It's growing increasingly common that my perfectly sincere and banal utterances inspire derisive milk out the noses of my colleagues. For instance, yesterday at lunch I said "I was watching Aldo Nova videos last night". What? Well I was.
Let's set the scene! 1982, night, in an abandoned part of the city. A Nerd jealously guards a Les Paul guitar as a pair of sub-machine gun-toting preppies in sunglasses-at-night look around with an exaggerated sense of urgency. It's like 24 in '82. A helicopter alights, safely guarded by these Canadian uzi-preppies. A Man steps out of the chopper - he is about 5'4", 115 lbs, dressed in a skintight jaguar-suit. He is ALDO NOVA (nee Caporuscio), and someone's GONNA PAY! ...just as soon as ALDO and pals can bust into that abandoned rock-arena right over there. When his toadies fail to bust the door down, it falls to ALDO to demand the Les Paul from The Keeper of The Axe. ALDO takes aim... and shoots a guitar laser at the door -- all this before the song has even begun!
Aldo Nova, "Fantasy" (youtube video link)
Aldo Nova today. (pic link, unsuitable for this space)
So yeah, I was watching Aldo Nova videos last night... then I cranked up Red Rider's** "Lunatic Fringe", rocked the tennis-racket guitar to Triumph's** "Fight The Good Fight", and did a few pushups to Loverboy's "Turn Me Loose", before going totally "On The Loose", with Saga. And if you've got a problem with any of this, then Mister, you've got a problem with Canada.
** these bands have never been played on WFMU
Oops...I wrong. Triumph IS heralded above.
Posted by: Dale Hazelton | June 08, 2006 at 07:45 PM
For good Canadian groups don't forget Simply Saucer! They alone make up for all the schlock. And may I remind you that Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell are Canadian? At least they were until they moved someplace warmer. Bent Wind, the Ugly Ducklings, the list just goes on and on...
Posted by: Pinball King | March 15, 2007 at 02:07 PM
The thing I hate with Canadian radio today is that
they seem to have forgotten all the good Canadian
80's bands. I really like Toronto-Headpins-Chilliwack-
The Spoons-April Wine-Coney Hatch-Gowan-Loverboy-Aldo Nova-
Rush-Max Webster-Triumph-Saga-Gary o'-Harlequin-Eddie Schwartz-
The Box-Honeymoon Suite, Too many more to list.
I listen to Q107 here in Toronto and they played Toronto
in the 80's but if you call or email them today & ask them
to play a song from Toronto they say "That music does not
suit our format". All these guys are interested in is playing
all this psychedelic crap from bands that have been dead and
gone forever. (Q107 blows). I had some hope when 92.5
Jack fm came on the air because they were playing all
the bands I listed above, but then they did a format change
& now they suck too. Is there any radio stations that still
play these great 80's Canadian bands ?
By the way Holly Woods of the band Toronto Has a new cd out
entitled "Live It Up" that came out in 2007. It's a great cd
and it's good to know Holly is still touring.
Take care.
Posted by: Bruce. H | July 21, 2008 at 12:36 AM
I just wanted to say that it's a real shame that Toronto area
radio stations don't play too many of the great 80's
Canadian bands. Bands like Toronto, the Headpins, the Spoons,
Aldo Nova, Gary O, Coney Hatch, & so many others.
I think Q107 here in Toronto should play all of the above
mentioned bands. But I guess they would rather play all the
old crap from the 60's & 70's. Not to say there weren't any
great songs in the 60's or 70's but I just think they should
play a balance of music and not forget the Canadian bands
from the 80's. By the way Holly Woods from the band Toronto,
has a new cd out entitled "Live It Up".
Check it out, it's a great cd from a super artist.
Take care & rock on.
Bruce.
yyz@idirect.com
Posted by: Bruce Hale | September 30, 2008 at 01:26 AM