Rheostatics
Rheostatics (2007) L–R: Tim Vesely, Michael Phillip Wojewoda, Dave Bidini, Martin Tielli
Background information
Also known as	Rheostatics and the Trans-Canada Soul Patrol
Origin	Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s)	Indie rock
Years active	1980–2007
Label(s)	Intrepid, Sire, DROG, Perimeter, True North, Zunior, Six Shooter
Associated acts	Violet Archers Nick Buzz The Dinner Is Ruined
Website	www.rheostatics.ca
Former members
Dave Bidini Dave Clark Dave Crosby Tim Vesely Rod Westlake Martin Tielli Don Kerr Michael Phillip Wojewoda

Rheostatics were a Canadian indie rock band, active from 1980 to 2007. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Intrepid Records was a Canadian Independent record label in the late 1980s and early 1990s Sire Records Company is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros Dave's Records of Guelph, or DROG, is a Canadian Independent record label. True North Records is a Canadian Independent record label. It was founded in 1969 by Bernie Finkelstein. Zuniorcom is a Canadian online Record label and music store started by Dave Ullrich, formerly of The Inbreds, in 2004. Six Shooter Records is a Canadian Independent record label, based in Toronto, Ontario founded by Shauna de Cartier in 2000 The Violet Archers is a Canadian Indie pop band Led by former Rheostatics bassist Tim Vesely, the band consists of Vesely on vocals Nick Buzz is a Canadian band composed of Jon Goldsmith, Hugh Marsh, Rob Piltch, and Martin Tielli. The Dinner Is Ruined are a Canadian Indie rock band The band members are Dale Morningstar, Dave Clark and Dr Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician and writer He is a founding member of acclaimed Indie rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about Dave Clark is a Canadian musician from Etobicoke Ontario. Biography Clark is a respected studio musician and live performer and has collaborated Tim Vesely (born December 10, 1963) is a Canadian musician and songwriter Martin Tielli (born 1967 in Italy is a Canadian Singer-songwriter. Don Kerr is a Canadian Multi-instrumentalist and Record producer. Michael Phillip Wojewoda is a Canadian Record producer and Musician. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene Although they had only one Top 40 hit ("Claire" in 1995), they were simultaneously one of Canada's most influential and most unconventional rock bands, a band whose eclectic take on pop and rock music has been described both as iconic and iconoclastic. The Top Forty or Top 40 is a music industry shorthand for the currently most-popular songs in a particular genre. ^[1] In particular, two of the band's albums, Whale Music and Melville, have been cited in numerous critical and listener polls as among the 100 best Canadian albums ever recorded. Whale Music is a 1992 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. Melville is a 1991 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. It was the band’s second album and their first to garner wide airplay

History

Formed in Etobicoke, Ontario, the band played their first gig at a club called The Edge in February of 1980. Originally called Rheostatics and the Trans-Canada Soul Patrol, the band consisted of guitarist Dave Bidini, bassist Tim Vesely, drummer Dave Clark, keyboard player Dave Crosby, and a large horn section. Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician and writer He is a founding member of acclaimed Indie rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about Tim Vesely (born December 10, 1963) is a Canadian musician and songwriter Dave Clark is a Canadian musician from Etobicoke Ontario. Biography Clark is a respected studio musician and live performer and has collaborated However, when Crosby left the band in 1981 and the horn section soon proved too unwieldy, guitarist Martin Tielli was brought in to replace them. Martin Tielli (born 1967 in Italy is a Canadian Singer-songwriter.

In the early 1980s the Rheostatics released a number of independent singles, and the three song demo Canadian Dream. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The best-known of these early singles was "The Ballad of Wendel Clark, Parts 1 & 2", an ode to the Toronto Maple Leafs player Wendel Clark, which became the band's first hit on college radio and CFNY. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St Wendel L Clark (born October 25, 1966 in Kelvington, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian former professional Ice hockey player Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of Radio station that is run by the students of a college CFNY-FM is a Canadian Radio station, broadcasting at 1021 FM. In 1987, these songs were collected as the band's debut album, Greatest Hits. Greatest Hits is the first album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. Only 1,000 copies of this album were pressed and released originally, and quickly sold out. However, the album was re-released in 1996.

In 1991, the band signed to the independent label Intrepid Records, and released Melville that year. Intrepid Records was a Canadian Independent record label in the late 1980s and early 1990s Melville is a 1991 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. It was the band’s second album and their first to garner wide airplay The single "Record Body Count" garnered them significant airplay on radio and MuchMusic. MuchMusic (often referred to only as Much) is a Canadian English language Cable television Specialty channel owned by CTVglobemedia The album also featured a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr, (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer and songwriter who achieved international success in folk country and

The following year, the band signed to Sire Records and released Whale Music, which was inspired by Paul Quarrington's award-winning novel Whale Music. Sire Records Company is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros Whale Music is a 1992 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. Paul Lewis Quarrington (born July 22, 1953) is a Canadian Novelist, Playwright, Screenwriter, filmmaker and Musician Whale Music is a novel by Canadian writer Paul Quarrington. It was first published by Doubleday Canada in 1989. Quarrington himself was so impressed by Whale Music's quirky pop—which was perfectly suited to a novel about a quirky, reclusive pop genius liberally based on Brian Wilson—that he chose the band to compose the soundtrack to the film version of his novel. Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California) is an American Musician best known as the lead Music from the Motion Picture Whale Music was released in 1994, putting the band in the odd position of having two almost identically-titled albums in its catalogue. Music from The Motion Picture Whale Music is a 1994 album by Rheostatics.

The centrepiece of the soundtrack was "Claire", a love song from the main character in the movie to a woman who'd moved into his house, which became Rheostatics' first and only Top 40 hit. The song earned the Rheos a Genie Award for "Best Original Song" in 1994. Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. "Claire" was also featured on the band's album Introducing Happiness, released the same year. Introducing Happiness is a 1994 album by Rheostatics. The album includes "Claire" the band's only Top 40 hit That album proved to be the end of the Rheostatics' association with Sire, however, as the label found the band difficult to market.

It was also Clark's last album with the band, as he left to concentrate on his own band, The Dinner Is Ruined. The Dinner Is Ruined are a Canadian Indie rock band The band members are Dale Morningstar, Dave Clark and Dr The resignation came very shortly before a cross-Canada tour. Clark has stated in interviews that he left because he was uncomfortable with the chart success of "Claire" and feared that the rest of the band would be persuaded to evolve in a mainstream direction. Clark was replaced by Don Kerr, whose first performance with the Rheostatics was an unannounced show at the Horseshoe Tavern in the spring of 1995. Don Kerr is a Canadian Multi-instrumentalist and Record producer. The Horseshoe Tavern (known as The Horseshoe or The 'Shoe to Toronto locals is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West (northeast corner of Queen

Vesely and Tielli live in 2005

Later in 1995, the band attracted the attention of the National Gallery of Canada, who commissioned the band to write music to accompany a retrospective celebrating the 75th anniversary of another group of artists whose distinctive-yet-accessible artistic outlook had redefined Canadian art, the Group of Seven. The National Gallery of Canada ( Musée des beaux arts du Canada) located in the capital city Ottawa Ontario, is one of Canada 's premier Art The Group of Seven was a group of Canadian landscape painters in the 1920s originally consisting of Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris That year, working with pianist Kevin Hearn (later of the Barenaked Ladies), they released Music Inspired by the Group of Seven on the independent label DROG Records. Kevin Neil Hearn (born July 3, 1969 in Grimsby Ontario, Canada) plays keyboards and other instruments for Barenaked Barenaked Ladies (often abbreviated BNL or occasionally BnL) is a Juno -winning and Grammy -nominated Canadian Alternative Music Inspired by the Group of Seven is a 1995 album by Rheostatics. Dave's Records of Guelph, or DROG, is a Canadian Independent record label. Bob Wiseman would sit in for Hearn at the Art Gallery of Ontario show due to Hearn's illness. Bob Wiseman is a Canadian Singer-songwriter and Filmmaker. Raised in Winnipeg Manitoba his music blends folk, rock Jazz The Art Gallery of Ontario ( AGO) is an Art museum on the eastern edge of Toronto 's downtown Chinatown district on Dundas

The band also attracted the attention of The Tragically Hip, who invited the Rheostatics to open for them on tour. The Rheostatics thus returned to the studio, and released The Blue Hysteria in 1996. The Blue Hysteria is a 1996 album by Rheostatics. "Bad Time to Be Poor" a protest song about life in Ontario during the government of This album garnered airplay for the single "Bad Time to Be Poor". a scathing indictment of life in Ontario during the government of Mike Harris. Michael Deane Harris (born January 23, 1945, in Toronto Ontario) was the twenty-second Premier of Ontario from June 26,

In 1997, the band released Double Live, a live album documenting the band in a variety of settings, from small in-store sessions to the large arenas of their tour with the Tragically Hip. Double Live is a 1997 album by Rheostatics. It collects a variety of live performances by the band ranging from intimate club settings to record store sessions The album was very successful on the campus radio charts and is amongst fans' favorites discs.

Later that year, they were invited to perform a live session on the last episode of Nightlines, a music show on CBC Radio Two. Nightlines was a Canadian radio series which aired on CBC Stereo from 1982 to 1997. CBC Radio 2 is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. This performance was released on CD in 1998 as The Nightlines Sessions. The Nightlines Sessions is a 1998 album by Rheostatics. The album was recorded as a live session for the final episode of CBC Stereo 's late night

In 1999, the band released The Story of Harmelodia, an album based on a children's story written by Bidini. The Story of Harmelodia is a 1999 album by Rheostatics. Billed as a children's album the album is a Narrative detailing the adventures of Dot The album, which featured the band's songs interspersed with narration by Janet Morassutti, detailed the adventures of Dot and Bug, two children from the land of Harmelodia who fell through a hole into the land of Popopolis. Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician and writer He is a founding member of acclaimed Indie rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about The album was packaged with a book featuring Tielli's illustrated text of Bidini's story.

In 2001, the Rheostatics released Night of the Shooting Stars on Perimeter Records. Night of the Shooting Stars is a 2001 album by Canadian rock band Rheostatics, released on Perimeter Records. Reviving their tradition of a week's club residency (formerly known as "Green Sprouts Music Week"), to promote the album the band played 11 nights in a row at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern. The Horseshoe Tavern (known as The Horseshoe or The 'Shoe to Toronto locals is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West (northeast corner of Queen This event was dubbed the Fall Nationals, and was repeated with the band playing 12 nights in 2002 and 13 nights in 2003.

Following that album, Kerr departed the band, and was replaced by the band's frequent producer, Michael Phillip Wojewoda. Michael Phillip Wojewoda is a Canadian Record producer and Musician. Their tenth and final studio album, 2067, was released in the fall of 2004. 2067 is a 2004 album by Rheostatics. It was the band's first album with longtime producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda as an official member as well

The Final Show

Rheostatics' final show at Massey Hall, 2007

Tim Vesely announced his departure from the band on September 8, 2006, citing his desire to concentrate on his side project The Violet Archers. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Violet Archers is a Canadian Indie pop band Led by former Rheostatics bassist Tim Vesely, the band consists of Vesely on vocals However, Dave Bidini has indicated that Vesely made his intentions to leave known to the band in January 2006, after they had played a series of concerts in Calgary. Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician and writer He is a founding member of acclaimed Indie rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about Calgary (ˈkælgəriː is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada Bidini and Martin Tielli had explored the possibility of continuing the band with Michael Phillip Wojewoda and collaborating keyboardist Ford Pier, but that these plans collapsed after Phillip Wojewoda declared he did not want to commit to the band ^[2]. Martin Tielli (born 1967 in Italy is a Canadian Singer-songwriter. Michael Phillip Wojewoda is a Canadian Record producer and Musician. Ford Pier (born 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter. Subsequent press indicated that the band would not continue following Vesely's exit. A farewell concert was planned, and on March 30, 2007, the Rheostatics played Toronto's Massey Hall, the largest venue that they had played as headliners. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Massey Hall, located at 178 Victoria Street downtown Toronto, was built in 1894 by architect Sidney Badgley and financed by Hart Massey of Massey-Harris The concert was recorded for later broadcast on CBC Radio 2's Canada Live, which aired the show on April 7 and again on December 6. CBC Radio 2 is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Canada Live is a Canadian radio program which debuted on March 19, 2007 on CBC Radio Two, which airs concert performances in a variety Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev

Ford Pier substituted for Vesely in some live performances between Vesely's announcement and the final show. Ford Pier (born 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter.

On March 16, 2007, Canadian web label Zunior released a Rheostatics tribute album, The Secret Sessions, whose release had not been publicized in advance so that it would be a surprise for the band. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Zuniorcom is a Canadian online Record label and music store started by Dave Ullrich, formerly of The Inbreds, in 2004. The Secret Sessions is a Tribute album to Canadian Indie rock band Rheostatics, released March 16, 2007

Bidini and Tielli have stated that they plan to continue collaborating after the Massey Hall show. They have not confirmed what form that would take, but in a CBC Radio One interview, Bidini stated a tour of their collaboration with One Yellow Rabbit is upcoming. CBC Radio One is the English-language news and information Radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. One Yellow Rabbit is a contemporary theatre company based in Calgary Alberta, Canada Bidini subsequently embarked on a solo tour, and published the book Around the World in 57½ Gigs about his experience.

Critical reception

In a 1996 reader poll published by Chart, Whale Music placed fifth, behind only Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Tragically Hip and Sloan, and Melville placed 16^th. Chart is a monthly Canadian music magazine It is currently the only English Canadian popular music consumer magazine operating as a paid newsstand and subscriber Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7 1943) is a Canadian Musician, Songwriter, and The Tragically Hip is a Canadian rock band from Kingston Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie (lead vocals and occasional acoustic Sloan is a Power pop quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. History Early years The band was formed in 1991 when Chris

When the magazine conducted a follow up poll in 2000, Whale Music placed fourth and Melville placed fifth. In all of the magazine's three polls to date, Neil Young is the only other artist to have achieved the distinction of placing two albums in the top five in the same year. Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician

In the 2005 poll, Whale Music placed 10^th, becoming one of six albums to place in the top ten all three times, and Melville placed 44^th.

In Bob Mersereau's 2007 book The Top 100 Canadian Albums, Whale Music ranked 19^th and Melville was ranked 38^th. Bob Mersereau is a Canadian arts journalist Mersereau is a music columnist and long-time arts reporter for CBC Television in New Brunswick The Top 100 Canadian Albums is a book by Bob Mersereau, published in 2007 by Goose Lane Editions.

Discography

• Greatest Hits – 1987
• Melville – 1991
• Whale Music – 1992
• Music from The Motion Picture Whale Music – 1994
• Introducing Happiness – 1994
• Music Inspired by the Group of Seven – 1995
• The Blue Hysteria – 1996
• Double Live – 1997
• The Nightlines Sessions – 1998
• The Story of Harmelodia – 1999
• Night of the Shooting Stars – 2001
• 2067 – 2004
• The Whale Music Concert, 1992 – 2005
• Calling Out the Chords, Vol. 1 – 2005

Of the band's 14 albums, five (Melville, Whale Music, Music from the Motion Picture Whale Music, 2067 and The Whale Music Concert, 1992) depict whales on the album covers. Greatest Hits is the first album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. Melville is a 1991 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. It was the band’s second album and their first to garner wide airplay Whale Music is a 1992 album by Canadian Rock band Rheostatics. Music from The Motion Picture Whale Music is a 1994 album by Rheostatics. Introducing Happiness is a 1994 album by Rheostatics. The album includes "Claire" the band's only Top 40 hit Music Inspired by the Group of Seven is a 1995 album by Rheostatics. The Blue Hysteria is a 1996 album by Rheostatics. "Bad Time to Be Poor" a protest song about life in Ontario during the government of Double Live is a 1997 album by Rheostatics. It collects a variety of live performances by the band ranging from intimate club settings to record store sessions The Nightlines Sessions is a 1998 album by Rheostatics. The album was recorded as a live session for the final episode of CBC Stereo 's late night The Story of Harmelodia is a 1999 album by Rheostatics. Billed as a children's album the album is a Narrative detailing the adventures of Dot Night of the Shooting Stars is a 2001 album by Canadian rock band Rheostatics, released on Perimeter Records. 2067 is a 2004 album by Rheostatics. It was the band's first album with longtime producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda as an official member as well The Whale Music Concert 1992 is a Live album by Rheostatics, released on Zunior Records in 2005 Calling Out the Chords Vol 1 is a Live album by Rheostatics, released on Zunior Records in 2005 Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas

Compilations

• Moose: The Compilation, 1991 ("Woodstuck")
• Borrowed Tunes, 1994 ("Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (with The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir)")
• Truck Songs: Volume 1, 1995 ("Secret Red Canoe")
• CBC Radio 3 Sessions, Vol. 1, 2004 ("Harmelodia (Easy to Be with You)")

References

External links

• Rheostatics official website
• The USA Rheostatics Page fan site
• FishMailin' discussion at Yahoo! Groups
• Rheostatics Live music archive
• Rheostatics photo gallery at CBC.ca
• 9 part Rheos Box Set at Northern Wish Blog