Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart play themselves; according to the credits of this documentary. That’s a good start for Rush enthusiasts … The film opens with Neil Peart playing a small drum kit backstage. It is hard to imagine Peart playing a small drum kit anywhere. Known more for his mutlti – piece kit. Yet Rush started somewhere and as the three members … Continue reading Rush – Beyond the Lighted Stage; A Review
Original artwork by Rick Keene Continue reading Music and Art …
According to Black Canyon’s bass player; the band would be much more popular if they lived in any other province than Quebec. “This is the hardest place to make a living playing country music.” Says forty-one year old Sylvain.” The market that exists pressures us to play in French. Our love is American country and it is English. We don’t get as many gigs but … Continue reading Black Canyon – Quebec Country Music; American Style
Father and Son; Album Review They say to play the blues well, one must go through hard times. Tommy Falls and his son Derek, live with the memory of someone dear who lived and died through very hard times. Is it any wonder their inaugural album is so good …? Father and Son could be considered a throwback to a different time. An era that … Continue reading The Mother Jones Band! Greatest R and B Band in Montreal …!
My birthday is September 7 … Do the math! A birthday present to myself. Red section at the historic Montreal Forum to witness Ted Nugent. A Ted Nugent who was known as a rock star – not a gun activist. My best friend and I – both fifteen, dragged a Russian with us. His name was Ivan.He was like a stiff board. Seldom displaying emotion, … Continue reading September 6, 1980 – Ted Nugent at the Montreal Forum
After all these years – Mick Jagger hosted Saturday Night Live. Was it good? Was it bad? Any glimpses of grey in the Rolling Stones frontman’s hair? Pressing questions for a rock fan … Keith Richards was once asked;” What’s Mick Jagger really like?” The Stones’ guitarist and decadently wasted human being responded … ” He’s a wonderful bunch of guys …!” Last night – … Continue reading Mick Jagger on Saturday Night Live – A Review
The saga of April Wine commenced with great songwriting. Something that sets Myles Goodwyn apart from most of his Canadian contemporaries except for The Guess Who, Neil Young and Rush. Early songs such as `You Won`t Dance with Me` and `Bad Side of the Moon` led to bigger hits such as `Roller`, Ì Like to Rock` and `Just Between You and Me`. A legacy of linguistic … Continue reading Just Between Jerry Mercer and Me – Part Three
Pierre Senecal, Brian Edwards and Rayburn Blake first met in 1960 in Montreal. Their drummer did not show up one night for a gig, so Jerry Mercer was brought in and ended up joining the band. Brian Edwards quit the band and they continued playing under the names; the Phantoms, Ray Blake’s Combo and the Dominoes. By 1965 they were calling themselves The Triangle. R&B singer Trevor Payne was the singer and … Continue reading Just Between Jerry Mercer and Me – Part Two
It may have been a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday. Do the days of the week matter when the phone rings and a Canadian rock legend is waiting on the other end of the call? The bruises linger from the self – inflicted pinching that took place on my right arm as I took the receiver from my ex and spoke to April Wine’s drummer. I arrived at Mr. Mercer’s home the … Continue reading Just Between Jerry Mercer and Me
So there I was… As I stood in front of a mahogany bar that was painted ever so slightly by the morning sunlight, a smile appeared on my face. I had met some of my childhood idols, enjoyed a lustful evening of rock n roll and was pumped to enjoy a day of waitering. A few dollars in my pocket followed by an evening of blues … what … Continue reading Just Between You and Me – Part Three and a Bit …
‘Say Hello …’ This was not my first venture into the decadent world of groupies, hangers – on and various forms of life. I have been to a Toronto Maple Leaf game after all … I have been fortunate to go backstage at a Jeff Healy, Luba, Offenbach and Michel Pagliaro concert prior to this. Although the above foursome are not exactly the Who , … Continue reading Just Between You and Me – Part Two
Rick Keene Music Scene 