Feature: Why Isn’t HELIX In Canada’s Music Hall?

Helix was formed in 1974 and started as a cover band. This year the band celebrates it's 50th anniversary.

The band has traveled the world opening for the likes of Black Sabbath, Motörhead, W.A.S.P. , Van Halen and so many others.

Brent Doener who was with the band from 1976–1989, 1992–1993 and 2009–2012 wants to know why the band isn't in there.

And he has a good point. Here's why…

The band has produced 14 studio albums and the albums Walkin' The Razor's Edge and Long Way To Heaven went platinum whilst No Rest For The Wicked and Wild In The Streets went gold in Canada. Their songs 'Rock You' (Just don't ask Bubbles to Gimme an R), 'Heavy Metal Love' and 'Deep Cuts The Knife' got lots of airplay.

The band has travelled pretty much everywhere in Canada from Zapatas in Halifax to Toronto's legendary El Mocambo and Outlaws in Vancouver. They have played stadiums and in small bars. They were once labeled as Canada's hardest working band having played 156 dates all across North America in one year.

In fact, Brian Vollmer is working on a book entitled "THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE CANADIAN BAR CIRCUIT" working with other Canadian band's about this almost forgotten part of Canada's music history.

Not only is Helix well known in Canada, they have travelled around the world. They also had a number one album in Sweden. Also a young comedian named Jim Carrey once opened for the band at Joker's Nightclub in Peterborough, around 1982, and actor Michael J. Fox once auditioned to be the bands bassist.

Many musicians cite Helix as an influence growing up including Chris Jericho, Sebastian Bach and Michael Amott of Arch Enemy.

Radio broadcaster Alan Cross says the reason is because of a backlog of others that should be in there yet he refrains from mentioning who. Just a look shows most are already in there including Anne Murray, Tragically Hip, Shania Twain, Triumph, Rush, The Guess Who, BTO, Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, April Wine, Loverboy, Trooper and Chilliwack.

Some years there's only one inductee and other years there's been five so it doesn't seem like there's a limit or backlog like Alan suggests.