Tag Archives: canadian rock

THE DAMN TRUTH Announce new single ahead of UK Tour

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Montreal’s THE DAMN TRUTH have announced a rockin’ new single titled “I Just Gotta Let You Know”, ahead of their UK tour. The single will be released October 20, and is available to pre-save on all streaming platforms HERE. The single will also be accompanied with an official music video that will premiere on the day of release. In the meantime, watch the trailer for the official music video on YouTube HERE.  *For more info check out the press release below….

The single “I Just Gotta Let You Know” dovetails The Damn Truth’s October 2023 UK Headline Concerts, plus shows supporting Glenn Hughes on his Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of ‘Burn’ UK tour. Tickets for all concerts are available from TheGigcartel.com

“This is the first song from the sessions for our forthcoming studio album that we are recording with our producer Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Metallica, Motley Crue) at Bryan Adam’s recording studio ‘The Warehouse’ in Vancouver,” says TDT’s lead singer Lee-La Baum.

Continues Lee-la, “Working with Bob a second time was even more inspiring than the first. I don’t know exactly what comes over me, but when I’m in the vocal booth singing into Frank Sinatra’s mic, knowing that Bob is in the other room, basically hanging on my every breath, I am able to let go and try all sorts of things that weren’t ever in my mind before. It’s really freaking fun!”

Adds lead guitarist Tom Shemer, “The whole thing started with a riff and I knew immediately that I had something cool here. I showed the riff to Lee-la and she came up with the melody and lyrics for the verses right there on the spot.”

“We had the song banging on high energy from beginning to end, very much in the spirit of The Kinks, and once the train was rolling, there was no stopping it.”

“Bob said ‘forget everything you know about guitar playing and just go for it.’ I only played one take of the solo. He was right!”

In 2021, TDT released the critically acclaimed album “Now or Nowhere.” Produced by Grammy Award-winning Bob Rock, the album is available from www.thedamntruth.com.

Photo Credit: © Martin Brisson

The band have been championed by the music press with extensive magazine coverage in Rolling Stone France, Classic Rock, Blues Matters, Guitarist, Powerplay, Guitar Techniques, Record Collector, Fireworks, Blues in Britain, Hard Rock Hell, MNPR, and R’N’R Magazine.

“The real magic of The Damn Truth is best experienced uncut, in our full set,” says TDT’s lead singer and guitarist, Lee-La Baum. “Our connection with our audiences is the most important thing, so don’t miss experiencing it when we tour the UK in October!”

THE DAMN TRUTH – Headline Tour, w/ special guests. Tickets available at http://www.thegigcartel.com

ALEX MACHIN releases new single

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Photo from alexmachin.ca

Alex Machin of Canada’s A FOOT IN COLDWATER has a brand new single out titled “Till They Bury Me”. This catchy rocker was penned by Machin, autobiographical, with the lyric video featuring photos from his personal life and professional life (on stage & off). Machin’s vocals sound as good as they did 50 years ago when ‘Foot was taking off. Fellow Foot In Coldwater bandmate Danny Taylor plays drums, The singer also plays bass, and on guitar is Toronto player Gus Papas –  “He had a couple of solo albums, one titled ‘Convicted’ that was released in America on Epic Records. He toured extensively and came close to breaking out in the States. Danny played drums on that record. “ Papas also co-wrote a track on Alex Machin’s 1984 project Champion (released as Champion featuring Alex Machin). An album that didn’t get off to a good start with the label going bankrupt the week of it’s release (“That’s a very long and painful story.”, AM), but it is highly sought after by A Foot In Coldwater fans.

“Till You Bury Me” can be found at Alex Machin’s website: https://www.alexmachin.ca/new-releases/ (I have also pasted in the direct youtube link below).

A Foot In Coldwater released 4 albums in the ’70s, and had a huge hit with the ballad “Make Me Do (Anything You Want)”, in 1972., The band has played several reunion gigs since their initial split in 1977 – “We are still planning on having  A Foot in Coldwater resurface at some point in the near future.  For now I am busy having fun writing songs in my studio, putting them out and hoping that people enjoy them. ”

*Check out the new song, as well as the links below!

Links:

http://www.alexmachin.ca

https://www.youtube.com/@alexmachin6130

https://www.facebook.com/groups/73281166822

http://www.afootincoldwater.com/

https://sebastianaor.blogspot.com/2017/10/champion-aor-melodic-rock.html

CONEY HATCH – Postcard from Germany (a review)

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Recorded in 2018, Postcard From Germany was kept in the can for a few years, and is being released this week. It follows the recording & release of Live At The El Mocambo (2020/21). Postcard From Germany was recorded at the HEAT Festival, in Ludwigsburg, consisting of 13 songs. BUT, a few interesting things that make this a ‘must have’ for Coney fans. First, the set-list does differ from the El Mocambo show, with an emphasis on the band’s 3rd album Friction. That album was a big hit over there, so this set includes 5 cuts from it. The show sounds energetic, and the Friction tunes (with Dave Ketchum on drums, who wasn’t on that album), as well as with then-new guitarist Sean Kelly, and minus the keyboards(!) they rock a bit more (IMO). The band’s other albums are all represented, though there’s the glaring omission of “Hey Operator” – which was not performed that night (for whatever reason, really!?). The band gets a nice intro in German (their first time in Germany), and seem to have enjoyed themselves. But this album has the added bonus of including 2 new studio tracks, the first Coney Hatch tunes to feature Sean Kelly, and finished around the time of the El Mocambo show in 2020. “It’s About A Girl” has already been released as a (digital) single and video, a fun pop-rocker from Carl Dixon, with a catchy chorus; a song that could’ve been a major hit … in another time. The other new track features Andy Curran on vocals, “Heaven’s On The Other Side” is a heavier rock tune, the intro reminds me of “Boys Club” (from CH Four), lots of cool guitar throughout this; old school Coney fans will dig this one!

*Find this on Amazon or get the limited signed copies from Cleopatra > https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/coney-hatch-postcard-from-germany-cd/

*There is an Album Release bash/show for Postcard From Germany September 22 at the El Mocambo

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063052548185

Album of the day – STREETHEART’s Meanwhile Back In Paris

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While checking out Canadian LPs from 1978, I got to revisiting this favorite, released in the summer of that year, Streetheart’s debut, and best album! Streetheart was originally based in Regina, Saskatchewan, and fronted by Kenny Shileds, and joined by Daryl Gutheil (keys), Matt Frenette (drums), Ken Sinnaeve (bass), and Paul Dean (guitar). Meanwhile Back In Paris‘ LP title was taken from the opening line in the first cut “Action” – the band’s best known classic, and the one Streetheart tune most likely to still be played on Canadian radio. The album though was preceded by a limited edition 12 inch single titled The 12 Incher!!!, and featured 3 tracks from the upcoming album – “Just For You”, “Action”, and “Can You Feel It”. The 12 Incher!!! was released in limited numbers (3500), on red vinyl (I have a white-label promo copy). Meanwhile Back In Paris featured 9 songs, all of which rock, making for a solid album of cool Canadian hard-rock. Aside from the obvious classic “Action”, favorites include “Pressure”, “Street Walker”, “Look At Me” (the single) and “Just For You”. “Action” – I can’t help to draw comparisons to the 1980 Loverboy hit “Turn Me Loose”, both with the longer keyboard in the intro, as well as each singer hitting that big note in similar style – with the word “crazy” on “Action” and “fly my way” on the Loverboy tune, and both featuring stand-out bass lines. Sinnaeve’s bass playing throughout this is a big part of the sound, driving a number of songs, such as “Can You Feel It”.

This album has a much more energy to it, more guitar heavy hard-rock than later Streetheart albums, which went in a more AOR style and production (though the follow-up Under Heaven, Over Hell is a fine album). Streetheart (and Shields) initially drew comparisons to Steve Marriott and The Faces and Meanwhile Back In Paris was hailed as “the greatest debut by a Canadian R&R band”. It would sell over 100 000 copies in Canada, earning a Platinum award, but would not get a US release (tho’ it would be the reason for the band getting a US deal for future albums). It did get released in a number of European countries (Germany, etc..) as well as South Africa! Classic album cover shot by Myron Zabol who would be credited on a few other Streetheart albums, as well as albums by The Dudes and Shania Twain.

Paul Dean, who co-wrote most of the album would leave after this album to form Loverboy, and was joined by Matt Frenette (after another Streetheart LP). Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve would go on to work with numerous Canadian acts, and later joined Loverboy as well. Four songs from Meanwhile Back In Paris would feature on the 1981 compilation LP Action – The Best Of Streetheart, and Paul Dean would include a new version of “Action” on his 1988 solo album – Hard Core. The original Streetheart reunited in August of 1993, and a live recording from this was later released as One Night One Take. Streetheart carried on after the passing of Kenny Shields in 2017 (RIP), with founding members Sinnaeve and Gutheil, along with longtime guitarist Jeff Neil and drummer Chris Sutherland, and singer Paul McNair (Harlequin).

Streetheart With WEA
Gary Muth has announced the signing of Regina -based group Streetheart to WEA Canada for a long-term recording agreement.
In conjunction with the signing, it was announced that Don Valley Music Ltd. will be the sole publisher of all compositions written and recorded by the band, who will enter the studios shortly to record their first
album, with George Semkiw producing. (CashBox, 10, 08, 77)

MEANWHILE BACK IN CALGARY: Streetheart must be one of the
brightest lights to shine here in the north. The act is currently in the midst of a cross country tour to promote their debut album, “Meanwhile Back In Paris.” Their 12″ EP, with slick cover art and even slicker HM licks inside, managed to turn some heads and airplay on this act is a natural. Contained in “Just For You” is the sound of a beer bottle smashing, captured so well that heads invariably turn to spot the clumsy goof who dropped it. Worth hunting for. – (Record World, 07,01,78)

STREETHEART MEANWHILE BACK IN PARIS/Atlantic KCA 92002
A beat set in a drone stresses the bottomy nature of Streetheart. Their tunes are O.K., the best of them being ” Pressure.” Streetheart rocks steadily. A fine instrumental called “Captain Rhythm” graces side two. Merit. (Walrus Magazine, 03,12,79)

HOW DO YOU CALL YOUR LOVER BOY: Paul Dean has been carving an excellent reputation as a guitarist on the prairies with his contributions to both Scrubbalo Caine and Streetheart. Now comes news that he’s teamed up with former Hammersmith and Moxy vocalist Mike Reno for a new hard rock act, Lover Boy. Teaming up to handle management are Bruce Allen (of BTO and Prism fame), who runs a west coast booking agency, and Lou Blair, owner of the Calgary club, The Refinery, where Doucette recorded a live number for his latest album. Blair also handled management for former CBS act Fosterchild. (RecordWorld, 07, 28, 79)

LINKS:

http://www.streetheart.ca

https://www.facebook.com/streetheartofficial/

http://www.twitter.com/Streetheartband

https://www.kenspidersinnaeve.com/

Streetheart: One Night One Take. From The Vaults – The Original Lineup Captured In Concert

CONEY HATCH Release Brand New Track from upcoming Live album!

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It’s been a decade since veteran rockers Coney Hatch, a band renowned as one of Canada’s hardest rocking exports, have released a new studio recording. So the arrival of the band’s brilliant new single “It’s About A Girl” is genuine cause for celebration! Even more so since it comes on the eve of the band’s triumphant return to the stage at the Sweden Rock Festival as well as the announcement about a forthcoming live album, Postcard From Germany. Fans of the band have been anxiously awaiting an official concert recording of the group, after all it’s the band’s captivating live shows which earned them a place on tours with everyone from Judas Priest to Iron Maiden to Peter Frampton to Cheap Trick and many more back in their ’80s heyday!

Today, however, the band proudly introduces a new studio recording, and like all great rock songs, it’s about a girl. Women have been powerful figures throughout history; we idolize and woo them; we emulate and pursue them. That’s the story behind “It’s About A Girl,” the new single with a soaring melody, a punchy rock track, and an insanely catchy hook. This is what Coney Hatch sounds like in 2023!

Stream/download the single: https://orcd.co/coneyhatch_itsaboutagirl

While the new single premieres today on all digital platforms, it will also be featured on the band’s forthcoming Postcard From Germany, released under EX1 Records and Cleopatra Records under their new collaboration, which Andy Curran, Coney Hatch’s co-lead vocalist and bassist, is as excited about as the fans, saying “We’ve always taken a lot of pride in our live show, so finally releasing a live Coney Hatch record after many decades together is a bucket list check mark for us. We’re equally thrilled that the record includes 2 new studio tracks and to hit the road this summer!”

Postcard From Germany will be available everywhere August 11 on digital and on a special limited edition CD hand-signed by the band!

Order the CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/coney-hatch-postcard-from-germany-cd/

TRACK LIST:
1. It’s About A Girl (Studio Recording)
2. Heaven’s On The Other Side (Studio Recording)
3. We Got The Night
4. Stand Up
5. Blown Away
6. Boys Club
7. She’s Gone
8. This Ain’t Love
9. Wrong Side Of Town
10. Girl From Last Night’s Dream
11. Fantasy
12. Fallen Angel
13. Don’t Say Make Me
14. Devil’s Deck
15. Monkey Bars

Links:

http://www.coneyhatch.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063052548185

Canadian Prog-Metal Exports ONI Debut New Single, Feat. Jared Dines

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Canadian progressive-metal luminaries ONI have unleashed a ferocious new single, “Silence In A Room Of Lies” (feat. guitarist Jared Dines), a volatile, metallic anthem with a torrential onslaught of groove-laden riffs threaded with infectious melody.

Commenting on the new single, Jake Oni states:  “I’m super stoked to share my new song Silence in a Room of Lies! This track is the first step in a new direction for ONI musically. This is just a taste of what’s to come and I hope my fans enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Writing with Jared Dines was an absolute pleasure and his contributions brought this song to a whole new level.”

Dines adds:  “I am very proud of the song we were able to write together, and I’m excited that the world can finally hear it! Jake is the coolest dude and working with him was an absolute pleasure!“

Produced by Josh Gilbert (former As I Lay Dying, current Spiritbox bassist) and Joseph McQueen (Bad Wolves, As I Lay Dying).

Stream the single – https://bfan.link/silence-in-a-room-of-lies

LINKS:

http://www.theoniband.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheOniBand

THE DAMN TRUTH release new single / video, Announce UK tour dates

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Psychedelic Montreal four-piece rock and roll band, The Damn Truth, have released their new single and accompanying music video, “Lonely.”

“The song Lonely started taking shape in our touring van as we began a cross Canada tour,” says TDT’s lead singer, Lee-La Baum. “Three days into that journey, our van went up in flames with our acoustic instruments, personal belongings and our hopes to continue our long-awaited tour.”

Continues Lee-la, “We put together a GoFundMe campaign so that we could rent wheels that would take us and our trailer of stage gear home. 24 hours later there was an incredible amount of money in our account. It was enough to buy a new van, clothes, and rent the gear to continue our tour. It was the beginning of our love affair with the incredible hearts and souls that make up our rock n roll community.”

“After the tour, we started recording demos for the songs that would later become Now or Nowhere. ‘Lonely’ was one of the first songs we sent to Bob Rock, but it was originally called ‘Needs Help.’ It was just an acapella vocal line because, after the van fire, which was the way we were playing it on tour. It was an ode to our fans that saved us from being lonely and stranded on the highway.”

“Bob fell in love with the song right away and told us not worry; that Tom should just try to play a guitar lick along with the vocal melody and the rest would all fall into place in the studio. That’s exactly what happened. Bob walked into the live room and said, ‘The whole song is there, just play it.’ With his masterful, skillful ear and delicate direction, within two hours the song was recorded. Done.”

“Lonely” dovetails The Damn Truth’s summer concerts in the UK throughout July. The band will play a series of headline concerts and will also play Steelhouse Festival on Saturday July 29th. Tickets for the band’s July headline concerts are available from TheGigcartel.com

The Cold Stares will support The Damn Truth at London O2 Islington Academy 2 on July 21st. Empyre will support the band on all other dates, except Sheffield Greystones on June 30th, where support will come from Zac and the New Men and Tessio.

The Damn Truth are Lee-La Baum (vocals, guitar), Tom Shemer (guitar), PY Letellier (bass) and Dave Traina (drums).

They play London, O2 Islington Academy (July 21), Shoreham Ropetackle (July 22), Blackpool, Waterloo (July 23), Leicester Musician (July 25), Buckley Tivoli (July 27), Leek Foxlowe Arts (July 28), Steelhouse Festival (July 29), Sheffield Greystones (July 30), and Milton Keynes, The  Stables (August 1).

SUMMER 2023 UK TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
*THE COLD STARES AND **EMPYRE
***ZAC AND THE NEW MEN & TESSIO

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THEGIGCARTEL.COM 

photo – Mikael Theimer 

In 2021, The Damn Truth released their critically acclaimed album Now or Nowhere. Produced by the legendary Grammy Award-winning Bob Rock, the album is available from www.thedamntruth.com.

No stranger to UK radio, The Damn Truth have had three singles from the Now Or Nowhere album playlisted on Planet Rock. These include – “This Is Who We Are Now,” “Tomorrow,” and “Only Love.” “This Is Who We Are Now” was played on BBC Radio 2’s Rock Show with Johnnie Walker. On several occasions, the band won Tracks of the Week on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound.

“The Damn Truth are a fresh revivalism of the psyche music scene from the mid-60s,” says Jeff Laufer, editor Rock Bands of LA. “Critics and fans praise their regeneration of the hard rock sound and values.”  Continues Jeff, “Bob Rock found a spirit within the band that he hadn’t experienced for many years. “He saw something special… an artist with burning talent that needed the right direction to break wide open… like lightning in a bottle.”

Six tracks on the new album Now or Nowhere were produced by legendary Grammy Award winning Bob Rock (Metallica, Kingdom Come, Bryan Adams, The Cult, …) at Bryan Adams’ recording studio “The Warehouse” in Vancouver.

They sold out the legendary Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles and the Corona Theatre in their hometown of Montreal. One of their music videos was featured on the official Janis Joplin Facebook page. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

photo – Robert Sutton
photo – Marty Moffat

LINKS:

http://www.thedamntruth.com

https://thedamntruth.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thedamntruth

https://www.youtube.com/@thedamntruthtube/featured

DEAD QUIET release new single from upcoming album

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Vancouver-based progressive proto-metal merchants DEAD QUIET share the final single taken from their forthcoming full-length “IV”, due out June 9th on Artoffact Records. Stream “Dying To Live Again” now!

The wait is ALMOST over. Last but definitely not least, Dead Quiet has delivered the final single from their quickly approaching album. While every single from this album has had its own reason to get you pumped up for the release, “Dying To Live Again” is indisputably the perfect last single to preface the full-length. Every element of this song screams “give me more” and leaves you not simply wanting, but needing more.

On the single, frontman Kevin Keegan comments: “We love writing long songs and we spared no expense with this one. The various movements in this song oftentimes remind me of musical theatre. I know that’s not a very heavy metal thing to say, but shit, we are a bunch of geeks.”

*Check out “Dying To Live Again” on all streaming platforms

DEAD QUIET:
Kevin Keegan – guitar & vocals
Brock MacInnes – guitar
Michael Grossnickle – bass
Michael Rosen – keyboards, vocals
Jason Dana – drums

DEAD QUIET links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify

Canada’s DEAD QUIET release new single from next album ‘IV’

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Dead Quiet’s new single “Leave The Light On” is a ballad, with a southern feel. Great guitars in this. Check out some of the band’s other new tracks from the upcoming ‘IV’ album , cool heavy guitars, and organ. (*For more info, check out the press release after this, and links below!)

Vancouver-based metal mercenaries DEAD QUIET have shared the latest single and video for their track, “Leave The Light On,” from the forthcoming full-length “IV” – out June 9th via Artoffact Records!

Joined by Marin Patenaude and Becky Black (Pack AD) on vocals, and Matt Kelly (City and Colour) on slide guitar, Dead Quiet’s infectious new track follows the album’s previously released, “No Gods, No Gold,” “High Roads,” and “The Hanging Man.” Each single takes listeners on their respective journeys with a soundtrack full of bluesy keyboard riffs and raspy, catching vocals, leaving them itching for the next track to drop – a wait that ends today!

Listen to the single on Spotify, Bandcamp and Apple Music

On the single, vocalist Kevin Keegan comments: “Leave the light on is by far the saddest song we ever wrote. We had some very good friends pass away and we pay tribute to them with this one. It is definitely a ballad, but who doesn’t love a good ballad?“

Their new album “IV” will follow September 2020’s “Truth and Ruin”, which was a favorite of Exclaim! Magazine, Beatroute, V13, and more – reaching #1 on the National Canadian Campus Radio (Loud) and also being featured on CBC Rock Canada. On the new album, Keegan says “This, our 4th album, feels like the most fully explored of any of them. We really arranged everything as a group and it has the most character because of that. It’s definitely an adventure.” Listen to previous singles “The Hanging Man“, “High Roads“, “The Hanging Man” and “No Gods, No Gold“.

Forming in 2014, Dead Quiet established themselves quickly with the release of their debut self-titled record in 2015. By the time writing commenced for their follow-up record, Grand Rites in 2017, Dead Quiet had found their perfect lineup in Kevin Keegan (Barn Burner), Brock MacInnes (Anciients), Mike Grossnickle (Hashteroid) and Jason Dana. The release of Grand Rites on Toronto’s Artoffact Records was followed by two European tours, one of which being direct support for John Garcia (Kyuss), as well as numerous festival appearances including Desertfest Belgium and Into the Void (NL), further cementing the band as one to watch out for.

After a rigorous year of touring, the band had no intention of slowing down and swiftly entered the studio to record their third record: “Truth and Ruin”. Again teaming up with Artoffact, “Truth and Ruin” saw the addition of Mike Rosen to the band and further broadened the already keyboard-laden sound they’d established on previous efforts. Released in 2020 on Artoffact Records, “Truth and Ruin” proved that work ethic and chemistry can truly refine a band’s sound to what they had always been striving for: heavy instrumentation combined with rich melody and uniquely personal lyricism, making Dead Quiet one of the hottest, must-see bands on the Canadian landscape.

DEAD QUIET is:
Kevin Keegan – guitar & vocals
Brock MacInnes – guitar
Michael Grossnickle – bass
Michael Rosen – keyboards, vocals
Jason Dana – drums

DEAD QUIET links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify

APRIL WINE: founding member Ritchie Henman writes his story

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Ritchie Henman was a founding member of legendary Canadian band April Wine. Formed in 1969 by Ritchie (drums), brother David (guitar, vocals), cousin Jim Henman (bass), and Myles Goodwyn (guitar, vocals). The band moved from Nova Scotia to Montreal early on with the hopes of landing gigs and a record deal, on the basis of a misunderstood response from a well known promoter. Ritchie and David Henman wrote and played on the first 3 albums, before leaving the band and moving on to other projects. In that time April Wine made an impact on the Canadian charts with such hits as “Fast Train”, “Could Have Been A Lady”, “Bad Side Of The Moon”, and “Drop Your Guns”. Ritchie also played on the excellent album by Cruiser – Rollin’ With The Times, from 1980.

Anyway, after all these years Ritchie Henman has written his own story in the newly released – High Adventure – Tales Of Canadian Rock & Roll Survival, which details his earliest days in Novav Scotia to his days as the original drummer in April Wine as the band was gaining popularity early on. On to the band The Dudes, Cruiser, and others, on to (presumably) his post-rock days.

High Adventure – Tales Of Canadian Rock & Roll Survival is available on Amazon, as well as the publisher’s site. For more info check out the links below.

*There will be a book launch for High Adventure, with Ritchie, at the Dorval Library on May 17. Go to http://www.ritchiehenman.com for more info and to register.

LINKS:

http://www.ritchiehenman.com

https://www.pottersfieldpress.com/