The Purple Helmets Interview 23/06/2025
MM: Can you tell us about your Band and who’s your biggest influences
We’re from a fairly small town on the east coast of Canada in the province of Nova Scotia. It’s
called Yarmouth. We all grew up there as friends, formed a band, and then learned how to
play, and become more proficient with our musicianship and songwriting as we got older. We
don’t use a lot of effects and enjoy organic and raw guitar sounds driven with melodic bass and
steady drums. A lot of bands can play but not a lot of bands can sing. We bring in a lot of 2-
and 3-part harmonies into our music, both recorded and live. This is a band that sounds big
live with all the vocals resting on top of a foundation of indie rock sensibilities. There’s no
acting with the 4 of us. What you see is what you get in person, on stage, one on one. We are
all very transparent and keen on being positive and adding value.
As far as our influences we’re all over the place in our musical tastes. Living in Nova Scotia
Canada puts us close to the United States and as a result, we enjoy Americana, indie
rock, and other genres from the US. We are also massively influenced by UK Indie and UK
Brit pop. It would not be unheard of for us to listen to a playlist with The Beatles, Tom Waits,
Oasis, Mastodon, (old) REM, the Kinks, Bowie, Sloan, Duran Duran, and AC/DC. I think you’d
hear elements from all these artists in our song writing.
MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from?
I think now we draw inspiration to write from life experiences. This could be anything and
everything such as relationships, parenthood, love, loss, what’s in the news, sci-fi, family.
Possibly an interesting chord combo, a personal event, an intriguing sentence and of course
just a desire to write. It’s an eclectic mix.
As an example, Chris wrote the song “Criminal of Love” about how relationships can be
repaired with the emerging power of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. It delves
deep in its dreamy fascination of the topic discussing the self reflection and un-egotistical view
of being a criminal or victim (of love) and how we are headed towards a path where AI will be
used to help mediate and resolve these conflicts. This is highlighted in the middle 8 lyric, “With
Machine Learning We Anticipate the Calm, and the Precipice is Fate”. It’s out there for sure,
but we love it. Where else would you see lyrics like that today? It’s very unique and original. At
the same time, he writes another pop song called “Moon Base Alpha” whose lyrics simply
summarize the Season 2 intro of the 70’s cult favorite sci-fi show “Space 1999”. It’s that simple
and doesn’t really go any deeper. It’s just looking for fun and what might sound interesting
lyrically and phonetically within the melody. In another example, Donnie has a song on the
album called, “We Are The Ones Who Created This Mess”, introducing heavier and darker
lyrical themes focusing on Western foreign policy seeding political, cultural, and religious
divergence.
MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?
Do you mean our favourite song to play? We all have our favourites. Many of them are among
the newer songs. “Moon Base Alpha – Space 1999” can be fun with the call and answer
singing between Chris and Jon. Donnie’s solo in “Highway 17” is unique and killer. Mike’s
drumming during “In the Queue” is really cool. A band fave for all may be “Weirdo Squad” due
to the attractive chord progression (around C# minor 7) with the 3-part harmonies. There’s a lot
happening in that song at once. Audiences that know us always demand to hear “Cheyenne”
and “Mud In your Eye” from our earlier records. In fact, “Cheyenne” was recently recorded as a
cover by A.A. Wallace (Cheval) and Dale Crover (Nirvana, Melvins. Check it out. It’s so good!
MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2025
No firm plans as of yet. Hoping to play some local shows in Nova Scotia and the Maritime
Provinces in Canada. We’re also talking to a few booking agents about getting on a bill with
similar acts for a short trip to the UK or US, preferably on festival shows.
MM: What can we expect from The Purple Helmets live?
Our show is tight and what you hear on the record is very close to what you hear live. We’re
traditionalists and use amplifiers with few effects. We enjoy a raw sound that layers 2 and 3
part harmonies on top of a controlled and harnessed distortion. It’s good energy!
MM: What do you like best and worst about touring
All the things we liked about touring are also probably the things we disliked about touring.
We’re not in separate busses or anything so it’s all done in close quarters and focused
proximity to each other…at all times. There are lots of road stories but they’re typical: vehicle
breakdowns, stolen gear, accidents, arguments, late nights, long drives, comradery, and all the
laughs - 4 guys against the world. Not many people get to experience what a band
experiences. It can be very trying at times but it’s also special and keeps us as good
friends….almost brothers.
MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies
Hmmm….just throwing it out there. Maybe Wilco, the Arctic Monkeys, and the Eagles of Death
Metal.
MM: Whats the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and
why?
For Jon maybe a Paul McCartney concert on the Halifax Commons grounds in Halifax, Nova
Scotia Canada in 2009. Seeing McCartney live, playing his songs from The Beatles and Wings
was unbelievable. He played 26 songs in the main set opening with Drive My Car and ending
with Hey Jude. He played two more encores and added members of the 78 th Highlanders
Pipers band to accompany him on the Mull of Kintyre. It was phenomenal!
MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
Well, I think sticking together after all these years and continuing to be able to write great
music has been an accomplishment in itself. But certainly mist recently connecting with Paul
Suarez, who has recorded Biff Clyro, Gojira, Korn, and Guns and Roses to name a few. Paul
helped to fatten our recorded sound on this latest record and make it the highest of fidelity. The
main objective has always been to push the envelope and write a good song that is
memorable and stands the test of time both musically and lyrically. I think we accomplished
that in the creation of our newest Album Weirdo Squad.
MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time
Jon – I am going to go with Canadian artists Triumph: Live from US Festival and U2: The
Joshua Tree.
Chris – The Kinks: Lola vs the Powerman & the Merry Go Round and the Inbreds: Kombinator
Mike – Judas Priest: Screaming for Vengeance and Duran Duran: Rio
Donnie – Tom Waits: Closing Time and Andy Shauf: The Party
MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people
watching you?
The first time we played live was at high school concert. We were all young, relatively
inexperienced musicians but felt we were good enough to play in front of a crowd. There were
a few hundred people in the school auditorium and we broke into about 5 or so cover songs. I
recall prior to the first notes being played we were all pretty nervous. The curtains open and
there was decent applause but it was the reaction after we finished that first song that probably
sealed the deal as far as what we thought we could accomplish. It was a pretty big rush.
MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.
Jon had the Beatles, The Clash and The Cult posters on his wall.
Mike had Motley Crue and Venom on his wall.
Chris had Metallica and AC/DC
Donnie had REM and Depeche Mode
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person
The Beatles obviously permeate through almost everything. But there’s Black Sabbath….from
the standpoint of what they were doing and the sound they were creating.. Then there’s the
Clash and Sex Pistols, and Bowie is so important that you can’t leave him out. Then Nirvana.
We really need another Nirvana moment in music history to break it all open again. It’s time.
MM - Whats the most important thing to the band right now?
To continue to push the envelope and write a good songs that are memorable and stands the
test of time both musically and lyrically. We simply continue to strive to write and record the
best music possible. When friends and peers enjoy it, that makes us happy. When a new
audience member enjoys it those moments are special. We’ve always wanted to be a cool little
indie band from NS that writes good music and offers a killer live show. We never want to
disappoint and work hard to retain the reputation we have earned.
MM: If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?
Jon – maybe Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears. Great melody, cool changes and
lots to work with for harmony performance.
Chris – Right Time to Say Goodbye – The Inbreds
Mike – Shot Down in Flames -AC/DC
Don – Stumbling Through the Dark – The Jayhawks
MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band
We believe we try to create an attractive indie tune that stands the test of time. We like to strip
a song down to its essence and focus on melody and it’s memorable components. We think
this is something that a listener would like and appreciate. In a recent article we were
described as being “Hook Kings” providing a “polished indie-rock charm and addictive power-
pop hooks” and that we “sound like the lovechild of 80’s radio classics and modern alt-rock
swagger.” Who wouldn’t want to listen to that!!??
MM: Four words to describe The Purple Helmets.
Timeless, Canadiana, Post Modern, Newfangled,
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