Helix Drummer Greg ‘Fritz’ Hinz Has Passed Away At 68

Brian Vollmer, the lead singer of the famous Canadian rock band Helix, sadly announced the passing of their drummer, Greg ‘Fritz’ Hinz. Hinz, who was 68 years old, had been with the band since 1982, although he took a break between 1996 and 2009.

It came as a surprise to many that Hinz had been fighting cancer since 2023, a fact he chose not to share publicly. Vollmer said:

“We’ve known about this since last April, but were unable to tell anyone at Fritz’s request. He wanted his privacy through this.”

Remembering Hinz’s strength, Vollmer shared a story from 2018 when Hinz had a serious accident and ended up in a coma after fracturing his skull.

“When he fell off the ladder… and nearly died, I thought that was the end there. Fritz surprised everyone by coming back less than eight months later.”

Besides his drumming skills, Hinz was known for his sense of humor, which could lighten any mood. Vollmer compared him to “Helix’s David Lee Roth.”

“Fritz was the consummate rock drummer. It was his craft. He prided himself in his playing, and well he should have … The world has lost one of its great rock drummers,” Vollmer said, highlighting the sacrifices musicians make for their art.

Vollmer also thanked Hinz’s wife, who had been by his side throughout his illness, enduring many sleepless nights. He asked for privacy as they planned a memorial event to honor Hinz’s life.

“Fritz… loved his drums and he loved drumming and performing. He took great pride in everything he did. I’m going to miss him so much,” Vollmer concluded, speaking for the band and their fans as they mourned the loss of a dear friend and talented musician.