News

Rest in peace, Tommy Morais (1991-2024)

I was sad to learn this week that one of my earliest collaborators, Tommy Morais, passed away last year.  He was only 32.

I first met Tommy when he was just 18.  It was around the time of the release of the “new” KISS album Sonic Boom.  I was writing a complete set of Kiss reviews on Amazon to celebrate.  As it turns out, Tommy was also writing reviews for every Kiss album, and lots more that I was working on too.  I jealously read his writing.  He was good.

Eventually I decided to reach out to Tommy via email, and tell him how great his reviews were.  We became friends.  We didn’t agree on every Kiss album.  Tommy liked Animalize a lot more than I did!  He had the rock star hair and a glam image.  Tommy was no-holds-barred when it came to the music he loved.  He identified with the Kiss song “Freak”:

I’ve got streaks in my hairPeople point at me and stareIf they ask me I say: Yeah! I’m a freakAnd I love the clothes I wearLet them laugh ’cause I don’t careIt’s my cross, I’m proud to bearI’m a freak

Tommy was based out of New Brunswick and eventually moved to Ontario.  Meanwhile, I transitioned my writing from Amazon to WordPress.  Tommy was an eager reader, and was responsible for a couple Record Store Tales and several reviews.  Tommy wanted more Kiss!  So I wrote Part 26 and Part 27 of Record Store Tales by his request.  Tommy also contributed several of his own reviews to this site!  For me, Tommy wrote reviews of:

As you can see for yourself, Tommy was a wise rock fan beyond his years.  Every artist he reviewed for me really peaked long before he was even born.

I never met Tommy even though he was only a short distance away, relatively speaking.  We lost touch shortly after the Europe review.  I was really saddened to hear of his passing.

Gone way, way too soon.  Rest in peace Tommy.  Here’s some Kiss for ya.  I hope you’re rocking up there with Eric Carr.  You were an original.

Rest in Peace, genius: Brian Wilson (1942-2025)

Brian Douglas Wilson was 82 years old.  As sure as Beethoven and Bach were geniuses, so was Brian.  Born, raised and embodying California, Brian Wilson and his music was entwined with my life from an early age.

When I was a kid, riding in the passenger side next to my Uncle Paul, he would always pop a Beach Boys tape into his deck.  “Little Deuce Coupe” was a favourite.  He loved that early Beach Boys; the surf rock.  My mom grew up on that music too, but it was Uncle Paul who played it the most.

My wife Jen and her dad David always loved the Beach Boys.  She danced to “Surfer Girl” with him at our wedding.

Last summer, my dad and I watched a Brian Wilson documentary on TV.  We were both spellbound both by the man and his music.  My dad told me that my grandfather considered moving to California in the 1950s.  Imagine how different things would have been.  I’d never have been born.

Brian was a visionary composer, perhaps to his own detriment.  He was able to see forward, beyond what the producers of the time told him was possible or commercial.  He stretched his boundaries in composition and production, creating layers of music previously unimagined.  Unable to achieve his fullest visions at the time, the Smile album (1966) was shelved and Brian spiraled with depression and substances.  He became the butt of jokes, which was tragic.  It was good to see him return to making music before it was too late.

Rest in peace, you genius.

VIDEO: Dr Kathryn Ladano wins 2025 K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year – Arts & Culture

Please join me in congratulating “visionary bass clarinetist” Dr. Kathryn Ladano on her recent win of the 2025 K-W Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year, in the category of Arts & Culture.  Dr. Kathryn, a professional musician and former teacher, suffered a devastating concussion that required five years (and counting) of therapy to function again, and the fight is still not over.

Hear all about it in her acceptance speech below.  It’s not just about her.

They even pronounced our last name right.  You can feel the emotion in the room.

No Show Tonight, Grant’s On A Cruise… and there’s bad news

No Contrarians Live tonight, as host Grant Arthur is on an 80’s themed rock cruise…

…Which has been tragic.

A few days ago, Grant posted that somebody went overboard, but he didn’t know anything more.  It turns out the person who went over, died tragically.  It was Kimberly Burch, fiance of Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe.

We send our prayers to Taime and Kimberly’s families in these dark times.

 

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!

 

 

Rest In Peace, John Sykes (1959-2025)

Like many, I first became awestruck by John Sykes via Whitesnake.  The year was 1987, and Much had just started playing Whitesnake stuff in heavy rotation.  While I heard Sykes on all the big 1987 hits, I saw Sykes in the music video for “Slow An’ Easy”.  The guy had it all!  Long flowing blonde curly locks, shirt open, a slide guitar (which I loved), a really cool studded guitar strap, and a way to play a riff.  To paraphrase a movie, I began watching his career with great interest.

I got some Whitesnake.  I got some Tygers of Pan Tang.  I bought the Blue Murder.  And then I discovered Thin Lizzy.  While it’s no secret that I’m not much of a Blue Murder fan (though I loved the idea on paper), I really dug John’s work with Thin Lizzy.

“Cold Sweat” was the name of the track, and I squealed in delight when John’s guitar squealed in the riff!  Even better was a song called “Bad Habits”.  This one merged the old-tyme style of Jailbreak with the production and guitar shred of 1982.

Though he hadn’t released any new music in a spell…we’re all going to miss John Sykes.

Rest in Peace.  F cancer.

Please help out Derek Kortepeter and his family recover from the fires in California

Derek Kortepeter is a talented musician from California, and long-time friend and reader of this site.  I have reviewed his albums numerous times, and he has collaborated with me in a writing capacity as well.  Sadly, now Derek needs help.

As you know, California is being wracked by uncontrolled wildfires.  Derek and his family have lost their home and almost all their possessions.  Like many in California, he is now staying on safe group but the damage done will last a lifetime.

Please read Derek’s family’s story and consider giving something, anything at all.

gofund.me/c36396a2

Rest in Peace Paul Di’Anno (1958 – 2024)

Paul Di’Anno was one of the first singers I knew and loved. He’s running free now, with Clive Burr, and no longer in pain.

Paul has clearly not been in good physical shape lately. Once walking with a cane, Paul had been in a wheelchair for some time now. Paul has now lost his wheels, and is free to fly.

When Iron Maiden released their debut album in 1980, they were building on five years of battles in the clubs, building their repertoire and their reputation. Much of it had to do with Paul Di’Anno, the short(er) haired lead singer with the punk rock attitude. His sneer was embedded in those first two Maiden albums, both legendary.  Replacing him seemed impossible at the time!

I can’t believe we have to do this, but on Friday we will be paying tribute to Paul on Grab A Stack of Rock.

This sucks!

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace soundtrack on Visions In Sound with Rob Daniels at TheMuseum

On May 1, Rob Daniels from CKWR and Visions In Sound recorded a show live to tape at TheMuseum in Kitchener.  Here are some photos and videos of Rob, with Erik Woods and myself.

The show, which will air in a few weeks as part of Star Wars month, covers the amazing soundtrack by John Williams and stories of the movie’s creation.  Rob will take you from the bleak early 1990s, to the Special Editions, and finally to May 1999 when The Phantom Menace was finally released. He discusses the fallout, in particular with actors Jake Lloyd and Ahmed Best, who bore the brunt of fan hate.  On a lighter note, he also tells you the story of how Erik Woods broke the internet when he broadcast the world premier of the soundtrack!

Stay tuned in May to Visionsinsound.ca for this and much more great Star Wars content!

While we enjoyed the music, Erik and I spent roughly two hours discussing Star Wars and Indiana Jones.  Like typical fans, we talked about what we would have done to make both series better!  And we had some great ideas, trust me.  We talked about our own ideas for the prequels, the sequels, and an Indiana Jones adventure that, like poetry, would rhyme.

TheMuseum is a wonderful location for such an event, though they need to do more advertising.  Their website didn’t even show that they were open that night.  The lounge area where Rob was recording had ample space and a bar.

I hope to see Rob do more tapings at the TheMuseum in the future.  Long live Visions In Sound!

NEWS: Arkells announce new covers album Disco Loadout Volume 1 – pre-order now for May 17 release

The Arkells are not slowing down!  With last year’s surprise release of the unplanned acoustic album Laundry Pile, not to mention the two Blink albums, the band are back in 2024 with their first full covers album!  Of note, this album includes Abba’s “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)”, previously only available on an iTunes EP.  This is its first physical release.

Signed “ultra clear” vinyl with blue and purple splatter available, as well as unsigned vinyl and CDs.

Tracklist
01)  Dancing On My Own
02)  I Want You Back
03)  You Make My Dreams
04)  As It Was
05)  Sledgehammer
06)  Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
07)  9 to 5
08)  I Wanna Dance With Somebody
09)  Dancing in the Dark
10)  The Power Of Love
11)  Dancing Queen

WHY DISCO LOADOUT?

A disco loadout is a term in our industry that describes a very humbling act. Many bands have experienced this, and we certainly have. Sometimes when you’re on tour you might pull up to a venue to find there is a later show happening the same night. The promoter, looking at his spreadsheet, has decided that it makes financial sense to book two separate shows on the same night. Your band is playing the early show, and when you are finished, you must load your gear down the stairs and out the door while a lineup of people waits to get into the venue for the next show. The later show is usually a cover band, performing songs that everyone knows and likes.

We have been humbled by this in the past and instead of living with the embarrassment, we have performed and recorded those songs for you. We’re taking the term back.

Disco Loadout Vol 1. Songs Arkells like to play when we need to party like it’s a late show.