View source for Page Hamilton

{{Short description|American singer and guitarist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Page Hamilton
| image             = Helmet - Page Hamilton (6819476974).jpg
| caption           = Hamilton performing with Helmet in 2012
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1960|05|18}}
| birth_place       = [[Portland, Oregon]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative metal]]
* [[post-hardcore]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[noise rock]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*songwriter
*producer}}
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
}}
| years_active      = 1979–present
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]]
* Page Hamilton Quintet
}}
| past_member_of    = {{flatlist|
* [[Band of Susans]]
* [[Gandhi (American band)|Gandhi]]
* [[List of David Bowie band members|David Bowie band]]
}}
| website           = {{url|pagehamiltonmusic.com}}
}}

'''Page Nye Hamilton'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/901384845 |title=ALMOST OUT OF SIGHT |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> (born May 18, 1960)<ref name="Birthday" /> is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer who founded the American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]] in 1989. In the 1990s, Helmet and Hamilton were forerunners of [[alternative metal]] with the albums ''[[Meantime (album)|Meantime]]'' (1992) and ''[[Betty (Helmet album)|Betty]]'' (1994) and are considered one of the most influential metal bands of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helmet's Page Hamilton - Under the Influence - The Skinny |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/playlists/under-the-influence-page-hamilton-helmet |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.theskinny.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> Although he is mainly known for his work in heavy metal and [[post-hardcore]] music, Hamilton also earned an [[Undergraduate education|undergraduate]] degree from the [[University of Oregon]] and later earned a [[Master's degree]] in [[jazz guitar]] from the [[Manhattan School of Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About — Page Hamilton |url=https://www.pagehamiltonmusic.com/about#:~:text=Page%20Hamilton%20is%20a%20composer,the%20Manhattan%20School%20of%20Music. |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Page  Hamilton |language=en-US}}</ref> Hamilton also has connections to [[avant-garde]] music and film soundtrack composition.

==Life and career==
===Background===
Hamilton was born on May 18, 1960, in [[Portland, Oregon]],<ref name="Birthday">{{Cite magazine |last=Ahearn |first=Kim |date=November 17, 1994 |title=Artist biographies |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=695 |pages=154–158 |id={{ProQuest|220150530}}}}</ref><ref name="taz">{{Cite news |last=Klook |first=Carsten |date=2004-12-09 |title='Helmet' im Grünspan: Kilos auf der Hantelstange |url=https://taz.de/!662943/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |newspaper=[[Die Tageszeitung]] |language=de}}</ref> and raised in [[Medford, Oregon]]. He studied guitar at the [[University of Oregon]] before moving to [[New York City|New York]] to study [[jazz]] [[guitar]] at the [[Manhattan School of Music]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/helmets-page-hamilton-on-eighties-nyc-we-had-a-guy-hit-another-guy-in-the-head-with-an-ax-6647979|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619202515/http://www.villagevoice.com/music/helmets-page-hamilton-on-eighties-nyc-we-had-a-guy-hit-another-guy-in-the-head-with-an-ax-6647979|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 19, 2015|title=Helmet's Page Hamilton on Eighties NYC: 'We Had a Guy Hit Another Guy in the Head With an Ax'|last=Blum|first=Sam|date=February 17, 2015|newspaper=The Village Voice|access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> While there he played in [[avant-garde]] composer [[Glenn Branca]]'s guitar orchestra, performing the composer's ''Symphony No.6 (Devil Choirs at the Gates of Heaven)'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangonacan.org/1989/may/music_of_david_rosenbloom_michael_gordon_and_glenn_branca_rapp_arts_center|title=Music of David Rosenbloom, Michael Gordon and Glenn Branca – R.A.P.P. Arts Center – 1989 – Bang on a Can|website=Bangonacan.org|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114020300/http://bangonacan.org/1989/may/music_of_david_rosenbloom_michael_gordon_and_glenn_branca_rapp_arts_center|url-status=dead}}</ref> and joined noise rock band [[Band of Susans]], performing on their ''[[Love Agenda]]'' album<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-agenda-mw0000653634|title=Love Agenda – Band of Susans {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Raggett|first=Ned|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> and [[The Peel Sessions (Band of Susans album)|Peel Sessions]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-peel-sessions-mw0000091585/credits|title=The Peel Sessions – Band of Susans {{!}} Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref> before finally forming his own group, [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]].

=== Helmet ===
[[File:Helmet.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Hamilton with Helmet at The Hifi Bar, Melbourne, May 2008]]
Helmet initially signed to [[Amphetamine Reptile Records]], releasing a number of 7" singles and one album, 1990's ''[[Strap It On (album)|Strap It On]]''. The band then signed to [[Interscope Records]], releasing ''[[Meantime (album)|Meantime]]'' (1992), ''[[Betty (Helmet album)|Betty]]'' (1994) and ''[[Aftertaste (album)|Aftertaste]]'' (1997). After a seven-year hiatus, the band returned with ''[[Size Matters]]'' (2004). A year after the release of ''Size Matters'', they left Interscope, and the band released the albums [[Monochrome (Helmet album)|''Monochrome'']] (2006), ''[[Seeing Eye Dog]]'' (2010), ''[[Dead to the World (album)|Dead to the World]]'' (2016) and ''[[Left (Helmet album)|Left]]'' (2023).

''Meantime'' was the band's principal commercial success, being certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref name=riaa>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|website=RIAA|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> The album was well received by music critics and is seen as an influential metal record and earning a [[Grammy]] nomination in the Best Metal Performance category for 1993.<ref name=rockonthenet>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1993/grammys.htm|title=Rock On The Net: 35th Annual Grammy Awards – 1993|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>

Since 2004, Hamilton has been the only founding member left in Helmet, and after the departure of guitarist [[Chris Traynor]] in 2006, he has been the only member to have been involved with Helmet during its original run in the 1990s. Hamilton has said that he hopes to keep playing with Helmet until he is "physically incapable".<ref name="toom"/>

===Gandhi===
Following Helmet's temporary dissolution in the late 1990s, Hamilton formed another rock band, Gandhi,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Page Hamilton Revs Back Up With Gandhi|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73040/page-hamilton-revs-back-up-with-gandhi|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 25, 2013}}</ref> with former [[Liege Lord]] guitarist Anthony Truglio, John Andrews (guitar), Christian Bongers (bass), and Matt Flynn (later the drummer for [[Maroon 5]]). Though the band did not release any music officially, several demo songs were leaked. Many of these were later recorded for the ''Size Matters'' and ''Monochrome'' releases by Helmet.

=== Movie soundtracks ===
While still active with Helmet, Hamilton embarked on a career composing and performing music for film, working on movies including ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'', ''[[Titus (film)|Titus]]'', ''[[In Dreams (film)|In Dreams]]'', ''[[Catwoman (film)|Catwoman]]'', and ''[[Chicago Cab]]''. Helmet also contributed to a number of movie soundtracks, including ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'', ''[[Feeling Minnesota]]'', ''[[Johnny Mnemonic (film)|Johnny Mnemonic]]'', ''[[Judgment Night (film)|Judgment Night]]'', ''[[Saw 3]]'', ''[[Underworld (2003 film)|Underworld]]'', and appearing in ''[[The Jerky Boys: The Movie]]'' (performing a cover of the [[Black Sabbath]] song "[[Symptom of the Universe (song)|Symptom of the Universe]]").<ref name="portfolio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pagehamiltonmusic.com/|title=Page Hamilton|website=Pagehamiltonmusic.com|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref>

=== Production ===
Hamilton has also worked as a [[record producer]], most notably producing the album ''[[Distort Yourself]]'' by former [[Bush (British band)|Bush]] singer [[Gavin Rossdale]]'s band [[Institute (band)|Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|title=AllMusic|website=[[AllMusic]]|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/distort-yourself-mw0000211890/credits|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> He has also produced albums for the bands [[Bullets and Octane]] (''[[In the Mouth of the Young]]''), [[Classic Case]] (''[[Losing at Life]]''), and [[Totimoshi]].

=== David Bowie, collaborations, other work ===
During Helmet's hiatus, Hamilton performed as lead guitarist for [[David Bowie]]'s band on the singer's [[Hours Tour]].<ref name="portfolio"/>

He has collaborated with German avant-garde guitarist [[Caspar Brötzmann]] on the live improvisational album ''[[Zulutime]]'' and performed on a number of other artists' works, including trumpeter [[Ben Neill]]'s ''Goldbug'', alt-country songwriter [[Joe Henry]]'s ''Trampoline'', Northern Irish rock band [[Therapy?]]'s ''[[Troublegum]]'' and British post-punk group [[Wire (band)|Wire]]'s ''[[Object 47]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Record Collector|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/object-47|access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

As a jazz musician, he has performed with his own groups, the Page Hamilton Quintet<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Helmet website|url=http://www.helmetmusic.com/2012/12/page-hamilton-quintet-live-in-santa-monica/|access-date=May 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607022117/http://www.helmetmusic.com/2012/12/page-hamilton-quintet-live-in-santa-monica/|archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref>  and the Jazz Wannabes,<ref>{{cite web|title=Jazz Wannabes MySpace page|url=https://www.myspace.com/jazzwannabes|website=Myspace.com|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> and with fellow guitarist and mentor [[John Stowell]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Helmet website|url=http://www.helmetmusic.com/2012/01/|access-date=May 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607024119/http://www.helmetmusic.com/2012/01/|archive-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref>

He has also produced a guitar instruction DVD, ''Sonic Shapes: Expanding Rock Guitar Vocabulary'', published by [[Hal Leonard Corporation]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hamilton|first=Page|title=Sonic Shapes: Expanding Rock Guitar Vocabulary|year=2009|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781423434726|url=http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=320707&}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=320707&|title=Page Hamilton – Sonic Shapes, Instructional/Guitar/DVD – Hal Leonard Online|website=Halleonard.com|access-date=December 9, 2016}}</ref>

During the spring of 2008, Page provided guest vocals on post-hardcore band [[Norma Jean (band)|Norma Jean]]'s fourth studio album ''[[The Anti Mother]]'' as well as contributed to the writing of track 8, "Opposite of Left and Wrong".

In 2014, Hamilton appeared on [[Linkin Park]]'s sixth studio album ''[[The Hunting Party (album)|The Hunting Party]]'', which he provided additional vocals (on the chorus) and guitars on the album's second track "[[All for Nothing (song)|All for Nothing]]". The song was self-produced by [[Mike Shinoda]] and [[Brad Delson]].

==Personal life==
Hamilton was married during the 1990s, but later divorced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=60245 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET – HELMET Mainman Announces New Rhythm Section |website=roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606171842/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=60245 |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the beginning of 2002, he moved to Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/page-hamilton-revs-back-up-with-gandhi-73040/ | title=Page Hamilton Revs Back up with Gandhi | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreeborntimes.com/page-hamilton-interview|title=An Interview With: Page Hamilton|last=Freeborn|first=Amy|date=August 22, 2006|website=thefreeborntimes.com|access-date=December 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220082213/http://www.thefreeborntimes.com/page-hamilton-interview|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> citing the rising cost of living in New York as a reason for the move.<ref name="toom">Page Hamilton, 2021. ''Talk Toomey'' podcast.</ref> The following year he entered a year long relationship with American actress [[Winona Ryder]]. According to Hamilton, she was a listener of the band, and many of the lyrics on Helmet's 2004 comeback ''Size Matters'' were reportedly inspired by their relationship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.markprindle.com/hamilton-i.htm|title=Page Hamilton interview|website=markprindle.com}}</ref><ref name="dec">{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2011/01/12/justify-your-shitty-taste-helmet-s-size-matters/ |title=Justify Your Shitty Taste: Helmet's "Size Matters" |publisher=Decibel Magazine |date=January 12, 2011 |accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref> Hamilton has mentioned that he has been mistaken for a woman at times because of his name, which is pronounced the same way as the female name ''Paige''.<ref>Page Hamilton, 2022. Scandalous Podcast</ref>

==Equipment==
Hamilton endorsed [[ESP Guitars]] in the 1990s, and is best known for playing [[ESP Horizon]] guitars with either a [[Floyd Rose]] or Wilkinson tremolo, and [[DiMarzio|DiMarzio Airzone]] pickups.  In 2006 ESP announced a Page Hamilton signature model, featuring a single [[DiMarzio|DiMarzio Airzone]] pickup and Wilkinson tremolo. In 2009, ESP announced a further signature model guitar, this time modeled after Page's own [[ESP Horizon]] Custom, featuring a distressed magenta finish emulating the original guitar's road wear and character and, again, a single [[DiMarzio|DiMarzio Air Zone]] pickup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://guitaredge.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:5-questions-with-page-hamilton&catid=46:style-file&Itemid=67/1|title=Schroed, Jeff. "5 Questions With... Page Hamilton" |website=Guitaredge.com|access-date=January 23, 2021}}</ref> He has also used guitars by [[PRS Guitars|PRS]]  and [[G&L Musical Instruments|G&L]].

For live performances, Page Hamilton uses a [[Fryette Amplification|Fryette]] Pittbull Ultra-Lead into a [[Fryette Amplification|Fryette]] Fatbottom 4x12 cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/rig-rundown-helmets-page-hamilton|title = Rig Rundown: Helmet's Page Hamilton|date = August 27, 2014}}</ref> In the 1990s, Hamilton used a Harry Kolbe preamp into a [[Marshall Amplification|Marshall]] 2204S (small-box head) with its gain all the way up, then into a dummy load, then into a noise gate, then finally into a [[Mesa Boogie]] Simul-class 290 power amplifier that fed four Harry Kolbe 4x12 cabinets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluecricket.com/helmet/interviews/gp892.html|title = Interview – Guitar Player – August 1994}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|Page Hamilton discography|Helmet discography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{cc}}
* {{Official website|1=http://pagehamiltonmusic.com/}}
* [http://www.helmetmusic.com Official Helmet website]
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|0358091}}

{{Band of Susans}}
{{Helmet}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Page}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:Alternative metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Alternative metal singers]]
[[Category:American film score composers]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Record producers from Oregon]]
[[Category:Amphetamine Reptile Records artists]]
[[Category:Atavistic Records artists]]
[[Category:Band of Susans members]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Oregon]]
[[Category:Helmet (band) members]]
[[Category:Interscope Records artists]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:American male film score composers]]
[[Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Musicians from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Noise rock musicians]]
[[Category:North Medford High School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Medford, Oregon]]
[[Category:Post-hardcore musicians]]
[[Category:Singers from Oregon]]