountain – bass, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | Rockin' in My Outer Space (2004) |
| Summer 2004 – February 2005 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Rainer Wiechmann – guitar, keyboards, vocals Cindy Wiechmann – guitar, percussion, vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Fountain – bass, backing vocals Archie Gamble – drums | 30th Anniversary Concert (2004) – features numerous previous members |
| February 2005 – March 2006 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Rainer Wiechmann – guitar, keyboards, vocals Cindy Wiechmann – guitar, percussion, vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Fountain – bass, backing vocals Brian Doerner – drums, backing vocals | none |
| April 2006 – March 2007 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Rick VanDyk – guitar, backing vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Jeff Fountain – bass, backing vocals Brent Niemi – drums, backing vocals | Get Up! (2006) – features Vollmer and Fountain only |
| March 2007 – February 2009 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Rick VanDyk – guitar, backing vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Paul Fonseca – bass, backing vocals Brent Niemi – drums, backing vocals | The Power of Rock and Roll (2007) – features Vollmer only A Heavy Mental Christmas (2008) – does not feature Lawson |
| February – August 2009 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Sean Kelly – bass, guitar, backing vocals Rob MacEachern – drums, percussion | Vagabond Bones (2009) |
| August – October 2009 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Jim Lawson – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Vagabond Bones (2009) |
| October 2009 – September 2012 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Brent Doerner – guitar, backing vocals Kaleb Duck – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Smash Hits... Unplugged! (2010) Skin in the Game (2011) |
| October 2012 – February 2014 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Kaleb Duck – guitar, backing vocals John Claus – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | none |
| February 2014 – November 2019 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Kaleb Duck – guitar, backing vocals Chris Julke – guitar Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | Bastard of the Blues (2014) Old School (2019) |
| November 2019 – February 2024 | Brian Vollmer – lead vocals Kaleb Duck – guitar, backing vocals Gary Borden – guitar, backing vocals Daryl Gray – bass, keyboards, backing vocals Greg Hinz – drums, percussion, backing vocals | none as yet |