MySpace a place for friends

In the fall months of 2001, I was approached by Dan Lacasse whom is Jean Lacasse's brother (drummer of Blue Zinc) asking if I was available to record bass on a disc for Nathan Mahl (http://www.myspace.com/nathanmahl) - Dan was Nathan Mahl's drummer at the time. And so I recorded at Subversia Studio, Mahl's 'Heretik Volume 3 - The Sentence' in the winter of 2001. I was given a work disc to learn the music from, went into studio, and played it - I never met the guitar player, or played with any of the players.

This disc is, one 50 minute song bearing fusion, progressive rock and jazz stylings. The CD was released in 02, and once the project was over, I went on my merry way, never playing a note along these guys in a rehearsal room or live. From that point, I continued working with Blue Zinc.

In the early months of 2005, I would receive an email from Guy Leblanc (Nathan Mahl's headmaster) with a proposition; to reform a live version of Nathan Mahl as a 5 piece. US gigs would ensue from this in September 2005.

We are presently recording a conceptual pair of albums primarily focused on 'slavery' and The Book Of Exodus. Volume 1 will be released in early 2008.

After leaving WW, I took some time to build a small studio and experiment further with recording; I was a little burnt out from all the live playing. After about 6 months, I realized that I was missing the live thing and just belonging to a band. So I would then apply for a bass position for a band, now known as Blue Zinc in 1996 - 'I finally got a proper audition ... yayy!'

Blue Zinc consisted of 2x guitars, bass, keys/piano, drums, harmonica, 3x vocalists throughout it's existence, with 2 different drummers, and 2 different guitarists. This started out pretty much like any other cover band I had played for, with one exception ... slowly but surely, originals were trickling in - and so effortlessly. This band didn't gig as often as White Wyne did, but we kept up rehearsals religiously, and with every rehearsal came new songs. Before we knew it, we were 100% original.

During my time with them 2 discs were released:

Self-titled 'Blue Zinc' in 2002 
and
'Read Em' & Weep' in 2006 

After 10.5 years, I would announce my departure in June 2007.

In the spring of 2000 I ran into an old friend of mine by the name of Andy Rochon at a karaoke bar. Andy had a karaoke business and was doing quite well at it. I couldn't help but notice how good a front man he was doing this; and not a bad singer to boot. So I proposed that we put a band together around him that would in principle have strong vocals and mostly cover a country rock style.

I had played with Keith Brake before and found him to be a very solid drummer, and then held auditions for guitar players. Ron Laframboise was my first find; and a great find. He was a traditional telecaster pickin' kinda guitar ..1233.jpg" width="101" height="54" align="right"> player with strong back-up vocals capabilities which very much suited our needs. Mick Lord was the last insert; more of a rock type guitar player, is what we needed to add that edge to our sound. The band would do one afternoon gig and fold thereafter for various reasons.

I would move to Ottawa with my mom and brother in 1988, and got to know the music scene there. I would play in various basement bands, before meeting Steve Hagopian. We didn't know it then, but he & I would share many many stages in the ensuing years (I'll get to that lol).

Steve was already in a pick-up band called Mischief headmaned by John Leblanc who was very capable in keeping his band busy with the various line-ups he had gone through. The funny thing is, I would audition again (Trial By Fire) on stage in a downtown Ottawa pub on a Sunday afternoon to get that job. In this band, I met Duane Forbes whom is to this day, quite honestly, THE drummer that has impressed me the most through the years in a live setting; he's what you might want to call 'a natural'. He nick-named me 'Geezer' and the name stuck through the years - thus explains. Steve & I would continue gigging with Mischief for about a year and half.

We would leave Mischief to form, White Wyne. Being a trio, we knew that our new drummer would have to have vocals which is somewhat rare. Steve knew Bill Dirani from 'The Crayons' whom was a big John Bonham fan, and White Wyne was born.

We would gig together pretty much non-stop from 1988 for 6-7 years. Within that time, we recorded a whopping 4 songs on cassette lol. We just weren't a 'writing' band which was unfortunate because of the strong vocals we collectively had (all lead/back vox). I guess the problem was that we gigged so much, that there was never any time left for writing.

Begun my journey living in Rockland ON Canada.  I tried drums and congas first and was excited on the rhythm aspect, but needed melody, which would then lead me to guitar/bass.  I would woodshed for approximately 2 years, which would then lead me to an audition for a local band called Wizard.  I knew Alain Brazeau from school whom was one of 2 guitar players at the time.  I would audition  right on stage in a small bar in Clarence Creek (small town outside Rockland) filling in for a late cancellation from their bassist; whom would never return.  Guy Lanthier was the band leader/drummer and had helped me tremendously to grow both as a bassist and singer and would also become a good friend.

 I was allowed to introduce some compositions (which we performed live), and given more and more opportunities on vocals as time went on. Wizard was a five piece band which 4 of us had vocal abilities. 

The band would experience some changes after the departure of Michel Major (lead guitarist); which lead to John McDonald (keyboardist), whom would introduce a nice change in the band for the next 6 months or so.

I would gig with them for about 2 years in total, where substance abuse would cause a band break-up.