John Wright and his brother Rob formed a band in the early eighties and named it No Means No. No Means No is responsible for a specific style of punk rock that formed what we east coasters (probably just me) called the “Victoria Sound.” Distortion bass and badass drumming. John and Rob will be receiving a lifetime achievement induction into the Western Music Hall of Fame for their contribution with No Means NO.

John also fronted the band The Hanson Brothers, which is a completely different approach to music. It’s more pared down and a tribute to the Ramones. The Hanson Brothers started out as a joke band, but they were an amazing force of three chords and the truth!!

Finally, John is now involved in a band made up of robots called Compressorhead. He is presently writing a complete album for the robots using his experience with No Means No and the Hansons as a catalyst. You can learn more about Compressorhead HERE.

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

It’s Kyle, and he’s back!! Another fun talk about useless stuff!!

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

This episode was recorded in June of 2015.  As I mention in the episode, Al Nolan is a very important character in my life.  I joined his band in the spring of 1990 with misaligned intentions and was forever changed from then on.  We experienced our first real tour together, nearly died in a van crash and had some laughs along the way.  We also had a different point of view regarding band dynamics, but we soldiered on!!

In this episode, we talked about how Al started as a drama kid in high school, to one of the most revered vocalist in Canadian punk rock.  Great catch up with an old dear friend.

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Rob and I first met in 1995 when I started doing live sound for the seminal punk band SNFU. See episode 40 for more info on SNFU. Rob was one of the many bass players to be in the band. He also played in Marc and Brent Belke’s band Wheat Chiefs. Apart from being the Hip Hop artist “Fresh Bread,” Rob was involved in the Vancouver film industry for many years, working behind the scenes as a crew member on many shoots. Vancouver has been the landing spot for many American production companies because of Canada’s weaker dollar and great tax breaks.

15 years and a few personal tragedies later, Rob has turned his life around. He’s dropped punk rock for a taste of the normal life. In this podcast we talk about his journey towards adulthood, fatherhood and spirituality.

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Mark Baker is the epitome of the word persistent. As a teenager, he was introduced to the band U2, and it was a moment that would forever change him. 20 odd years later, Mark would be considered one of U2’s many super fans, appearing on stage with them several times. He is best known for getting up on stage with the band Montreal dressed as a human mirror ball. He has danced with Bono and even held him like a baby in front of 20,000 spectators; even appearing with his U2 tribute band “Acrobat” in Toronto.

In the podcast, we talk about Mark’s love for U2 and what they mean to him. We also talk a bit about his less interesting but probably far more important other life as an elementary school teacher. It must be pretty cool to know that your teacher is THE U2 BROTHR!! (sic)

Find out more about Mark in the documentary “U2 BROTHR” on YouTube.

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Welcome to Episode #40!! Thanks for all your support!!

In this episode, we have the band SNFU.  SNFU has been a band  for over 30 years and are the grandfathers of skate punk.  Bands like Metallica and Green Day named SNFU as major influences in their musical upbringing.  There’s been a few different incarnations of the band and now this version has a very strong grouping and are presently on tour supporting the 30 year anniversary of their first release “And No One Else Wanted to Play”

Chi Pig, the lead singer has had many bumps down the road and is featured in a documentary “Open Your Mouth and say Mr Chi Pig”.  It’s a story of how a prominent figure in Canadian Punk History fell to the bottom, living life as a homeless person.  He’s been drug free for years now but has slipped from time to time. Chi says life is better now that he has a place to live and some counselling.

I also speak to Dave Bacon, Dirty Kurt, Randy Steffes and Jamie Oliver.  All of the awesome to talk to!!

I’m very proud to say that SNFU taught me how to tour and for that, I’m forever in their debt. Thanks guy for the talk

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Erin and (Fat) Mike Burkett started a label and named it Fat Wreck Chords with blind ambition and a DIY ethic. They managed to make it a 25 year long career out of it. Fat Wreck Chords has managed to find and sign some very important 90’s punk rock bands, including Good Riddance, Strung Out, No Use for a Name and Propagandhi. The list does actually go on and on. In this episode, we talk a bit about how Erin and Mike met, and chat about running a label, music, Yo Gabba Gabba and how she keeps her child on a healthy diet of punk rock in the car and in the house.

A great conversation, thanks Erin!!!

If you’re new to the podcast and you’re into Fat Wreck Chords,  than be sure to check out

Go to http://www.fatwreck.com/ for all your Punk rock needs

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Rob Moir is a singer-songwriter that I’ve had the privilege of watching grow from a teenage guitar player into an international touring artist. Rob has toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States armed with only a guitar and CD’s. He’s even toured Europe on a bicycle travelling from town to town playing anywhere that would have him. I’m proud to call him my friend!! Rob Moir, everyone!!

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

I hung out with Justin on his deck in the High Park area. We talked about his new site and solo project, which releases one song per week on a subscription basis, complete with artwork. You can sign up at www.justinsmallmusic.com and tap in to a really great idea! You might know Justin from his band “Do Make Say Think,” an experimental instrumental group who have toured and released albums for over 20 years. Justin and I go back almost 25 years and we had an amazing talk that involved tons of laughs and a general good time! Thanks for the talk Justin!

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!

Our almost monthly live episode.  Kyle and I do a monthly show that streams live around the last week of every month.  You can catch every live show we do by adding me (Simon) on Twitter @simonhead666.  You will be updated to the location of the live stream around the time of the show going live.  I will try to update everyone as soon as I can.

Help the podcast out by pledging on Patreon,  www.patreon.com/apologue

Brought to you by fetchclass.com

Shop with amazon.ca, amazon.com and amazon.co.uk  Bookmark the link and support the show!!