CROWBAR BIOGRAPHY
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While in a local Toronto band called The Ascots, Roly Greenway and Rheal Lanthier decided a change was in order, so they packed up their bags and moved to Vegas, where they performed the local clubs for the next couple of years, opening for the likes of Zsa Zsa Gabor and even Liberace. After growing tired of the scene, the group split up, returning to Canada and going their seperate ways. Greenway then hooked up with Bobby Curtola's touring band. By '69 he'd looked up Lanthier and they decided to reform the band, calling themselves this time The Royal Ascot Review. Also in the group was Kelly Jay, whose real name is Blake Fordham, and ex-Ronnie Hawkins' harmonica player, King Biscuit Boy (Richard Newell). But when Hawkins approached Newell to put together his new back-up band, The New Ascots became Ronnie Hawkins and Many Others, which also included guitarist John Gibbard, Richard Bell on keyboards, and Larry Atamaniuk on drums.
With Hawkins the band toured for the next year, appearing on bills with the likes of Mountain, Johnny Winter and Joe Cocker. But in the summer of 1970 amid a drunken ruckus in Hamilton, Hawkins fired the band, and consequently gave the band the idea for the name while screaming profanities at them. Before long the band was doing club dates in and around the Toronto area. Sonnie Bernardi had replaced Atamaniuk on drums and Jozef Chirowski was the new keyboards player after Bell had left. Under the guise of King Biscuit Boy and Crowbar, they released their first album in 1970 called simply OFFICIALLY MUSIC, the first cut on the newly formed Canadian label, Daffodil Records. Newell's blues roots were predominant on the record, and the only single released, "Corrina Corrina".
Musical differences severed ties between Newell and the band the next year however, and Crowbar set sail to England to prepare for the next album. Recorded in Mike Oldfield's English castle, BAD MANORS was released in the spring of '71. The first single epitomized the care-free hippie generation of the day, and "Oh What A Feeling" soared up the charts. This was the first single released after government regulations requiring Canadian radio stations to play one-third homegrown material had come into effect. The single quickly reached gold here, but due to the drug annotations in the song, it didn't receive airplay in the US. Other noteable songs included the 'b' side "Murder In The First Degree", the cover of The Yardbirds' "Train Kept a Rollin'" and the other singles "Happy People" and "Too True Mama".
The band toured extensively in Canada and made their US debut at LA's Whiskey A Go Go the next year. Management quickly decided to cash-in on the band's popularity with a live album. Recorded at Massey Hall in that spring, LARGER THAN LIFE was the quintessential bar band caught live. It showcased the band's blues roots and love for early rock and roll, evident in "Shake Rattle & Roll", "Rock Around The Clock", "Corrina Corrina" and "Tits Up On The Pavement", a new tune about one woman's life on the streets. A mere three weeks after it's release, the album was certified gold. Though "Oh What A Feeling" was also on the album, it failed to chart in the US again because of its lyrical content. Not surpirsingly, the more liberal European audiences ate it up, going gold in England.
HEAVY DUTY, recorded in Toronto, was released in late '72 amid much angst among the loyal following the band had already established. Two singles were released "Hey Baby" and "Dreams", though neither achieved the success expected. Also on the album was "The Eagle And The Beaver", a politically incorrect song about our relationship with our southern neighbours, and "Dead Head From St John's", a track more typical of the crowd buying the albums.
One of the oddest arrangements in Canadian music occurred the next year. Pierre Trudeau was running for re-election as Prime Minister. His wife was a known Crowbar fan, and she asked the band to tour the country with Lucky Pete on the campaign trail. The bid to gain the youth vote worked, except in Alberta. Trudeau was re-elected, Crowbar got some additional exposure, and Margaret moved on to The Rolling Stones. The over-whelming success of the band meant having to hire outside people to handle their affairs. Unfortunately, this meant MISmanagement of their funds.
The band went back into the studios in '73, and released a self-titled album later that fall. Though eagerly scooped up by devoted fans, none of the tracks made a dent in the charts. Lowlights included "Rocky Mountain Tragedy", "Kilroy" and "Million Dollar Weekend". Added to the members' individually taking to the rock and roll lifestyle, this spelled disaster for the band and they disbanded in '74. Quick to try to make a last buck from the band, Daffodil released THE BEST OF CROWBAR that same year.
The members drifted off to do outside projects and after buying the rights to the music, Epic Records released another 'best of' package, MILLION DOLLAR WEEKEND, inspiring the band to get back together in the summer of '77. After a few brief tours over the next couple of years, the band parted ways again. The resurgance of classic rock spawned the release of 2 'best of' packages in 92, MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS and BAD MANORS - GREATEST HITS.
Though their run was relatively short, Crowbar emerged on the scene at a time when Canadian music was still searching for an identity. The first to benefit from Canadian Content Regulations, "Oh What A Feeling" summed up the attiude of the times, remaining a true classic today. Their early use of slide guitars and harmonicas were ground-breaking - the music itself raw, yet still refined. They reunited again in the mid 90's to play the 'classic rock weekend' outdoor festivals, and have found their music has indeed stood the test of time.
