Page Hamilton
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Page Hamilton, lead singer, and creator of the band Helmet.
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Page Nye Hamilton (born
May 18,
1960 in
Portland, Oregon) is a singer and
guitarist, mostly noted for his work with
alternative metal band
Helmet. Most of his work has been in the
heavy metal or
hard rock styles, but Hamilton has an experimentalist streak, and has worked in other genres.
Raised in
Medford, Oregon, Hamilton moved to
New York to study
jazz guitar. While there, he "discovered
distortion" and joined
Band of Susans. Hamilton worked with composer
Glenn Branca, after which he started
Helmet.
Helmet's albums included
Strap It On,
Meantime,
Born Annoying,
Betty, and
Aftertaste.
After Helmet split up in
1999, Hamilton started
Gandhi, and toured with
David Bowie. About this time he recorded with
Ben NeillHe recorded
Zulutime (duets with
Caspar Brötzmann), played guitar on
Ben Neill's
Goldbug and
Joe Henry's
Trampoline, and wrote some music for the movie
Heat. Hamilton has also made appearances on "Unbeliever" by
Therapy? and "No, You Don't" by
Nine Inch Nails.
Hamilton restarted Helmet (with an altered line-up) in
2004, and they released the album
Size Matters. Helmet is scheduled to release their latest album, `Monochrome', on July 18, 2006.
Hamilton has also done production work, including producing "Distort Yourself" by
Institute, the new band started by
Gavin Rossdale of Bush.
Hamilton uses custom
ESP Horizon guitars with a Floyd Rose Tremolo and
DiMarzio pickups. It is also reported at
Guitar Geek that Page has used
Paul Reed Smith Guitars.
For amplification Hamilton used a complex setup including a
Marshall Head and Harry Kolbe Preamps and Speakers. He now endorses and uses VHT amplifiers.
In 2006 ESP announced that there would be a new Page Hamilton signature model. This signature model differs from most standard ESP guitars in that it uses DiMarzio pickups rather than
Seymour Duncan or
EMG pickups.
*
Helmet Official Website*
Bornannoying.com fan site*
ESP's Page Hamilton Signature Model*
Page Hamiltons's Guitar Rig
