Brian Helicopter

Infobox Musical artist


Img_capt = An airborne Brian Helicopter circa 1980
Img_size =
Name = Brian Helicopter
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Gareth Holder
Born = birth date and age|1958|6|27
Leamington Spa
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = bass guitar
Voice_type =
Genre = punk rock
Occupation = musician
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts = The Shapes, HellsBelles, Rogue Male, Ghosthookers
URL =
Notable_instruments = Rickenbacker

Brian Helicopter is the stage name of Gareth Holder (born 27 June, 1958, in Leamington Spa), an English musician, based in the United States. He is best known for playing bass guitar for the UK punk rock band The Shapes. He also played for many other bands, the most notable being the NWOBHM bands Rogue Male and HellsBelles. A prolific session player, he appears both credited and uncreditied on many releases throughout the 1980s and early 1990s under both his real and stage name. He was one of the first bassists in the nascent UK punk scene to adopt the Rickenbacker bass guitar which he still uses to this day. He was also one of the first bass guitarists in the world to use Trace Elliot amplification. He continues to play professionally, reverting between his real name and his stage name as the fancy takes him. He is also a professional skydiving coach and instructor, currently holding seven world records in the sport. He is also a vegetarian. He can be seen in the independent film Six Sex Scenes and a Murder, in the role of the bounty hunter. He currently resides in California, where he plays bass for the San Francisco Bay Area band Ghosthookers. Ghosthookers released a record in 2008 which features Brian Helicopter on bass under his real name.