I bought a bunch of songs by the Canadian prairie band, Streetheart, a couple of weeks ago. Now, every time I listen to them, I’m transported back to Currie Gym, when, as students at McGill, some buddies and I went to a dance featuring the band.
I was a fan then and, after recently downloading the Streetheart songs I remember from the late seventies and early eighties, I discovered I’m still a fan!
Streetheart’s “Under My Thumb” remains my favorite version of the Stones’ classic song!
The band earned six gold albums, four platinum albums, a gold single and a Juno Award, yet another reflection of my good taste in music!
I hate climbing into my time machine. Feeling nostalgic and dismayed over the lightning-fast passage of time rarely proves to be an enjoyable experience but, in the case of Streetheart, I can’t resist; besides, when you crank their tunes up loud enough, wistful nostalgia is punted aside in favor of the urge to flat-out rock!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Morning Twist
He was in our studio a few weeks ago, eloquently promoting McHappy Day! I’ve met the diving sensation before and, as usual, Alexandre was a pleasure to interview. He just happened to be at our studio on, as Camille pointed out, “No Socks Day” and he happily lifted his leg to show he was celebrating appropriately!
Having already heard rumors, I peppered him on-air with questions, prompts and provocations in the hopes Despatie might spill the beans on our show, but to no avail! The beans were spilled today, as we learned one of Canada’s greatest athletes is changing platforms.
Quebec’s anglophone community certainly wins, with two Montreal-based English language morning shows. Communities are being connected and that’s wonderful news! Quebec’s anglophone community is being connected with francophones and francophones are being connected with anglophones and, of course, anglos are being connected to each other.
All of it promotes communication, understanding and unity; we hope, essential ingredients in Quebec's quest to keep moving forward.
Having already heard rumors, I peppered him on-air with questions, prompts and provocations in the hopes Despatie might spill the beans on our show, but to no avail! The beans were spilled today, as we learned one of Canada’s greatest athletes is changing platforms.
Quebec’s anglophone community certainly wins, with two Montreal-based English language morning shows. Communities are being connected and that’s wonderful news! Quebec’s anglophone community is being connected with francophones and francophones are being connected with anglophones and, of course, anglos are being connected to each other.
All of it promotes communication, understanding and unity; we hope, essential ingredients in Quebec's quest to keep moving forward.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
No Mistake Here
Since I was a young child, music has been my therapy, recreation and salvation.
Up or down, music has put me back on track and keeps me there.
I thrive writing it, performing it, listening to it and observing its performance. I’ve performed as part of an orchestra, combo, duo and as a solo artist. I’ve had the honor of singing national anthems in front of hundreds and tens of thousand of people. As a musician, I’ve experienced attention, appreciation, standing ovations, adulation and I’ve basked in one of the great life fuels – applause.
I owe music so much.
Even now, privileged to be working in television in an incredibly vital city, I am committed to exposing music to people and people to music! Up until now, our new morning show has travelled to musicians in order to tape musical segments with Effusion A Capella, MIJF Blues Camp, Paul Deslauriers and Dawn Tyler Watson.
We have not yet had artists perform in our morning show studio, but, my boss, Karen, vows it’s a goal toward which we are working.
To that end, a few Global Montreal musicians, Paul, Alain, Phil and myself, jammed in the morning show studio yesterday so our directors could put our equipment and themselves to the test, with a view to having more acts perform on our show.
By all accounts, the test went well!
Whether it’s John Paul Jones, John Densmore, Ben Harper, the Appice brothers (see last blog), Walter Rossi, Chubby Checker or Judi Richards, who I listened to when she was singing with Toulouse, working in the media has afforded me the opportunity to meet and speak with so many great musicians!
Yesterday, I met Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and, through Global Montreal, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Brightman (see "Dazzling Diva" April 20, 2013) and Steve Hill (see "Stellar Steve" June 8, 2012).
Many of the friends I had in college, have gone on to impressive music careers and it’s been fun interviewing them on various occasions! The exception would be Ron wrestling a necktie over my head as I interviewed him at the beginning of April! Lol
I’m eager to go back into the recording studio in early August to record some new songs.
It was Nietzsche who commented, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
No mistake here.
Up or down, music has put me back on track and keeps me there.
I thrive writing it, performing it, listening to it and observing its performance. I’ve performed as part of an orchestra, combo, duo and as a solo artist. I’ve had the honor of singing national anthems in front of hundreds and tens of thousand of people. As a musician, I’ve experienced attention, appreciation, standing ovations, adulation and I’ve basked in one of the great life fuels – applause.
I owe music so much.
Even now, privileged to be working in television in an incredibly vital city, I am committed to exposing music to people and people to music! Up until now, our new morning show has travelled to musicians in order to tape musical segments with Effusion A Capella, MIJF Blues Camp, Paul Deslauriers and Dawn Tyler Watson.
To that end, a few Global Montreal musicians, Paul, Alain, Phil and myself, jammed in the morning show studio yesterday so our directors could put our equipment and themselves to the test, with a view to having more acts perform on our show.
By all accounts, the test went well!
Whether it’s John Paul Jones, John Densmore, Ben Harper, the Appice brothers (see last blog), Walter Rossi, Chubby Checker or Judi Richards, who I listened to when she was singing with Toulouse, working in the media has afforded me the opportunity to meet and speak with so many great musicians!
 |
| Johnny Reznik of The Goo Goo Dolls |
Many of the friends I had in college, have gone on to impressive music careers and it’s been fun interviewing them on various occasions! The exception would be Ron wrestling a necktie over my head as I interviewed him at the beginning of April! Lol
I’m eager to go back into the recording studio in early August to record some new songs.
It was Nietzsche who commented, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
No mistake here.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Drum Interview Snared
At first, I thought I was the goat in a skit by Abbott & Costello, but Carmine and Vinny were perfectly serious! They’re brothers with the same last name, pronounced differently!
Carmine Appice pronounces his last name, “apiece”. Vinny Appice pronounces his name “AH-pissy”, like “apathy”. They told me their brother Frank Appice pronounces his last name, “AH-peachy”.
Between the two of them, the drumming brothers have played with such rock greats as Edgar Winter, Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Black Sabbath, Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Rick Derringer, Ted Nugent, Dio, Heaven & Hell and Cactus!
Uh, impressive a bit.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the Appice boys this week! As a young drummer, I would always take time to read the album jacket to see who was drumming on the records I bought. Carmine’s name was often listed.
They were in town to promote their touring show, “Drum Wars”, which features drum battles, solos and music from both of their careers.
While Vinny points out Carmine was the type to throw televisions through windows while out on tour, he says he was more likely to toss his ipod through a window.
After reading an article in which drummers Liberty de Vito and Kenny Aronoff talked about their drum-related injuries, I asked Carmine and Vinny, off-camera, about career-related aches and pains. Both admitted to serious shoulder problems and rotator cuff surgeries. Carmine, who wrote such hits for Rod Stewart as “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Young Turks”, confessed he no longer mounts his cymbals up high and has lowered them to a more physically manageable height.
As they were leaving the studio, I mentioned I was a drummer. Carmine asked if I could play “Wipeout” and when I assured him I could, they both invited me to go up on stage during their show to play.
Interviewing Carmine and Vinny was great fun and, from a drummer’s point-of-view, getting to meet them was a smashing stroke of luck!
Carmine Appice pronounces his last name, “apiece”. Vinny Appice pronounces his name “AH-pissy”, like “apathy”. They told me their brother Frank Appice pronounces his last name, “AH-peachy”.
Between the two of them, the drumming brothers have played with such rock greats as Edgar Winter, Rod Stewart, John Lennon, Black Sabbath, Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Rick Derringer, Ted Nugent, Dio, Heaven & Hell and Cactus!
Uh, impressive a bit.
 |
| Carmine (left) and Vinny Appice |
They were in town to promote their touring show, “Drum Wars”, which features drum battles, solos and music from both of their careers.
While Vinny points out Carmine was the type to throw televisions through windows while out on tour, he says he was more likely to toss his ipod through a window.
After reading an article in which drummers Liberty de Vito and Kenny Aronoff talked about their drum-related injuries, I asked Carmine and Vinny, off-camera, about career-related aches and pains. Both admitted to serious shoulder problems and rotator cuff surgeries. Carmine, who wrote such hits for Rod Stewart as “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Young Turks”, confessed he no longer mounts his cymbals up high and has lowered them to a more physically manageable height.
As they were leaving the studio, I mentioned I was a drummer. Carmine asked if I could play “Wipeout” and when I assured him I could, they both invited me to go up on stage during their show to play.
Interviewing Carmine and Vinny was great fun and, from a drummer’s point-of-view, getting to meet them was a smashing stroke of luck!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Call Me Crazy
I refuse to accept the notion that “degrees” cannot be used when referring to the humidex! I hope someone is good enough to notify Edward Lear; nonsense runs rampant within our meteorological service!
Clearly, we invented humidity! The humidex was used in Canada before anywhere else in the world. The current formula was developed in 1979 by two scientists at Canada’s Atmospheric Environment Service. It allowed scientists to calculate what the temperature feels like to the average person once the effects of heat and humidity are taken into consideration.
Jessica, our weather specialist, got all preachy and finger-waggy last week as she argued the humidex is unit-less! It feels "like 40", she insisted, it cannot be and never will be, 40 “degrees”! There are no “degrees” of temperature when referring to the humidex! Almost vehemently, I argued, persisted and whined for good measure. She suggested, simply, I let it go.
Let it go.
I can’t!
Let it go.
I can’t!
If the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius and the calculated humidex is 40, then that, to me, means the humid heat feels approximately like a dry temperature of 40 “degrees” Celsius!
Hello!
What else is there; 40 used tissues, 40 cows under trees? Of course in Canada it refers to degrees Celsius! I urge you, end the masquerade!
Call me crazy!
If I hear a number mentioned with the humidex, it obviously means “degrees”! There’s no point mentioning a number if it’s attached to nothing and is not calibrate-able! There is nothing else BUT degrees! Aargh! I’m afraid that logic defines the limits of my tiny universe.
Apparently, there are descriptive phrases associated with the unit-less humidex numbers! Less than 29 means “little or no discomfort”. Between 30 and 34, means “noticeable discomfort”, while a humidex of between 35 to 39, means “evident discomfort”. A humidex of between 40 and 45, means “intense discomfort, avoid exertion”, above 45 means “dangerous discomfort” and above 54, means “heat stroke likely”.
It actually reached 53 in Carman, Manitoba in July 2007! Yuck!
As we all know, summer forecasts in Montreal are humidex-heavy! When I hear the humidex number, like the wind chill in winter, I hear “degrees” after it! It's understood. I can’t help it and it’s not likely to change. It’s the only way I can relate to the number. Without the “degrees”, the number is capital “P”, pointless! Don’t even talk to me about humidex number if we can’t talk “degrees”! Where humidex is concerned, I’m done with numbers! I’ll make do with descriptive phrases, thank-you.
If you mention a number, brace yourself, I will be forced to cluck and squawk!
Three steps after I’m out the door on humidex days, I break into an intensifying sweat and my clothes begin clinging to my odor-enhanced frame. No, not my favorite weather.
The idea that “degrees” cannot be mentioned when referring to humidex makes zero sense! The applicable descriptive term for "zero sense" would be, “dripping with stupidity”.
Clearly, we invented humidity! The humidex was used in Canada before anywhere else in the world. The current formula was developed in 1979 by two scientists at Canada’s Atmospheric Environment Service. It allowed scientists to calculate what the temperature feels like to the average person once the effects of heat and humidity are taken into consideration.
Jessica, our weather specialist, got all preachy and finger-waggy last week as she argued the humidex is unit-less! It feels "like 40", she insisted, it cannot be and never will be, 40 “degrees”! There are no “degrees” of temperature when referring to the humidex! Almost vehemently, I argued, persisted and whined for good measure. She suggested, simply, I let it go.
Let it go.
I can’t!
Let it go.
I can’t!
If the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius and the calculated humidex is 40, then that, to me, means the humid heat feels approximately like a dry temperature of 40 “degrees” Celsius!
Hello!
What else is there; 40 used tissues, 40 cows under trees? Of course in Canada it refers to degrees Celsius! I urge you, end the masquerade!
Call me crazy!
If I hear a number mentioned with the humidex, it obviously means “degrees”! There’s no point mentioning a number if it’s attached to nothing and is not calibrate-able! There is nothing else BUT degrees! Aargh! I’m afraid that logic defines the limits of my tiny universe.
Apparently, there are descriptive phrases associated with the unit-less humidex numbers! Less than 29 means “little or no discomfort”. Between 30 and 34, means “noticeable discomfort”, while a humidex of between 35 to 39, means “evident discomfort”. A humidex of between 40 and 45, means “intense discomfort, avoid exertion”, above 45 means “dangerous discomfort” and above 54, means “heat stroke likely”.
It actually reached 53 in Carman, Manitoba in July 2007! Yuck!
As we all know, summer forecasts in Montreal are humidex-heavy! When I hear the humidex number, like the wind chill in winter, I hear “degrees” after it! It's understood. I can’t help it and it’s not likely to change. It’s the only way I can relate to the number. Without the “degrees”, the number is capital “P”, pointless! Don’t even talk to me about humidex number if we can’t talk “degrees”! Where humidex is concerned, I’m done with numbers! I’ll make do with descriptive phrases, thank-you.
If you mention a number, brace yourself, I will be forced to cluck and squawk!
Three steps after I’m out the door on humidex days, I break into an intensifying sweat and my clothes begin clinging to my odor-enhanced frame. No, not my favorite weather.
The idea that “degrees” cannot be mentioned when referring to humidex makes zero sense! The applicable descriptive term for "zero sense" would be, “dripping with stupidity”.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Dazzling Diva
I’ve interviewed some rather prominent sports figures, including Michael Phelps and Wayne Gretzky. I had the pleasure of interviewing John Grisham and William Shatner. In the music world, I’ve interviewed John-Paul Jones and John Densmore, who sent me a signed drum skin afterward.
My interview yesterday with Sarah Brightman was among the most exciting I’ve done! The world’s biggest-selling soprano was in Montreal, promoting her eleventh studio album, titled, “Dreamchaser”.
I learned her immense talent is only outdone by her gracious demeanor.
Credited with pioneering the classical crossover genre, Sarah Brightman has performed with such international musical stars as Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. She sang at the Beijing Olympics before an estimated worldwide audience of 4 billion people.
The original cast album of Phantom of the Opera, which, of course, included Sarah Brightman, is the biggest selling cast album of all time, having gone six times platinum in the US, nine times platinum in Germany and 21 times platinum in Korea.
Her new album reflects her fascination with space.
In Houston, she received medical clearance to begin training as a cosmonaut, with a view to visiting the International Space Station in 2015. When I asked her whether she was looking for anything up there in space, she explained she wants to see the planet from a different perspective. She believes that if everyone had the chance to see how beautiful and delicate our planet is, “We’d look after everything more and actually take care”.
She's about to launch a new world tour which will bring Sarah Brightman back to Montreal for a show in mid-September! She spoke enthusiastically about performing and visiting Montreal.
At one point in the interview, I did mess-up the name of her new album. As terrible as I felt, she quickly put me at ease.
She politely agreed to pose for a picture and once the interview ended, she said, getting up from her chair, “Thank-you for the lovely questions”, which made any jitters I might have had - entirely worthwhile!
Listening to her sing, I highly doubt any energy drink gives you wings.
My interview yesterday with Sarah Brightman was among the most exciting I’ve done! The world’s biggest-selling soprano was in Montreal, promoting her eleventh studio album, titled, “Dreamchaser”.
I learned her immense talent is only outdone by her gracious demeanor.
Credited with pioneering the classical crossover genre, Sarah Brightman has performed with such international musical stars as Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. She sang at the Beijing Olympics before an estimated worldwide audience of 4 billion people.
Her new album reflects her fascination with space.
In Houston, she received medical clearance to begin training as a cosmonaut, with a view to visiting the International Space Station in 2015. When I asked her whether she was looking for anything up there in space, she explained she wants to see the planet from a different perspective. She believes that if everyone had the chance to see how beautiful and delicate our planet is, “We’d look after everything more and actually take care”.
She's about to launch a new world tour which will bring Sarah Brightman back to Montreal for a show in mid-September! She spoke enthusiastically about performing and visiting Montreal.
At one point in the interview, I did mess-up the name of her new album. As terrible as I felt, she quickly put me at ease.
She politely agreed to pose for a picture and once the interview ended, she said, getting up from her chair, “Thank-you for the lovely questions”, which made any jitters I might have had - entirely worthwhile!
Listening to her sing, I highly doubt any energy drink gives you wings.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Harry
I think about him every day, every time I hear the word, “cancer”. Every day, I am reminded the disease is out there, lurking. Statistics, stories, research, fund-raisers, they swirl grimly. Every day that I'm reminded, sadly, I remember Harry.
I knew him as Harry Schaffer, radio disc jockey and pal. His real name was Nicholas Fostaty, son of Helen and Gerald Fostaty. He was Debra’s husband and Zack’s proud father.
I remember him bringing his baby son to a gathering we were having at the rock radio station where we both worked. We both drove Hyundai Ponys, his was white, mine was blue. He was sick and hopeful.
As I read my newscasts on his shift, we would lob crumpled paper balls at each other!
We got to the field early one September afternoon in 1987. We were there to play softball for the station team. As we were warming up for the game, Harry snapped this picture of me.
He liked taking pictures.
I don’t remember many of our conversations, but every now and then, he would make a point of telling me he liked my radio commentary and why.
April 18th is Harry’s birthday.
On the twentieth anniversary of his death, his family, Deb and Zack, put his picture in the paper. I cut it out.
Last year, his wife and son wrote, “A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel lucky to have seen it.”
I never told them how much I enjoyed Harry's company.
He’s been gone for 24 years. He was an easy-going, fun-loving, decent guy; the world is short on those and it misses him.
I knew him as Harry Schaffer, radio disc jockey and pal. His real name was Nicholas Fostaty, son of Helen and Gerald Fostaty. He was Debra’s husband and Zack’s proud father.
I remember him bringing his baby son to a gathering we were having at the rock radio station where we both worked. We both drove Hyundai Ponys, his was white, mine was blue. He was sick and hopeful.
As I read my newscasts on his shift, we would lob crumpled paper balls at each other!
We got to the field early one September afternoon in 1987. We were there to play softball for the station team. As we were warming up for the game, Harry snapped this picture of me.
He liked taking pictures.
I don’t remember many of our conversations, but every now and then, he would make a point of telling me he liked my radio commentary and why.
April 18th is Harry’s birthday.
On the twentieth anniversary of his death, his family, Deb and Zack, put his picture in the paper. I cut it out.
Last year, his wife and son wrote, “A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel lucky to have seen it.”
I never told them how much I enjoyed Harry's company.
He’s been gone for 24 years. He was an easy-going, fun-loving, decent guy; the world is short on those and it misses him.
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