Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Bill Welychka: Toronto Mike'd #987

Episode Date: January 24, 2022

In this episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Bill Welychka about his years at MuchMusic and MuchMore Music, hosting Outlaws and Heroes, interviewing Prince, Meat Loaf, Gord Downie and others, his relationship with The Tragically Hip, his love of wrestling, leaving for gigs in Edmonton and Ottawa and finding happiness in Kingston. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Canna Cabana, StickerYou, Ridley Funeral Home and Patrons like you.

Welcome to episode 987 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. StickerU.com. Create custom stickers, labels, tattoos, and decals for your home and your business. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. in Mississauga and Oakville.

Ridley Funeral Home. Pillars of the community since 1921. And Canna Cabana. The lowest prices on cannabis. Guaranteed. Over 100 stores across the country. Learn more at cannacabana.com Joining me this week is a man I'd watch on much music

and much more music, Bill Weliczka. Bill, welcome to Toronto Mic'd. Good to be here. Thanks, Mike. We're going to start off the top by discussing a way we're kind of linked. So I have a show I record with Stu Stone and Cam Gordon, and they're proud graduates of Thorne Lee.

What year? So they're a bit younger than you. They don't think you'll remember them, so I'm not sure exactly what year. But we often talk about on this program, like Noah Mintz or Jian Gomeshi or Gordon Corman or Hayden, and you're on that list of esteemed Thorne Lee students, right? Yeah, there's been a few people,

I don't know esteem to describe me reaching there. But yeah, Jean and I were in a lot of the same classes. We actually played house league hockey together around that time too. And one of my best friends still from those days is Jeff Parisi. He's a real estate agent now in Toronto. Nice. Now, if you were in the Gomeshi class, then you must remember Noah Mintz and Hayden, right? Hayden Desser? Hayden, the singer-songwriter? Yeah. Oh, yeah.

I didn't know him back in high school, though. I think a year ahead of me was, I forget his name. Last name might have been Raymondmond first name might have been raymond he was on circle square it was a kid's christian show way back i remember circle square for sure in the early 80s yeah that was what i remember thornley when i first started there i recognize that guy from tv yeah so is it like do you know the name Stu Stone? Does that name mean anything to you? Stu Stone. There was a Mark Stone, I think, when I was in high school.

That might have been his brother. Well, Stone is a fake name. That's the thing. Oh, okay. Stu. I'm looking for it. Don't know. I feel awful.

I don't remember. If you can pull out a yearbook and show me a picture. I was looking for my, I have an album somewhere. I have a CD called Blowing Up, and it was Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone. And they had, like, success on MTV about 10 to 15 years ago. And one of their big hits, actually, sadly, I guess, because Bob Saget just passed away, but one of the big hits was Rollin' with Saget.

And Stu had some fame for this song he did with Bob Saget. But anyway, they're very honored that you are a fellow Thornley student. Thornley Secondary was a very unique high school. When I went there, they sort of prepped you for university. It was one of the only high schools in Ontario that instilled a sense of freedom in you, responsibility. You could skip class, not have a note. And it was really big in the arts. And, yeah, I remember halfway through high school, my mom moved to Barrie. She wanted to

retire. This was halfway through grade 11. And those are some formative years for someone that young. And all of a sudden, bang, I had to say goodbye to all my friends, move to Barrie, Ontario, start a social circle all over again. I remember the first week I skipped and I got in so much trouble. And I remember the principal saying to the principal, I just skipped big deal. He goes, well, you're not supposed to, you need to note. And I'm like, he goes, where'd you come from? And I went Thornley and Thornhill. He goes, that's why. I thought every high school you could do that. I didn't know. You were, you were You were spoiled there. Okay, so you're not a graduate. I've been very careful not to call you a Thornley graduate because you graduate, I guess, in Barrie.

Well, I went to, I miss my friends so much. I went back for grade 12 and I gave my sister's address near Thornhill just so I can go back because I miss my friends so much and then just did my 13s in Barry so yeah just before we leave Thorn Lee though Noah Mintz he was lead singer for Head, do you remember Head with two H's

yes I thought they were from Hamilton one is Brendan Canning who would go on to be in Broken Social Scene, right? Right. The other guy was Noah Mintz, who went to Thornley. Noah, when he came on Toronto Mic'd, just went off on Gomeshi for being this pretentious douchebag in high school. And I was wondering, like, was he a decent guy in high school?

What do you remember about Gomeshi in high school? I know that he loved music. I ended up interviewing him on Much when he was with whatever band that was. I went to school with Murray Foster too who was also in that band.

Moxie Fruvis. I love Murray. Murray was great. I knew Lucy quite well. I know Lucy quite well. So when she was going through all this, I, of course, sided with her. I belonged to the White Ribbon Campaign, which is men coming together to end men's violence against women. There was no sign that Jean was a turd back then. I only knew him from being a turd, uh, when his ego exploded, when he was on CBC. Right. Uh, and, uh, you know, I've spent most

of my career, uh, trying to get away from egos and, uh, he, he fit the mold perfectly. And, uh, yeah, but, uh, there was never a sign like that, of course, back in high school. Okay, let's move on to some happier topics. Yeah, Lucy D. Cotter is a good friend of mine. I love Lucy. Yeah, she was on Trailer Park Boys, right? Yeah, that was one of the ones that, the first one that came forward. Right, right.

Okay, just before we get you to Much Music, because of course that's where I first discover Bill Wilichka, looking forward to talking much with you, but a gentleman named Dan wants me to ask, did you have a relative named Brett who played for the London Knights? Yeah, Brett is my nephew, and my brother Ed is his father and I'm the youngest of four brothers. And I grew up a Chicago Blackhawks fan because my dad knew one of the trainers. All my older brothers had like Bobby Hall hockey sticks and stuff. And Brett was actually named after Bobby Hall's son, Brett Hall. Of course.

Not so much. My brother Ed loves the Blackhawks. Nice to follow Brett's career over the years. I know his last... That London Knights team was incredible. Mitch Marner was on that team. Max Domi. There was a few great players from that London

Knights squad back then. And then Brett finished his career in Belleville as their captain the final year for the Belleville Bulls. Went on to do to Carlton and is now playing pro in Europe. After university, he was going between the AHL and the ECHL and then got a lucrative offer to go to Denmark. He was there for three years,

is now playing in Slovakia. But when Brett skated with the Chicago Blackhawks team in the NHL Rookie Tournament, I cried. Just seeing Welichka on the back of a Hawks jersey was a huge thrill for me. Do you have a replica

Welichka Blackhawks jersey? I got 23 of them. I have 23 Hawks jerseys. A couple have the Lichka, but not... They wanted the jersey back after the

rookie tournament. They gave him some things, but she gave to me, which is nice. You're kind of smart, because I, like an idiot, I've always been a Leafs fan, which means I've never tasted success in my lifetime. You think so? like an idiot i have always been a leafs fan which means i've never tasted you know success like in my lifetime you think so i i cried and i cried the first time they won the cup in 2010 uh i think it was when they won the cup that was right yeah they went to 2010 and yeah i cried

um i cried when i was in ottawa at the time and covering when Ben Eager, who was from Ottawa, brought the cup to Ottawa at Grant, I think it was Grant Park. And there he comes out of the car, holds up the cup, and I was bawling. Just to see a Chicago Blackhawk player in front of me with a cup. Well, in my neck of the woods, we had Dave Boland brought the cup. So he brought it to, I'm right beside Mimico. So Dave brought it to Mimico.

There was a pub he brought it to, didn't he? The Blue Goose. And then he went to Toronto shortly after. Yeah, and that didn't quite work out. Sometimes with, especially with Mimico guys, like we had,

what is it, David Clarkson, right? Like you kind of map it up like, okay, this guy's coming home. It's going to be great. David scored 40 goals with the Devils. I don't know how many he got with the Leafs, but substantially less. Speaking of goals,

really quickly here before I get you to much, your nephew who is named after Brett Hull, believe it or not, and I know you will believe me, but Brett Hull scored 76 goals in a season one year. I believe it. Oh, the kid was hot.

Think about that. I don't know if he has the dual citizenship like his dad did, though. His dad was born just outside of Belleville, Ontario. But, yeah, I think Brett maintained his U.S. citizenship. He did because he played for America, I remember. I guess we cut him. Early, I guess we cut him because it's tough to make Team Canada. And I guess he never forgot that little slight that we cut him. But congrats to your nephew

who is playing pro hockey. I don't care where you're playing. If they'll pay you to play hockey, that's amazing. So that's awesome. Well, yeah, that was his dream and um i remember when he did get the call to go to europe i thought oh is this going to be the end of a possible nhl career uh but uh ahl doesn't pay very much apparently plus there was that he played for rockford chicago's farm team and uh the european deals were lucrative. And since then, I've been hearing about a lot of people who, you know, AHL or went off to Europe or OHL stars went to Europe

and stayed in Europe for 10, 15 years and had an amazing lucrative career. Yeah, that European lifestyle is pretty damn awesome. Like, especially in Denmark. Like, if you can't live in Canada, you want to live in Denmark. That's what I say. You're an hour west, an hour east, an hour north, or an hour south of pretty much all of Europe.

That's the beautiful thing about Europe. Amazing. So, Bill, even before I get you to much music, let me thank a fellow FOTM, a good man. Let me thank Bob Ouellette for the connection because Bob Ouellette is the, he basically introduced us and, you know,

you did Bob's basement and now you're doing Toronto Mic'd. And I want to thank Bob for the connection. We met briefly in 2003 for about 20 minutes, I think. I think Bob was at Mix 99.9 in 2003. Did he tell you how

we met? No, tell me. Tell me. The Gord Downie, Intermittent Interactive, he asked a question. Yeah. And that's kind of an infamous story for Bob because he kind of, he butchered it. The way he describes it made it sound like he wanted to crawl up his own ass

because he was so embarrassed. It wasn't that bad, Bob, if you're listening. Well, I think it still haunts him. He wakes up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night and he's like, oh, he wants to redo that moment in his life. When he's on his deathbed in like, I don't know, let's say that's in night, and he's like, he wants to redo that moment in his life. When he's on his deathbed, and I don't know, let's say that's in 70 years, and Bob's on his deathbed,

and they're like, any regrets, Bob? He's going to have one regret. I embarrassed myself in front of Gord Downie. I asked him a stupid question. No, it wasn't. It was great. I think Gord was a little high that day. He might have smoked a little bit before the broadcast. It was a very disjointed hour smoked a little bit before the broadcast.

So it was a very disjointed hour and a half with Gord anyway. He's very, very thoughtful, very intelligent man. He is intimidating when it comes to interviews, just because he's just so fucking brilliant. And if you can't keep up, it's,

you know, good luck. But his question wasn't that bad. I forget what it was. It was kind of, kind of, good luck. But his question wasn't that bad. I forget what it was. It was kind of a political question. Right. And Gord sort of eventually got to an answer. Bob thinks it was just the worst question in the world,

and it wasn't. He says I bailed him out. I don't think so. So, Bill, I just revisited this intimate and interactive with Gord Downie that we're talking about. I just literally rewatched it. And you could tell by the opening song that Gord is performing that he's talking about. I just literally rewatched it. And you could tell by the opening song that Gord is performing that he's definitely high.

So I'm going to just shuffle the order because I think now's a good time to talk about Gord and the Tragically Hip. So if you don't mind, I'm going to play a little clip. I'm going to play the first 90 seconds of that intermittent interactive we're talking about here

just to set the stage. So let's listen to this. My name is Bill. Let's go welcoming you to much more music. So world headquarters in downtown Toronto. How are you feeling? You excited? Well, you gotta be.

You know, the word artist used way too loosely in this industry. As far as I'm concerned, Gord Downie fits that bill perfectly. He is a singer, songwriter, musician, poet, author, actor, director, and a Canadian cultural icon. He has just stepped forth with a brand new solo disc called Battle of the Nudes and we got him! He is here tonight to talk and to play. This is Intimate and Interactive with Gord Downie! I'm here, because you're here, and when you go, I'm going to. I'm here, because you're here, and when you go, I'm going to. I'm here, because you're here, and when you go, I'm going to. I'm here, because you're here, and when you go, I'm going to.

I'm here, because you're here, and when you go, I'm going to. You can do it here, because you're here, and When you go, I'm going to. You can do it here because you're here. Do it all over again. I'm going to. I'm here because you're here. When you go, I'm going to. I can see your lips moving, but I see your eyes working overtime. Bring it down, but pretty much there's a lot of that for a while here.

So that is it. That's the great Gord Downie, intimate and interactive. So that is it. That's the great Gord Downie, intimate and interactive. I think one must respect Gord as the artist he is. I know there was one or two people in the crowd there were probably thinking, play some hip, play some hip, 50 Mission Cab, come on. And no, there was no way he was going to do that. And I don't think anyone watching that live TV special or was gathered there should have expected him to play the hip.

And that's why his solo stuff featured all new people. Otherwise, it would have been a hip record. And he relied heavy on working with others. And it's a little glimpse into his artistry as well, that broadcast, I think. Oh, without a doubt. Now, here's an interesting name. So I mentioned on Twitter that, hey,

Bill Wilichka is coming on Toronto Mic. So I get a bunch of questions from FOTMs, Friends of Toronto Mic. And one FOTM, Mr. Jay Gold, he wants me to ask you about your relationship with the Tragically Hip. Can we, we have to explain who Jay Gold is first of all. Yeah, go ahead. Oh, okay.

Jay Gold was their very first manager from the time they got their deal with MCA Universal. It was with them all the way, I think, until around 2003, 2004, and became their manager again a couple of years ago to oversee just the reissues, the merchandising. And Jake, intimidating character. I wouldn't go as far as saying Peter Grant from Led Zeppelin was in the 70s but I was intimidated by Jake

he was very protective of his band The Hip and my relationship with The Hip probably goes back to 95 when I first interviewed them for Trouble at the Hen House it would have been in Cleveland at a big festival called Buzzard Fest. And I remember we gave Jake a ride back to Toronto after covering that.

The band went on their bus, and I think Jake had to get back to Toronto. So we gave him a ride, and we bonded, I think, during that trip there and back to Toronto in the Much vehicle. And, yeah, And throughout the years, to answer Jake's question, lots of interviews with The Hip. They remain still one of my favorite bands of all time

and I may break down at any moment talking about Gord and my relationship with the guys over the years because they mean so much to me as they do to millions of people not just in Canada but around the world and I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to have interviewed them and spent as much time as I have with them and Gord over the years and yeah those are moments that I will cherish with me for the I will cherish

and will have with me for the rest of my life. And a cool thing about moving to Kingston nine years ago was reacquainting relationships with the boys over the years. Baker and I are neighbors. I see him a lot. I see Paul Langlois and his wife. Actually, Joanne Langlois' wife went to Thornley as well. She was a couple years older than I was.

And, you know, I've seen Johnny Faye in a bar and he'll buy me some drinks. I love that. And, yeah, I love that band with all my heart and love Gord and Miss Gord like everyone else. So, yeah, that's been my relationship with the guys over the years.

And never got a gold or platinum record. So I don't know if you're watching, Jake, but I think one would fit nicely on my wall here somewhere. I have a spot right there, Jake. Reserve for a hit platinum record. I'll settle for gold. Well, Jake Gold will deliver the gold. I will tell you that 100%

Jake is listening right now. That's 100%. Well, I miss you, Jake. And here's a quick Jake Gold story since he's listening. I produce Humble and Fred's podcast, which is funny because Bob

Willett used to produce their radio show, and now I produce their podcast, so Bob and I are in this exclusive club, I suppose. But I guess Humble didn't really appreciate the Tragically Hip at the time that they were churning out the hits, especially on 102.1, which played a lot of hip, of course. And he used to make a joke on the air about how every song sounded the same okay this was a humble howard joke and i guess at some point as legend has it jake gold might have pinned humble against a wall and told him to like to stop stop making that joke or something like there'sble tells me this story about Jake Gold,

like physically. I did tell you he reminded me of Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin's manager in the 70s. I think Peter did that more than a few times to people. And let the record show, Jake knows this, and now I'm going to share it with you, Bill, that my favorite band of all time is the Tragically Hip. And if I look to my left right now,

I have a portrait of Gord Downie hanging in my studio wall here. So I love that band. I cried like a baby. I recorded myself the morning I learned Gord passed away. So let me give you this advice here, or not advice, but suggestion, Bill. If you find yourself with like an extra 45 minutes to an hour, I recently did two episodes of Kevin Hearn, who's now with Barenaked Ladies. And the second episode of Kevin Hearn, we're just talking about Kevin, you know, being with Gord during his final months before he passed away.

Gord lost Kevin, yeah. And it's unbelievable to hear Kevin open up about the time he spent with Gord at the end of Gord's life. And if you have a half an hour... There's an artist right there, Kevin, and I think that's what Gord recognized in Kevin. He played with Lou Reed, too.

Of course, the guy's amazing. Yeah, well, that's it. He said being with Lou at the end of his life almost was like an education of sorts, of of empathy of how to be there for Gord in, in Gord's final time. Like,

and you're right. Kevin Hearn's amazing. So not only is he with Barenaked Ladies now, but he was with the Look People. Do you remember Look People? This is James B. I remember. Yeah.

Five. I think James B. I remember. Yeah, five. I think James B., Lowrider. That's right. Yeah, that's Kevin Hearn's old band. Anyone in Toronto would be, I think anyone outside of Toronto may not know the look people were. They were a Queen Street institution back in the day. I just got a video from literally this.

So this is kind of a, it all ties in. And then I got to get you to my music. But I got a video from James B. this morning because we're approaching a thousand episodes of Toronto Mic'd. Wow, congratulations. Well, thanks, because now that you're an FOTM, you need to record like something like 30 seconds for my, episode 1000 is like a clip show of recordings by FOTMs.

So I just got one this morning from James B, the very famous James B. And then coincidentally later, like just about an hour before we started chatting, Bill, I received one from Tyler Stewart of the bare naked ladies and Tyler Stewart. It's amazing. I can't wait to share it.

He talks about Toronto Mike for a couple. And Tyler Stewart, it's amazing. I can't wait to share it. He talks about Toronto Mic'd for a couple of minutes and says, he said he's been in a band with Kevin Hearn for 25 years, he said. And I got more out of him on Toronto Mic'd than he has in 25 years. Apparently, Kevin is extremely private and reserved. And these are the kindest words. So I just want to say if and i think he's listening because he's a fan of the show but tyler stewart amazing clip i'm going to play it in episode 1000 and james b you're a very famous man okay bill uh james patterson a listener of the

program wants me to ask you what's the best trag tragically hip story that you haven't told yet? Oh, around the time of Gord's death, I was interviewed a lot as being someone that has dealt with the band off and on over the years. And I shared a lot of stories with Gord about Gord. I shared a lot of stories with Gord about Gord. And even one that I told the Wig Standard. I think it was the Wig Standard. It involves Jake, too. There's a number of stories.

I could explain two of them. Sure. Around the time of Phantom Power, we were going to do an interview with Gord and Gord Sinclair at the HMS Haida. Remember the old battleship that was parked at Ontario Place for years? Are you kidding me? I know it. I even got on that a couple of times.

Yeah, for sure. Well, if you remember Phantom Power, all the dials and stuff. Actually, that circuit box is at the bathhouse just outside. Actually, that circuit box is at the bathhouse just outside of Kingston, their studio. I've said to Rob, I've said to Baker before, if you ever walk in and that's not there anymore,

I volunteer that I'll tell you I stole it. But anyway, I don't have it if it's stolen. So we tried to replicate that sort of feel with all these dials, and we took them to the engine room to do the interview and it uh the album hadn't come out yet there was a lot of uh interest in phantom power and so the record company gave me an advanced cassette and with huge instructions do not lose this cassette album's not yet. We need to give it back to Jake.

Did the interview and did a whole hour special based on this interview with Downey and with Gord Sinclair. Anyway, we left. I didn't realize until I got back at the station. I left it on the boat.

And all I can think of is some grade 3 class going on a tour and some kid finding this cassette and then leaking it somehow, giving it to his older brother and the older brother leaking it to the edge or some radio station and it being out there unofficially. Anyway, luckily it didn't happen because I would have been one of those guys that Jake would have pinned up against the wall, I think. So I remember having nightmares until the album's release

that no one found that cassette. So Jake, if you're listening, sorry, but it all worked out. One other story I'll share about Gord is that I&I happened a couple of days before Mariposa

Folk Festival that summer. And and yeah it was around canada day and i wasn't happy with the whole broadcast um i thought it could have been a little tighter i thought it could have been a little better uh the band was great gordon didn't really feel like talking and you don't want to you know push them and uh a couple of days later i was leaving the hotel to go drive to the folk festival lot and i saw gourd in the lobby of the hotel and if you've ever had a chance to meet gourd like you have it's very thoughtful very purposeful in his dialogue hello bill did you enjoy the broadcast i thought it went very well and i looked at him i go yeah it was okay see ya i left i wasn't happy with the broadcast right

anyway i think you could tell i was a little bit you know not thrilled with the broadcast so i get to the site gorge doing soundcheck with his band, and the promoter is giving me a little lay of the land walking around. And all of a sudden I hear during soundcheck Gord break out into a song. I see Bill walking over the hill. I'm just going off and doing a soundcheck. And I thought, Gord, if that's your way of making amends, then I'll take it. Because that was beautiful. That is amazing.

That is beautiful. But quick correction. Although I've seen the Tragically Hip a dozen times in concert, I have actually never, I never had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Gord Downie. I belong to a couple of Facebook hip groups. I don't mind admitting that because I'm a fan. I like to consider myself close acquaintances with the guys. First and foremost, I'm a fan.

I was a fan before I started interviewing them. So I can be that guy in the front row losing it to all my favorite hip songs and then an hour later hang out with them after the, having some beers and not be all fan boy. Uh, I can do that with a lot of bands actually, because I'm a music fan first and foremost. But anyway, um,

yeah. So, uh, amazing. That's amazing. A lot of, a lot of hip fans around the world will say the same thing. They might meet

gourd once they might have met him once and years later gourd will remember their name or remember where they met remember what they talked about it's it's interesting all the guys are like that all the guys are sweet they're down to earth and they've done a lot for charity of course right across canada but i think um living here in kingston affords me the luxury especially when the hip were around, to see how much they have done for Kingston charities over the years. And it says something because I also produce a program for Mark Hebbshire called Hebbsy on Sports.

And Mark Hebbshire happens to be like childhood friends with the aforementioned Jay Gold. Like it all comes full circle here. And Hebbsy knows the hip well because of his relationship with Gold and the it all comes full circle here. And Hebsey knows the hip well because of his relationship with Gold and the fact he was a big fan. Fast forward to like, I guess a month ago, maybe three or four weeks ago,

Rob Baker is on Hebsey on Sports and Rob's talking about Kingston. And I think it speaks to the fact that they stuck around. Like the fact that, you know, they still call Kingston home. A, it speaks to what kind of place Kingstonston home a it speaks to what kind of place kingston is but it speaks to what kind of people they are the tragically hip that you know they could have i don't know they could have moved to la or something like a lot of canadian greats have

done uh or new york or whatever but they chose to go to toronto yeah johnny faye moved us outside of toronto that's because he got married uh and I knew his wife quite well working at City TV or working at Chum in those days. Oh, T-Bowl Tuesday. Catherine Humphreys. But yeah, certainly Gord Sinclair's still here. John, Rob Baker's still here. Paul Langlois is still here.

They're all very much embedded in the community. And all the boys come from really good stock here. So much so, you know, Gord Sinclair's, I think, grandfather has a school named after him here. Gord's father, a huge donor and supporter of the Easter Seals here in town. Rob Baker's dad was a judge. Paul Langlois' dad was a teacher.

So they all come from good stock and uh yeah it's a cliche they never forgot their roots it's true beautiful so my friend how did you end up like how did you get hired at much music uh the week i graduated i got picked up at much as an editor um i was volunteering at much before that, going to school, going home and have a nap, doing a part-time job at a bakery, and then working at night as a volunteer, dubbing videos, basically pressing play and record 50 times a night. Music Plus was broadcast out of the building at 299 back then. They were getting ready for their move to montreal so they need copies of all the videos so a great deal of that portion of volunteering was spent doing that and then i got hired as an editor the week i graduated um and never wanted to be on air

i fell in love with producing and editing and eventually just uh ended up on the air as host of a country music show that I helped create. Outlaws and Heroes. Yes. Are you kidding? It was Canada's first country music video show. Did that for a number of years. And then they canceled that show because CMT was starting up in Canada back then. It was called NCN.

Why have a 90-minute weekly show competing against a whole new network? So they moved me over to regular flow VJing, and that would have been 92. Oh, so many questions. 94, I think. It's a libbler. Sean Hammond's a listener. He wants me to ask you. You've already answered it,

but maybe we can get a bit more detail here. Did you have anything to do with the creation of Outlaws and Heroes on Much? It was a great show when country was exploding yeah a funny story about me being a country fan in college i was so into alternative at the time um my musical tastes have evolved over the years but i still love the same things that i did years ago. I still love metal. I still love alternative. I still love country, but old country, uh, around that time that I was in college,

Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis, and Steve Earl, all their debut albums came out the same year. It was the start of this new traditionalism movement. It was called. So I became a country fan. Like I was so into alternative.

My friends didn't even know about country. So to me, country was alternative. Right. No one I knew listened to it. And then listening to those guys and then listening to those guys that influenced them, Johnny Cash,

George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams. I realized there was a whole world I'd been missing my whole life. So when I started that much, dubbing all these videos that were coming into the library uh for the much library we're getting a lot of country music videos at the time and i thought something should be done every week with a country music show so i helped submit a proposal one ended up going on the air

eventually uh hosted by denise thomlin and christopher ward, two amazing broadcasters that had a lot of influence on me. And then when Denise Donlan started doing it solo, she went away on mat leave. I started filling in for the show while she was gone. And then when she came back, we co-hosted. Then she became the director of music programming and I became host of the show full time. All the while never walking away from editing even my whole career i have loved being in an edit bay putting stuff together it's it's the ultimate but uh i didn't officially create it and was given the task of producing it i uh submitted a proposal and one ended up going on the air which i helped with the producing of that show so yeah it was a 22 year old

helping produce a national show it was a mind-blowing at the time amazing now uh did outlaws and heroes ever play anything by denise donlon's husband marie mclaughlin uh yeah he had a record out in a video. It was played a little bit. I don't even think it was in high rotation, but yeah, we definitely gave Murray some love. I always wonder, when she's in those meetings, does she have to recuse

herself? Like if a judge had his son... I wasn't part of the programming committee, or the ones that put videos in high rotation, so I wouldn't know. You know what? It wouldn't surprise me if she did recuse herself. No, I mean, these are also fellow

FOTMs, Christopher Ward, Denise Donlan, and Marie McLaughlin, and I got all the time in the world for all three, because they're just three good, solid human beings, good people. I still keep in touch with Denise quite a bit, and Christopher Ward I you know it's funny when people say oh I watch you growing up on much well I used

to watch those guys when I was in high school Christopher Ward Erica Denise Donlan doing the new music and yeah to get a chance to work side by side with these people years later. Just as thrilling for me as listening to Iron Maiden or Judas Priest or The Cure or any number of bands over the years that I got a chance to sit and bond with years later. It's the same thing. Amazing. I just tweeted a photo. It's J.D. Roberts and Jeannie Becker in front of the old Sam the Record Man. It's about 1977.

The new music. Right, exactly. I tweeted it because Jeannie Becker's coming on Toronto Mic in a couple of weeks. And I was thinking, yeah, you and I, similar vintage. That was it, man. That show, basically, I guess John Martin helped start up much music under Moses' vision.

Empire, yeah. Right. By the way, quick questions, because today, Moses is in the news. Moses Snymer is in the news today because Zoomer is buying the company that owns BlogTO and some other digital properties. And I'm wondering, did Moses ever have to bless your hiring? Or at that point, was he hands-off with that level? I have heard that, that every on-air hire has to go through him. I didn't have to have a meeting with him.

I think Denise or John Martin might have gone to bat for me. I didn't have to do any meetings or anything. But over the years, learned to love Moses and always thought he was not appreciated by the board as much as he should have been the board of directors maybe back then. Truly a visionary, and he remains a visionary. So many examples. The biggest one, obviously, is YouTube. Speaker's Corner was YouTube for its time. He was way ahead of its time.

The Open Concept Newsroom was him. That was his idea. And so, yeah, to actually be on the air as much, yeah, we didn't sit across from each other, but I always enjoyed our conversations over the years, for sure. I respect him so much. And John Martin. We lost John in 2005, 2006. Another visionary.

For creating the new music, the world's first music magazine TV show. You know, there were music TV shows all over Europe and stuff, even in the U.S., Midnight Special. But the way it was packaged, the way it had interviews, the way it had music videos, the storytelling, the hosts that were immersed in going out into clubs and stuff, no one had done that before. And, of course, that evolved into Much Music eventually that was essentially a dry run for Much when they got the Much license, there you go John Martin, let's go, amazing and then you're not that, you're shouting

out the OGs you know, Erica M, Michael Williams, I just had Kim Clark Champness on the program about two or three weeks ago, which was amazing to kind of revisit, you know, city limits and all this old school stuff. But you, my friend, I'm going to play a little clip because we lost somebody late last week. And I'm hoping you'll speak to this.

But let's listen to a couple of minutes of you hosting a show about the late great meatloaf. That's always my philosophy. Just go out there and have fun. Try your hardest, give it everything you got. And if you win or lose, it doesn't make any difference. It's about how you feel about how you played the game but i know that i will never not give everything i have to every moment

that i'm doing whatever i'm doing it may not be good but i'm trying Like any good athlete, the man they call Meatloaf has always given 110%. His 1977 album, Bat Out of Hell, would sell over 30 million copies worldwide. That's not just a home run, that's a grand slam. Holy cow, I think he's gonna make it. 25 years after the release of that landmark album, Meatloaf once again steps up to the plate with his new disc, Couldn't Have Said It Better. This is the story of Meatloaf. I'll bring it down, but I revisited this yesterday too, and it's excellent.

You're at what's now called Rogers Centre, but was called probably Sky Dome at the time. But can you please share with us any memories of your time spent with Meatloaf? What I learned that much a long time ago is the best interviews are conversations, not a question and answer. And the best interviews are taking them, taking the artist, the subject, out of a studio and maybe in a pub, maybe in a bar, maybe at a ball game.

You're catching them not so much off guard, but they're going to be more apt to share. And again, it's not a question and answer. It's a conversation. I knew Meatloaf was a huge ball fan. I organized so that we could do the interview at the Rogers Centre. Yeah, then Sky Dome. It was during the batting practice before the game started. I think it was the... I forget what team

they were playing. But yeah, it was during the batting practice and the players were excited to meet Meatloaf too. Yeah, so I forget. It was like a 45-minute conversation that was eventually cut up into an hour special with much more music that I did, a series I produced called The Story Of.

And so basically, yeah, that was with Meatloaf and a gentleman. And, you know, there wasn't anyone who was born, maybe was born from 1970 on, where Bad Outta Hell didn't somehow touch them in some way uh i was still in grade school when that album came out but even as an adult going to a pub and hearing any number of songs from that record like it's a that album uh is uh the soundtrack to a lot of people's lives it was huge and there was nothing else like it then on the radio and there's certainly nothing else like it since uh this operatic approach and you know i learned in that interview that he uh his white handkerchief that he would have on stage to wipe his eyebrow uh

Pavarotti stole that idea i think Pavarotti ended up having a blue one and meatloaf was the one who started the whole handkerchief thing i didn't know that wow wow yeah interesting yeah that marriage between uh jim steinman and uh meatloaf was amazing like just they were just you know jim steinman he needed meatloaf and meatloaf needed jim it's true like uh you know jagger richards yeah mccartney lennon um there was uh you know jim didn't really want a lot of the spotlight he'd rather write the songs or co-write the songs and let let me perform them and go up on stage and record them and yeah i'm glad you mentioned jim a lot of people forget it was a it was a package lost Jim, I think, just less than a year ago. Maybe a few years ago now, but yeah, within the last few years. In COVID times, time seems to stand still, I think.

Yeah, we lost him recently, for sure. It always freaks me out when the first time it happened, doing an interview with someone and finding out that they had passed away. First time that happened, I think, with me was conway twitty uh and uh it was i actually heard from conway's family after he had passed away that uh i had the last interview with them and over the years there's been a lot of people that i have had the pleasure to get to know and then finding out years later um the sad news that they're no longer with us and uh it brings home even more that yeah hey i'm getting older and b life is precious and it doesn't matter who you are we are all going to die someday and uh you know

take care of yourself for sure. May I ask you about one specific individual you interviewed who has passed away? Sure. Okay. But I'm going to, again, first I'm going to play a clip because you're like my hostage here. You can't really, what are you going to do?

Stop me here? Here we go. A little clip. Well, I have my mouse here. I can prep the lead. That's true. Musicology Well, I have my mouse here. I can prep the lead. That's true. How you doing?

My name is Bill Lelichka. Coming to you from the world-famous Broadcast Center, known as the Shum City Building, right here in downtown Toronto. We are in the presence of a true artist. No one has blended the sounds of rock, pop, funk, R&B, soul, folk as effortlessly, as prolifically, and as successfully as this guy. He is a true groundbreaker that has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. We got him for a rare TV appearance, all to celebrate the release of his latest disc, Musicology. Check it out! His name is

Prince! Oh, so funky. Please, tell me what it was like interviewing prince again another example of someone that i you know listened to their music in high school and uh it's that tangible connection years and years later uh that uh makes it um something that i'll never forget. And Prince never really gave a lot of interviews over his career, a handful intermittently throughout the world. And yeah, to get him for 90 minutes to play live and to talk, mind-blowing. And it was a really great broadcast, and he was in the mood to talk, which always helps, and surrounded by a live audience and i remember during the day i went downstairs to uh do something i forget much

more music back then was on the fourth floor we used the space that much music for the broadcast so and i was on my way upstairs and his entourage was coming through the door so i just sort of stood aside let the band through they were going to go do soundcheck and then prince walks by me and stops and stares at me right in front of me and he says it's a pleasure to meet you and a split second i'm like well how the hell do you know me and i realized okay yeah he lives in toronto this is all going through my head okay yeah he now he lives in toronto part-time He obviously watches TV. Might have seen some of my interviews. Hopefully enjoyed some of them.

And is saying to me now, nice to meet you. And I says, pleasure to meet you. And it's going to be an awesome night. Looking forward to it. And he says, yes it will be and I am too. And he walked away and did a soundtrack. I didn't see him until he came out

for that broadcast. So he requested check. I didn't see him until he came out for that broadcast. So he requested you? I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. I would like, I never even thought about that until now. Maybe. I don't know.

Because I've heard from other MuchMusic VJs, etc., where certain artists would request certain people. It was not uncommon. It's happened to me before. I've been told, you know, I don't want to name drop. I want you to name drop. I'm uncomfortable doing that.

More than a couple of times. Or I know that they have seen previous work. I remember interviewing Liam. Anyone who has interviewed Liam does not have a good experience. I've interviewed Liam Gallagher from Oasis a couple of times. Nothing but amazing experiences. The last time I met Liam, he came up to give me a hug.

And then I started figuring out, well, how would he know me? How would he like me? How would he like me? How would he know that I like Oasis? And then it dawned on me that I've been interviewing Oasis so many times over the years and have done so many specials that whenever I would interview Noel, I would give him a copy of the previous year's Oasis special. So maybe they watch it on the bus or he shares it with the rest of the band. And no doubt Liam has seen the interviews over the years

and no doubt knows I'm a fan and I think artists can just get a sense of whether the person they're talking to is a fan because they know stuff or it depends on how you handle yourself and so when he saw me he came over and gave me a hug so there's tangible connections

with artists over the years for sure. And some of them I've become friends with over the years. Some of them I've lost touch with. Some of them I haven't seen in a long time. And then we do reacquaint. There's like hugs and stuff. And again, I always go back to that perfect circle where I'm a fan first and foremost. And inevitably, a lot of these artists I listen to when I go home or go to sleep to their music or listen to them when I was in high school.

A big example is The Cure and Robert Smith or Led Zeppelin. I interviewed Jimmy Page a couple of times. I had Led Zeppelin on my jean jacket in high school. I had pictures of The Cure in my locker.

And then years later, spending hours in some cases with him over the years. I never take that lightly. It's been one of the greatest things about my career when I look back. One of the most favorite things that I'm proud of. Bill, I can totally relate.

I used to watch much music all the time and there was this great VJ named Bill Welichka and I'd be watching him hours on end and then one day I'm on a Zoom with the guy and he's answering my stupid questions. So I can totally relate. Led Zeppelin, The Cure, one level.

Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, one level. Bill, way over here and way down. It's all relative. By theger, one level. Bill, way over here and way down. It's all relative. All relative. By the way, it's kind of, people forget. I mean, I don't forget. You don't forget.

But that Prince lived on the bridal path there for a while. So it's very plausible. He's watching much music. He likes the cut of your jib, so to speak. I guess the kids aren't saying that anymore. And then he's like, you know, he's known for being kind of controlling. So when he's agreeing to this special, he very well, hypothetically, theoretically, may have said, I'll do it. But Bill Wilichka is the host.

And then I'm sure management says, you got it, Prince, because you're Prince and anyone you want. So this is possible. Yeah. so this is possible yeah and i've heard from record labels after the fact oh they asked for you or they thought that was the best interview they have done in years and just nice little compliments because you're certainly not going to hear it from your boss i've learned over the years and if your boss doesn't tell you you're doing a good job it's probably a good thing because most likely you are doing a good job because bosses normally talk to their employees when there's an issue. And I have no problem not hearing about any good work that I might be doing from a boss because if I don't hear anything,

I know I'm doing a good job. No news is good news. Cambrio is a listener and he wants to know what Ed, so he's got a few people he wants to know about specifically, but this gentleman, Ed the Sock is actually a sock. There's a guy named Steve Kersner in the sock. Both Ed and Steve have been over and in this basement and are FOTMs, but can you tell us what it was like

working with Ed the Sock? Also, you overlapped with Strombo? Strombo was never much Vijay i think he did something called rock or rock news and the new music which was on much but uh yeah uh but ed would see him a lot in the building yeah okay what was it like uh working with ed the sock like what was that like working with a persona? Steve is freaking funny.

He's got a sharp wit. He's got a great sense of humor. Ed DeSoc was just an extension I think of Steve's sense of humor. I remember when Ed DeSoc first would go on the air, David Kynes, my boss, who always would tell you he did a great job,

or Denise Donovan would tell you he did a great job, another great boss, but would pair me with Steve at the SOC for a couple hours on a Saturday VJ shift. And he would, you know, cut an artist up or make fun of a video. And my boss told me after the shift, he goes, you got to go toe-to-toe with them. You got to argue with them and defend those videos. I go, I'm not arguing with the frigging sock. As soon as you open up your mouth, you've lost. It's a sock.

Forget it. But yeah, Steve was great. George, man, a guy dug music and knew a lot about music. I thought I knew a lot about music and knew a lot about music and knew and understand a whole bunch of genres. George did as well, for sure. Amazing. Did you go to

Woodstock 99? Yeah, 94 and 99. Covered them both. And again, the Woodstock 99 stuff, there's a documentary recently that I watched. Some of Mucha's stuff is in there, actually. And we didn't realize the shit show that happened, especially on the last day,

and the stories of assault and sexual assault and girls getting grabbed. We didn't know any of that stuff until we got home and hearing about it in the news, almost to the point where it made me it made me feel it made me feel ashamed that we actually carried it and we covered it for three days and showed it in canada um we didn't know about the all that stuff that was going on again until after and uh sadly, I think I did a VJ shift after where I addressed it. And I said, you know, and I reminded people about the White Ribbon Campaign

and men coming together to end men's violence against women. And it takes one guy, one guy in a group of three or four guys to look at their friends and say, that's not cool. No, if a girl wants to crowd surf, don't reach up and grab her boob. Like, that's just not cool. Stop it. It takes one guy to do that. And a bunch of other, in a group of guys, ideally those other guys will listen and realize, yeah, that's not cool.

Don't. And so, yeah, I was ashamed that some of the meatheads that were out there doing that. And it wasn't all the crowd, it's important cool. Don't. And so, yeah, I was, I was ashamed that some of the, the meatheads that were out there doing that. And it wasn't all the crowd. It's important to say the majority of people just wanted to get off on, you know, some great music and be exposed to other acts that they've never been exposed to before. And did Limp Bizkit provoke a riot?

In my opinion, I was there. I thought they did. I think Fred could have easily stepped up to the mic and said, yeah, don't be tearing down that sound tower. No, please don't reach up.

Don't be grabbing girls' tits if they're crowd surfing. He had that chance to deflate an already escalating situation and he didn't. Good on you, though, for using your forum that chance to deflate an already escalating situation in Egypt. Good on you, though, for using your forum to remind people and dudes that, like you said, if you're in a group of guys, it just takes one guy to stand up and say, that's not cool, that's wrong.

And good on you for using your forum. You don't know what you don't know, Bill, right? So you might have been glorifying an event, but you have zero knowledge of what's happening in the darkness there. And you can't possibly be accountable for something you could not know of. So good on you for shining a light on the white ribbon campaign post. Good on you. Okay uh can you please share with me uh the transition from much music to much more music because uh we kind of talk about them as being one big blob here but like how did you come to leave much music proper for a gig at much more music like i said i've always loved the behind the scenes stuff uh almost as much as i

love interviewing people and uh what much afforded me was a luxury where i can do everything i can you know go to oakland interview liam gallagher and noel gallagher separately because they don't be interviewed together come back and edit an hour special. Go to a festival and come back and edit for the next day, stay up all night and editing a whole broadcast from Somersault with OLP, for instance. But I love every aspect of television. I love in front of the camera. I love behind the camera.

every aspect of television. I love in front of the camera. I love behind the camera. I just noticed with Much, it was getting a little... A lot of emphasis was put on the presentation of the music. We had a Spice Girls Day. I had to dress up as, I think,

Posh Spice for Spice Girls Day or something and do some throws. I just thought, man, I'm not wacky. I can be funny if needed to be but uh i was never the cute one i was never the wacky one i was never the political one i just i'm just a music fan that has a chance to interview great artists when much more music launched it was uh more of an older audience was the target and i thought okay now's the time for me uh to make a jump if I still love doing what I'm doing, and I do love

doing what I'm doing. I got asked to move over to much more music, to just do interviews and specials and not necessarily dress up as Posh Spice for Spice Girls Day. It sounds like you don't want to do schtick. It's about the music and you don't want to do shtick you know it's about the music

and and you don't want to do shtick yeah um and again it was an older audience that uh i was turning i was getting older myself and i just felt more comfortable you know speaking to people that were going to be closer to my age rather than uh pre-teens or something. And so Denise Donglin afforded me that luxury for five years. And interesting seeing some of those artists that were on much eventually going over to much more music. Or some of those artists I could introduce to much more music. There's still a lot of artists that were heavy on much that I thought warranted play on much more music there's still a lot of artists that were heavy on much that i thought warranted play on much more music and uh they opened up the parameters a little bit when i

when i got there which was great so uh yeah sadly uh much more music i think lasted up until five or six years ago and as we all know much music doesn't exist now. No, I mean, my understanding now is much music just reruns, I don't know, reality shows and maybe Simpsons. Well, they even dropped the music. It's just much now. So, yeah. Right. They call that, what's that called?

Drift? Channel drift, I think is the term they use for that. But at the time when you're at much more music, that's essentially an attempt to rekindle that energy, that sort of energy from that building, 299 Queen, that had sort of, dare I say, started to leave as we entered the year 2000. Well, and for me, the writing was on the wall sort of doing a Bowie interview. And I've interviewed Bowie a number of times

and came back with this great Bowie interview that I've interviewed Bowie a number of times and came back with this great Bowie interview that I was going to turn into an hour special and one of my bosses at the time said is this going to get ratings are people going to watch I'm thinking it's David friggin Bowie right are people going to watch yes they will watch and everything was becoming about the 10 second soundbite and who was screwing who and who's in rehab and who has cellulite just like you would see in these tabloid magazines much was going that way and that's when i sort of gave up on entertainment and said i'm done so what do you mean you've decided i understand completely what you're saying makes a lot of sense to me, but do you get another gig and then quit?

I stuck with it until there was something that I thought I could try and reinvent myself, and that was a morning show in Edmonton, so I could make mistakes and not be national if I had to make mistakes or if I was going to make mistakes. And it was television, but it was something I had never done before, like morning radio, but for TV. And did that for a year, realized I missed Ontario so much. My friends and family loved Alberta, but I just missed, it was a personal thing. And then got an offer to come to Ottawa to Weather Anchor, a news show, and got there and loved Ottawa, loved learning to do weather, and became a weather person for the 6 o'clock news. news my boss knew of my past and knew that i could tell a story and introduce uh uh this thing called bill's excellent adventures where i'm just out exploring stuff and having fun and uh became big part of the show got a lot of ratings and i did that for a number of years until there was layoffs in that building and under CTV which pretty much I don't have from admitting they pretty much decimated 299

Queen Street you know people say oh don't talk bad about old employers I'm not talking bad if anyone was in that building they know it happened it's public knowledge they decimated that vibe that spirit that sense of creativity that that energy uh gone and there are people who i know still work there now who uh could talk there was like life before ctv and life after ctv and how everything was just different anyway i got a year package uh my mom was dying that year coincidentally sorry uh and buried so i had that year to visit my mom and uh after i took a year package and at the end of that year um after my mom passed an offer came to come here that was nine years ago i'm loving. I'm probably having more fun here than I have been in years.

Speaking of fun, you saw, before I pressed record, you saw George the Animal Steel is here in the studio with me. It's a little action figure, yeah. Yeah, I should point out not George, the real George. Is George still with us? I don't know, actually. Oh, I believe

we lost George the Animal Steel a long time ago. A long time ago. Okay, because he seemed kind of old in the 80s, so that does not surprise me. No, no. I didn't know he was managed by Captain Lou Albano.

I didn't know that. And, of course, Captain Lou Albano, we lost as well. And Much Music, here's the quick crossover, is Cyndi Lauper, right? Because Cyndi Lauper

was doing all that wrestling stuff, rock and wrestling. And then she was, of course, a fixture on Much Music back in the mid-80s or so. Well, and here's the cool thing about Much. Sorry, Mike. Here's the cool thing about Much.

On Much, I've interviewed Hulk Hogan. I've interviewed Bret the Hitman Hart. I've interviewed Shawn Michaels. Much Music wasn't just music. It was about pop culture. And I interviewed The Rock live on much for like a half hour. I was, that was fun television.

So, yeah. So my love of wrestling from a kid dovetailed into a lot of the stuff I did for much. And even now having to interview a lot of the legends, it became a dream of mine to actually do a match at some point in my life let's slow down here slow this roll

because this is where I'm going my friend these things I discover when I do my homework and by the way I was glad to hear you talk about some names like Hulk Hogan because I think every single person other than Liam Gallagher who is still with us we talked about David Bowie,

Prince, Gore Downey, Meatloaf. Everybody we've talked about you interviewing is sadly no longer with us. I'm just glad to hear not everyone you interview dies. No. We had, funny you say

that, Louis Anderson passed away on Thursday. I think news broke on Friday. Today on the show here in Kingston, we ran an interview I did with him in 2018 on the same couch that I talked to him as. So the joke around the station is don't be interviewed by Bill. Well, it's the opposite here.

So I think I'm the anti-Bill because I've been doing this 10 years. And like I said, we're coming up on a thousand episodes. And no guest of Toronto Mic'd has ever passed away. Good. In 10 years. I know. And I got like guys in their 90s. I'm supposed to have Hazel McCallion on soon.

I'm almost afraid to do it because I don't want to break the street. I want to thank those who help fuel the real talk, especially our good friends at Great Lakes Brewery, delicious fresh craft beer brewed in southern Etobicoke, get it at LCBOs or at the retail store. Down the street from the Costco. Much love to Palma Pasta, authentic Italian food that will leave you wondering why you waited so long to give it a try.

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So I have two clips here tied to wrestling. The first one I'm going to do is somebody you interviewed. So I'm just going to play. It's like less than a minute here, but let's play this. News Watch Live at 5 starts now. Hey, thanks for being here. My name is Bill Wolitschka. This, of course, is Live at Five.

Very excited. It's Friday. It's Friday, May 9th. A beautiful day. And plus, for a half hour, he is the greatest intercontinental champion of all time. We have the Honky Tonk Man. And I'm very excited because it's not every day

you get to interview someone that has their very own action figure. Check that out. The Honky Tonk Man is here in action figure form and in real form. So look forward to that in mere moments. I got something to show you. Honky Tonk Man is in the house, WWE wrestling legend. And I have this little area in my den devoted to the Honky Tonk Man, if you can believe it or not. This is in my den. Yes, I am a huge wrestling fan and Honky Tonk Man is here. So excited. Geeky, huh? Is that geeky or what?

That's scary. Okay. All right, Honky Tonk Man coming up after the break. All right, talk to me. That's amazing, first of all. I love the Honky Tonk Man. And where are you? Is that the Ottawa show?

What are we, what am I playing? That would have been the show that I moved to Kingston for, Live at Five. And then eventually we started a morning show which I'm now part of. Yeah, so the Honky Tonk Man came to visit a couple of times. The greatest intercontinental

champion of all time. I just loved everything that he was about. He was a heel and now he's a face when he goes out. For those that don't know, a heel is a bad guy. A face is a good guy. Baby face. But yeah, good guy, baby face. But yeah, the area in my den has exploded. I think I have like 12 action figures.

I got a broken guitar that is signed. I got pictures. Oh, I saw that broken. So I'll say I watched the whole thing, okay? I watched your Live at Five with Honky Tonk Man. And at some point, you put on a hockey helmet and you get hit on the head with a guitar. But I will say it looked like that hurt.

It was a real guitar. Honky used to use breakaway guitars. But not for you. So yeah, that was Darren David. Honky refuses to break guitars now. He lacerated his thumb about 11, 12 years ago, maybe 15 years ago, somewhere, I think, on the east coast of Canada at an appearance.

He smashed a guitar. And he won't smash a guitar anymore, so he'll let other people smash a guitar. So I had actually scored a real acoustic guitar to break easy, except it didn't really break that easy, but a cameraman did it, and I was wearing a hockey helmet, of course. But yeah, I love hockey. He saved me, actually. There was a charity match here a few years ago in Kingston.

Is this Lady Yasmin? No, that was another match. Kingston loves pro wrestling. Can I play a little bit of this Lady Yasmin and play a little bit and then we'll talk about this. This is kind of my mind blow anyways.

Man, you have done your homework. I know. I'm basically WTF. What the hell is this? This is not long, about a minute, but let's listen. Okay, a little intro part here. I should have edited it out like you would have done, but here we go. Vanessa Craven has already gone back

to the dressing room, but her accomplished Canadian TV personality, Bill Wolitschka, is still in the ring. I don't think he realizes he's alone with Lady Yasmin. He just helped Vanessa Craven defeat Yasmin. Yasmin and Craven have now each scored a victory over each other. Woliczka's apologizing now. It looks like Yasmin's going to accept his apology.

They got their arms around each other here. We may see a hug. No! Yasmin just nailed him in the midsection with a knee. Now she's ripping his suit jacket. This guy's a TV star. He wears $1,000 suits. And she just DDT'd his face into the mat.

He's not a wrestler. I don't think Lady Yasmin cares. He interfered in her match. And she wants to get some vengeance here. And she nails Welichka one more time for good measure. Follow Great North Wrestling. TheHannibalTV.com is our website. All right, explain yourself, Phil.

What the heck am I listening to here? Oh, yeah, I forget how many years ago that was. I think Demolition might have been there at some charity match in Kingston. And I happen to be the manager of one girl who I helped win by distracting her opponent. And then my manager happened to leave the ring and then left me alone with the opponent who got revenge on me. Yeah, I remember he ruined my jacket too. But there was a similar incident in Kingston where I'd done a lot of work promoting wrestling and local wrestlers for a long time. And there was a Bill Belichick appreciation night at a match here in Kingston.

Vicky Guerrero was there. Tito Santana was there. And before the night started, they ran a reel of all my interviews with wrestlers over the years and it got interrupted by uh cj felony who proceeded to attack me in the ring and i was saved by the honky-tonk man no idea honky was there he came out with a guitar of course cj felony a coward he was hightailed it out of there sure and uh yeah i was saved by the honky tonk man what's the bigger thrill like going toe-to-toe with david bowie or having the honky tonk man save your ass in a wrestling match honky tonk man hands down wow

no they're all they're all the same and i had a chance to actually step into the ring and uh go one-on-one with cj felony a couple of years later at the leon center here in kingston it was a sold out leon center bigger crowd attendance than any wwe event at the same venue uh did some training and uh went up against cj felony and uh what was uh eventually a couple years later, a revenge match. He ended up winning. But it was a dream come true to enter the ring with a singlet and boots. So, okay. So, we've got you in Kingston.

You're living the dream. You seem very, very happy. From my brief experience with you here, it seems like Kingston agrees with you you're going to live the rest of your life that's the important thing too that's the important thing Mike to know that you are supported

and I hear it every day from people in my community or at events when we had events and I love the city with all my heart, and I feel that in a lot of ways it is reciprocated by everyone that I meet here. It's just a beautiful community, a charitable community as well. Well, there's a gentleman named Colin Kennedy who tweeted at me

when I said you were coming on, and he says, I love Bill. He's a great supporter of our station, and we're lucky to have him here in K-Town. There you go. Colin Kennedy. And then also speaking of Kingston, 5151 Photography wrote in, do you Bill have any fond memories of S&R department store or did it close before you got to Kingston?

That is a landmark in Kingston, S&R Department Store. It had an elevator, from what I remember, and it had an elevator doorman, even. So that's going back a few years. That's going back before my time. And anyone who knows the S&R will also know uh the manor the kingston manor where the hip got their start so just to date it around 82 83 84 it was a strip joint and then became a music venue at night watch the girls through all the dancers or watch the band through all the dancers a little nod actually uh small town bring down was filmed there wow wow uh the hip video was the manor and uh it was the biggest rock club

to play between montreal and toronto it's now a subdivision so i wasn't here for then uh but people go on about the manor if you were were here in Kingston back then where the Hipcots got their start at the Manor, it's a well-known club that's no longer here. Amazing. Bill, you just said the word subdivision, and in my mind I can hear subdivisions, like over the Rush song, right?

That was an early video much would play with subdivisions. Rush is another one of those bands in high school that, actually, no, I never really got into Rush in high school. A lot of my best friends loved rush it wasn't until years later we're interviewing getty and alex where i became friends and actually listening to rush when i would go home and falling in love with the music of rush years later yeah well that that voice that says subdivisions. The great debate is people say, hey, that's Neil Peart doing that voice, but I have heard

it might be Mark Daly. I've never heard that one. In the video, it's clearly Alex Lifeson. Alex Lifeson. Okay. You think it's clear? Okay. Maybe there's less of a debate than I like to think there is here. Because I'm holding out for the fact that maybe it was

Mark Daly's voice that we heard on that track. It's a good rumor. It's one that I haven't heard. It's a nice rumor to start. Mark is no longer with us as well, sadly. But... But, yeah, you must have crossed paths with him in 299 Queen Street a few times, right?

Mark Daly? Many times, yeah. A great human being. And I believe he was a former cop in his younger days. Definitely very close to the police department. They would call him first with tips. very close to the police department. They would call him first with tips.

The first call went to Mark Daly because if he wasn't a cop, he was an honorary cop. Let's put it that way. For sure. Yeah, and a gentleman and no other voice like this. Certainly the voice of Toronto for a generation at least,

maybe two or three. Viewer discretion advised. Okay, so before we say goodbye here, much love to the late, great Mark Daly. Before we we say goodbye let's just get the nuts and bolts right uh as to what exactly you're doing in kingston and give me like the names of your stations so i and then how the heck that ties into what bob willett is doing in kingston uh i know this is okay so i know it's a pandemic so bob i don't think goes to to Kingston very often because of the pandemic. Have you ever, so you haven't met him since that intimate and interactive?

No, I haven't. We were Facebook friends actually before he got the job here. I'm Facebook friends with a lot of people that love music that I've never necessarily met. Which I'm okay with. So yeah, CKWST TV, it's a heritage station. It's been around for, I think close to 70 years here in Kingston. It's now,

it was a CBC affiliate for many, many, many years. Now it's a global affiliate chorus entertainment. So the morning show global news morning is what I co-host and co-produce. And in the station, in our building there's two fm stations big fm and fresh radio bob willett is the station manager i think of both those stations okay and so uh like anyone else that has learned that i've learned during the pandemic you can work from

home i don't even think he set and put the building he's been the station manager for maybe a year and a half he's never been in the building i don't think so uh lots of emails and zoom calls i guess that's wild it's like a colleague you haven't met at the station so uh bob's radio side, you're the TV guy, but do you also do hits on the radio? Yeah. We have, like I said, the two radio stations, so they have two morning shows. And if there's something worth talking about or newsy or topical, I'll get invited to join the morning shows on the radio to share my opinion or some insight or contribute that way.

So for example, uh, I'm guessing, uh, the passing of meatloaf, that might be a call to bill to say, will you jump on and talk, jump on and talk about your conversations with meatloaf?

A great example. Yeah. Sadly, it's, uh, any, um, yeah.

When the news has, uh, a story that someone has passed away, and newsrooms will jump into action trying to find experts and pundits to share their opinion on what this person was like. I always laugh when I see, because we have news shows on the monitor in our newsroom, when I see because we have news shows on in the monitor in our newsroom and it uh I find it funny when um you know it's that's what news stations do they have to fill time someone died let's fill two minutes talking about this person with an expert right inevitably that expert has never met the person uh basically googling their name finding out some key points to share this information um it's the the nature of news though but it's great that chorus has this resource like

you who has met so especially in the uh you know the 90s and 2000s you've met so many of these uh legends if you will that you know when a meatloaf passes away, you don't have to get some guy who read the wiki page and listened to Bad Out of Hell. You can talk to Bill Wilichka, who was at the Dome with meatloaf, shooting the breeze for an hour. That's amazing.

I've lived a very beautiful life, and I don't take it for granted, and I know full well. Most people don't get a chance to meet their heroes, their idols, and I have been very fortunate enough to have, and in some cases still do. So, very honored, and thank you for being interested, really.

Well, continued success in Kingston. I'm glad you're happy, and long may you run, and thanks very much for appearing on this podcast. It was a great pleasure chatting with you, Bill. Mike, I appreciate it. Take care.

Thank you so much, sir. And that brings us to the end of our 987th show. We're fast approaching episode 1,000 and it's not too late for you to be a part of that episode.

Record yourself talking about Toronto Mike for 30 to 90 seconds and email that audio to mike at torontomike.com and you'll hear yourself alongside Tyler Stewart and James B. on episode 1,000. You can follow me on Twitter.

I'm at Toronto Mike. Bill is at Bill Wilichka. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta. Sticker U is at Sticker U Ridley Funeral Home are at Ridley FH And Canna Cabana are at Canna Cabana underscore See you all

Tomorrow when my guest is Brian from Helix. Well you've been under my skin for more than eight years It's been eight years of laughter and eight years of tears And I don't know what the future can hold or do For me and you But I'm a much better man for having known you Oh you know that's true because Everything is coming up Rosy and green

Yeah, the wind is cold But the smell of snow Wants me today And your smile is fine And it's just like mine And it won't go away Cause everything is rosy and green Well, I've been told that there's a sucker born every day

But I wonder who Yeah, I wonder who Maybe the one who doesn't realize There's a thousand shades of grey Cause I know that's true Yes, I do I know it's true, yeah I know it's true

How about you? Are they picking up trash And they're putting down roads? And they're brokering stocks, the class struggle explodes And I'll play this guitar just the best that I can Maybe I'm not and maybe I am But who gives a damn because Everything is coming up rosy and gray. Yeah, the wind is cold, but the smell of snow warms me today.

And your smile is fine, and it's just like mine. And it won't go away, because everything is rosy and gray. Cause everything is rosy and green Well I've kissed you in France and I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in places I better not name And I've seen the sun go down on Chaclacour But I like it much better going down on you Yeah, you know that's true Because everything is coming up

Rosy and green Yeah, the wind is cold But the smell of snow Warms us today And your smile is fine And it's just like mine. It won't go away. Cause everything is rosy now. Everything is rosy and everything is rosy and gray. Yeah, yeah, yeah.