The Purple Helmets

The Purple Helmets are a re-emerging force in Canadian indie rock. Hailing from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the former EMI-signed band first made waves in the '90s with a sound that blended British glam, American power pop, and alternative grit. Despite early controversy over their provocative name, Mike Carter, Chris Thibedeau, Jonathan Kini, and Donnie LeBlanc quickly earned a devoted following drawn to their vibrant influences, from Bowie, The Kinks, and Big Star to Matthew Sweet, Weezer, and the Gin Blossoms, all filtered through their unmistakable East Coast charm. In 2025, the band marked their long-awaited comeback on SODEH Records with Weirdo Squad, a waterfall release of ten hook-laden tracks. Recorded at Ironshore Studios in the Cayman Islands and produced by Paul Suarez, protégé of mixing legend Andy Wallace, the album earned praise from Jamsphere Magazine and Music Radio Network (USA) and gained steady traction on U.S. college radio. That holiday season, the band released "Peace on Earth (We're Starting Over Again)," a hopeful call for unity with a cosmic twist, which reached #6 on MMD, the college and non-commercial radio platform that feeds the North American College and Community (NACC) chart. This past summer, Weirdo Squad's "Coming Home" spent 10 weeks on the East Coast Top 30, climbing as high as #3 and earning Hall of Fame status.