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The '''Barstool Prophets''' were a rock band formed in [[Cornwall, Ontario]] in 1989 that was active throughout the 1990s. The members were bassist Glenn Forrester, singer/songwriter Graham Greer, guitarist Al Morier, and drummer Bobby Tamas. |
The '''Barstool Prophets''' were a rock band formed in [[Cornwall, Ontario]] in 1989 that was active throughout the 1990s. The members were bassist Glenn Forrester, singer/songwriter Graham Greer, guitarist Al Morier, and drummer Bobby Tamas. |
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==Band History== |
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Glenn Forrester and Bobby Tamas were high school friends who recruited Graham Greer, who would become their principle songwriter (Answers Corp.). They started a band called the Wallflowers, preferring playing music to attending class; Al Morier joined the band in 1991. To avoid confusion when Jakob Dylan’s band, also called the Wallflowers, hit the scene, the band decided to change their name to Barstool Prophets, taken from a line in their song “Short and Curlies” from their second album, an independent release titled ‘Deflowered’. This album, selling 7,000 copies, led the band to open for bands including The Waltons, 54-40, Odds and The Headstones. The band caught the attention of A&R rep Bryan Potvin of Mercury/Polydor, who was impressed by the band’s ability to, in the middle of winter’s worst snowstorm, still manage to sell out an Ottawa club. Mercury/Polydor signed the band, who in August of 1995 released the album ‘Crank’, produced by Marty Jones of Furnaceface and mixed in Wisconsin by Mr. Colsen. One of the singles from the album, “Paranoia”, was also featured on the motion picture soundtrack “Never Talk to Strangers”. Their reputation for their energetic live shows and the success of “Crank”, which featured both old favorites and new songs, gave them a strong Canadian fan-base, leading to the album’s American release in July 1996. In the middle of their growing success, Greer’s wife became pregnant, so the band took a break to write new material, enlisting the aid of Joe Hardy, the veteran producer who had worked with Colin James and ZZ Top. The band then drove to Memphis to work with Hardy on what would become ‘Last of the Big Game Hunters’, which was released in 1997; one of the three singles from the album, “Friend of Mine”, became the band’s biggest charting success. The singles "Paranoia", "Last of the Big Game Hunters" and "Friend of Mine" were all Canadian rock radio hits in the mid-late 1990s. |
Glenn Forrester and Bobby Tamas were high school friends who recruited Graham Greer, who would become their principle songwriter (Answers Corp.). They started a band called the Wallflowers, preferring playing music to attending class; Al Morier joined the band in 1991. To avoid confusion when Jakob Dylan’s band, also called the Wallflowers, hit the scene, the band decided to change their name to Barstool Prophets, taken from a line in their song “Short and Curlies” from their second album, an independent release titled ‘Deflowered’. This album, selling 7,000 copies, led the band to open for bands including The Waltons, 54-40, Odds and The Headstones. The band caught the attention of A&R rep Bryan Potvin of Mercury/Polydor, who was impressed by the band’s ability to, in the middle of winter’s worst snowstorm, still manage to sell out an Ottawa club. Mercury/Polydor signed the band, who in August of 1995 released the album ‘Crank’, produced by Marty Jones of Furnaceface and mixed in Wisconsin by Mr. Colsen. One of the singles from the album, “Paranoia”, was also featured on the motion picture soundtrack “Never Talk to Strangers”. Their reputation for their energetic live shows and the success of “Crank”, which featured both old favorites and new songs, gave them a strong Canadian fan-base, leading to the album’s American release in July 1996. In the middle of their growing success, Greer’s wife became pregnant, so the band took a break to write new material, enlisting the aid of Joe Hardy, the veteran producer who had worked with Colin James and ZZ Top. The band then drove to Memphis to work with Hardy on what would become ‘Last of the Big Game Hunters’, which was released in 1997; one of the three singles from the album, “Friend of Mine”, became the band’s biggest charting success. The singles "Paranoia", "Last of the Big Game Hunters" and "Friend of Mine" were all Canadian rock radio hits in the mid-late 1990s. |
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==The Sound== |
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The band’s sound has been compared to that of bands including 54-40, Static In Stereo, Junkhouse, The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir, The Watchmen, The Tragically Hip, Staggered Crossing, Big Wreck, I Mother Earth, The Age of Electric, High Holy Days, Big Sugar, The Headstones, Treble Charger, Matthew Good Band, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, Wide Mouth Mason, Econoline Crush and Limblifter. Their music has a distinct grunge element to it, influenced by the Nirvana-led grunge craze of the early 90’s. Their music often varies between simple, acoustic/vocal tracks with a distinct Canadian sound (ex. ‘Friend of Mine’) and heavier, alternative/grunge/pop songs (ex. ‘Robin’s Song’). |
The band’s sound has been compared to that of bands including 54-40, Static In Stereo, Junkhouse, The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir, The Watchmen, The Tragically Hip, Staggered Crossing, Big Wreck, I Mother Earth, The Age of Electric, High Holy Days, Big Sugar, The Headstones, Treble Charger, Matthew Good Band, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, Wide Mouth Mason, Econoline Crush and Limblifter. Their music has a distinct grunge element to it, influenced by the Nirvana-led grunge craze of the early 90’s. Their music often varies between simple, acoustic/vocal tracks with a distinct Canadian sound (ex. ‘Friend of Mine’) and heavier, alternative/grunge/pop songs (ex. ‘Robin’s Song’). |
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==Lyric Content== |
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Their lyrics have many characteristics typical of Canadian music, often focusing on nature and life. The lyric “I didn't mind the summer's heat / Or being ankle-deep in snow” from the track ‘Thrusters,’ evidently reflects Canadian weather. The track ‘Weird and Wonderful’ describes the underappreciated joys of life, such as a beautiful night sky and children. |
Their lyrics have many characteristics typical of Canadian music, often focusing on nature and life. The lyric “I didn't mind the summer's heat / Or being ankle-deep in snow” from the track ‘Thrusters,’ evidently reflects Canadian weather. The track ‘Weird and Wonderful’ describes the underappreciated joys of life, such as a beautiful night sky and children. |
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The band often wrote about regret over lost ties to old friends. In the song ‘Running Out’, they write, “You succeeded in / Alienating every friend you've ever had / Who took you in / And put up with your drunken musings / Broken bones and ego-bruisings / Conspiracies, accusations / And other late night revelations / We used to find so entertaining,” lamenting the loss of a friend due to alcohol abuse. The song ‘Friend of Mine,’ contains the lyric, “Hello, it's me...the absentee / It's been so long / Have you forgotten me? / Two busy lives and countless miles / Have that tendency on memory,” reflecting on life on the road and its consequences. These emotions of longing for home are also typical of Canadian music. |
The band often wrote about regret over lost ties to old friends. In the song ‘Running Out’, they write, “You succeeded in / Alienating every friend you've ever had / Who took you in / And put up with your drunken musings / Broken bones and ego-bruisings / Conspiracies, accusations / And other late night revelations / We used to find so entertaining,” lamenting the loss of a friend due to alcohol abuse. The song ‘Friend of Mine,’ contains the lyric, “Hello, it's me...the absentee / It's been so long / Have you forgotten me? / Two busy lives and countless miles / Have that tendency on memory,” reflecting on life on the road and its consequences. These emotions of longing for home are also typical of Canadian music. |
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Through their lyrics, Barstool Prophets displayed a disapproval of abuse (both substance abuse and physical abuse) and its consequences. ‘Running Out’ is a song about a friend lost to alcoholism, ‘Friend of Mine’ describes the desire to help an old friend currently being physically abused by her husband, in ‘Upsidedown’ they write, “Experimenting with your mind / Will only leave you flaccid; fragmented inside,” an obvious reference to the destructiveness of drugs. |
Through their lyrics, Barstool Prophets displayed a disapproval of abuse (both substance abuse and physical abuse) and its consequences. ‘Running Out’ is a song about a friend lost to alcoholism, ‘Friend of Mine’ describes the desire to help an old friend currently being physically abused by her husband, in ‘Upsidedown’ they write, “Experimenting with your mind / Will only leave you flaccid; fragmented inside,” an obvious reference to the destructiveness of drugs. |
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==Today== |
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The band broke up in October 1999. Graham Greer went on to put out a solo independent release in 1993 titled ‘Palookaville’ under the name Moonlight Graham. After rumors that a band reunion was might happen, they reunited in 1995 to play a couple shows and in 1997 opened for April Wine. |
The band broke up in October 1999. Graham Greer went on to put out a solo independent release in 1993 titled ‘Palookaville’ under the name Moonlight Graham. After rumors that a band reunion was might happen, they reunited in 1995 to play a couple shows and in 1997 opened for April Wine. |
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Revision as of 21:29, 16 August 2008
The Barstool Prophets were a rock band formed in Cornwall, Ontario in 1989 that was active throughout the 1990s. The members were bassist Glenn Forrester, singer/songwriter Graham Greer, guitarist Al Morier, and drummer Bobby Tamas.
Band History
Glenn Forrester and Bobby Tamas were high school friends who recruited Graham Greer, who would become their principle songwriter (Answers Corp.). They started a band called the Wallflowers, preferring playing music to attending class; Al Morier joined the band in 1991. To avoid confusion when Jakob Dylan’s band, also called the Wallflowers, hit the scene, the band decided to change their name to Barstool Prophets, taken from a line in their song “Short and Curlies” from their second album, an independent release titled ‘Deflowered’. This album, selling 7,000 copies, led the band to open for bands including The Waltons, 54-40, Odds and The Headstones. The band caught the attention of A&R rep Bryan Potvin of Mercury/Polydor, who was impressed by the band’s ability to, in the middle of winter’s worst snowstorm, still manage to sell out an Ottawa club. Mercury/Polydor signed the band, who in August of 1995 released the album ‘Crank’, produced by Marty Jones of Furnaceface and mixed in Wisconsin by Mr. Colsen. One of the singles from the album, “Paranoia”, was also featured on the motion picture soundtrack “Never Talk to Strangers”. Their reputation for their energetic live shows and the success of “Crank”, which featured both old favorites and new songs, gave them a strong Canadian fan-base, leading to the album’s American release in July 1996. In the middle of their growing success, Greer’s wife became pregnant, so the band took a break to write new material, enlisting the aid of Joe Hardy, the veteran producer who had worked with Colin James and ZZ Top. The band then drove to Memphis to work with Hardy on what would become ‘Last of the Big Game Hunters’, which was released in 1997; one of the three singles from the album, “Friend of Mine”, became the band’s biggest charting success. The singles "Paranoia", "Last of the Big Game Hunters" and "Friend of Mine" were all Canadian rock radio hits in the mid-late 1990s.
The Sound
The band’s sound has been compared to that of bands including 54-40, Static In Stereo, Junkhouse, The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir, The Watchmen, The Tragically Hip, Staggered Crossing, Big Wreck, I Mother Earth, The Age of Electric, High Holy Days, Big Sugar, The Headstones, Treble Charger, Matthew Good Band, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, Wide Mouth Mason, Econoline Crush and Limblifter. Their music has a distinct grunge element to it, influenced by the Nirvana-led grunge craze of the early 90’s. Their music often varies between simple, acoustic/vocal tracks with a distinct Canadian sound (ex. ‘Friend of Mine’) and heavier, alternative/grunge/pop songs (ex. ‘Robin’s Song’).
Lyric Content
Their lyrics have many characteristics typical of Canadian music, often focusing on nature and life. The lyric “I didn't mind the summer's heat / Or being ankle-deep in snow” from the track ‘Thrusters,’ evidently reflects Canadian weather. The track ‘Weird and Wonderful’ describes the underappreciated joys of life, such as a beautiful night sky and children. The band often wrote about regret over lost ties to old friends. In the song ‘Running Out’, they write, “You succeeded in / Alienating every friend you've ever had / Who took you in / And put up with your drunken musings / Broken bones and ego-bruisings / Conspiracies, accusations / And other late night revelations / We used to find so entertaining,” lamenting the loss of a friend due to alcohol abuse. The song ‘Friend of Mine,’ contains the lyric, “Hello, it's me...the absentee / It's been so long / Have you forgotten me? / Two busy lives and countless miles / Have that tendency on memory,” reflecting on life on the road and its consequences. These emotions of longing for home are also typical of Canadian music. Through their lyrics, Barstool Prophets displayed a disapproval of abuse (both substance abuse and physical abuse) and its consequences. ‘Running Out’ is a song about a friend lost to alcoholism, ‘Friend of Mine’ describes the desire to help an old friend currently being physically abused by her husband, in ‘Upsidedown’ they write, “Experimenting with your mind / Will only leave you flaccid; fragmented inside,” an obvious reference to the destructiveness of drugs.
Today
The band broke up in October 1999. Graham Greer went on to put out a solo independent release in 1993 titled ‘Palookaville’ under the name Moonlight Graham. After rumors that a band reunion was might happen, they reunited in 1995 to play a couple shows and in 1997 opened for April Wine.
Discography
- 1992 Birdman indie tape
- 1993 Deflowered (Independent Release)
- 1995 Crank (Mercury/Polygram Records)
- 1995 Never Talk To Strangers motion picture soundtrack (Scotti Bros./Universal Records)
- 1997 Last of the Big Game Hunters (Mercury/Polygram Records)
- 2003 Palookaville (Independent release for Graham Greer)