Helmet was formed in New York City in 1989 by founding members Page Hamilton(guitar), Henry Bogdan(bass), Peter Mengede(guitar) and John Stanier(drums). The group signed to Ampthetamine Reptile Records, and released their first full-length album, Strap It On, in 1991. Interscope Records soon came calling and signed the band in 1992.

The band found mainstream success with their Interscope debut Meantime which debuted at number 68 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the hits “Unsung” and “In the Meantime”.