Category Archives: Brushes With Greatness

brushes with greatness: chapter 2

“Can you do three features for an insert we’re doing on the roots of Canadian rock music?”

The question was posed by a relic from the past called an arts editor at the Sun. Something to do with a Juno-related retrospective that would run in papers across the country. Or maybe not. What I do recall is that I was given but a few days to put together these feature-length retrospectives on the history of rock and roll in Canada. With first-hand accounts. So time was a factor.

I set about looking up contacts for classic Canadian-Content rockers. I found a few. Not enough to legitimately put together three feature-length pieces, y’understand, but enough to get started. In the end, I offered up an interview I’d done with Les Emmerson about the birth of The Five Man Electrical Band, and which I’d intended to save for another project. But one down. Two to go. Continue reading

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brushes with greatness: chapter 1

Word today has it that KISS will once again grace us with its presence, July 25, at Scotiabank Place. And by KISS, we are talking 50 per cent of the real KISS. For while the rock show will as always be big, original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley have once again not been invited to rock and roll for even part of the night.

So, in honour of those exiled KISS alumni, I present the first installment in a series of true tales from the rock and roll world. First-hand encounters with some of the great musical figures of our time. Or, if not great, then at least pretty darn good. Continue reading

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