The end of 2011

It's the last day of 2011 and only a few hours to 2012. It's been a hard year for me personally but one thing I can look back on 2011 and remember are good shows. Didn't attend too much but what few I did were all really good. One particular artist I was trying to see was Skrillex. His show was sold out and he even did a smaller gig the same weekend but still could not attend. I'm really hoping I will get a chance to see one of his shows in the new year. The best show this year which ends up on top of best ever was Deadmau5 at The Rogers Centre in November. Below is a mini clip I took while up at the front on the floor. The show was taped and comes out on DVD in January 2012. The visual design team Martin Phillips and John McGuire certainly help out a great deal. Here's an article XL Video – Touring the Deadmau5 and check out the company's site XL Video. 

 

The shows and events 

• Janelle Monae @ Fairmount Royal York Hotel, Saturday March 12th (Bombay Bicycle Club)
• Tommy Wiseau & Greg Sestero screeening of "The Room" @ The Royal, Friday April 22nd 
• The Arctic Monkeys @ Kool Haus, May 21st
• Tim Minchin @ The Winter Garden Theatre, Friday June 3rd
• Beady Eye @ Sound Academy, Monday June 20th (Hippy Mafia)
• Dom @ The Garrison, Tuesday August 9th 
• Fan Expo, Friday August 23rd, meet the lovely and talented Junko Mizuno http://www.mizuno-junko.com/
• John Waters, This Filthy World @ Toronto Underground Cinema, Saturday August 27th
• Deadmau5 @ Rogers Centre, Sat November 5th (Crystal Castles & MSTRKRFT)
• Penn & Teller @ Casino Rama, Friday November 4th
• Russell Brand @ Casino Rama, Thursday December 8th

Oh Hi Tommy.

Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero

 

Tim Minchin!

Beady Eye at The Sound Academy

R.J. and me with Dom before the show.

Thanks for the song dedication Dom.

Arctic Monkeys at Kool Haus yet again.

Junko Mizuno with Custom Munny for me.

No photos were allowed at the show :( (Rue Morgue photo).

Penn Jillette (Penn & Teller)

Raymond Teller, the silent one (Penn & Teller)

 

Russell Brand performing at Casino Rama

Russell Brand crushed by a mob of fans

Well hello Russell Brand!

Winter and Spring shows 2011

Janelle Monae
Fairmont Royal York Hotel part of the Canadian Music Fest's Indie Awards Saturday March 12th 

By far Janelle is one of the best entertainers I've seen in a very very long time. She emits talent and pure energy. Her band plays along with her very well. You can truly say that everyone on stage is having a great time and wants everyone in the audience to feel that too. I met up with Janelle's guitarist Kellino Parker and a few of the band members for a little bit after the show. 


ArchAndroid Tour Set list

Overture
Dance or Die
Faster
Locked Inside
Call Me interlude
Smile
Sincerely, Jane
Wondaland
Hallelujah Chorus
Mushrooms & Roses
Jane's step show
Cold War
Tightrope

I Wish (encore)
Until You Come Back To Me (encore) Come Alive (encore)
-----

    Janelle painted this on stage during her performance

    Janelle and her dancers

    Janelle's reveal entrance onstage

    Guitarist Kellino Parker and me after the show

    Janelle Monae - Smile

    Janelle Monae - Sincerely, Jane

Tiesto 
Ricoh Coliseum Thursday April 21st

This marks my first time at very large venue for a DJ. What better DJ to see in a stadium atmosphere then DJ Tiesto. My friend and I went around the entire stadium and watched the show from different perspectives from our seats in the stands, up close at the side of the general admission, and all around the stadium. This is something you usually can not do at most shows which made it a treat to be able to have fun and wonder around.  

Tiesto doing his thing

 

Arctic Monkeys 
Saturday May 21st Koolhaus

Felt like a very short set, especially since they are putting out a new album next month in June making it there 5th. So they now have loads of material to select for their shows. After looking at the set list posted on setlist.fm I can see that it was a regular show. I guess I was distracted by the constant dripping of water from the ceiling in many spots on the floor and all the moving pushing and shoving that made me less focused on the show and the band on stage which was unfortunate. There was insane pushing, jumping, open pit ramming and a very sweaty crowd. The music does not fit the aggression from the mostly male fans participating in the open mosh pit. I got caught in it and almost ended up on the ground, luckily some good people caught me before I landed hard on the wet and dirty ground. 

Arctic Monkeys at The Koolhaus

   

Upcoming shows are:

Tim Minchin @ The Winter Garden Theatre Friday June 3rd

Beady Eye @ Sound Academy Monday June 20th

Deadmau5 @ Rogers Centre Sat November 5th

The 2000's

The following shows go up to the current date. I have a few shows that the dates are unknown and they are listed at the bottom. This covers the music minus some of the photos and stories that goes along with them. I'll be going into other areas eventually with non musicians. More videos and photos will be added at a later date. 

2000

• The Charlatans and Stereophonics Wed Apr 5, Warehouse
• NIN & A Perfect Circle Fri Apr 28, Maple Leaf Gardens
• Supergrass Tue May 9, Opera House
• Savage Garden Tues Aug 1, Molson Amphitheater
• Misfits Fri Oct 13, Warehouse
• Marilyn Manson Nov 18, Massey Hall - Saw before the show at The Edge

 2002

• The Charlatans Fri Jan 25, Kool Haus (The Warehouse)
• Gorillaz Sat Feb 23, The Docks
• Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Jun 06, Lee’s Palace

2003

• Jayne County and the Electric Chairs Vazaleen Shame Friday June 27, Lee's Palace
• Cradle of Filth Tue Aug 12, Guvernment
• Village People Thurs October 30, Ontario Place Atlantis

2004

• Jet (The Vines didn’t see left show) Mar 23, Kool Haus
• David Bowie w/The Polyphonic Spree April 1, Air Canada Centre
• Nina Hagen June 25, Vazaleen at Lee's Palace
• The Delays Mon Jul 19, Mod Club
• Franz Ferdinand w/The Delays Fri Oct 1, The Docks
• KMFDM Sunday Oct 17, Phoenix

2005

• Scissor Sisters Mon Jan 17, Guvernment - Met Paddy Boom and Del Marquis after the show. Paddy got my setlist signed by Jake and Ana.
• Ash & The Bravery Wed Apr 13, Opera House
• The Horrorpops Wed May 11, Cathedral
• Oasis Fri Jun 17, Molson Amphitheater
• The Tiger Lilies w/The Lollipop People Thurs Nov 10, Innis Town Hall U of T - Met after the show

Paddy Boom former drummer w/Scissor Sisters sporting the now trendy Canada Goose

   

Del Marquis bassist freezing outside with me

  

The Tiger Lillies put on a fun and unique show

   

 

2006

• Supergrass Mon Feb 6, Kool Haus
• Elefant w/Sound Team Friday May 12, Mod Club - Met after the show
• Noel Gallagher & Gem acoustic Jul 11, Toronto Danforth Music Hall
• The Tiger Lillies Nov 03 or 4, Harbourfront Centre Theatre - Met after the show

Guaranteed laughs from The Tiger Lillies

  

2007

• Velvet Revolver May 13, Kool Haus
• Gwen Stefani w/Akon May 30, Air Canada Centre

2008

• George Michael Thurs Jul 17, Air Canada Centre
• Virgin festival - Silverspun Pickups, Stereophonics, Paul Weller & Oasis Sept 7, Toronto Island Park
• Dandy Warhols Sat Sept 13, Kool Haus
• Shirley Bassey & Katy Perry part of Fashion (S)cares Nov 7^th Metro Toronto Convention Centre -Side note: I did makeup for Katy Perry's dancers.

2009

• K-OS May 9, Kool Haus
• The Doves Mon Jun 1, Kool Haus
• Wang Chung and ABC Jun 28, Toronto Pride Stage
• Beyonce Jul 20, Molson Amphitheatre
• Tool Wed Aug 5, Molson Amphitheatre
• Underworld Tue Aug 11, Kool Haus
• Creepshow Aug 28, CNE Bandshell
• Arctic Monkeys Tue Sept 29, Kool Haus
• Manic Street Preachers Sun Oct 4, Phoenix – Met band after show
• Kylie Minogue Fri Oct 9, Air Canada Centre

ABC - Poison Arrow

Manic Street Preachers - James

  

Manic Street Preachers - Nicky

   


2010

• MUSE w/Silversun Pickups Mar 8, Air Canada Centre
• Bobby McFerrin Fri Mar 26, Roy Thomson Hall
• Temper Trap w/The Kissaway Trail Mar 30, Mod Club
• Adam Lambert Sat Jun 19, Molson Amphitheatre - Got an autograph before the show.
• Keane Fri Jul 30, Molson Amphitheatre
• Lady Gaga w/Semi Precious Weapons Sun Jul 11, Air Canada Centre
• Scissor Sisters Tue Aug 31, Sound Academy (The Docks)
• The Drifters and Gloria Gaynor Sat Sept 4, CNE Bandshell
• Gorillaz w/N.E.R.D. Thurs Oct 14, Air Canada Centre

 Temper Trap - Love Lost

Adam signed my ticket stub after his Kiss 92.5 radio interview

  

Adam Lambert - Mad World

 

Scissor Sisters - She's My Man

 

N.E.R.D - The Man & She Wants to Move 

 Gorillaz - Punk

The following are unknown dates for shows in no particular order.

Ontario Place forum

• Coney Hatch
• Kid Creole and the Coconuts
• Kool and the gang
• Doug and the Slugs
• Dr Hook
• Peter Frampton
• Sheriff
• Sister Sledge
• Smokey Robinson
• Toronto
• Paul Young and the Royal Family 1983

Other venues unknown dates:

90’s

• Eddie Money Canada’s Wonderland
• The Cult of Sean Pierce after 1999, Silver Dollar
• Jack Off Jill Bar on Queen Street, The Rivoli?
• The Flaming Lips 1995? Opera House

00’s

• David Bowie much music lot, award show
• Stone temple pilots much music lot
• Aphex Twin opened w/ other artist. Toronto Guvernment (10 September 1997?) w/ Prodigy?
• Burton Cummings @ The Senator
• Foo Fighters @ Horseshoe
• Thom Yorke @ horseshoe
• Dandy Warhols Sept 8 2003 or Dec 3 2005, Opera House 
• Jackie Beat @ El Mocambo
• Kembra Pfahler of Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black @ El Mocambo

With the 90's came a change

 Marilyn and I during a break at The Edge during an interview.

With the 80's playing a big part of my music memories from records and radio, the 90's I'd have to say was my time for live concerts and discovering new music beyond the radio and music videos. Lots happened in my life and some of the best people I've ever met came about in mid 90's. This includes people I have in my life even to this day as well as brilliant artists with which paths we crossed. One person stands out the most and that's Marilyn Manson aka Brian Warner. We had a chance meeting while I was waiting in a line to meet Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor which never happened as there were too many people that had to be turned away. This was in August of 1994. The whole band was there and signed my copy of Helter Skelter that I was reading at the time which I find very funny and ironic. I'd never heard of the band before and was going to see them the next day in Barrie for the Soundgarden/NIN show. Something good came out of that day at least. I suppose this could become a story so for now I will just say that wasn't the last time Marilyn and I saw each other. I shall expand on this more later on. 

Brit Pop entered my life in the 1990's as well and still remains as a favorite. Some of my favorite bands got together in this time frame. Suede is still number one with me then Blur, and there's also Oasis, The Charlatans and The Manic Street Preachers. I'd like to also add the fact that many of these bands were massively huge back home playing stadiums sometimes and when they came here to Toronto they would be booked in smaller venues often in clubs. Because of this it was easy to meet many of them. CFNY 102.1 The Edge radio station used to let people join in the studio while bands were being interviewed so this was also a good opportunity to meet several artists.  

Liam Gallagher and me. He'd probably be surrounded by bodyguards nowadays.

I guess you could have called me a rocker chick earlier on but that did end up changing. Alice Cooper still holds a place in my heart. The below photo is an HMV signing. I was so not ready for that shot. I was however recorded on video meeting him which turned up during an interview on Much Music. I need to find it on my old vhs tapes and post it. Many years later I bumped into him on Yonge Street walking by himself and of course recognized him. He was nice enough to stop and chit chat for a little bit. I think he was in town for a show in Oshawa.  

Alice Cooper at an HMV signing.

  

Here's the shows I saw back then...

1990

• Whitesnake, Kiss, Faster Pussycat and Slaughter Fri Jun 15, CNE Grandstand
• Cher Wed Aug 29, CNE Grandstand
• Kiss w/ Slaughter, Winger, Fri Oct 12, Copps Coliseum
• The Pursuit of Happiness Fri Oct 19, Seneca College

1991

• Guns N Roses w/Skid Row Sat Jun 8, CNE Grandstand
• Jeff Healy band Sat Jul 20, Ontario Place Forum
• Alice Cooper, Judas Priest and Motorhead, Metal Church, Dangerous Toys, Operation Rock and Roll Mon Aug 19 Maple Leaf Gardens stub (site says CNE)

1992

• Slik Toxik Sat Sept 12, RPM
• Guns N Roses, Metallica (Faith No More cancelled sun aug 9) Sept 13, CNE Stadium
• Kiss w/Faster Pussycat, Trixter Sat Oct 3, Maple Leaf Gardens - Met Faster Pussycat at venue
• Slik Toxik Sat Oct 17, Hamilton bar - Met at show
• Erasure Fri Oct 23, O’Keefe Centre

1993

• Slik Toxik Fri Jan 29, Concert Hall
• Duran Duran Thurs Jul 29, Kingswood Music Theatre
• Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Neil Young Wed Aug 18, Exhibition Stadium
• Madonna Mon Oct 11, Skydome
• Stone Temple Pilots Wed Oct 20, Concert Hall/Masonic Temple

The super talented Damon Albarn and me.
Photo credit Forest Lightbody.

1994

• White Zombie Mon Feb 7, Palladium
• Redd Kross Sat Feb 19, Palladium
• The Charlatans Mon May 2, Warehouse - Met at HMV signing
• Paul Weller Thurs May 12, Phoenix
• Depeche Mode Jun 20, Kingswood Music Theatre
• Violent Femmes Fri Jun 24, Ontario Place Forum
• The Farm Wed Jul 20, Lee’s Palace - Met at Much Music
•  Lollapalooza ’94  Main Stage: Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, George Clinton & the P. Funk All-Stars, The Breeders, A Tribe Called Quest, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, L7, Boredoms, Green Day Second Stage: The Black Crowes, Blast Off Country Style, The Boo Radleys, Charlie Hunter Trio, Cypress Hill, The Flaming Lips, The Frogs, FU-Schnickens, Girls Against Boys, Guided By Voices, King Kong, The Last Poets, Lambchop, Luscious Jackson, Palace Songs, The Pharcyde, Rollerskate Skinny, Shonen Knife, Shudder To Think, Souls of Mischief, Stereolab, The Verve Several of the artists, including Green Day and Cypress Hill, skipped at least one Lollapalooza tour date in order to appear at Woodstock '94 instead. Jul 28 Molson Park, Barrie, ON http://janesaddiction.org/lollapalooza/lollapalooza-94/Tour Lineup
• Soundgarden, NIN, Marilyn Manson, Reverend Horton Heat, Pop Will Eat Itself, You Am I, Sat Aug 6, Molson Park Barrie
• Blur w/Pulp Sept 28, Phoenix - Met both bands and hung out after the show.
• The Soup Dragons Sun Oct 9, Warehouse
• Oasis Oct 21, Lee’s palace - Met during an interview
• The Jesus and Mary Chain Wed Oct 26, Warehouse
• NIN w/Marilyn Manson Self destruct tour Jim rose circus Thurs Dec 1, Maple Leaf Gardens - Hung out with both bands after show at MLG and after show party at The Phoenix. 

Tim Burgess, lead singer of The Charlatans.
Photo credit Forest Lightbody. 

   

1995

• Suede Fri Feb 17, Warehouse - Met at HMV signing, then later at Catch 22 club and hung out all night.
• Oasis Mar 14, Toronto Phoenix
• Portishead Wed Apr 26, Trinity Centre
• Stone Roses Thurs May 18, Marine terminal 28 - Met during an interview
• Edgefest Blur, Elastica, Ned’s atomic dustbin, Our lady peace Sun May 21, Molson amphitheatre - Went to an after party w/Blur at Velvet underground
• Radiohead Tue Jun 6, RPM (Warehouse)
• These Animal Men Sat Jun 10, Lee’s Palace - Met before show at venue
• Bjork Aug 7, RPM (Warehouse)
• Menswear Sept 13, Opera House - Met after the show
• Tricky Sat Sept 16, Opera House
• David Bowie & NIN Sept 20 Skytent Skydome - Met Charlie Clouser and hung out after show.
• The Charlatans Mon Oct 2, Opera house - Hung out with band after the show
• Gino Vannelli Thu Oct 12, Music Hall Theatre
• Oasis wed Oct 18, Warehouse ticket stub, official site 13.12.1995 Toronto Liberty Warehouse
• Marilyn Manson Oct 27, Opera House
• David Sylvain Tue Nov 7, Music Hall Theatre
• Shed 7 Fri Nov 10, Lee’s Palace - Met at the venue
• White Zombie w/The Ramones Mon Nov 27, Copps coliseum

1996

• Marion Mon Feb 26, Lee’s Palace - Met during an interview
• Black Grape April 29?, Opera house  (photos shows this date) - Met during an interview
• Pulp Thurs May 30, Opera House
• Catherine Wheel Sat Jul 13, Lee’s Palace - Met
• Sex Pistols Mon Aug 12, Molson Amphitheatre
• Manic Street Preachers Sat Aug 24, Horseshoe Tavern
• The Cardigans w/ Kinnie Star Sat Sept 7 Lee’s Palace - Met after the show
• Marilyn Manson Oct 22, Warehouse - Hung out after the show at the venue
• Genitorturers Tue Oct 29, The Joker
• Ocean Color Scene Tue Nov 26, Opera House

You can actually see Shaun Ryder with his eyes open!

   

1997

• Space Mon Feb 10, Lee’s Palace
• Kula shaker Mon Feb 17, opera house
• Erasure Mon Mar 17, Guvernment
• Dodgy Sat May 3, Opera House
• Suede Fri May 9, Warehouse - Saw at an interview
• Chemical brothers/The Orb Tue May 13, Warehouse
• Gene Sat May 17, Opera House - Met before the show.
• Supergrass May 26, Opera House
• Prodigy Mon May 21, Warehouse ticket stub (reviews say Arrow Hall)
• Marilyn Manson Jul 31, Varsity Arena 
• The Seahorses w/Mansun Fri Aug 8, Opera House - Met Seashores at an interview, met Paul Draper (Mansun) at the venue
• INXS Fri Sept 26, Warehouse
• The Verve Tues Nov 11, Phoenix
• Portishead Sun Dec 7, Warehouse

1998

• Bow Wow Wow Wed Feb 18, Club Shanghai
• Garbage Sun May 24, Phoenix - Met at HMV signing
• Marilyn Manson Wed Nov 18, Arrow Hall - Hung out after the show (Marilyn and Twiggy stayed on the tour bus).

1999

• Stabbing Westward/Placebo Fri Mar 19, Warehouse
• The Toilet Boys w/Dee Dee Ramone Apr 29, El Mocombo - Met Miss Guy after the show
• Pet Shop Boys Tue Nov 9, Warehouse

How did it all begin?

My location is in Toronto Ontario Canada. I'm luck to live in such a great city where many people come to perform. Photos will be added later on. As you will see my taste in music really started in the 80's I was a fan of classic rock music and pop music. As the 80's came around I started getting into New Romantic, New Wave music quite a bit. Favorite bands were Culture Club, Dead or Alive (whom I've never seen live), David Bowie, Prince and Alice Cooper. I also got into The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the early 80's. My music and vinyl collection began around this time too.   

Dates unknown dates in the 70's

• The Herman Hermits Woodstock NB High School 
• The Kendal's Woodstock NB, At a fair 

1978 

• Shaun Cassidy Sept 2, CNE (or Aug 27 1979)

Concerts by date in the 1980's

1981

• AC/DC Thurs Dec 10, Maple Leaf Gardens

1983

• Culture Club Mar 2, Concert Hall/Masonic Temple
• Bryan Adams Sun Jun 26, Kingswood Music Theatre
• David Bowie Sat Sept 3, Molson CNE Stadium
• Culture Club Sept 4, Kingswood Music Theatre
• Iron Maiden Sept 5, Kingswood Music Theatre

1984

• Culture Club w/Corey Hart Sun Apr 1, the Montreal Forum
• Psychedelic Furs Sun Jul 22, Kingswood Music Theatre
• Forgotten Rebels Sat Oct 20, Larry’s Hideaway
• Culture Club w/Glass Tiger Thurs Nov 15, Maple Leaf Gardens
• General Public Fri Nov 30, Concert Hall/Masonic temple
• Prince Purple rain tour sun Dec 2, Maple Leaf Gardens

1986

• The Cult Thurs Mar 13, Roy Thomson Hall - Met at a signing

1987

• Alice Cooper Thu Feb 26, Maple Leaf Gardens
• Nina Hagen Punk Wedding Rebel tour July 22, Concert Hall/Masonic Temple - Met after show

1989

• Alice Cooper Sun Dec 31, Skydome Support acts for the US legs included Guns N Roses, Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Faster Pussycat.
• Meatloaf Tues Dec 5, The Diamond (Phoenix club) - Got an autograph from a security guard friend, did not meet.

Dates unknown in the 80's (Most at Ontario Place Forum)

• Coney Hatch - Met after show
• Kid Creole and the Coconuts - Met after show
• Kool and the gang
• Doug and the Slugs - Met after show
• Dr Hook - Met after show
• Peter Frampton
• Sheriff - Met after show
• Sister Sledge
• Smokey Robinson
• Toronto
• Paul Young and the Royal Family (1983) - Met after show
• The Dazz Band  
• Bob McBride
• The Good Brothers
• Carol Baker
• T.B.A
• The Lynda Taylor Band
• Boys Brigade
• Rita Coolidge
• Ronnie Hopkins
• Burton Cummings
• Red Rider

The Ontario Place Forum was a great venue to see shows. The bands would rotate on the stage that slowly moved around in a circle giving everyone a good view on all angles. It was general admission with benches. There was a gateway that gave great access to bands after the show and many people were very nice and came out to greet fans. Thanks to my mother in the beginning she would wait with me so I could get autographs and talk to bands. In it's place now is the Molson Amphitheater.

It all began in the 80's

Welcome to my first post. I've created this blog to archive and share my experiences with meeting famous people and attending music concerts. Musicians, actors, writers and creative people in general surround my life. Here is a little piece of it. Please note that photos and videos on this site are my property unless noted.