Chilliwack (band)
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Chilliwack were a Canadian rock band that existed during the 1970s and 1980s. They are perhaps best remembered for their three biggest songs "My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)", "I Believe" and "Whatcha Gonna Do." Even though those three hits were their only popular singles in the USA, Chilliwack have achieved legendary status in their native Canada.
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[edit] History
The band initially formed as the Classics (1964) in Vancouver, British Columbia, but later changed the name to the Collectors (1966). Their psychedelic debut album yielded the minor but long-remembered hit 'Lydia Purple'. A second album was based on the musical score written by the band for a stage play by Canadian playwright George Ryga, 'Grass and Wild Strawberries'.
After lead singer Howie Vickers left the group in 1970, the band changed its name to Chilliwack, a Salish term meaning "going back up" and the name of a town near Vancouver. With lead guitarist Bill Henderson now providing most of the vocals and doing most of the composing, the band released several records that were moderately successful in Canada. Major hit singles in Canada included "Lonesome Mary", "Crazy Talk" and "Fly at Night". The album track "Rain-o", an elegant, soaring, blues-based composition that appeared in different versions on the Chilliwack debut album and the later "Dreams, Dreams, Dreams", was a well known concert favourite.
In 1978, Brian MacLeod (guitar, drums, keyboards) and Ab Bryant (bass) joined the band. Chilliwack enjoyed its greatest success with this new lineup. The singles "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" (1981), "I Believe" (1982), and "Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)" (1982) were popular both in Canada and in the U.S. The band was extremely popular at the time, and was regarded as the Canadian answer to the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone Magazine wrote:
- "At their best, Chilliwack was the finest Canadian rock band, outrocking BTO and outwriting Burton Cummings. But a lack of consistency kept it from international success."
Henderson and MacLeod received a Best Producer Juno Award in 1982 for Opus X. MacLeod left the band soon after, and Chilliwack's last new recording was released in 1984. Henderson and Lawrence continued to tour with other players until December 1988. In 1989 Bill Henderson went on to form the band UHF.
2005 saw Chilliwack play Voyageur Days Festival in Mattawa, Ontario, Canada (near North Bay) with other Canadian classic rockers Moxy , Toronto, Trooper, Goddo, Killer Dwarfs & Ray Lyell for the 30th anniversary for release of the debut album by the band Moxy.
[edit] Line up
Pre Chilliwack 1964-1966 As the Classics and 1966-1970 As the Collectors.
- Bill Henderson (guitar, vocals)
- Claire Lawrence (keyboards, saxophone)
- Glenn Miller (bass)
- Ross Turney (drums)
- Howie Vickberg (vocals)
1970 LINE-UP
- Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, piano)
- Glenn Miller (bass, guitar)
- Ross Turney (drums)
- Clair Lawrence (keyboards, flute, sax, piano)
1971 LINE-UP
- Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, piano)
- Ross Turney (drums)
- Clair Lawrence (keyboards, flute, sax, piano)
1972-1978 LINE-UP
- Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, synths)
- Glenn Miller (bass, backing vocals)
- Ross Turney (drums)
- Howard Froese (guitar, backing vocals, keys; joined in 1973)
- Brian Macleod (lead guitars, vocals; joined in 1977)
1979-1984 LINE-UP
- Bill Henderson (lead vocals, guitars, synths)
- Brian Macleod (lead guitars, vocals)
- Ab Bryant (bass)
- Rick Taylor (drums; 1979 only)
- John Roles (guitar; 1979 only)
[edit] Discography
Pre Chilliwack
- 1967 The Collectors
- 1968 Grass & Wild Strawberries
Chilliwack
 (1970) Chilliwack |
 (1971) Chilliwack (2nd) |
 (1972) All Over You |
 (1974) Riding High |
 (1975) Rockerbox |
 (1977) Dreams, Dreams, Dreams |
 (1978)Lights from the Valley |
 (1980) Breakdown in Paradise |
 (1981) Wanna Be a Star |
 (1982) Opus X |
 (1983) Segue (compilation) |
 (1984) Look In Look Out |
 (1994) Greatest Hits (compilation) |
[edit] Major hit singles
- "Crazy Talk" - 1974; Maximum position no. 13, 7/12/1974 - CHUM charts (Toronto rock AM radio)
- "Come on Over" - 1975; Maximum position no. 12, 31/05/1975
- "Fly at Night" - 1977; Maximum position no. 16, 25/06/1977
- "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" - 1981; Maximum position no. 6, 14/11/1981
- "I Believe" - 1982; Maximum position no. 11, 20/03/1982
- "Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)" - 1982; Maximum position no. 10, 11/12/1982
[edit] External links
- Bill Henderson's Chilliwack page
- Bio at CanadianBands.com CanConRox entry
- Chilliwack page at the Canadian Encyclopedia
- Fan site
- Chart archives at CHUM radio
