A short film by Richard Corben of the late 1960s, which eventually became one of the highlights in the animated movie Heavy Metal.
The Wilderness Of Manitoba Release New Single And Video ‘The Alchemist’
Today, Toronto band, The Wilderness of Manitoba, release their first single, The Alchemist. The song marks the end of the group’s three-year hiatus and the lead single from their forthcoming new album, Farewell To Cathedral, out October 29 (Popguru Sound & Vision).
Singer/multi-instrumentalist and founder, Will Whitwham, says on the group characterizing themselves as an evolving entity: “I’ve always been a believer in fresh collaborations because everyone you meet influences your creative process in some way. It’s up to you to decide whether they fuel it or stagnate it. In this particular case, the four of us together was the best fit for the current batch of songs.”
For the band, recording the whole album over a mere two days at Revolution Recording in Toronto was completely unprecedented. In the past, Whitwham felt he laboured over a lot of the sonic details, adding overdub after overdub. But for this album, the songs were captured at their most live and purest stage. The results show that, at the end of the day, the quality of the songs is not necessarily contingent on the recording process. See the full track list below.
The lead single, The Alchemist, was produced by Graham Stairs and written about the turn of seasons and the elusiveness of time as it passes. Whitwham says on the track, “It is a song about reflecting upon what one had. The alchemist himself (as the character suggests) is uncertain of whether he can even make silver, let alone gold. There is worry even in hopefulness. He is still drawn to his muse even though she appears to have left as he tries to find her or pieces of her in the sacredness of nature because that’s the closest he feels he can get to her. Lost in dreams and buried in his own sea of thoughts, he seeks to immortalize her memory and spirit.”
On the accompanying seasonally and resonate visuals, also conceived, filmed and edited by Whitwham, he adds, “The Alchemist was filmed in an attempt to depict all four seasons. The video is a snapshot of how I was dealing with and living throughout isolation. Capturing and spending time in nature can be healing in both the best and worst of times. It is also the visual vehicle for illustrating the song’s journey in its ‘passing of time’ over a year.”
In its twelve-year existence, the Wilderness of Manitoba’s strengths come as a direct result of the wealth of traveling and playing the group has done. They have played the End of the Road Festival and Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Festival in the UK and toured the UK, US, Netherlands, Canada and Germany with such artists as Aimee Mann, Lord Huron and Other Lives among others. “The live show,” says Whitwham, “is an in-the-moment portrait of the band and its efforts.” Those efforts were recognized when the Wilderness of Manitoba was nominated for a JUNO and two Canadian Folk Music Awards. Summing things up, Whitwham says, “My eventual hope is that we are able to embark on a proper live tour of the Farewell To Cathedral album in 2021 or 2022 after the much more serious matter of taking care of each other and ourselves as we move out of the pandemic.”
Stay tuned for more from The Wilderness of Manitoba as the story of Farewell To Cathedral unfolds this fall.
Farewell To Cathedral Track List:
1. Oblivion
2. The Well Has Run Dry
3. Sometimes
4. The Alchemist
5. Send Me To The Fire
6. The Ghost Of Abilene
7. Always (Violet Hour)
8. In An Honest Way
9. Lost In Her Ocean
10. Furious Seasons
Bachman Cummings’ ‘The Collection’ Available on October 29
Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are getting ready to launch The Collection, a special edition box set from Guess Who bandmates. The illustrious box set from two of Canada’s most celebrated musicians and songwriters includes five albums from The Guess Who from their 1969 – 1971 period alongside material from both Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Burton Cummings. This 7CD or 7LP set will include and expanded booklet of rare and unpublished publicity, studio and master tape photography and detailed liner notes. Both LP and CD boxes are available for pre-order now.
Bachman and Cummings rose to international fame as members of supergroup The Guess Who. Bachman broke with the band in 1970, forming Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Cummings departed in 1975 for a solo career. The Guess Who laid the groundwork for Canada’s breakthrough songwriting partnership in Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, as the first three albums of the Bachman Cummings Collection – Wheatfield Soul and Canned Wheat, both released in 1969 – and 1970’s American Woman – attest. The Guess Who’s trailblazing run of U.S. chart and sales successes continued with the albums Share The Land and So Long, Bannatyne. With Toronto-born Jack Richardson working his magic in producing Bachman-Cummings’ hook-filled gems for instant radio appeal, The Guess Who became Canada’s first rock star collective.
As songwriters, there was chemistry: from the moment Burton Cummings sat down at the piano with Randy Bachman “Burton and I would get together every Saturday morning at 10 or 11 a.m. and I would play him ideas I had for songs,” Bachman recalls. “We wrote very quickly. No song was a labour. If it didn’t work, we threw it away.”
Often using Beatles or Chuck Berry songs as starting points, the duo employed a healthy rivalry. “The competition between us made us a pretty good songwriting team. We were force-fed many musical styles and that crept into our work,” adds Cummings.
Whether collaborating or through the individual endeavours Randy Bachman like Bachman-Turner Overdrive or Burton Cummings’ collected work, the body of songwriting is arguably among the best of rock n’ roll history.
Of the legacy, Cummings says, “I’ve lived a pretty full life. I’ve been all over the world. And I’ve realized, better than ever, every year that I go out and sing those songs again, it’s more special to the audience, besides being more special to me”.
Bachman adds, “These songs are bigger than us or any differences that we might have had in the past. Getting together to celebrate the songs is a real triumph for us”.
Bachman Cummings The Collection will be released internationally on October 29, 2021.
TRACKLISTING
The Guess Who – Wheatfield Soul
These Eyes
Pink Wine Sparkles In The Glass
I Found Her In A Star
Friends Of Mine
When You Touch Me
A Wednesday In Your Garden
Lightfoot
Love And A Yellow Rose
Maple Fudge
We’re Coming To Dinner
The Guess Who – American Woman
Side A
American Woman
No Time
Talisman
No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature
Side B
969 (The Oldest Man)
When Friends Fall Out
8:15
Proper Stranger
Humpty’s Blues / American Woman (Epilogue)
The Guess Who – So Long, Bannatyne
Side A
Rain Dance
She Might Have Been a Nice Girl
Goin’ a Little Crazy
Fiddlin’
Pain Train
One Divided
Side B
Grey Day
Life In the Bloodstream
One Man Army
Sour Suite
So Long, Bannatyne
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Collected
Side A
Hold Back The Water
Stayed Awake All Night
Let It Ride
Takin’ Care Of Business
Rock Is My Life, And This Is My Song
Side B
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Four Wheel Drive
Hey You
Lookin’ Out For #1
Down, Down
The Guess Who – Canned Wheat
No Time
Minstrel Boy
Laughing
Undun
6 A.M. or Nearer
Old Joe
Of a Dropping Pin
Key
Fairing Warning
The Guess Who – Share The Land
Side A
Bus Rider
Do You Miss Me Darlin’
Hand Me Down World
Moan for You Joe
Share The Land
Side B
Hang On to Your Life
Coming Down Off the Money Bag
Three More Days
Burton Cummings – Collected
Side A
I’m Scared
Your Back Yard
Is It Really Right
Stand Tall
My Own Way To Rock
Side B
Timeless Love
Break It To Them Gently
I Will Play A Rhapsody
Dream Of A Child
Heavenly Blue
Fine State Of Affairs
Toronto’s Budweiser Stage Will Turn Into A Year-round Music Venue With Indoor And Outdoor Shows
Live Nation Canada today officially announced plans to redevelop Budweiser Stage at Ontario Place in Toronto, Ontario into a modern, year-round live music and performance venue with 20,000 outdoor capacity and 9,000 indoor.
The new state-of-the-art amphitheatre will continue to attract world-class artists and provide premiere live entertainment, hosting live music and other events. This demonstrates Live Nation’s support of the Provincial government’s vision to revitalize and redevelop Ontario Place as a premium destination that will attract global visitors through remarkable new attractions.
With sustainability at the heart of the design, the redesigned amphitheatre at Ontario Place will be designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Completed by 2030, the new facility is expected to receive up to 1 million visitors and support more than 900 jobs during events.
“The redevelopment of the amphitheater into a year-round venue will offer fans more opportunities to celebrate the live music experience with their favorite artists,” said Riley O’Connor, Chairman, Live Nation Canada. “We’ve been making memories on Toronto’s waterfront at Budweiser Stage for more than 25 years and we look forward to the next 25 years of music history.”
“Live Nation has made the Ontario Place amphitheatre a landmark entertainment destination for more than 25 years,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “Their plan to redevelop the amphitheatre into a modern, sustainable, year-round indoor-outdoor live music and performance venue will attract more high-profile musical acts and incredible, world-class events than ever before. It will be a great addition to the redeveloped Ontario Place, and its role in supporting Ontario’s social and economic recovery.”
Since opening the doors more than 25 years ago, Live Nation has seen more than 8 million music fans attend a concert at this celebrated venue and make memories that last a lifetime. From the inaugural performance by Canada’s own Bryan Adams on May 18th, 1995, to The Tragically Hip, Billie Eilish, Foo Fighters, Blue Rodeo, Lizzo, Daniel Caesar, Whitney Houston, Arkells, David Bowie, Rihanna, Luke Bryan, Spice Girls, Mumford & Sons, City & Colour and Drake and his OVO Festival, Budweiser Stage has become the definitive summertime destination in Toronto and Canada’s premier outdoor concert venue.
Live Nation Canada, Inc. is the country’s leading live entertainment producer and promoter, offering the best of Canadian and international talent at stadiums, arenas, theatres and club venues across the country. Live Nation continues to be a true leader in the live industry in Canada to help elevate homegrown artists to the world stage.
Live Nation Canada’s growing venue portfolio includes Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Midway in Edmonton, along with Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, Danforth Music Hall, Velvet Underground and History, the newly announced 2,500 capacity venue in Toronto.
Spotify launches new flagship Noteable Releases playlist to showcase Songwriters/Producers
Back in February, Spotify launched its new brand and home for songwriters, producers, and publishers, Noteable, encapsulating Songwriter Credits and Songwriter Pages, Written By playlists, Created By Women playlist, the on-platform Songwriters Hub, The Game Plan and Songwriter Saturdays video series, Spotify Publishing Analytics, and more.
Now, they are expanding the opportunities for this community by launching Noteable Releases, the first-ever flagship playlist on Spotify that will both highlight the collaborative process of making music for big name and emerging artists, as well as create visibility for the artist projects of songwriters and producers. Updating every Friday (and accompanied by features on the Noteable Releases shelf in the Songwriters Hub and Noteable’s IG), the playlist will include releases from songwriters and producers around the world, from household names to up-and-comers and beyond, giving fans an opportunity to discover music through a new lens.
Accompanying the playlist’s launch today are Spotify Clips from Jack Antonoff, Zaytoven, Finneas O’Connell, Madi Yanofsky, and Autumn Rowe. The format features short videos of the artists putting their personal stamp on the playlist experience, shining a spotlight onto the song creation process – giving a voice to these often behind-the-scenes creators in order to help fans learn more about them.
Sonic Reducers: Billie Eilish Releases ‘Happier Than Ever’ And It’s A Classic
Sonic Reducers. One topic. Two music nerds. Five minutes. Join us as we discuss Billie Eilish’s new album Happier Than Ever, marvel at the way she managed to overcome the sophomore slump, and speculate on how many more Grammy Awards she’ll win next year.
Roots & Blues Singer/Songwriter Steve Paul Simms is “Rolling” Along with New Single
He’s “Rolling” down the line now, a freight train headed straight for you… It’s Toronto-based artist Steve Paul Simms and his latest bluesy, grassroots fed cut — available now.
A testament to the charm of Steve Paul Simms, “Rolling” is the latest from the veteran singer/songwriter with more than two decades of legacy to write home about. The third single from his widely acclaimed fourth release, Ingrid and the Messenger Boy, “Rolling” is Simms’ follow-up to his well-loved “No Money Comin’ In” (April, 2021).
“’Rolling’ is a celebration of freedom on the open road, the need to just go, with or without a destination,” Simms explains. “A great driving tune based on a hypnotic guitar riff, it’s a rootsy, bluesy, upbeat tune with acoustic and electric textures.”
Simms enlisted the ever-versatile Bob Cohen on bass and twin electric guitars, complimenting that of his own acoustic picking. With George Morellato’s percussion and Marty Grant on vocal harmony, Simms rounds out the layers of “Rolling” with a twangy harp that mimics a bicycle bell. Ask Steve Paul Simms himself about the tune, and he’ll tell you: “It’s a good song to howl along to.”
“Rolling” finds its place alongside Ingrid and the Messenger Boy. With his penchant for good, old-fashioned storytelling, Simms’ latest concept album is a charming foray into the authenticity of yarn-spinning, the fantasy of fable, and striking the chord between legacy and urban legend.
“Rolling” notches yet another hit in a collection of tunes that invite you to lean into the journey… Ingrid and the Messenger Boy features tributes to a screen legend “Anything with Ingrid,” a classic 1960s songwriter “Goodbye Ellie” and an Ottawa bluesman “Blues for Back Alley John.” There’s also a one-man doo wop group laments the life of a legal “Messenger Boy;” “Te Quiero” celebrates young love without borders; “Karma Makes a Comeback” is a song about consequences.
And “Rolling” captures the lure of an open highway.
The subsequent video is the latest lyric visual created by Fitzfx. Capturing the essence of the record, we’re introduced to the driver of a vehicle we never fully see, but live vicariously through his city nightscape to daytime country-side jaunt. While the destination remains widely unknown, the road trip is marked by experience; a mysterious hitchhiker thumbs a ride, a dancing limberjack/jig doll rear-view mirror ornament resembling Steve Paul Simms. A seagull on a beach.
What the video manages to encompass is the spirit of Simms; a knowing grin, the desire to not take oneself too seriously while managing to deliver on songs that will stay with you for the ride, the campfire, or the next pint at the pub. Simms is a master of his craft; captivating his audience, and utilizing his talent to attract a new generation of fans.
An actor by training, and a musician by trade, Steve Paul Simms is a well-loved and recognized face in his native Toronto’s arts and music community having been featured in more than sixty theatrical productions across Canada. A frequent performer with the Tranzac Club, Simms also boasts more than two decades of live musical performances, between the stage, busking, online and concert hall showcases. To date, he has penned more than two hundred original songs.
On “Rolling”, Steve Paul Simms turns up the charm and tunes out the noise for a day, exploring life without the bustle of whatever has us weighed down and coated in responsibility. We can all let go when we listen to this track; while we sing along to this track. While we get this track – the kind that’s rolling down the track, ready for us to thumb ourselves a ride alongside Steve Paul Simms, Ingrid and of course, the Messenger Boy.
“Rolling” and Ingrid and the Messenger Boy are available now.
MICHELLE CREBER Captures a Picture-Perfect Day with “Feels Like Summer”
Canadian singer-songwriter Michelle Creber is cruising into summer with a fresh pop jam radiating some seriously sunny, positive vibes. “Feels Like Summer” is cruising in a convertible in the warm sunlight along a coastline of glimmering water and under cloudless skies. In other words, it’s paradise — and it’s available now.
A co-write between Creber, Christopher Ward (writer of the smash hit, “Black Velvet”), Luke McMaster, and Arun Chatervelli, “Feels Like Summer” is a delightful mix of crystal-clear vocal harmonies layered over easy, beachy beats.
Enveloped within images of a picture-perfect day sits the hopeful promise of new love, and it’s that feeling of optimism and new beginnings many are keen to relate to right now — regardless of relationship status. “This positive, upbeat jam is meant to celebrate the brighter days ahead and the great summer we all deserve to have in 2021,” the Vancouver-based artist says. “I hope this song sets the mood for a happy and healthy (fully vaccinated) summer!”
COVID and its related isolation didn’t just inspire the song; it also influenced how the song was created with the writing team. “The process was extra challenging because everything had to be done remotely,” Creber says, adding that she engineered all her own vocals in her newly created home studio. “It was a learning curve that involved layers and layers of doubles and harmonies; my Logic file had over 100 vocal recording tracks in it… Crazy!!
“But, we overcame it!”
This single comes on the heels of Creber’s seventh album, Storm, released to widespread industry acclaim in May 2020. The album sold and streamed in more than 130 countries, and earned top-100 placement on both the U.S. and Canadian Billboard charts.
Michelle Creber’s previous albums include 2018’s On Display, which also sold and streamed worldwide with top-100 U.S. Billboard placement; Timeless: Songs of a Century (classic covers); A Creber Christmas (Volumes 1 & 2); and three albums with YouTube star and performing partner Gabriel Brown (aka Black Gryph0n): At Home, Tribute, and the best-selling Getting Stronger.
Rooted in pop with rock and AC influences, Creber’s songs combine smart lyrics with warmth and humour — as well as a sprinkling of irony and grit. She champions the underdog, always hoping to reach fans with a message of positivity, mental and physical health, acceptance, and advocacy for minority groups and the LGBTQ community. Many of her fans are teens and young adults like she is, but her music is relatable for all ages.
And with that, “Feels Like Summer,” this newest single, is guaranteed to evoke the most magical of summers, both past and present, for everyone.
“Feels Like Summer” is available now!
OZZY OSBOURNE’S ‘No More Tears’ To Be Celebrated With 30th Anniversary Digital And Vinyl Editions
More than 30 years after its release, OZZY OSBOURNE’s sixth solo album–the Top 10 (#7) and quadruple platinum NO MORE TEARS will be celebrated with an expanded digital audio album due out September 17 (Sony). Two special editions–a 2LP black vinyl version and a special yellow and red 2LP vinyl version with a specially created booklet (exclusively at www.towerrecords.com)–will be released simultaneously. Pre-order the album here.
In its release, NO MORE TEARS yielded four top ten singles on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart, “Mama, I’m Coming Home” (#2), “Road To Nowhere” (#3), “Time After Time” (#6) and the title track (#10). In addition, the album’s “I Don’t Want to Change the World” earned OZZY his first Grammy for a live version of the track that was featured on his 1993 LIVE AND LOUD album. The Grammy-winning track was one of the album’s four songs co-written with OZZY’s longtime friend and colleague Lemmy Kilmister; the others include “Mama, I’m Coming Home,” “Desire,” and “Hellraiser.” The album has remained an OZZY classic, earning a spot (#22) on Loudwire’s “Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the ’90s” with Ultimate Classic Rock including No More Tears on their list “Top 100 ’90s Rock Albums.”
“I have a lot of great memories of making the album,” OZZY says. “We worked hard on the record with John Purdell and Duane Baron, who became extra two members of the band. Before we went into the studio, we discussed what we were going to do–everything was planned. It’s so nice when you get a producer who’s more like a part of the band than them saying, ’nah, you do it this way.’ Because we write them and when you write the songs, you have a mental picture of how you think you want it to sound. Sometimes you’re surprised for the better, but other times you’re disappointed, but John and Duane did an extraordinary job on the album. It was really, really well done. Every song was worked on for a long time and we spent extra time trying to get things right. But there was also lots of goofing around and we had a good time making it. And Zakk’s playing on it is spectacular.”
Zakk Wylde adds, “On the first record, ‘It was like I can’t believe I’m here. I had definitely crawled into the fire and kept thinking. ‘You gotta produce. You got to come up with some cool stuff.’ On NO MORE TEARS, I guess I was more relaxed. With OZZY, whenever we’re playing riffs, he would be like ‘keep playing that riff.’ Pretty much every time he just gets up there and starts singing what comes to him naturally, he knocks it out of the park all the time. I mean, there’s very, very few times where he’s actually said, ‘No, let me come back to that. I don’t like what I’m singing. I’ll come up with something better.’ Whatever you’re hearing on the record is pretty much first thing he started singing that naturally came out of him, that he started hearing in his head. Which is amazing. My love for him and admiration for him has just gotten even stronger and bigger over the years. It’s bigger than the music. It’s always a good time whenever we’re together, it’s always like it’s a laugh fest, and then making the records is beyond hilarious as well.”
“Mama, I’m Coming Home,” the album’s biggest hit which OZZY co-wrote with Kilmister, started with Zakk at a piano, has gone on to become not only a rock anthem, but a classic song among soldiers.
“At that time, a lot of people were going to Iraq war,” OZZY notes. “We heard that the GIs were sending that song to their wives. Soldiers still love that song.”
“I remember when we were working on the album, I originally wrote ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ on a piano,” Zakk says. “I had the music, and then when we got to the studio, I transposed it to the 12-string guitar. I was like ‘oh let me try it on the 12-string and see what it sounds like.’ That’s how it evolved into the song, originally it was just me and Ozz noodling on the piano.”
The NO MORE TEARS’ expanded digital audio album track listing is as follows:
1. Mr. Tinkertrain
2. I Don’t Want to Change the World
3. Mama, I’m Coming Home
4. Desire
5. No More Tears
6. Won’t Be Coming Home (S.I.N)
7. Hellraiser
8. Time After Time
9. Zombie Stomp
10. A.V.H.
11. Road to Nowhere
12. Don’t Blame Me*
13. Party With the Animals*
14. I Don’t Want To Change The World (demo)**
15. Mama, I’m Coming Home (demo)**
16. Desire (demo)**
17. Time After Time (demo)**
18. Won’t Be Coming Home (S.I.N) (demo)**
19. Mrs J. (demo)**
20. I Don’t Want to Change the World (live)†
21. Road to Nowhere (live)†
22. No More Tears (live)†
23. Desire (live)†
24. Mama, I’m Coming Home (live)††
* bonus tracks currently on the digital album at DSP’s
** demos from the 1991 promo CD The No More Tears Demo Sessions (also the Prince of Darkness box set), not currently at DSP’s
† live audio from Memoirs of a Madman DVD, San Diego 1992, not currently at DSP’s
†† live audio from Memoirs of a Madman DVD, MTV 1992, not currently at DSP’s
Gibson Announces Partnership with Kirk Hammett of Metallica
Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand, has announced an official brand partnership with Kirk Hammett of Metallica, one of the most iconic rock guitarists today. The new partnership will span across Gibson Brands including Gibson and Epiphone guitars.
“It’s a really great and exciting time for me to be joining forces with Gibson,” says Kirk Hammett. “I look forward to achieving great things together in the future.”
“It’s an honor to welcome the icon, the ripper, Kirk Hammett back to the Gibson family,” says Cesar Gueikian, Brand President, Gibson Brands. “Kirk has been carrying the flag for hard rock and heavy metal for decades, and his Gibson guitars have been there with him from the very beginning. From his first Gibson, his 1979 Flying V to ‘Greeny’ and everything in between, Gibson guitars have been an integral part of Kirk’s sound. All of us at Gibson are looking forward to this collaboration and are grateful that Kirk has trusted us to begin a new partnership.”
Born in San Francisco in November 1962, Kirk Hammett quickly found himself obsessed with watching monster movies and reading books and comics. Transitioning through his teenage years meant taking up guitar and teaching himself how to play by ear for hours on end.
In 1979, Kirk Hammett named and founded the metal band Exodus. After recording a three-song demo in 1982, Hammett was called out to New York to audition for Metallica, and by the time Kill ‘Em All was released in July of 1983, he was officially part of the Metallica plan for world domination. Adding his style and passion into the mix helped define and shape the sound of Metallica as they grew into the band they are now, and Hammett’s solos and signature licks have inspired a legion of musicians young and old.
From Hammett’s early sonic experiences with a guitar out of a Montgomery Ward store catalog special, progressing to hitting Hendrix vibes with a ’78 Fender Stratocaster, then moving on professionally to Gibson Flying Vs and Les Pauls, and customized ESP’s. It goes without saying that Kirk Hammett is a guitar geek and has an affinity for anything with six strings including his 1985 Jackson Randy Rhoads Flying V or a frequently played Gibson 59 Les Paul Standard that once belonged to the immortal genius of both Peter Green and Gary Moore – affectionately known and celebrated worldwide as “Greeny.” Now as Metallica celebrates their 40th Anniversary in 2021, Kirk Hammett is ready to let those strings shine once again.