Trooper is still touring (see their web site), as is Prism (“Armageddon,” “Spaceship Superstar”). The Spoons have broken up and gone their separate ways, though.
Other Canadian acts we might have seen back then? Martha and the Muffins (“Echo Beach”) have broken up, reformed, used a different name (M + M) for a while, dropped that, and released a new album as recently as 2010. Doug and the Slugs (“Too Bad,” “Makin’ it Work”) have had a few personnel changes, but they still perform. The Stampeders (“Sweet City Woman,” “Carry Me”) may be a little older than these, but even they still occasionally tour. And for those of us who are real fossils, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner recently reunited; Burton Cummings is still around; and some form of Lighthouse appears from time to time.
One band it is unlikely we will ever hear from, much less see again, is Klaatu. Other commitments are keeping their members busy, though they are finding time to remaster their past recordings. And one artist whom we definitely will not see, is BB Gabor (“Moscow Drug Club,” “Nyet Nyet Soviet”), who died in 1990.
My first exposure to Ezra Levant was this month - in a piece expressing his disagreement with a threatened boycott of Canadian oil derived from the Tar Sands, he told the Chiquita Brands International senior vice-president Manuel Rodriguez to ‘go fuck your mother’.
That’s a lasting first impression, but not a positive one, and I can’t say it leaves me thinking we need any more like him.
If that’s the one I’m thinking about – and I’m pretty sure it is as I’ve heard today that it was heading to the Supreme Court – the Superior Court of Quebec has already ruled against the plaintiff, that is, against recognition for de facto spouses, and I don’t see why the Supreme Court would reverse this decision.
(Bolding mine)
What, are all Canadian posters here named after bands I don’t know about? I had no idea any of you was named after a musical group. (Le Ministre de l’au-delà, it should be noted, is actually a song.)
Doug and the Slugs won’t be touring with the original line-up - “Tragically, on October 16, 2004, Canada lost one of its greatest entertainers and songwriters when Doug Bennett passed away in a Calgary hospital.” I’m trying very hard not to make a comment to the effect that he was probably waiting for a surgery here when he died.
No connection to the band The Spoons here, though it is a question I get asked from time to time (to some people, I’m known as “Spoons” in real life too).
You should have a look for some of the above on YouTube, HJ. I’ve given some suggestions for the other bands above, but as far as The Spoons go, you might try “Nova Heart” and “Arias and Symphonies.” It’s typical early-1980s synth-pop, so keep that in mind.
The Superior Court ruled against her entirely, but the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in part, ruling that she had some right to support, but not property division. It’s on appeal to the SCC.
I have the unfortunate privilege of having actually met Mr. Levant and having been peripherally involved in a lawsuit he launched, along with his close personal friend Rob Anders, while the two were still students at the University of Calgary.
Ezra was, for a short period of time, the classified ads editor at the U of C’s student newspaper, The Gauntlet. He was eventually fired from what is without question the easiest paid position on that paper because he spent too much time sitting in the lounge pontificating and not enough time actually working on his one-page section. I was amused, annoyed, and a little disgusted when the guy who couldn’t run a university classified ads section decided to start up his own magazine a few years later.
Then, in early 1993, Levant, Anders and another of their buddies from the Reform Party youth got lambasted in a letter to the editor sent in by a student who was incensed by the sentiments they expressed during a public debate in our student centre. The Gauntlet ran the letter under the very accurate headline, “Levant, Anders and McKinsley spread hate, says reader.” The three kids, with their expensive lawyers and political aspirations in tow, immediately sued The Gauntlet for libel. As I was a member of the editorial staff at the time, I got to deal directly with our lawyer in addressing the libel suit (which was eventually dropped, but only after a lot of money was spent on both sides).
In my experience with Levant, he’s a blow hard, far more interested in media attention and getting paid than in actually making valid points. On the occasions where he actually has something worthwhile to say, I find the message buried under the loads of B.S. and over-the-top antics he brings to the table with him. I’d frankly just as soon slap him 'til he cries than listen to him or read any of his drivel. I have no doubt that his goal is to become Canada’s answer to Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck and he seems to be making quite a lot of money aiming himself in that direction.
I’d also add “Romantic Traffic,” “Tell No Lies,” and “Waterline” as more conventionally radio-friendly Spoons songs.
Platinum Blonde played three cuts from their brand spanking new album in the show on Saturday. Look for it on store shelves next month! Woo Hoo!
Pah to conventional radio-friendliness. Pah, I say! In the early eighties, I was a CFNY snob, with all the fervour of youth. CFNY, the non-conventional, where the spirit of radio lived. It was where I heard Arias and Symphonies, Nova Heart, and all the rest of the glorious revolution of syntho-pop. Nova Heart may have been their most frequently-played song.
Piper clan has fled the - 30 C weather in Saskatchewan. I’m posting from the outdoor table at a Starbucks on Kaua’i. Piper Cub is sleeping on my lap and Mrs Piper is off
shopping. All is good.
Oh, he’ll pay! When it’s Robbie Burns Day next week and he’s eating a haggis with fwckin’ pineapple chunks in it and everybody screams at him to ‘turn that racket off!’ when he so much as puts his pipes together, he’ll see the error of his ways!
Y’know, my grandparents fled Saskatchewan for basically the same reason*, but they didn’t have the sense to go to Hawai’i or Australia or anywhere warm and not too wet… sigh
[sub]*Except for the whole “get a job” part of it[/sub]
stomps snow off boots, sheds winter outerwear, shakes snow off bottom of jeans
Just dug my car out of the pile of snow it was under (it was doing a very believable imitation of a mountain) in order to move it across the street for snow removal tonight. About 20-25cm of the stuff fell last Friday/Saturday.
They are forecasting freezing rain overnight and into tomorrow morning, followed by another 5-10cm of snow tomorrow.
Aloha indeed, mon tabarnac…
grumble grumble
On the plus side, I love watching the snow removal process… silver lining, I guess!
Just fnished up work, so it’s Ski Time! Cross-country night skiing tonight at the end of my street. Yesterday was alpine racing the next block over. Saturday was a trip to upper Minnesota for cross-country skiing and an amazing concert by the Parker Quartet. Friday eveing was lift area telemarking. Thursday evening was alpine racing. And on, and on, and on. I truly love winter, for with it comes my oppotunity to dance down hills and glide through forests. Northern Piper, I trust that you will have a wonderful vacation in Hawaii, but to be honest, if I were there I’d split my time between outrigger surfing and doing the Bill Koch thing – skiing on a beach.
