Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Ivar Hamilton KOTJ: Toronto Mike'd #257

Episode Date: August 8, 2017

Mike and Ivar play and discuss his ten favourite songs.

And right now, right now, right now it's time to... Take out the jams, motherfuckers! I'm in Toronto where you wanna get the city love I'm from Toronto where you wanna get the city love I'm a Toronto Mike, wanna get the city love My city love me back for my city love Welcome to episode 257 of Toronto Mike A weekly podcast about anything and everything Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery A local independent brewery producing fresh craft beer. And propertyinthesix.com,

Toronto real estate done right. I'm Mike from torontomike.com and joining me is Ivor Hamilton. Hey, glad to be here. Welcome back. Thank you very much. I'm happy to be back. It's been a while since we've caught up, so I'm sure we've got some good things to talk about, and we're going to play some music, which is always exciting for me. You know, if anyone's going to kick out the jams, it's Ivor Hamilton. I don't know if you're a fan of symmetry,

like when numbers align right, but here's a fun fact. This is episode 257. Okay. Your last visit when we went through, we talked about your days at the Spirit of Radio, CFNY, and we talked about your memories of Martin Streak, and we talked about how you're the guy

we can blame for that Bon Jovi banner at the ACC. Yes, of course. And we talked about what you and David Morrison are up to, which we'll touch again, but that was episode 157. Oh, wow. Okay.

So that's a coincidence. I want to tell the people that was a complete, wonderful coincidence. Excellent. So now, as I often do, I urge you to pause this program, go back to episode 157,

learn everything you ever wanted to know about Ivor Hamilton, but were afraid to ask, and then come back here so you can hear Ivor kick out the jams. I wonder if anyone will actually do that. Who knows? But we can tell some of the stories again, because

that's what us older folks do. We repeat the same stories. Well, I might even repeat the same clips or so. But right off the top, last time we learned that you and David Marsden were working on... So tell us about the project

you have with David Marsden for all the CFNY fans listening what they should be subscribed to. It's called nythespirit.com. It's actually David's brainchild and it's really his way to keep, I guess, the original spirit of radio alive. It's free-form radio.

It's a 24-hour stream out there. It's a $5 subscription, which is, you know, a cup of coffee if you're buying at Starbucks and two at Tim's, although their prices went up a little bit lately. But regardless, so I do a once-a-week program on that. And some of your old CFNY favorites are on there, All Night Andre. And coming soon, if you remember this guy from way, way back when, Brad McNally will return to the airwaves. So he's been in Australia and working in radio around the world. But he's agreed to do a program. So that's going to start soon. It's going to be very, very exciting.

So, yeah, it's great. I just have a hell of a lot of fun playing the music that I love. I play new music, play old music, play music that drives David nuts sometimes, but he's got a great attitude on it. Well, he can't complain because he's

Mr. Play-What-You-Want. No, absolutely. Anyway, he always we've got a great relationship, and everyone's so awesome. Like, do you really have to play that punk music? And I'm like, yeah, I do. I really like it. But it's great fun for me, and one of my favorite things of all time was playing music for people. So I'm glad that I'm still able to do do it and a lot of other people out there. And you hear a lot of things on that particular stream that you won't hear anywhere else. And it's a lot of fun. David's live on Saturday nights and Sunday nights as well. So you really

get that great Spirit of Radio feel on nythespirit.com. David Marsden is such a larger-than-life character, this icon. So when I was thinking of this idea, this kick out the jams, he was top of mind. Like, oh, imagine if Mars Bar came over and kicked out the jams. So I approached David about this,

and he very nicely told me he doesn't do top 10 lists. Well, I got to tell you, I'll be honest too, when you said this, Mike, it's like, well, to top 10, well, that's really hard for me. So I know you've allowed me a little freedom here that we're going to go to 11 today. In honor of Spinal Tap.

For Spinal Tap, we will find an 11th notch. I wanted to go to 12. But I mean, my thing, I've got so much music in my head and so much in my collection, it's impossible to pick 10. But I just thought, oh, what do I spin all the time? And I have reasons for playing the songs that we're going to play today. Cool. Now, the news came out since I last recorded, news came down

that the House of Lords is closing on Yonge Street. The hair, what do you call that? Hairdresser? I guess. Hair stylist, a hair salon, hair joint. They'll even frost your tips if you want. So it's more than just haircuts. But let me play an old, speaking of Marsden,

speaking of CFNY, I've had this in my collection. I've had in my collection of old archived radio bits, this great ad for House of Lords that aired on your station back in the 80s. Let's hear it. The House of Lords. Future historics. Recognized instant music.

When you're ready to go, it's the place to come. The House of Lords. There is nothing quite like it. The House of Lords. The House of Lords. The House of Lords. The House of Lords. Oh, say, it's hot. That's really comfortable.

It's just like sitting in a big hand. The House of Lords. Beware. Your brain may no longer be the boss. The House of Lords, young Ed Isabella. If you are beginning to doubt what I am saying, you are probably hallucinating. Listen carefully.

Young Ed Isabella. Now that is David Marsden doing the voiceover there. Absolutely. He did work for Paul, who owns the House of Lords for years and years. Even up until recently, I think he was still doing things. But for me, House of Lords, a bit of a pilgrimage when we were in our teenage years. I was living in Brampton, where I went in high school years, and it was a bit of a pilgrimage. You'd go downtown, and you would go to Master John's

if you had money in your pocket to get a pair of platform shoes. You would go to one of the head shops and buy a bootleg record, and you'd go to the House of Lords and get a haircut. And because all of the celebrities did go there, you could see all the pictures when you go in there of various celebrities that visited there. I have a good friend of mine. I went to high school and had a picture of him in Ronnie Wood from the Faces at the time, and then later Rolling

Stones at the House of Lords, which to me was always, you know, pretty amazing. Oh, Rod Stewart gets his haircut there, and all these other people get their haircut there back in the day. So we're gonna, it's, you know, like everything else on Yonge Street these days, we're sorry to see it go. I mean, we talked before we went on the air about losing the hard rock, and what a shame that is. It was such a great institution and a great place to go, and we don't have it anymore, but there is another drugstore there, so you're able to get your prescriptions filled.

Without a doubt, a lot of the character of Yonge Street, so the character is being washed away, if you will, by corporate Canada, I suppose, because that character cannot afford the property taxes, etc. I think I read somewhere 500% increase was going to hit the House of Lords or something. That's a lot of haircuts, right? It was pretty crazy. I understand too, in the hard rock, the rent was just going to be so sky high. But even somebody like them who have stores or locations around the

world no longer saw it viable to do. And maybe they'll open up in another location. Let's see. And maybe House of Lords will open up somewhere else. But I guess progress marches on and it is what it is. I have another clip before we kick out the jams. Let's listen to this and see

if you recognize this young whippersnapper. And of course, that's one of the more requested songs around CFNY these days, the 102.1 band with Eleanor Rigby. And we just happen to have one of the singers from the 102.1 band, actually the lead singer, Ivor Hamilton.

How are you doing, Ivor? Not too bad. Signing autographs. Signing autographs, are you? Signing autographs to the fans. Well, I didn't think we were that big already. Million seller. I understand you're at the Stones this evening. Yeah, I went down there,

and they wouldn't let me go on stage with them. Oh, well, we thought maybe you'd be opening the show. Well, that was originally planned. John Belushi took over for me. How was the show? I know it could have been the event of the year. Was it indeed the event of the year? Close. Close to the event of the year. John Belushi was the only fellow, the only person rumored to have showed up who came. He just opened it up. He didn't sing on stage with the band or anything.

He just introduced the New Barbarians, and that was it. Do you think the crowd will be that excited when the 102.1 band performs? Give it a little time. I think we've got a little bit of work to do. Well, a fair bit, I might say. However... Tell me. That's great.

The 102.1 band, which I'll play a little cut in a minute, my favorite that I have. You were the lead Now, the 102.1 band, which I'll play a little cut in a minute, my favorite that I have. So you were the lead singer of the 102.1 band? Actually, I was not the lead singer on that. I was a part of the band. I contributed some money financially. I think I got a royalty check for $2.30. I thought you were going to get shares,

like Freddie P was in here last week. People have Humble and Fred shares, and they want to know when they can cash those. Right, right. I mean, it was basically done as awareness when the radio station was actually going into receivership, and we thought we needed to do something about it. So it was Dominic Trino, Nash the Slash, and the rhythm section of Teenage Head, Lindsay Gillespie. Which is a great, so far a great lineup, right? Just think of those names. Sadly, most have passed on, actually. Correct. Because Frankie Venom's gone.

Correct. So Frankie's gone, Nash is gone, Dominic Turano's gone. So we've got two of the guys from Teenage Head that are left on. Frankie wasn't actually part of that. It was the guitarist and bassist who played on that.

I think maybe the drummer too. Anyway, it was made in one night and we had a lot of fun with it. A great piece of history that's still around. I think I've got five or six of the vinyl in my collection still kicking around. So, anyway. Before we kick out your jams, here's

a bonus jam, if you will. I hope I've got the right clip here because I see it's called Track 46. That's always a great descriptor here. But I believe this will be 102.1 band. Let's find it. We're Progressive FM. You can't call us mainstream. The only real radio versus a big machine.

Those little whispers start to shake the floor. And the noise can be heard From the corporate doors If you wish to, as I play this in the background, do you want to do the ongoing history of the 102.1 band? Like, for example, how did this track come together? This is working on the radio. This is working on the radio.1 band? Like, for example, how did this track come together? This is working on the radio. This is working on the radio. This was...

So the two singers on this is Jim Bird, who was actually in the news department at CFNY. And if you think about it and go, he's actually trying

to imitate Bruce Springsteen, which I don't know if is a well-known fact. You know what I hear when I listen to it? I hear real statics is the sound I hear. That's fair enough. Fair enough.

So it's Lindsay Gillespie, Jim Bird are the two real vocalists on that one. I think I maybe just contributed a little bit of background over that particular thing. And really, that was it. You know, we put out one record on Ready Records. We had a very close relationship. They were the same label that had Stephen Blimke and the Demics. Good relationship with them. They decided to do it with us,

and it was just a moment in time that has, I guess, hopefully has stood the test of time. And I don't think we've mentioned it yet, actually, but you currently work for a major record label. Yes. Is that right? Yes, Universal Music. Are you allowed to tell us?

Okay. Some small little indie outfit called Universal. You sold out, man. I hope you know that. It keeps me busy. We work hard and are ever evolving. I think I once, my daughter was freaking out because we couldn't get Rihanna tickets. I think I once did my best to,

hey Ivor, it's your best friend Mike. Right. So I promised not to do that anymore. That's okay. Really, you just met her, but that was Michelle's fault. She was like, do you know anybody? I said, I don't know anybody. Oh wait, there may be one guy.

I'll throw a Hail Mary pass and see. Well, I think it comes with the territory. It's to be expected that people like to reach out. But it must get annoying, right? You know, hey, remember we were in high school together. Can I get tics for this? You do get those and then you do a lot of

people that do reach out who don't know really who you have. Right, right, right, yeah. They didn't do the homework. Reach out for acts that we have nothing to do with and you just try to be polite and say, I'm sorry, we don't represent them. I suggest you do whatever. And for me, occasionally I'm looking to do the same thing

and reach out to people. I'm used to having the same sort of love to help you, but I can't. It's just one of those things. Yeah, I guess you're used to it by now. But here, we'll let this wind down here and then we're gonna talk about that tasty beer in front of you i guess maybe it reminds me a little of like a record body count kind of a vibe coming if you're talking real statics or whatever uh but yeah cool and that must have been uh heavily requested i guess that would be a because i heard in that first clip we played,

I heard like about an Eleanor Rigby cover, which I actually haven't heard because I have working on the radio, but I'm guessing... There was only one song, the 102.1 band ever really did, and that was working on the radio. So maybe that's something that's fictitious,

but there was only the one song. See, I bit. See how gullible I am? That's okay. But yeah, that's funny. I'm just here to set the record straight. That, I bit. See how gullible I am? That's okay. But I, yeah, that's funny. I'm just here to set the record straight. That's why you're here, man. Got to get this.

Now that it's archived for all eternity, a hundred years after you've passed, people can go back to the archives and what did Iver have to say about the 102.1 band? I just had one song. One song. And I wasn't really... And it was good, though.

That was a good track. And you heard the Freddie P kick out the jams because it was only a few days ago. But we played Snow Removal Machine and we talked about that. So these are like the CFNY cuts. It's funny on Snow Removal Machine. I remember the day when somebody said,

I've got an idea to do that song. Who was that somebody? Was that Captain Phil? I get different reports depending who I'm talking to. I think Phil was in the room. I believe it was John Massacar was one of the producers, the guy who actually put it together. But I was saying to Fred.

Darren, too. Okay, please continue. Darren Waslick would have had something in on that. But the one thing I don't know, I didn't hear the entire show with Fred on there. I just heard a piece of it. But there was actually a longer version of Snow Removal. And I don't, and for some reason he can't find it or it's on a cart that we can't convert or whatever, but there was a longer version, which when I asked him, because I wanted

to play it on a holiday show I did at nythespirit.com and he sent it to me. I said, oh Fred, it's like the strip club version. It's, you know, a minute and 20 seconds long. And where is that old one or that long one? Because it was a full-length song, but it was so much fun. I know the cult heard it and they thought it was hilarious. So it was a good passage of time. And as I said to Fred,

when the first snowfall, if it's December or January and you get that first big blizzard that hits, yeah, your brain goes to the snow removal machine. It's an all-time classic. Out of season right now, but you'll want to hear it again in December or January. It was funny on that whole series. We started talking about doing those songs at the time

because at the time I had a relationship with a woman in Boston, and I used to go down to Boston all the time, and I would listen to a radio station, WBCN in Boston, and I used to go down to Boston all the time, and I would listen to a radio station, WBCN in Boston, and they used to do parodies of songs all the time, and they did lunch song parodies, so they would do them every day in the lunch hour, so they would take whatever was popular at the time and make it into a lunch song, something to do with food, and I remember hearing the Rolling Stones, Mother's Little Helper was like Mother's Hamburger Helper. And then it was Marley's No Woman, No Cry was like

no pizza pie, no hot apple pie. I mean, it just kept going on. And so we got talking. And then I distinctly, somebody remembers, I got it, we're going to do Snow Removal Machine. We're going to do that cult song. That shower moment, I call that. It's like, ah, that's too good. We're going to do Snow Removal Machine. We're going to do that cult song. That shower moment, I call that. It's like, ah, that's too good.

We got to do this. And I said to Freddie, you know, he kind of nails that. You don't know, because all I think of when I hear Freddie singing, it's Goo Head, right? And this was like the anti-Goo Head. This was a pretty cool vocal performance. Well, it's interesting on Fred. I used to share an apartment in the house with

kevin o'leary who was the producer on the pete and geats morning show worked with uh fred and pete and geats at the time and mike stafford and uh they'd wrap up at i don't know whatever it was 10 o'clock in the morning and and um but they there were spent many times coming over to our house in the afternoon and i would you know there were times i'd come home from work and they'd be sitting on the roof of the garage or out in the back. And, you know, they'd be well away to the races. And I used to hear Fred sing all the time. And he'd be like, my God, this guy can sing. He can really sing.

So he would start, he'd do his Hills Are Alive with the, you know, sound of music or whatever it is. And he'd do all these things. And I was like, wow, he can really sing. So that's how Freddie kind of got his singing career. That's right. Oh, that's great. Now, if people listening want to help crowdfund this effort and keep Toronto Mic'd going so we can get these people like Ivor Hamilton to come in and tell us these stories, for the record,

not enough media outlets in this city are focusing on the Ivor Hambletons of the world. So I'm out there to change that. Thank you so much. And you mentioned Stafford. He's coming in to kick out the jams as well, Mike Stafford. In fact, sadly, he was scheduled and then his mother passed away

and he had to delay. Oh, sorry to hear. Yeah, this has happened very recently. But he is still coming on. So it'll be very interesting to hear Stafford kick out the jams. But please, to finish that initial thought, go to patreon.com slash torontomike.

I have big orange buttons on the side of torontomike.com if you want to just click over. Because Patreon's a weird word, I'm told. It's not Patreon, it's Patreon. But patreon.com slash torontomike. Even a dollar a month is super helpful to keep this thing going

speaking of keeping this thing going there's a six pack in front of you Ivor yes all yours Great Lakes Brewery did you get a six pack

your last visit I did so thank you very much and we enjoyed it at the cottage I'm off to the cottage in a couple of weeks and I think I'll probably

take it up to Stony Lake and share it with the folks that are going to be up there. So I was at the Great Lakes Brewery headquarters yesterday. I was having a beer with my buddy there, and I was joined by Brian Gerstein. Brian Gerstein is with PropertyInTheSix.com, so he's another proud sponsor of this program. And while we were

talking over this beer, we were having a dog and a beer, and he's like, Mike, you read, you're, you're, you know, I'm like the Ed McMahon of podcasting. I do a great job reading his pitch, which is like, if you just, if you call Brian and have a meeting with Brian, he gives you a pint glass, by the way, before I forget, that's also yours, that pint glass from Brian Gerst. Excellent. Thanks very much. Propertyinthe6.com. But then Brian's like, hey, let's go to your place and record. I'll do it. I'll read it.

So for the first time ever, I'm debuting this now in episode 257. Let's hear from Brian himself. Propertyinthe6.com self. I am Brian Gerstein, sales representative with PSR Brokerage, with offices in the Annex and in King West. I will be happy to meet you to just have a conversation about real estate. And in hand, I will have a six-pack of Octopus Wants to Fight, as well as my unbelievably handy pint glass. Happy to meet you. Give me a call, 416-873-0292. And don't forget, you can always check me out at propertyinthesix.com.

There you go. It's almost like Brian's sitting here with us. Have a good time. And by the way, I know real estate agents, sometimes they're slimy assholes or some jerk. Real estate agents out there, I can personally vouch. Forget the fact that before he was a sponsor, this is a solid citizen and you just have to have a conversation with him if you're looking to buy or sell. So do give Brian a call as he says, 416-873-0292. Heck, it's worth it just for that glorious pint glass from propertyinthesix.com. Get yourself some property too.

Yeah, why not while you're at it? Propertyinthesix.com pint glass and a piece of property in the six. It's a perfect combination. Why not? Why not? Ivor, are you ready to kick out the jams? Yes, we are. Yes, we are.

What are we going to start with? What do you want to... I sent you the list of music, and what did you line up first? So, and it's true, usually we have this talk off mic, and I forgot, but so I will play the song,

and we'll be quiet for a little bit. I usually wait till after the first kind of chorus.'ll be quiet for a little bit. I usually wait until after the first kind of chorus. I find like a sensible time to fade it down and then I basically tell you who it is,

what the song is called and then the floor is yours. We want to hear from you. What do you love about it? Why do you love it? Et cetera, et cetera. I should point out though this initial track I'm playing,

I know you sent me a Spotify playlist but I prefer to take an MP3 and load it into my somewhere. But this song, and I don't want to spoil it because we're going to play it and say who it is, but there are multiple versions recorded by this band of this

I want to call it a cover because it's technically the other band, but this will all be explained in a moment, and I hope I got the right version. I think I sent you the Spotify playlist because it had the versions I wanted to use. That's why. Let's play it before I get the shots for messing this up. Let's see if I really messed it up.

Let's hear your first jam. Thank you. Cynhyrchu'r ffordd y byddwn ni'n gwneud. This is Ceremony. Yes. New Order. New Order. Did I get the wrong version? I think you pretty much nailed it. I think the thing is you just want to make sure you have a version. The production has come up a tad.

It's been remixed a few times since it originally came out in 1981. And this was a Joy Division song? Yeah, it was originally written as a Joy Division song. Yeah, it was originally written as a Joy Division song. And then, of course, when Ian Curtis passed away, it was still a holdover and was the first song released by New Order a few months later. And I loved Joy Division. I actually had a ticket for when they were going to play at the Edge Club. And I remember getting a call from Gary Top saying the show's not on because of what happened to Ian Curtis.

So it was really quite a shocking point in time in the music business and for the band. But when this came out, it was just, it was so good. I just thought it was such an amazing song. And to me, it was almost the, you know, the start of the post-punk movement with this song. One of the first things, you know, influenced countless other bands over the years that you'll still see to this day, you know, bands such as Interpol and the XX.

that you'll still see to this day, you know, bands such as Interpol and the XX. So I think it's just a very meaningful piece of music for the early days of New Order. I will tell you that the first time New Order came to Toronto, I think it was November of 81, and I was so much looking forward to it. But it turned out to be a very disappointing show. The first New Order North American shows, they actually weren't very good live, and they were also banned to me, especially in the early days.

You didn't know what you were going to get. You got either a great show or not such a good show. But of course, they really progressed so much into electronic music a few years later with Blue Monday and all the other things that they did down the road. And speaking of Blue Monday, if you get a chance, go and see Atomic Blonde. It's very prominent in the movie Atomic Blonde, music of the early to mid-80s as the movie's set around the Berlin Wall coming down, a spy thriller.

It's all music, New Order, Depeche Mode, countless other ones in there. Really, really worth your while. Carter, Depeche Mode, countless other ones in there. Really, really worth your while. Joy Division has, I would call, a mild resurgence amongst teenagers right now because of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. And there's a common thread throughout the series, and I just watched this with my 13-year-old daughter.

We talked about who wants all those free tickets. But basically, there's Joy Division songs kind of played throughout. And one of the tapes one of the guys has is Joy Division that they put in the car. And yeah, so I mean, people like my daughter are discovering Joy Division now for the first time thanks to that series. I think it's great when those things happen. I've heard countless stories of people telling about television shows or Netflix series, what have you, of bands that have become in the forefront, video games, all of those sorts of things

that bring music back from the past. I think it's a good way and a smart way to get to catalog out there of bands from the past. And one final thought on Joy Division as it becomes New Order. I saw the documentary, which was very good, and I can't remember what it was called, but I really liked the Joy Division documentary

that came out. I'm going to say that was almost 10 years ago now. Yeah, I would think so. And Peter Hook's out there doing a Joy Division show or playing New Order and Joy Division songs in his show, and a very personable guy. And I was fortunate to have worked with New Order over the years after I left CFNY and went to Polygram and worked with them on a number of shows, had some really good times

with those guys too. But you mentioned having tickets to see Joy Division when you got the terrible news about Ian. Yes. If I remember correctly, the suicide was like something like just before they were about to fly to North America for their first ever North American tour, right? Yeah, it was. It was on the eve of that tour that it happened.

So I can't remember whether or not Toronto was going to be the first or second show, but it was right within the first couple of shows. Tis a shame. In fact, when we think of CFNY, Love Will Tear Us Apart is one of those tracks that you think of when you think of CFNY, Love Will Tear Us Apart is one of those tracks that's sort of like you think of when you think of like Spirit of Radio, CFNY.

Absolutely. You know, for me, there was so much more than Love Will Tear Us Apart. I think Love Will Tear Us Apart was certainly, you know, I guess all these bands, you've kind of got one or two of the sort of signature songs. But I think that between Joy Division, New Order, there was so much more that they were famous for.

Absolutely. All right, Ivor, let's kick out another jam. And by the way, even before we continue, don't worry. The third jam, I have the right, I believe I have the right live version based on your Spotify playlist. I don't take a lot of anymore mistakes.

Don't be afraid to tell me if you do. I will let you know if we're off. That's your jam number two. Okay. Cymru, Cymru, Cymru This is Motorhead with Motorhead. Yes. From the album Motorhead. Is that right? Debut in 1977. Originally came out as an EP.

Was produced by Speedy Keen, who was not a very good producer. It's really got that DIY, DYI feel to it. And I love Motorhead from day one. This song was actually out four years as Motorhead before the Ace of Spades hit. And it was also recorded by Hawkwind, so it was actually a re-record when they did their debut. And it was my ringtone for a number of years as well. I love it when people kick out the jams and then they let me know,

one of these jams is my ringtone. Because Fred Patterson at the Redbone track from the late 70s said he has his ringtone. You know, over my bands that I loved over the years, Motorhead was always a band that I always tried to go and see whenever they came to town. And I was fortunate enough to attend their very last show here. They actually played at Riot Fest two years ago. And a number of people that I worked with, especially the younger people,

and Riot Fest, I thought, it's still in existence. It's in Chicago still, not back in Toronto, but they had a real knack for booking classic bands and new bands. So you could take your kids to it and go, okay, the kids are going to go and see whatever, the latest pop punk band that they're all loving, but you can go and see whoever,

and the year before it was The Cure, and this was two years ago, was Motorhead, but I said to all the young folks that were there, I said, make sure you see Motorhead. This might be the last time. And through the Rush camp, we were able to stand side stage for that last show, and you could kind of tell that Lemmy was not in good condition at that point.

But I'm so grateful that I was able to see that last show. Recently, I was in Los Angeles for some business meetings. But we took a couple of hours out of the business meetings, went to the Rainbow Room, and went to Lemmy's Lounge. I've got my Lemmy's Lounge hoodie on today. And I've got my picture taken beside the statue. And I'm getting a picture of you after this so we can show the people. Okay, so you show those folks there.

And we heard that Lemmy passed away, and I don't drink hard liquor. I never touch the stuff. But I was coming home from a movie, and I just saw it came up on an online notification that Lemmy had passed. So the first thing I did, I walked straight into a bar on the Danforth called Factory Girl,

which is actually named after a Rolling Stone. So I went straight up to the bar and said, please give me a Jack Daniels and Coke. So Lemmy's just passed away. Were you at the 89 Motorhead show at the C&E Grandstand by any chance? I was not at that particular one. I did see them play at C&E Coliseum a few years earlier on the Bomber Tour,

which was really spectacular. I also, when I saw them for the first time, it was in Buffalo. They played on a double bill with Ozzy when Blizzard of Oz came out. And so on that particular day, we got to meet Ozzy, and Randy Rhodes came on the tour bus. So Ozzy was all very, very positive towards, you know, Randy Rhodes, great fucking guitarist or whatever. And it was really such a great memory.

And I remember also going backstage to see Lemmy. And at the time, I remember we had little CFNY lapel pins that had a heart on it. It said CFNY and I gave one to Lemmy and he put it on his jean jacket. That's awesome. Very cool. Very cool. All right. Now this is the one I was worried about, but this is a live version of this song and it's a very specific live version. I believe I have it. I'm going to cross my fingers and play your third jam. Okay, let's do it. We'd like to carry on now and play a song originally recorded by Moe's Allison

who's really a jazz musician and I did read something on one of his record covers which said he was a jazz sage. And quite what that means, I don't know. Flavor of chicken. And anyway, we picked up quite a number of his songs. That means I don't know. Flavor of chicken.

Anyway, we picked up quite a number of his songs. Eyesight to the Blind, which is on the Tommy album, we picked up from him. And also this song, which I think has got to be one of his best. It's one of his own compositions, which he wrote when he was about 40. Teenager. Just a mere teenager, and he called it Young Man Blues.

Well, a young man ain't got nothing in the old days When a young man was a strong man All the people, they stepped back When a young man walked by But you know nowadays It's the old man He's got all the money And a young man Ain't got nothing in the world to say

I said't got nothing in the world to say. And I say, ain't got nothing. Got a perfect damn song. The Who, Young Man Blues. You should let a little more of this play, Mike, because it's such a damn good song. You're the boss, Ivor. Let's go. Let him hear it. Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion

Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion

Cynhyrchu'r ffynion Cynhyrchu'r ffynion I'm trying to turn it up to 11. That's why we're doing this. Yeah, so the Who Live at Leeds, 1969. At that point, I would say the Who were probably at their absolute best live. They've done Woodstock and killed it there. They killed it a couple of years earlier when they made their debut in the States at Monterey Pop Festival. But to me, this was one of the greatest live albums

ever, ever made. And there's a plaque at Leeds University that commemorates this particular album. And I think the art of the live album is somewhat lost these days. It's not something that stands out back in those days. A live album would come out, and it would sell millions of records, and it would actually help break a band as well. Like Peter Frampton, right?

Well, Frampton, I suppose, is one good example. Humble Pie, Rockin' the Fillmore, this one, Thin Lizzy, Live and Dangerous. There are numerous examples out there. But, I mean, and this one has been reissued probably, you know, four or five different times. And I know there's another reissue of this coming out soon. But you can get, they've actually recorded, they played for two nights. And now you can get both shows. There's a live from hall show.

So, you know, there's a few iterations of this one. there's a live from hall show so there's you know there's a few iterations of this one but i just think that young man blues is just the first time i heard this and i was probably only about 10 or 11 years old i just it just blew my mind this is one of the greatest live songs i'd ever heard um and i was very fortunate a number of years later in 1976 to see the Who play at Charlton Athletic Football Club just outside of London that set the Guinness Book of Records for the loudest concert ever. And it stood for over 30 years. And I was about 35 feet from the stage in a stadium that was actually, because of bootleg tickets, the capacity was supposed to be about 40,000,

and I think there was close to 70,000 people in the stadium. And it was an all-day event for four pounds, and The Who was the headliners. The sensational Alex Harvey band were the ones who were on just before them. They very nearly came close to it, but The Who came on with their laser show and everything else, and it was like my only time I got to see Keith Moon so very very thankful for that. Excellent no fantastic and I for the record that's the correct it was it was from Leeds. I think the I think what you got

that was probably off of the deluxe versions because I think when you hear the original version you would only actually hear it where he didn't intro the song. You would just hear it from when they kicked off with the guitar. But I'm glad that we were able to hear them talking about the most Allison. I debated. I'm glad you mentioned that because I had the decision to make, like, do I clip that and just get to the tune?

And then I actually said, no, I like the full, real deal. Let's hear him introduce it and then play it. It's not a Who song, but it's something that they covered. And of course, in those days, there was such pressure for all the bands to make not only an album a year, but in a lot of instances, a couple of albums a year. And that went on right up until probably the early 80s before you got into this giant production. And so you had a ton of these bands and Stones and Beatles in the early days too

that made records with a lot of cover versions on there to fill it out. Let's kick out another jam, Ivor. Let's do this. Okay. Keep on pushing Keep on pushing I've got to keep on pushing. Keep on pushing. I've got to keep on pushing.

Mmm. I can't stop now. Move up a little higher. Some way or somehow Cause I've got my strength And it don't make sense Not to keep on pushing Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Keep on pushing. Now maybe someday. Keep on pushing by The Impressions. I'll reach that higher goal. I guess I wanted to play this because, I mean, if you listen to my show on nythespirit.com or from way back when on my days on CFNY, that I always like to have a lot of variety in my shows and genres of music, and I'm not just an alternative guy, I'm not a metal guy.

I love classic soul music. I love the tightness in it, the way that the vocal harmonies, the tightness of the bands that existed back then. And I think that Curtis Mayfield, the Impressions, and their label, Curtome Records, out of Chicago, was absolutely one of the benchmarks and one of the best. So I can never get enough of the impressions and relatable to to soul music this weekend the movie Detroit opening up which doesn't relate to the impressions but there is a lot of that

music from 67 in that although the story is very very much more on a serious level but it's connected to the dramatics, which were a big part of that music scene back then. Curtis was super fly. Let's put it that way. Yes, he was. But there was so much more. I urge you to just go on some of the sites and check out the music of the Impressions.

There's so much diversity and so much depth in the Impressions catalog as well as your Curtis Mayfield catalog as well. Absolutely. Sounds great. And you see that box set of The Wire. That's what my favorite television show of all time is, The Wire. And there's this great scene on its election day, and there's a character named Cuddy Wise. And Cuddy's going for a run, and he puts on his Sony Walkman. He puts on his Walkman,

and he listens to Curtis Mayfield, Move On Up. And it's just this great scene, and you see all the montage behind it, and every time when I'm on a ride, for example, I want to hear some Move On Up. Move On Up is absolutely fantastic. The Jam and Style Council both did versions.

I can't remember which one it was, the Jam or the Style Council. Off the top of my head, they did an amazing version of it as well. And when I'm out there running, I actually do listen to Curtis Mayfield as well. Awesome. Let's kick out another jam. Musik Iecham sa nŵn pam Go! Cockney Rejects. Join the Rejects. Okay, so Cockney Rejects,

probably not the most popular band in these parts, but we had an experience two weeks ago. The Cockney Rejects, they have been around since 1978, 79. First album came out in 1980. They played their very first show in Toronto two weeks ago. Wow. They played their very first show in Toronto two weeks ago at the Velvet Underground. And it was confirmed that Stinky Turner, the singer, on stage, said, first fucking time in our history that we've been here.

In 38 years, nobody would have us, but we're here now. They played in Toronto at Velvet Underground. They played the following night at Fufon Electric in Montreal and played at the St. Hollywood in Hamilton. And then they're coming back and playing Riot Fest in Chicago on September 15th. They had to stop the show. A lot of guys in my age group there, but a lot of young people there too. But they stopped the show because somebody, they gave the mic to somebody who said,

we've been waiting all our lives for you guys to come here, and we're so happy that you finally come to Toronto. And it was just a really magic moment, and it, to me, kind of shows you how the world's changed, that a lot of bands would never come here because you didn't think there was much demand, but just with the way things have changed with Internet and streaming and everything else out there, that you can almost have a demand for a band almost anywhere and be

able to tell and take a risk and uh they made it work which i thought was was great and what blew me away about the show too is they actually have the original lineup back together um and i you know history on this band i mean they were second wave of punk um first record was produced by jimmy percy of Sham 69 fame, although they don't have that relationship. They're not that close anymore. They kind of took a swipe at them that night. But they also have a huge relationship.

They were brought up as West Ham fans. They're from the East End of London. There's a documentary out there called East End Babylon, all about the history of the Cockney Rejects. And at the time when they originally came out, they were the ultimate football band. And that was really close to the peak of football hooliganism, football troubles. So they had a huge, huge amount of trouble at just about every one of their shows. Because wherever they played, an opposing football fan's club would show up and want to fight them. And they were boxers. The two Gagas brothers who were leaders of the

band were boxers, and they were very, very tough guys. But it took their toll on the band. They actually stopped playing, and they returned as a heavy metal band that they did for years, which kind of put things off the trouble. But eventually the fans came know came back and said look you need to the fans want to hear your punk songs so um back together again they actually played at West Ham a couple of years ago they've got a song called which is the West Ham theme song Forever Blowing Bubbles and fantastic footage is out there if you want to check it out of them playing at West Ham in front of I think it's something like 70,000, 80,000 people. And, you know, we're showing our age these days, too.

So if you really want, it's not an annual thing, but there's a Cockney Rejects boat cruise, too. So great to see Punk is alive and kicking. I would say if it took 30, for a market this size and the significant, dare I say, of Toronto here, 38 years might be some kind of record. I think so. I mean, but this is what's happening these days and you're getting a number of these bands, these little bands that are out there and doing tours

coming to Canada that would never have come before. Recently, Stiff Little Fingers went right across Canada, played like 15, 16 dates. That could have never happened back in the 80s. A lot of these independent promoters are finding a way to make it work, which I think is fantastic. We get to see bands that we haven't seen

for a very long time, if at all, ever. Would you believe I heard Cockney Rejects for the first time yesterday when I got the link to your Spotify playlist? Yeah, I totally believe it, and I have a lot of CFNY people that totally get it confused with Cockney Rebel. You hear the music of the Cockney Rejects, you know

it's totally different. Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel were kind of a glam band, very soft for the most part in the Rejects. They're an oy band, but a very powerful oy band, and it throws me to bits that they're going to be playing at Riot Fest in Chicago and that they finally come here and are still together.

So, Mike, I'm glad that you heard it for the first time yesterday. Cool stuff, man. I enjoyed it. And yeah, keep it going there. That's great. Let's hear another jam. We'll be right back. I wanna reach out and touch the sky I wanna touch the sun but I don't need to fly I'm gonna climb a mountain of the moon Black Sabbath. Yes. Super not. Yes. Super Knot. Yes, from Black Sabbath, Volume 4.

Let's hear some more riffs, Mike. Just give me more riffs. Let's hear some more riffs. I found the plastic and the gold and made no sense. I've been through magic and through ice and energy. I've lived a thousand years and never felt the heat. guitar solo I think one of the greatest guitar riffs of the 1970s, Super Knot, that fourth record that was made in California at the height of rock and roll debauchery. The band's, well, they probably

had a little extra in the room on that. On the credits of the album, they credit the great Coke Cola company of Los Angeles, California. And if you know your Coke history, that Coca-Cola is located in Atlanta, not in Los Angeles. But to me, it's like

I'm playing metal songs for people and introducing them to things from the 70s. Supernot is just one of the greatest hard rock songs that was ever recorded. And of course, they have many, many others. Absolutely diehard Black Sabbath fan. And I was actually fortunate to work with them, too, over the last number of years on the 13 records. So it was kind of like, yeah, I'm working with some of my childhood favorite bands. You've got a charmed life, I'd say.

You're in radio, and then you move into the record company. You get to work alongside these greats. That's pretty cool. I mean, a lot of hard work behind the scenes, but yes, it's just always a lifetime fan of Black Sabbath. Is it an urban legend what I read about Ozzy having some kind of genetic fluke that makes him sort of able to endure more abuse of his body by alcohol and drugs than the average person or some genetic... That I wouldn't know. I read it, and I can't remember now

if I determined it was real or not. It seemed pretty real. Don't know. That one I could comment on. I really don't know that situation. But you know what? Good enough group of guys a few years ago and I had a chance to spend a little time with them,

and everybody was in actually pretty good shape at the time. Well, now it's all Evian water, you know, and no carbs. It's all probably pretty healthy now, I'm sure. You know, you get up there, you've got to take care of yourself, like I am these days too, right? Trying to take care of myself as well. I see. You haven't cracked open a Great Lakes beer yet.

You're going to save it for the cottage. Yes, sir. That's a good idea. Yeah, I've got a 23K run I'm doing tomorrow, so I need to be ready for that. Well, good for you. Yeah, we alluded to it in your last episode. We talked about it, but you lost a lot of weight, and you've kept it off.

You have a healthy lifestyle, and you look great. Thank you. I should point for the people at home. We'll take that picture, and they'll see. But, no, you look fantastic. I continue my running. I've been running since November of 2015 consistently uh i just ran my ninth race this past weekend uh i did the beaches half marathon on a very hot day and i'm

in training now to do my second full marathon this uh this october the scotia bank uh marathon the one i did last year i did it for the g Gord Downie Fund, which was heartwarming and heartfelt just because it was a really good cause. But yeah, it's just, you know, you get older in life and, you know, a lot of things catch up with you. So I took up running, but I cross-drained three days a week, too, and I watch what I eat. So it's important, I think, you know, to have some longevity in your life and not have those problems. Well I was going to say you look better but my question to you is do you feel better like do you feel better

in this condition? Absolutely you know I mean there's certain things that you know you can't change overall but for the most part absolutely I feel better I have more energy I have more concentration with the things that I do and can focus a little bit better. And, you know, it's just, I think it's one of those things that you, I probably should have been doing a lot earlier in life. And I know people that have made changes

later in their life and sometimes it's too late, but I thank my lucky stars that I did it when I did and knock on wood, things are going pretty good. Excellent. It's great to hear you look great, and we've got more jams to kick out, which is the good news. Let's do some more music. Let's do another jam. I never felt magic raise its head

I never saw wounds, knew the meaning of the sea I never held emotion in the palm of my hand. I felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree. But now you're here, bright in my northern sky. northern sky From Black Sabbath to Nick Drake, this is Northern Sky. I've been a long time that I'm waiting I've been a long time

that I'm blown I've been a long time that I've wondered Through the people I have known Oh, if you would and you could Straighten my new mind's eye 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp black pepper guitar solo Would you love me for my money? Would you love me for my head?

Would you love me through the winter? Would you love me till I'm dead? Oh, if you would, I'm jiggered. Come blow your lawn off. I never felt magic raises this I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea I never held emotion upon my hand I felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree but now you're here bright in my northern sky

I think it's good that we played most of that song. We got through most of it here. And to me, this song brings me great memories of listening to the late, great John Peel. I spent some time in England in 1975, 76, a year at school, and had a transistor radio. And I remember hearing that for the first time on John Peel playing it on his show, and then hearing it later back in Canada online. But it's just, to me, one of the most beautiful folk songs ever. And Nick Drake certainly

underappreciated initially, but after he passed away and took his own life for many, many years, that there's been successive generations that have rediscovered. And I think a Nick Drake album is necessary in just about anybody's collection. And I'm glad that his memory really lives on, one of the greats. I think you could almost thank television advertisements for introducing people my age, for example, to Nick Drake. Pink Moon showed up in some ads, and it's like, what is this, and why haven't I heard this?

And then you start to explore more Nick Drake, and you realize what you've missed. Yeah, there was a Nick Drake tribute show that was actually played across Ontario about four years ago with a kind of all-star band of Ontario and Canadian musicians and I went out to see a show out in Stratford and it was absolutely fantastic they really really did a terrific job on it so there are a considerable amount of Canadian fans that are into Nick Drake but just one of along with Fairport Convention Nick Drake gives me some of my greatest memories of folk music of the late

1970s and still sounds fresh today. And for those who don't know, to save them from jumping to Wikipedia right now, tell us what happened to Nick Drake, because he passed very young. Yeah, he was, you know, he was depression, you know, and he, you know, I don't have the specific details. I don't want to do it out of turn and not be accurate, but he was a very, he had severe depression. And I think there was a ton of pressure for him to tour and probably go to the U.S. I don't know realistically, but he couldn't deal with the pressure and I you know there are countless stories out there that people talk about the business back in the 70s and the pressure to record records to get out there and tour to do press to do all of those

things that you know when you're if you're still trying to if you're maintaining a relationship or a family and that, it all becomes very much a pressure cooker. And also financially, too, because it's also a business, too. So I'm sure a lot of those things didn't play well in Nick Drake's personal life. I can't speak with 100% accuracy, but I do know that he had some issues there. But your homework is to go listen to some Nick Drake. That's your homework. Let's hear another Ivor Hamilton jam. Hmm. Thank you. This is Santana's Song of the Wind. Yes, this is from Caravan Sarai.

It came out in 1972. And this is an album that I encourage you to listen to end to end because it actually is pretty much all joined together, the song Seg. And out of all of them, I probably listen to this album just about more than anything I've ever listened to, probably in my top five, which is why we play it. But this song, just to me, is like just one of the all-time great guitar solos, percussion section on this. Santana, I think, at their musical peak at this point, went on lots of other great things over the years.

Santana's still making great music to this day, nearly 50 years on. But Song of the Wind, to me, is absolute magic. How many times have you seen Santana live in concert? Probably not as many as them being a favorite. I think I may have seen them three times. That's about it, to be honest with you. See, that's how many concerts you go to where three is a low number you think people are going to guess.

Because three is a lot to see. It's pretty good. You saw them three times. I mean, there are certain bands over the years that I would go and see every time. Like, I would see The Clash every time they came to town. I'd try and see New Order every time they came to town. Iggy Pop every time he comes to town. I saw Motorhead every time they came to town. I'd try and see New Order every time they came to town. Iggy Pop every time he comes to town. I saw Motorhead every time they came to town.

And go and see them, you know, other places. You know, the Rolling Stones I've seen many, many times. So there's a number of them. Like Paul Weller. You know, whenever Weller's in town, I'll always go and see him. And sometimes travel and go see certain bands. But, you know, Santana, one of those ones, I love the music, but not as many times. There's only so many bands you can see so many times, right? I want to ask you if you had to guess, just guess how many live concerts

you've attended in your lifetime. I wonder how big is that number? If you had to just ballpark a number, you can't do it. It's very difficult to say. I mean, I would say way less now than I used to see. But I think back in the 80s when I was in my CFNY days, I think Jonathan Gross, who was a former Toronto Sun journalist, he put down, he goes, I see Ivor Hamilton at every show.

I used to spend my whole weekends, you know, going between the various Toronto concert venues, going to see everything under the sun. You know, it's probably in the 2000s, I think, you know. So then let me ask you this. What's the band you saw, what's the biggest band you saw before they were anything? Like, you know, that band that you saw with maybe,

I'm going to get like 100 people at some club that became like i saw you two at the alma combo there was 80 people there there you go uh i saw rem at larry's hideaway and i remember david marston saying to me at the time he goes i think we should record them i think they're gonna be something and that was like they were nothing at the time and they they ended up using it on one of their uh deluxe editions that came out a couple of years ago so there yeah there was a there was a lot of bands that i saw that were like first time round it just nothing you know very very new at the time uh and i'm glad that i had a chance to to check them out in those early days but is there an example of a band you saw in their early days like that

and you were shocked that they became mega popular because you didn't think they were very good? Is there one of those examples where I was with 50 people with this band, didn't think they were very good, and then five years later they're selling out stadiums? I put you on the spot here while Santana plays in the background. Yeah, I mean, oh boy. I mean, I can tell you, I went to see bands that I was really pumped for

that weren't very good. But that's a numbers game, too. You see so many concerts, you're going to have a lot more disappointments than the average Joe who sees me. Like I mentioned, the New Order was disappointing. The Soft Cell came, and they were extremely disappointing. I was like, what is this? You know, Depeche Mode, when the first time I saw them play,

they basically had a tape machine and one keyboard, and that was it. And I was like, pretty good. It might be big, but you could tell that they had hits. I mean, there's certain ones that you kind of just go, you know, the police in the early days, you just kind of knew at the time you're kind of going, they were actually good. They actually weren't as good as I thought they were going to be. And, you know, what's interesting now, like recently, when I've seen bands from way back when, they're better now than they were way back then live. Like I recently saw the Dan play. did the um phoenix concert theater

and i'd seen them when they played their first show first toronto show at the elma combo and they were pretty sloppy right and see them in 2017 well of course they've had like you know 38 37 years to you know play these same songs all over again tight as hell band it was absolutely fantastic show cockney rejects i mean they were a very very loose punk band back in the early days still a punk band but you see them live was like wow these guys can play like you wouldn't believe so there is a lot of that going on maybe you're seeing them sober now well you know there could there could be that not you both of you there was a bit of that going on back in those days too where you where you get a few beers in, but I definitely noticed

the musicianship has gone up a notch, and maybe it's also to do with can you get a lot of sound systems and better technology these days on the sound level. Another jam, Ivor? Let's do it. Hips like Cinderella

Must be having good shame We'll be right back. It's just pain, pain, pain, pain. I'm making good friends with you. When you're shaking your good frame. Fall on your face In those bad shoes I am the Locked up Time Time

Time Time Time Time Time Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Bye. Bye. Bye.

Bye. Bye. Bye. And nobody can shriek like Black Francis can. That's Pixie's Tame. And yeah, the song is so short, I figured I'll just let this go and then we can talk about it okay yeah i just to me that just had so much power in it that that and the album do a little like for the era uh 89 just magic absolute magic from the artwork to them performing to just everything around it that was in the world of alternative radio that was uh the number one record of that year i believe um except actually here in toronto because actually at that point that's when um cf and y was actually going through that short period the madonna stuff

yeah that's where they weren't actually playing this at the time so i mean later on obviously they came back and acknowledged. Is that when Danny Elwell quits on air? I think it might have been a little bit later than that, but it was in that kind of era when they were doing a lot of the Top 40 things. So you actually didn't hear

the Pixies on the radio station. You might have heard maybe occasionally once or twice, but if it had been a few years earlier, you would have heard it a lot more. It would have been a natural fit. But whatever. I mean, the thing is, I wanted to just play it

because I think it was one of the most powerful records of that particular time. Well, you can listen to that album and very quickly realize the influence that they would have, for example, over a band like Nirvana, for example. Like there's, I hear a lot of... Absolutely. And they acknowledge the Pixies were a big influence on them. Absolutely.

That's it. That's, you know, pretty, you can wiki that and their influences that the Pixies were one that they listened to. And, you know, the Pixies were incredibly successful in those days. I do remember on that album, though, that they came and played at a place on College Street that's no longer there, the Apocalypse Club, and it was so full. It was one of those points where if the fire marshal came in, they would have shut the place down in two seconds.

It was just beyond jammed to the rafters in that pretty special night. But I do remember it was like condensation coming down from the ceiling, and it felt like the sprinkler system had gone off, but the room was just so hot and sweaty. Earlier, we talked about how TV shows and movies can sometimes reintroduce songs to a younger audience.

And I think a big people went back and started listening to more Pixies. I think when Fight Club brought Where Is My Mind, it was such a pivotal song. And it's like you're hearing, it's like, I don't know how many years old. It wasn't that old, but it was, you know, it was a decade old or whatever it was. And it was like perfect for the movie. And it's like, let's go back and hear some pixies and then you're like and then bands you'd be listening to at the time like nirvana for example you're like oh like oh that came first like oh i see i see yeah surfer rose i think it was 87 that

came out so right uh but yeah you know and and i was fortunate also to to work with uh work with the pixies uh back in those days And I always remember that John Candy, not John Candy, sorry, when Black Francis went solo, he sent me an advanced copy of his first solo album. Is that Teenager of the Year? Yeah. He sent me a copy of it,

but it was at the time when he just sent a little note on it and personalized it. He said, you know, hope you enjoy my new record. Too bad about John Candy and too bad about Bill Hicks because despite the fact that the Pixies were a pretty serious band, that Black Francis, a.k.a. Charles Thompson, had a wonderful sense of humor.

So we used to talk, we'd talk about all these comedians all the time and he was a big John Candy fan, so. That album, Teenager of the Year, has a song that I still stick on mixes all the time when I put them together. Headache? Headache, yeah.

Love it. Yeah, I love it. That was... He had some great solo records out in those early days. And you know what? Pixie's still out there now, and I think they're coming to town this fall sometime. Bit of a change in the lineup,

but three of the four in the band still. So still making good music. Cool. Let's hear some more good music. Let's hear some more good music. No, no, no, no, yeah. Get it, Hans and the Acer. Whoo, yeah. And you will get no hurt, mister. No, no, no.

I said, yeah. I said, yeah. What they say. What they say. Don't you hear? I say, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Mr. What they say.

What they say. Do you believe I would say something with me? And give it to the policeman? I wouldn't do that. And if I do that, I would say, sir, come on and put the charge on me. I wouldn't do that. No, I wouldn't do that. Give it to me one time. Give it to me two times. Give it to me three times. Give it to me four times.

Four by six was my number. Right now someone has that number. One more time. Four by six was my number. 5446 is my number. 5446 is my number. 5446. Don't read the, you should just tell me the name. I got to switch up how I do the Kiko's Jam. The Toots and the Maytals.

We'll do that in honor of Carabana Weekend. It's just the spirit of the Caribbean in Toronto. I just love Toots. And this particular song in the record, the funky Kingston. You put this on a turntable with a big sound system, and man, it brings the room to life. You get your party going.

And the newly remastered version on vinyl is like, oh my God, it just sounds so, so good. And had the pleasure of seeing Toots at the Horseshoe, one of my first shows at the Horseshoe in 1978. So I was very, very young at the time, but had a chance to see them then. Yeah, great, great experience. And of course, at that time too,

with the punk movement and the reggae movement worked pretty close together. A lot of mutual admiration, a lot of bands playing on each other's records. A lot of, you go to a punk show and hear a ton of reggae records. So that was a big influence on me and how I got into reggae. Got a pretty good reggae collection at home, I must say. Sounds great, and it's perfect. You're right.

What's it called now? It's not called Caraban anymore. It's the Caribbean Festival, or it's Caribbean Festival. I think it's been reb You're right. What's it called now? It's not called Caravan anymore. It's the Caribbean Festival. Or is it Caribbean Festival? I think it's been rebranded, I think. 50th year, though. Yeah, absolutely. It keeps it going. Thousands and thousands of tourists, if not in the low millions,

coming to Toronto to celebrate this weekend the Caribbean culture. As a teenager, one time I sold slices of pizza and pop from a booth along the lake shore during Caravana. There's my Caravana. Sold a lot of slices of pizza that day. That's for sure. I've spent a few years going to see some of the shows on that weekend at Lamport Stadium. But the thing that always frustrated me with going to those shows, it would be like, yep, it's doors open at eight. And it'd be like, OK, it's like quarter after one in the band that you want to see still not on yet.

So I kind of, you know, I hope it's gotten better now. But the last number of years I haven't gone just because whatever time the band was supposed to go on, they never seemed to be, you know, for whatever reason that never you just had to play it by ear, you know, and hope for the best. Now, for those who've been counting along, you've probably got to number 10 and you think we're by ear, you know, and hope for the best. Now, for those who've been counting along, you've probably got to number 10 and you think we're done because, you know, I'm very strict enforcing these rules. People bring 10 jams. But originally, Ivor had 12 jams. We had a heavy negotiation session and I got them down to 11.

So in honor of Spinal Tap... You've got to go to 11. In honor of Spinal Tap, we're going to 11. So one more jam. Here we go. This is a public service announcement with guitar! Know your rights

Oh, three of them Number one You have the right Not to be killed Murder is a crime Unless it was done By a police man Or an aristocrat

Oh, no, you're right And number two You have the right to food money For that of course You don't mind a little Investigation Humiliation And if you cross your fingers Rehabilitation And if you cross your fingers We have full attention

Know your rights These are your rights Know your rights. The Clash. a band that never sold out from start to finish always held their grounds always were jumping on the politics, doing the right thing for the fans,

doing the right thing and sending messages out there. And that was from their, apart from the Cut the Crap Later version, but original lineup from 82 from Combat Rock. And, man, I remember hearing this on the radio in Boston, bringing that reference back again in probably uh probably 85 86 and it's like god it just had so much meaning and it still has a lot of meaning to this day so um one of the all-time greats to clash i mean that just to me they were at the time one of the greatest bands in the world and remember seeing them out on the Danforth their first first show in Toronto and then later on seeing them with Black Uhuru at uh

C&E Grandstand in front of 20,000 people which was always fantastic also another band I just every single time they came to Toronto speaking of great rock documentaries we talked about that Joy Division one but there's a Joe Strummer, The Future is Unridden, it's called. Excellent. Absolutely. Yeah, no, Strummer was quite magnificent, and he was always accommodating. It was great that he got out there and did his campfire music and played for Pete Busking on the streets. Always had fans into the dressing room, always met with people.

Absolute true gentleman and is greatly missed. Ivor, what I like about your jams, eclectic, like you said, you got your Motorhead in there, but you also have your Nick Drake, and you got some, you know, it's all over the place. You got your Cockney Rebels,

but you also have your... Those Cockney Rejects. Rejects. See, you did the same thing. You CFNY guys from way back when, and you go, remember, folks, there's Cockney Rebel. And I'm reading it, and it says Rejects.

And the Rejects, the punk ones. So please divide. Listen to both. Enjoy both. But it's all over the place and it was tremendous and hearing your stories was a great pleasure. So thank you so much for bringing these. But because you originally had 12 and I decided we'd play 11,

tell the people what jam got cut. Oh, so the 12th jam was going to be Russell Peters. And I wanted to play some Russell Peters because Russell Peters, we both grew up in Brampton. We went to the same high school. And my mother was a teacher at Chincoosie Secondary School. And Russell was a student of my mother's

and his brother Clayton. And just some of the cultural things that he talks about in many of his skits, I just wanted to share with that because to me, I just could relate to so many of them. Now I feel bad I cut it because that was a great story. But it was not a song, right? It was going to be a bit. It was just a bit.

And I just think, you know, as far as my diversity goes, I just, I love comedy too. So I thought I'd play one of Russell's bits because the guy meant so much to me and I had some other stories I could tell. Maybe we'll do it another time. We'll have to do another episode. I apologize to Russell Peters for cutting that because that would have been cool, actually. But next time.

We'll do that next time. Ivor, thank you so much again for bringing us your jams and telling us your stories. My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me back. And that brings us to the end of our 257th show. You can follow me on Twitter at Toronto Mike. Ivor is at Ivor Ham. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. And propertyinthesix.com is at Brian Gerstein.

See you all next week. And your smile is fine And it's just like mine And it won't go away Cause everything is Rose and green Well you've been under my skin For more than eight years It's been eight years of laughter And eight years of tears