Wednesday, September 16, 1998
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TODAY'S TOP 4 HEADLINES:
John Wesley Chisholm |
Shocking news landed on D.A.M.N.'s desk earlier this week when it was discovered that John Wesley Chisholm, guitarist, chief songwriter and one-time manager of the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra has parted ways with the band on the eve of their major label debut. Chisholm was widely recognized in industry circles as the driving force behind the Halifax swing band, with a large role in booking gigs and handling all publicity, not to mention the songwriting duties and stage direction. Eleven of the fifteen tracks on the combo's new Holiday Romance album (in stores this week) were penned by Chisholm.
"You cannot know how sad I am," Chisholm told the Halifax Herald last week when asked about his departure. "As you know, I've put a little bit of work into this over the last couple of years." Members of the band, including trumpeter Craig Sheppard, have alluded to the fact that John is a new father, and that he wanted to spend more time doing the family thing, but Chisholm refutes that claim, saying "that might be their story, but it's not mine." Meanwhile, a representative at the band's management company Alert Music told D.A.M.N. this morning that the split "was mutual", and was "actually John's decision" based on that old bugbear creative differences. "John wanted to do something else than the direction the band wanted to go in," said Cherie Sinclair. She continued, admitting that while Chisholm had been "very instrumental in developing the band early on", the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra "will not self-destruct", and have in fact already replaced the talented guitarist. The new man on board is Brad Conrad, yet another graduate of the Dalhousie University Music program (bringing the grand total of Dal grads to eight), and he's already played a number of shows since John left.
Chisholm spent some time on the phone with D.A.M.N. this morning from his job in Halifax (he's a television producer for the Discovery Channel and other outlets). "It's true, I am ending my association with the band. I've been unhappy with both certain creative and business-related aspects of the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra for some time, but I stayed on through recording and did the mixing myself in Toronto." The album was recorded at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec, and Chisholm feels the amount of money spent on the project may have been more than was necessary. Agreeing with D.A.M.N.'s assessment of Holiday Romance as "a bit too slick", but remained involved to give it (the album) the best chance to succeed. "I have a vested interest in seeing them do well...I wrote most of those songs, and the ones I didn't, I selected and worked on to make them into Johnny Favourite songs. It's my baby, but it didn't turn out exactly as I hoped." Chisholm is a good-natured person, and obviously very talented at more than just playing music.
"I personally hired every member of that band, and I think I did a pretty good job of it. I've always managed to work with some great people going back to my first band Blackpool" (which featured a young Chris Murphy, incidentally). "I was involved in a really good run, and hopefully I can disentangle myself. I don't think I'm boasting to say that the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra was my idea, and I was very interested in the notion that a swing band could compete as a pop band, while all the time being realistic about the fact that a band is a business. Johnny Favourite sat right on that line where art and commerce meet, and that's the point I'm proud of. We made good music, but we had fun and made money doing it, too."
When asked about future plans, John Wesley Chisholm alluded to his production work with Eco-Nova in Halifax, but also gleefully announced that "I'm buying an antique schooner, and going for a nice long boat ride. After I come back from my sail, I'll probably make some more music. The idea of creating contemporary music with traditional instruments is NOT completely out of my system yet!" D.A.M.N. wishes John all the best on his naval adventures, and looks forward to the release of Holiday Romance (even if it is over-produced)!
It's been another busy week of scuttlebutt surrounding Moncton's The Monoxides, so let's cut to the chase. D.A.M.N. went straight to the source, and contacted Ken Kelley, the band's drummer. This is what he had to say: "Back at the start of August, it was discussed between band members and management about taking a small hiatus. Derek (lead guitar) has been on the road with the Matthew Good Band as guitar tech and PJ (bass) has returned to school until sometime in March. THERE IS / WAS NO BREAK-UP. However, the band WILL NOT be very active in the next while, mainly due to these 2 factors and these factors alone. Last week we played six shows here on the east coast with a replacement guitarist, Marco Rocca, filling in Derek's position, all with Derek's and management's blessing. We've been on a helluva ride the past while and agreed that we all need some time away from band activities. We currently have 15 songs written for a new CD and plan on continuing to possibly write when Derek is finished his commitments sometime after Halloween. No one wanted to feel pressured into writing and we are going to take things at our own pace." There you have the official word from the band themselves...whatever happens in the future, D.A.M.N. will stay on top of the story.
As if spearheading the Lilith Fair, storming the Billboard charts and collecting Grammys and Junos like trading cards wasn't enough, Sarah McLachlan has been guaranteed a spot in the history books with the discovery that she appears in the Starr Report. In case you've been living under a cigar for a year, the Starr Report is the published transcript of the President Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair assembled by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr. It's a sordid collection of damning evidence and graphic details about the sexual relationship between Slick Willy and the White House intern that has the nation contemplating fun political terms like censure and impeachment.
In a note to Clinton from Monica Lewinsky some time in late 1997, the young intern wrote "When I was hiding out in your office for a half hour, I noticed you had the new Sarah McLachlan CD. I have it, too, and it's wonderful. Whenever I listen to song #5, I think of you." Based on when this was written, it's safe to assume that the 'new' Sarah album was Surfacing, which had been released that summer, and that would make song #5 "Do What You Have To Do". D.A.M.N. isn't sure what the most disturbing element of this story is: the fact that something so innocuous might tarnish Sarah's image, or the knowledge that Bill and Monica just ruined that song for a few million people. Of course, with the recent disclosure of what Monica did for Bill during a few phone calls in the Oval Office, Surfacing takes on a whole new meaning...
The Backstreet Boys were forced to cancel a headlining appearance at a Minnesota radio festival Sunday when it was learned that member Howie Dorough's 25-year-old sister had passed away. She died of complications arising from lupus, a failrly mysterious skin disease that is exceptionally difficult to diagnose since its symptoms mirror numerous minor illnesses. Dorough left the city of Shakopee, MN immediately after hearing of his sister's death, and headed home to Raleigh, North Carolina. The show was going to happen as planned, since the Boys have performed as a quartet a few times recently (including a Toronto show last month when A.J. injured himself), but it was decided to cancel and reschedule the event when it became clear Kevin Richardson would be unable to catch a flight from Tampa, Florida in time for their set. Condolences to the Dorough family.
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST ADDED TO MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS
Friend of D.A.M.N. Sean Cordner over at BMG Music Canada gave us the scoop today that A Tribe Called Quest will be performing at the 1998 MuchMusic Video Awards next week. This coincides quite nicely with the release of their new album The Love Movement, and takes a small step towards making up for their no-show at the Beastie Boys concert last month. Tribe are still emboiled in a break-up battle...have they or haven't they? The band say yes, their label says no, but the fact that they are appearing in the Much parking lot suggests that their rhyme ain't done yet. Stay tuned to D.A.M.N. for more info on the Much VMA's.
DOVETAIL JOINT, FILTER, EVERCLEAR, KORN, CANDLEBOX, MACHINE HEAD ONLINE
Tonight on JamTV, Dovetail Joint are performing at 8:00pm. At 8:45 pm, thereÕs Filter, Everclear and Korn interviews. Candlebox perform in a live webcast at 9:15pm, as do Machine Head at 9:45pm. All times are EST.
BILLY SQUIER, MASSIVE ATTACK, DEFTONES, MICHELLE SHOCKED, DUNCAN SHEIK ON THE TUBE
You can start strokin' early this afternoon when Saturday Night Live features Billy Squier in one of them old reruns (COM, 3:00pm). At 4:00, MuchMusic features an interview with Massive Attack (hopefully they wonÕt fall asleep this time). The spotlight is on the Deftones at 7:00pm, and at 9:00pm, Canibus rides his calculated LL slams into DaMix In DaRound. Hank Williams is featured in an A&E Biography at 8:00pm, Michelle Shocked appears on Dharma & Greg (8:00pm, ABC) and Duncan Sheik makes an appearance on 90210 (8:00pm, FOX). Shifting to late-night, another SNL rerun features John Hiatt performing (midnight, COM), Tom Snyder interviews Grace Slick (12:35am, CBS) and Conan has Junior Brown (12:35 am, NBC). All times are EST. For the ultimate guide to rock, check out Rock on TV.
D.A.M.N. is compiled by Mike McCann most of the time.
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"A girl came up to me at EDGEfest and said 'I want to go in the hot tub backstage with all the bands!' And I said, 'No you don't. Nice girls don't go in hot tubs with bands'."
-- Bif Naked shatters myths about the rock and roll lifestyle (there was no hot tub backstage, by the way!)
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