Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Remembering Sass Jordan: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1987

Episode Date: October 4, 2026

We just lost David Marsden, one of my all-time favourite Toronto Mike’d guests, and today I learned Sass Jordan has passed away all too soon at the young age of 63. Sass visited my home studio in February 2020, a mere month before the world changed, and she was absolutely wonderful.There was an energy in the room I don’t think I’ve felt since. She was like a drug, and the listener feedback told me it wasn’t just me who was affected. Sass Jordan, like David Marsden and Gino Vannelli, is one of those guests referenced by people when they meet me for the first time. Sass was pure delight.My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved Sass. wasn’t just a rock star with big Canadian hits like "Tell Somebody", "Double Trouble", "Make You a Believer" and "High Road Easy". She wasn’t just a judge on Canadian Idol, which put her in front of millions of Canadians. She was something very special.Here’s edited version of episode 588 of Toronto Mike’d featuring almost 90 minutes of pure Sass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We just lost David Marsden, one of my favorite Toronto-Miked guests of all time. And today I learned Sass Jordan has passed away all too soon at the young age of 63. SAS visited my home studio in February 2020, a mere month before the world changed. And she was absolutely wonderful. There was an energy in the room I don't think I've felt since. She was like a drug. And the listener feedback told me it wasn't just me who was affected. Sass Jordan, like David Marsden and Gino Vanelli,

is one of those guests whose episodes are referenced by people when they meet me for the first time. Sass Jordan was pure delight. My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved Sass. She wasn't just a rock star with big Canadian hits like, Tell somebody, Double Trouble, Make You a Believer, and High Road Easy. She wasn't just a judge on Canadian Idol, which put her in front of millions of Canadians every week.

She was somebody very, very special. So here's episode 58 of Toronto Mike, featuring almost 90 minutes of Pierre Sass. Hook this to your veins. Welcome to episode 58 of Toronto. Welcome to episode 58 of Toronto of Toronto. Brono-Miked. A weekly podcast of about anything and everything. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery

who believes in supporting communities, good times, and brewing amazing beer. Palma pasta, enjoy the fresh taste. The taste of fresh homemade Italian, Sasa throwing me off my game. A homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. StickerU.com Create custom stickers, labels, decal, tattoos for your home and your business. The Kitener Group.

They love helping buyers find their dream home. Text Toronto Mike, one word to 5959. And banjo dunk from Whiskey Jack, one of the most celebrated roots, country, bluegrass bands, and Canadian music history. I'm Mike from Toronto Mike.com, and joining me this week is rock star, Sass Jordan. Max, da!

Are you okay with that billing? You know, I've probably read that intro perfectly the last 20 times. And then you were being silly in the corner of my eye and I could barely, can barely read sass. I know because it was that music. I'm like, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, oh. You don't like my opening theme or do you love it? I think it's fabulous. Okay.

I think I just was not expecting it. Because I don't look like a cool hip-hop guy. Well, and I do. You were expecting something with banjos maybe. I was thinking more like metal bra Well I'm a multifaceted SAS like yourself now SAS is not your real first name

There's no way that I just don't think that could be No It is Okay I totally is because if you call me by that other name That's on my birth certificate I ain't gonna I ain't survey Because it doesn't say Might as well call me Patricia

Okay what is Can you say that name that I'm not supposed to call it? Sarah it's on Wai IPDI. I should have looked at Wikipedia. Okay. No, don't, because it's full of bollocks. Well, we're going to find out. This is like your chance. You connect direct to the fans

in this show because, you know, we don't have any third-party interruption. This is you direct to the fans, which will be a lot of fun. Like, how cool is this? This is the coolest ever, and you can actually be yourself like you can swear and everything. I want you to be 100% sass.

Which is so unlike me. I don't want any PR. I want to tell people. no PR interference. We don't see Eric anywhere. He's not here. There's no PR. There's nothing. It's just you and me, baby.

It's just you and I, freezing our asses off. Did Eric, did he warn you what you're in for? I just want to make sure this one's surprising here. I refuse to be warned, Mike. So you have no idea. I think people should be warned about me. I can be very, very hard to keep in the bottle, so to speak. It's morning.

Nobody's had a bottle. And I think it's about time to start that. It's five. At PM. I offered you. So David Amber was here yesterday and he gave me a bottle of wine. And it's awesome. And I showed it to you.

And I feel like I should just crack it open for you. I feel like you should too. But, you know, everybody says, I don't know, people get really right goddamn judgey with alcohol to you food. Oh, do you drink every day? More like every hour. Is that true? No, clearly not, because I'd be reeking and roiling and reeking. Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no.

Are we talking like red wine, which is good for the heart? No, I like you can... No, I like wine wine. Okay, it's not as good for the heart. It's not as good for your mood, I'll tell you that. So here's the thing. I love red and I love wine. I love them all.

I love wine. Wine is a wonderful thing. Is it good for your voice, though? It's perfectly good for my voice. Actually, yeah, you know. I'll tell you his story. Yeah. I have a friend who's in a, of, they were in a,

he is in a band, strangely enough, because God knows how I know any guy to have musicians, right? Anyways, he's the singer-in-a-band called Cheap Trick. Of course. I saw them live. Robin, my darling Robin, Bubba, also known as Bubba. Robin, Bubba. Anyways, so he will use, like,

a cognac or a brandy or a whiskey before he goes on as a gargle. He says it cuts the crap out of his vocal cords. I'm like, I love you, my brother. Well, you have a bit of that Janice Joplin rasp, if you will. Although if you listen to Janice Joplin and then you listen to me, you go like, wow, a chick. And who's that dude? I sound like, I'm like, and she's like, sorry about your ears, people, sorry.

That's okay. That's the homemade feedback. We'll fix it in post. But you did play. You played Janice Jophe. I did. In 2002, right after 9-11, it was intense to be in that city. Five months straight at this theater.

And because I wasn't, I hesitated to say this publicly, particularly a Janice Jophanes Jophanfam fan. The whole reason I ended up there, Mike, seriously, is because they said they would fly me there to do the audition. So fly me, free flight to New York. I'm like, yo, fuck. To the yo, fuck. To the yo, yo, yo, yo. I'm going to go visit Loretta.

I'm going to hang out with Loretta in the afternoon. Do this thing. And then I, and it's all free. I'm like, I'm on it, bruh. So I go. And somehow accidentally got the job, which I was so upset about because I didn't want this damn job. Now I'm going to have to go live in New York,

which is, that's okay. That's kind of cool. Wait, I hear the dulc tones of something coming. I wanted to start with this. I wanted to start with this. I drove old next to sit down. Rock song I ever heard. not that it's very rock

but that's the first song like that's the reason I wanted to start singing Is it fair to say that this song is the reason you're sitting here today? Yes God somebody's, so you weren't on Wiki of the Pedia What were you on?

Well I might have glanced at a couple of things here Just a couple of it but I didn't I didn't realize you were a Sarah I know I'm not supposed to say that name You can say it But I'm not really a Sarah Because you're a sass Yeah

But as you're sassy My whole life Right Even by parental units It's only police and hospital workers have ever called me Sarah. Oh, sorry, the CRA, the CRA, whatever that is. Canadian recording academy. Oh, you don't know, unless the tax people.

Oh, them. Yes, I know them. Intimately aware. Just forgot their name. I know them too, by the way. Hello, CRA. So this song, which is fucking brilliant. It inspired your desire to be a musician, essentially, right?

Yep, absolutely. Like, do you remember where you were when you first heard it? Yeah, in the living room on Sherbrook and Clairc, no, Sherbrook and Claremont in Montreal with my brother. And my brother and I discovered you could turn the dial on the radio because all my parents listened to was classical. And it was like, what the fuck is this? You can find other music.

Oh, my God, but it was such a revelation. Right. It was like, hallelujah, I've seen the load, and the load is the band. I guess in the movie when they make the biopic, the Sass Jordan biopic. They won't do that. Well, I might, I might do it myself.

There's just going to be that scene where you're, you turn the dial and you hear this. And then I'm going to have that, your eyes are going to get big and we're going to have that. But I'm nine. Yeah. How are we going to dress you to make me look like a nine-year-old I didn't say you'd be the actress.

Like, it's not a documentary. You, I think you were going to make it. I'm going to, I'm the director. We'll put you in a blonde wig and, well, I don't know how the nine-year-old... I'm going to play nine-year-old sass. I have the right voice for it. Okay, so this is, of course, the band at some good Cancon here.

I love it. The Night They Dixie Down. Fantastic song. And you realize then and there you want to be in music. That's amazing. I was like, I want to do this. This is what I want to do. Screw this school stuff.

I'll listen to the end. Although I now learn you're a Montreal girl. I feel I should boot you. boot you. Like, I don't know if we can do this. Why? Why? What are you a Toronto do?

No, I kid. I love Montreal people. But what we're doing right here is we're extending a hand across the chasm. Right. Of Montreal to Toronto. Besides which Toronto got cooler in the past 20 years. Because, boy, it wasn't. Because it was so Protestant, right?

Yes, it was Toronto the good. Oh my God, it was so tight at. Chiquis, we used to call it in French. It was just, you know, sewed up asshole, basically. That should have been the city's motto. We used to me. Formerly known as Sowed up. A little fun fact, though, that if I had a glance at the Wikipedia page, which I might have.

You're actually born in the UK, right? So what age are you when you come to Canada? 170, 2. Is that true? I was 3. I was 3. I have a 3 year old. You're very young. You don't remember anything about the UK.

No, I don't. No, because we lived in France. I was like three weeks old or three months old. Oh. My parents moved to France. My brother was born in France and then we... Do you know what this is? See, now you know why I want you wear it headphones.

Yeah, I'm totally into this. I love this show. No. Name that tune. I'm going to give you a bit of time. It sounds really early 80s. And he would stop right there because I'd punch him in the throat. Punch him in a trout.

You're going to punch me in the front. No, not you. Whoever that is. Okay. I'm going to give it a bit of time here. Okay. Oh, fuck. I know it is.

Men Without hats. Am I right? Am I right? It's okay. No, I'm not right. This song is called Come On, Baby Tonight. By Boondock. Oh, same thing.

Is it? Okay. That's, you can tell me a little history here. Marjins. It's, oh my God. The box. Okay. So, yeah, right.

All right, all right. All right, so. Boondock, I forgot about it. Boondock, and a band, I should say, is the B-U-N, but that U has the dots. What's that called? Um-lop. Um-lots. So whatever.

Boondock. Boondock. I can't believe this shit ever did anything. I had to, you know what I had to, I had to, I had to search for this. I can't even believe you found it. See, I didn't even know the name, but when you said that, I remember because they were one of the bands that he had. So it was this guy, Mark Duran. I can't, I have to be careful because.

Because you might listen? No, I feel too comfortable on this space. But that's the whole point. I don't want to say something. Say anything. This is the home of Real Talk. The Real Talk. Say anything.

This is our new song written by me and Mike. Say anything. And you'll win. It's exciting to have a co-writing credit on a song. That's good. Now, why am I? You need to tell us. Why am I playing boondocks?

Come on, baby, today. Well, I don't know why you picked this particular piece of joy. But the thing is, is that I just spotted something on your table right there. And I think that's a maple whiskey thing that was attached to a whiskey. Is that my right? Am I right? That's a gift from Heather Bambrick. It's Heather Bambrick from Newfoundland, Bromene.

She's a jazz musician. Oh, how sweet I love it. From a Newfoundland. She brought you some screech there by. So Boondock, so it was, this guy, Naktzuna had the stable of music, musician stuff, and the box was, no, men without hats was the big, it was alert records, that's it, sorry, I'm all over the place.

No, that's okay. This is my memory. It's like bits and bites come out. But the music's supposed to, it's supposed to jog that memory. This is the whole idea. Yeah, it just took a bit. I forgot about boom doc. Is it possible that you're

a co-lead vocalist on this track? Is that a possibility? Like, is it possible? I can tell by your eyes. Yeah. Like, I'm asking, because I wasn't there, but you were there. Yeah, but that doesn't mean the damn thing. I'll tell you what.

This is 1980, something. 86. I don't remember that far back. 86. Okay. I believe this is the first time you were billed to Sass Jordan. That's my belief is on this song.

I believe you're... Wait, that's you. My fucking God. That's you. Here. I could tell. I could tell you forgot. That's definitely me.

That's 100% Sass Jordan. In fact, that's the first time we heard Sass Jordan and not Sass Turner. Like, this is the first time. Oh. Sass pinups. I can't fucking believe you. Okay, you're killing me over here. I need your research skills. And we're just starting here.

We're just starting here. And here's the worst part is you are finding some that I don't even fucking remember. I'm worried about you. How do you not remember? 1986. How do you not remember your day, your first time you're on a a real track? Well, take a listen and

maybe you'll figure it out. Would you sound great on there? It's right. I'm going to say, change it. Bless them. And I don't mean anything against these poor people that I'm saying these terrible things. Boondock. This is this album, by the way, is called

Move. M-A-U-V-E? Is that you say, Move? Is that the color? I thought you meant moldy. Like mold. Well, maybe. It's a little moldy, but... It's just a snatch on the moldy side. Not going to lie. Mold, I have to...

Mike, I forgot. What else you got in? Okay, I got a bit more here. I want to keep it. Turn it off. It's killing me. I'm going to let it like... Let's put something good on. Okay, this is not me, singing.

Okay, let's talk about that then. Okay, so... Because this is where we find out what's going on. This is... Her name is Martin Saint-Claid. That's who's... singing. But in the video,

you're singing. Well, I'm going like this. I know, you're lip-syncing. Okay, so this is some revelation here. Mepsin Seiklai. Everybody thought it was me because I'm in the freaking video.

Yeah, I thought it was you because you're in the video. Looking like a hookah. But, uh, yeah, no. And sadly, this is Martin. But listen and tell me, does that sound like me? That is not fucking sound like me.

I'd be like, Loso de Ruther. That's not matter. But this is a better song, the boondog song. No, this song Rocks the Western World. The song Rulation.

This is a ruleation type of tune in my year. So what, I mean, I have, as people, I open it up the questions. I'm like, Sass Jordan's coming over, you got questions. And most of the questions about, like, for example, Tim says, Tim says, ask Sass if she's still in touch with the guys from the box and what they're up to now. So, so I guess the people that are listening to you are from Morial or ex-Morealers. A lot of ex-Montrealers in this city, lots of them. Uh-huh.

So is she, well, in other words, in touch, I mean, we talk to each other a bit on Facebook. Well, that counts. Jean-Marc and Jean-Pierre. Those are my two buddy buddies. Holy crap, that is not me saying, holy crap. That is the name of a person on Twitter who says, Holy crap says, tell us about your involvement with the box and closer together. So you're telling me you're just in the video?

Just in the video. Wow. And here's the best part. Let me hear, wait. Hold on. That's not you. Nope. I should, you know what?

We're not even one single mouth. I feel like this is a milly-vinilly situation, right? Right? I just saw that guy. Dude, I just saw a fab. Because one's dead. Okay, yeah. So you saw the other guy in, in Amsterdam at the Paradiso.

When I was doing this Bowie thing in January, he was back there. And he has, he was. Just say it on the, make sure you're on the mic. Sorry. Okay. And he was doing, I guess, some kind of line. blog thing because he was talking to his cell phone like this, like standing in the middle of the backstage every time.

He's stunningly beautiful. He was a model. He's gorgeous, like gorgeous. And he's doing this thing. And I'm like, dude, like he's not remotely embarrassed about doing this in front of it. I swear to God, you can tell how old I am. I'm like, that's just, I don't know. It's like kind of like, what's the word?

Like, exhibitionism or something. Of course, being a performance. performer doesn't put you in that category at all anything. Yeah, I know. So you're in Montreal, the box. Yeah, so I end up singing with them. I do an audition. This is right before, or two years before my first record came out, which came out in 1989.

Right. So it's like 80, maybe earlier than that. 80, I think this is 86, yes, I think it's 86. Or maybe not. I don't know when this is exactly. Maybe it's 87. I'm going to say now I'm going to say maybe Who gives a shit anyway?

Closer together is the album name and it comes out in 87. There you go. And so we went to the Dominican Republic to do this video and we're in Puerto Plata and we filmed on in this old fort you know like a fort

that they actually abandoned fort. So we get there early morning everything's set up, blah blah blah blah. Do you think anyone has had the foresight to bring water to the not one?

There isn't a goddamn bottle of all. on the shoot. So they send someone out to get it. They can't find water. All they can find is the... Cerveza. Por favor.

Deservesa. So we basically drank beer all fucking day. We are absolutely hammered in that video. Wow. Because of the heat of the sun and the fact that there was no other liquid. Everybody goes, what? You drank. Oh, my God.

It was just beer the whole time. Oh. And so, yeah, that's why But why are you in the video if you're not on the song? Is it because you're an attractive blonde? And they said we need a... No, Martin Saint-Clau's really pretty. I don't think she was interested, A,

and she didn't want to be their backups. Because she was really well-known at the time in Quebec. So it behooved them to have somebody who was well-known on the track. Instead of, you know, an unknown come moi. Right. Like me. And there's two of you on the, like, doing backups in that video. Obviously, Boomdog didn't give a shit.

Yeah, the other girl's selfie, yeah. But she's not, she's saying more on that actual recording, not that song, but on that, in the, in the USA, in the USS. Yeah, yeah. I'm in that one too. And I am actually going, we, we are ordinary people. Which was a big hit, even here. I love the box. They really, that, I love that band.

It's a good band. unlike boom dog Hey what's this Is this still me Is this something to do with me Because I fucking have no idea right now I'm just saying Patience

Patience Oh is that song Rain? Yes Oh my God I want to hear it I want to hear it Keep turn it up turn it Jeez Full Brie

Whole fat Brie It's amazing how these like early 80s type These sound All that sounds Yeah, I know. The drums have that That God-awlins thing he did. It really dates it though.

That doesn't it? Syndrome, yeah. I don't know if I'm singing on this. I wrote the litter. No, okay, so my understanding is, and you know, you can tell me I'm wrong, but you probably won't know. Oh, wait, I am, I'm strange.

I think you just wrote this. So I think this song, Rain, from Michael Breen's self-titled album in 1987 was written by Sass Jordan. Well, no, I wrote the lyric. Well, you wrote the lyrics. But you were co-writers.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you like this song? It's all right. So this is like, you're like the Bernie Toppin or whatever. Like, he's like the Lilton John. Is that how that right? I wish I was, Borgheim, I'd have been rocking it.

Okay, next, next. This is exciting. Okay, well, the next one is a song everybody knows is a Sass Jordan joint. But while I'm going to bring down Michael, but here. I'm going to take a moment. Oh, no.

Why you have to pee? No. I'm going to give you a few gifts for coming here. I thought you're going to say I'm going to open up a beer because you're not obnoxious enough as it is. It's your beer. You can do what you want with it? Oh, Great Lakesburg. Can I actually take it?

It's 100% really yours. Oh, thank you, Great Lakes Brewery. We love you. We love you. We love you. They're a local craft brewery and they produce fresh, tasty beer. And you know what? Most importantly, they support.

shows like this so we can cut out the middleman They need to put me on here Not this hockey dude I don't even know who that is That's Mike Lackey He's the Brewmaster He just turned 50

Oh then okay you know what Then you should be there brough What else we got like Pompous ass for example That's me right there That's my wine right I mean beer That's my jam

Pompous ass Oh my god yes Oh we could totally Create some Oh I'm fucking loving that one It's this dude who's gonna have Long blonde there They got great artists over there

English ale Right because you're from England Pompah Sass English ale I'm into it I love it Awesome okay so thank you Great Lakes for sending over a six pack for sass Palma pasta

Palma pasta.com They sent over a They sent over a lasagna for you That's true Like I have a lasagna in my freezer for you I have a vegetarian lasagna for you Thank you thank the Lord

Thank you sweet Lord You don't eat me. That's becoming more common. Well, I've always been, it's not new for me. When did you have your last hamburger? It's a veggie burger. Okay, but that doesn't, that's not a hamburger. By the way, I am in no way judgmental of anyone who wants to eat, if you want to eat

go for it. Why shouldn't you? I'm just, I don't like it. That's all. Oh, okay, so it's not like an ethical thing. No, no, no, no. You're not trying to save the planet or save the animals. No, because it won't.

Right, but it's better than doing nothing. Like, you got two. options, right? You could do something. Here's what you've got to do. Tell us. Be happy. End the fucking story. And if you're happy, everything's going to work out.

Oh, I'm happy right now. Are you happy? So we're good. I'm fucking having the time of my live over here. Walk through memory lane. Things I didn't even know I did. Toronto Mike. Is this for me too?

That's for you too. Okay, that's courtesy of sticker you. Stickeru.com. When you make your, when you, you know, you perform us, as, Jordan, you can sell stickers and stuff that you made at stickeru. You.com. and it's a good idea. And that's a Toronto mic sticker.

You can put anywhere you want. I hope you don't put it on that disposable coffee cup because... Because we're trying to save the planet here. I thought you'd put it on your guitar. Come on or something. I don't know. You don't have a guitar. Okay.

Accordian. Okay, I'll put on me purse. You can find someone to put that. Accordian. Your ukulele. I was going to say, I think this is my favorite interview I've ever done. Is that right?

And you've done a lot of interviews. It's not as much of an interview as it is just hanging out and having fun. That's the idea. that you have found stuff that I'm like, what? I clearly forgot about it. Like, I totally forgot about that. Because I do my homework. You know why I do my homework?

Because I give a shit. See, I don't like to know about myself. Thank you. Well, you're enjoying it. I think people say that. Yes, you're having a blast. This is so fun. Where do you, like, are you willing to tell us where you live?

And I have planet Earth. Okay, but do you live in Ontario? I live in Ontario, part of planet Earth. And do you have any desire to live in Toronto? That would be a big bad no. Big negative Nelly right there. Okay. If you, though, change your mind or any of your friends have any questions about living in Toronto.

Uh-huh. You have to do me a favor. You got to text Toronto Mike. One word, Toronto Mike. You got a phone. You text Toronto Mike to 59559. The Kightner group have partnered with Toronto Mike to fuel the real talk. And I sincerely believe Austin Kightner can help.

So this would be a big deal for the show and it would help you as well. again. Toronto mic to 5959. You know, this song holds up. We talked about 80s jams. This sounds 80s. It sounds 80s, but it sounds like good 80s. I got so many questions. Where do I begin?

Firstly, this is the first SaaS Jordan hit. Yes, it's got to be. You know why? I was listening to Q107 at the time and they played it every hour, so it was a big deal. It was good. I'd have been like, can we? Stop playing a long way.

Yeah, I think it is. Yeah, that sounds right. Hey, hold on. I love the fact that I don't know. You must know your first hit sass. I seriously don't. I don't look back. Are you sure that's coffee?

Let me smell it. It's coffee. I trust it. I trust it. Of course, there's a little shot of you know. Okay, tell somebody. I literally tweeted the video today and said it's still a killer jam. is a big fucking hit for you man like let's make let's hear what was it like when you first uh you know

for example you first hear it on the radio and then suddenly it's uh a bona fide canadian smash hit do you have any memories of this 88 i you know what i it was they played the video on uh much music a lot like a lot yes so i i remember like within two weeks going from relative obscurity to being like everywhere i went people would be like oh you're the girl in the video because people were watching it back in those days. No, you're absolutely right. Were you living in Montreal at the time still? I was, yeah.

And I was like, this is my cue to get out of town, bro. So where is out of town? Like, where would you go? I went to L.A. I went where all good Canadians go. The graveyard of Canada. To hang out with the Alan Thicks and everybody who was hanging around, right? Everybody does it.

I thought it was being original. The reason I really wanted to go there in first place is because of my favorite But when I was a kid, I wanted to be David Cassidy, the Parkers family. And that was all centered in Los Angeles. And that was like, that was still in my head. It was like, I got to go to L.A. I've got to be where David Cassidy was because that's what I want to be. Boy, I'm fucking glad.

I didn't end up being David Cassidy. That's all I can say. All right. Here's my connection to David Cassidy really briefly. I produce a podcast on Ontario horse racing. It's called Down the Stretch. Yes. For Peter Gross.

And I am told by. Random. Many conversations of Peter Gross about Ontario horse racing That David Cassidy was a really, he owned horses And was a key guy in this community of horse racing Yes, and he's dead now, by the way I know I have a picture of me and him together

Okay, good, good My birthday party Do you have a picture of Danny Baudaducci? What was the... No, but I did his radio show in Chicago. Is he still alive? He's alive, he's alive. Oh yeah, okay. He was, he is,

David Cassie had issues. Danny Bonadice did too, but somehow managed to, you know... What about the daughter on that show? Do we know what she's up to? Which one? She was the cute one. No, yeah, Susan Day. She wanted nothing to do with them ever again.

I read all this stuff. I like hearing of them, like TMZ. I am a Portuguese family specialist. What else? Susan Crow is dead. Remember the Monkeys Revival? Okay, there's a Monkees revival in like the mid-to-late 80s, okay? And much music suddenly started playing monkeys and guys.

my age started discovering the monkeys. Wow. Building on that, though, they picked up the Partridge family on much, which I want to ask you about in more detail. This is fully a true segue. But I totally watched a lot of Partridge family because of much music.

That makes sense. You know, you're saying late 80s? Yeah, mid to late 80s. By then I had moved on a snatch. Okay, I understand. I was more into like, you know. Because I thought you were younger than me, but apparently my research.

Oh, my God. No, I'm not younger than anybody. You can't be because. older than everybody. That can't be true. This is why I'm an icon. So how, does it, you have a record label?

Like, how does your video get in the hands of the, you know, the 299 Queen Street where much music was? The first record? Yeah, tell somebody. I was, I was, my record label was Aquarius, Aquarius records at that time, which was, you know, the home, it had been created for April Wine

back in the 70s or eight. Fuck, I know. I think I'm going to rewrite history right now, everyone, if you don't mind. You can. I'm going to double check everything. I'm going to double. Wait a minute. Hold on while we talk about.

Double to the double. Oh yeah. Another video. Right. I listen to that. The drums sound like dead. Fish. You're a hell of a singer.

Do you know that? Has anyone ever told you that? Yes, but I don't believe that. It's interesting. I'm normally like female singers much. You got a bit of a Melissa Etheridge maybe? I know, you don't want to hear that. Tell me why you're making that face.

No, it's not your fault. It was at that time, I think. Yeah, because everybody said that old. And I was like, for my sake. I think I'm older than her, for God's sake. Somebody bring me some one. water, right? Can't you see? I'm burning alive. I didn't love the comparison because to me her approach is very hard and white. It's a very square white kind of square and

and mine is definitely much more on the brother's side of the things. You got more R&B-ishy. You got more soul. We shouldn't say soul because that's not, she's definitely soulful in her way, but it's just as a different approach. It's a different way of phrasing. Now, pardon me, you're the TMZ expert, so I ask you now. TMZ! Did she carry David Crosby's baby? Or was it a surrogate mother?

Or was it the other, or was it her wife? This is what I think. And I could be wrong. I'm making up stories again, as usual. Her wife. So I think her wife, they commissioned spromatosa from the test of Q. of Mr. Crosby. Have you seen that

documentary? Yeah, I just watched it. It's great. Why would you want that? Yikes. He's a prickly guy. Like, I think everyone who worked with him

left, like, hating him. Why would you want his babies? Well, he's got musical talent. I think you're better off getting Mr. Toronto mic's babies. Oh, Toronto Mike's babies. For the record,

I made four babies. Much nicer, better looking, trust me. Nicer voice. You've already made four babies. I've made four. And you can see them and see that they're like smart and attractive people.

So here's my thing. I was actually thinking in 2020, one of my goals is to get a vasectomy. This is a real talk of me. Don't do that. Don't do it. Don't. Are you suggesting I sell my sperm? I would,

are you allowed to sell sperm in this country? I don't think so. Well, then go into the country that you can. Here's the thing. Do not get a vasectomy. Do not get the V-Vi-Vi-. But why? Because it's not good for you.

Tell me. Tell me more. Dr. Jordan is telling you right now it's not good for you. It's not good for you. Energetically, don't do it. Just, you know. Okay, what's better for you to one person to have a vasectomy or someone's partner to be on a birth control pill? Neither is good.

There's other ways of doing this and we can't talk about it on this. Why can't we? Because I am not a qualified medical personnel. I just don't want to make any more babies. I hear you. I hear you. And your partner does not want to take the pill because that's like horrifyingly bad for you as well. There are definitely ways you can do this.

But why am I suddenly the sex expert? Well, this is, no, this is why people tune in to Toronto mic. They don't know what they're going to hear, and it's real talk. I just, I was curious, what method do you want me to practice of birth control? Just tell me. Well, because you know that the female is only fertile for like four days in the month. Oh, so this is like the rhythm method. Well, I'm just saying, it's better than getting your.

Balls nip. Yeah, it's a lot of good idea. I'm telling you. Just trust me. But a lot of people I know have got this procedure. Yes, I know. I know a lot of people who have, too, and I'm telling you. Okay, because I haven't done it yet.

Don't. Dr. Jordan says, don't do it. There's other things we can do here. We can do the research. Okay, one more jam from this album. Now, what was, if you remember? What was the name of your first album? 50 bucks if you remember.

The name of my first album? Right. I think you just played it. No, that was double trouble. It was called Telze. Tell somebody. Straight up, and I don't tell this to every guest, but your vocals are fantastic. Like, I know you don't like the sounds around your vocals, but your vocals are fucking fantastic.

Well, you don't tell that to your hockey player, guess? I didn't tell David Amber. Your voice smokes the competition. I might have told him that, actually, but he has a really good voice, but I don't know how he sings. Thank you, by the way. Thank you, Mike. I very much appreciate that. I really do.

I wish I could. Compliments make you uncomfortable. They do. I need to get over that. That's a problem. Me too. Is that suck? When's your birthday?

June. 20 or earlier? June 27. Cancer baby. You're the opposite of me, Capricorn baby. I heard Jesus was a Capricorn. No, he was a Pisces.

That was a big fat fucking line. That's a big fucking line. Yeah, it is. A lot of lies in that story. There's a lot of lies in that story. Speaking of Virgin birds. I heard. Joseph had of a sex to me.

Now that we're experts on reproductive methods and religion, let's, shall we move on to something even less controversial like politics. Well, here's something I want to ask you about, which is that we, okay, tell somebody's a bona fide smash

in this wonderful country I live in called Canada. I live in it too. I agree. But you're in L.A. because I'm guessing you want to be... No, no, no, no, I'm not in L.A. Yeah, but... Oh, not yet. Yeah, that's like it came out in 1989. And I moved to L.A. on January 4, 1990. But your goal, I'm guessing, because everyone has this goal, is to crack the U.S. market because it's so much bigger.

Yeah. And also, you would get taken more seriously in Canada if you did well in the United States. Oh, right, like a Shania Twain. Isn't that pathetic? Alainz Mons. Or not. Brian. Yeah, Sladeon.

There's a lot of big Canadian acts in the United States. eats and most of them become Americans. Note, note, note, note. Neil Young's American, right? Johnny Mitchell. They all became Americans. They defect it to Canada's cellar while we remained

in America's attic. Right. Like even Gino Frickin' Vanelli, right? That prick. What do you think of Gino? He's a Montreal guy. I think he's awesome. He's amazing. I had a very lovely experience with the man,

so I don't accept criticism of him. He's a brilliant. He's a brilliant musician. But he had U.S. hit. So he had a big U.S. hit. I don't want to be criticizing anybody. Did I criticize anybody? No.

You can. I don't want to. I don't like it. Okay. Ain't right. Ain't right. Well, then this episode's over. All right, Sass.

Do you, is there any particular reason these great rock songs that we all ate up like candy did not resonate with U.S.? Like, you've been in the industry? Tell me. Like, tell me straight up. Why weren't you a bigger deal in the U.S.? I don't blame. But I would say that would have been me. You weren't willing to work it?

No. Oh, God, that's such a long... I don't even know where to... Well, I need to know. I need to... I need to make this into more of Reader's Digest version. It's hard now. It's really...

Let it out. I know, but I just don't know where to start. It was... It depends who you're surrounded by and who you're working with. And it depends on... There came a point where I was just like, I don't really like this.

I don't like this fame thing at all. Like, I really fucking don't like it. I'm over it, because I know how to deal with it now, but I didn't mend. And so every move I made, I'd find a way to sabotage myself. I was really good at it.

Like so good. That that's... Like suppressing your fame. Oh, my God. But the other thing is, is my timing was always just off. Are you going, what the fuck is that popping noise? No, no, every once in a while, like, glanced down and make sure the levels are good.

Anyways, yeah, like, oh, I always fell into the crack before the next thing happened. Oh, like you're ahead of the curve. Yeah. Like, but what, wait, is there a wave you think if you had been part, you could have been, like, is it like an Alanis Morissette type thing? Cheryl. Cheryl Crow. Yeah, Cheryl Crow. Sorry, what the fuck is Cheryl? When Cheryl Crow, that would have been the wave.

Tuesday Night Music Club. Like six months earlier. And also, I did not pick a style of music that was particularly appealing to people from a female. Interesting. I know it's so funny. No, that is interesting because rock is the domain of the man. It's men. male and I get it.

I totally get people. In that time frame, it's always got to be in context. People were not comfortable with that type of aggressive sort of anger-fueled

sex and anger, those two things from a female. They would not play my song Pissing Down on the radio in the United States because they said women should not say the word pissing.

I'm not following. fucking lying. Now listen to every single Nicky Minaj and all of them and hear what they're saying. Right. Or even like a Meredith Brooks like a song called bitch, right? Exactly. Yeah. But that was like a thing.

Right. But they managed to get it. And she's right in the Alanis wave anyways. Yeah. So anyways, it was really interesting. Super interesting stuff. I could do the whole episode about this. But I've, you know, I always ask that question when I have on somebody, I don't know,

you name it. Like I don't know, Moberg. I, okay, well, later we'll talk a little bit about... I know Mo. I know Mo. He talked about dropping off his video for I'm an adult now at 299 Queen Street. And they stick it in high rotation. Complete, yeah, it's an amazing song.

But, you know what, the mountain equipment co-op is on the, is now built. I know where it. Parking Light is where that video was filmed. Yes, it should have been a heritage site, right? They should have protected it. I agree. But only people are aged. would care.

But Moe getting the much music exposure, that completely changed the history of the pursuit of happiness. Because now the whole country is watching this one. And yeah, it's a great time where the whole country's watching the same, if music fans are all watching the same thing. And even went across the border and into like Buffalo and all the border towns. And they all preferred much music to MTV if they were clever dogs.

Yeah, clever dogs. So you're, okay, and I love, I loved much music. And yeah, that's probably, I mean, I mentioned I heard you a lot on Q and 07, but the two combined and you're a big fucking deal. The fact you're not an American success story is completely unknown to people like me who live in Toronto. Like how the hell would we know or care? And then, yeah, I learned that, oh, they weren't singing along to double trouble. The Racine, which is the next record, actually sold 450,000 units in the United States,

which is 50 short of gold. I'm going to get to race in a second. First, I want to ask you, where do you keep your Juno Awards? Like, you won a Juno Award. Okay, you won one. Okay, take the S off Juneau Awards. My apologies. You were voted.

Take the S off Sass. What do you get? You were nominated a few times, but you won in 1989 for most promising female vocalist of the year. Where is that Juno Award right now? To be on, where is it? Did I give it to the, I may or may not? Goodwill? No.

It's the archives, the University of Toronto archives. Okay. The media archives, they have a lot of my stuff. Because they are. Well, what am I going to do that shit? I don't know. It could be in the bathroom. I'm going to do that shit. Well, congrats on winning that a prestigious award.

This is Stevie. Oh, yeah. Okay, there's a question. I'll ask it here. Okay. Hold on. Basement Dweller asks, What was it like writing and recording with the vastly underrated guitarist singer Stevie Salas? Yeah.

And any great stories about recording that amazing cover version of Robin Trowers' Two Rolling Stone, which we're listening to right now. Well, we ripped this song off. I know that voice. That's me. That's not Steve. I can't believe you weren't on closer together. This is really bothering. But listen to the voice now, you know what? You're right.

I should have. It was too ladylike. Any story about Stevie you can share for a basement dweller. Basement dwellers his handle. Stevie smells, yes. What can we say about Stevie? And just tell the truth and then we'll move on. And then we'll get to a racine.

Yeah. Can I tell about Stevie? I like watching you squirm, actually. I'm not squirming. I'm not letting off the hook here. I'm trying to think of a good story about Stevie. The, yeah. So, yeah, he is very talented.

And we did a lot of work together and fought a lot. Were you like oil and water? Yep, pretty much, yeah. Interesting. we did some pretty cool stuff. All right, I'm going to go to... This is me and Rick Nair. Oh, so you actually recognize this song.

I do. You know what I wish you had? What? I wish you had something unto nothing. Some of my son stuff. That shit's good. Well, at some point, at the end, if you have time, I'll just go to find it on YouTube and play it.

I can play anything on YouTube, too. Oh, fantastic. Yeah, I have such wonderful stuff. up here. You're in the big leagues. Have you ever seen a studio this amazing? Have you ever experienced anything like that? Have you ever done an interview in some guy's basement? You know, knowing me and my memory? Probably. Probably. But I don't call. This is my favorite. I can hear how happy I am. Any Ripperton rest there. Right.

10,000 octave range. Did you hear that? No. Is that true? 10,000? But you've got a great range and that's a great... Oh my God. I can fully Mariah Carey it there. Do you hear me? Wow. No glass broke. I can tell you right now. No. What you need for that, ladies and gentlemen,

is whiskey, cigarettes, and late nights. That's the secret formula. Do not try this at home. Okay, so, I mean, basement to other again, he's like,

he notices, like we all do. This guy is prolific. Seriously into this. I like this guy. Just curious, but that quite noticeable change in sound between

tell somebody and Racine and wondering what led to this outstanding musical evolution. And then if you go further than Racine, you go to rats, there's another massive change. Then you go to the next one, another massive change. It depends on who I'm working with.

The thing is, I love music, and I love all kinds of music. And every time I hear something that I'm, like, madly into, I want to do something. It sounds like that. The fact that I haven't managed to pull off a Steely Dan yet is depressing. Because I love Steely the Dan.

I love that band. I love every phase of their shit. Anyways, but I mean, and there's some... So it's whoever I'm working with, but I go to work with those people because they can do that kind of whatever I'm into. Well, now the first record was all machines, and it's rather ghastly to my ear at this point.

But you got to play all those hits, right? When people want the hits? The only one I play from that is... You must do double chubble and tell somebody. No? No, man. I am. Wow.

No, but it depends on, again, what show are we doing? Like, right now, I'm going to be doing mainly stuff in the blues records. Right.

Oh, yeah, there's new stuff we're going to get to. Stay tuned. I'm sorry. Luckily, I'm not that prolific. We're almost there. We're almost there.

Actually, I have a question I've been dying. Okay, well, I just want to, you said it already. No, there's a question I'm in Dyn to ask you forever and it's coming up next. Uh-oh.

But I just need to say, you've already said it. I'm going to say it again, that this is, Racine is your biggest seller. And you said 450,000 units. In the States. Right?

Yes, which like 500 was gold. It was just shy of gold. Good for you. But I think it was double platinum in Canada. Unless I'm wrong. I don't know. Yeah, I think 100,000 in Canada. No.

No. What do I know? Yeah, you're right. Here's the big question. Ready? Okay. What's that? This is vaguely familiar, and I know I don't like it.

Oh, it's the bodyguard, right? Okay, right. So here's the question, okay? Yeah. To let everyone listening at home, or wherever the hell you are, maybe you're not at home. What do I know? You could be in a car. Maybe you're in the basement with us.

Maybe you're working out at the gym. Who knows? A lot of people listen to podcasts when they work out. This is the big thing. Makes sense. Yeah, it makes sense. So so many people are sweaty right now, and they're just listening to our conversation now. But wait, is this live?

It's not It's not, it's It's not. I got you. I got you got you. The podcast is definitely not right. Okay.

So, trust in me. This is a Joe Cocker Sass Jordan duet that appears Hold on.

Where are you? Oh, you're coming in a bit. Okay. The Bodyguard soundtrack has sold approximately 27 million units. It's 31.

31, Sass tells them. Maybe. Oh, you're off the mic, though. Sorry, everyone's reading the wrong Wikipedia page. Oh, here you are. Hold on. Why people thought it was Tina Turner. Did they? Oh, yeah.

That's like that's a high praise for you. Yeah. But I can see what I'm the first. I get it now. Oh, yeah. Sure. It's nice to hear you and Joe Cocker. The voices kind of dancing together.

Yeah, I've got good textures to your voices. Now, multiple questions, but the first question would be, How much money do you see from having a song on an album that's so funny? This is the second time I've been asked this today. Really? Who asked you the first time? Who have you talked to? I'm not your first today.

John. No, you're not my first. Sadly. A guy named John. I can't. You don't remember who you talk. Are you going to remember this? John Moore was his name.

Oh, that's 10.10. 10. So you're cheating on me. I cheat. cheated on you. Oh my God. Okay, so John, I didn't know I didn't listen

to this interview of John, but I'm sorry you stole my thunder. But more people are going to hear this. Now, 30 million plus is a lot. That's just one of the biggest items the whole time. It's totally insane. And no, I didn't make any.

I made 20 grand. Is that legal? And I certainly didn't make it. And I didn't make it all for me. I had to show it with everybody else too. You know who made the most money on that album? It's probably Dolly Parton. Probably.

I would imagine that Whitney didn't do too bad either. Right. But Dolly did write the big killer right there. I will always love you. How did you end up on the Bodyguard Soundtrack? So it was Kevin Costner, who was the guy that I think he wrote, produced and directed the Bodyguard. And he was the actor. He was the main actor.

Right. And he loved Joe Cocker. And he wanted to use this particular song, which Joe, had recorded about four years prior in Australia with an Australian singer, singing the part that I'm singing. And he wanted to update the song. Okay. With a new singer who was out at, you know, then.

And he was driving around L.A. One day heard Racine on the radio, heard Make You Believe on the radio, and that's the voice I want. Wow. And that's how it happened. That's amazing story. And it sounds like his part was like in the can already. And you're not actually...

It was. He wasn't there at all. And then I went on tour with him afterwards just like it was not accidental, but it had nothing to do with the recording of this song. I toured with him for four months. Okay. And I didn't meet him once because I was opening and I had to leave after the, every night after the show, I have to leave for the next show.

I didn't meet him until the last night of the goddamn tour. And I said, man, it was so amazing singing with you on that song. And he looks at me and he goes, what? What song? And you know, that is. He had no fucking idea. I was on it. I mean, when you're on an album that sells 30 million,

like a lot of people... Well, it hadn't sold that much yet. No, not yet. Okay. Yeah. It wasn't out. Unless people buy the album and they play the, I will always love you and then shut it down.

Is that what they're doing? No. Could be. No, you're right. Some people are doing that. Oh, for sure. Keep it by the single. Come on, what's going on.

But I'm sorry to hear that you made 20K on that because it feels like we should file a lawsuit or something. Oh, you can't. I mean, it's the past, baby. It's the past. Good on Kevin Costner for listening to, the radio and saying, I want that voice, and it was your voice. That's pretty damn cool. It is. I know.

Now, rats. I'm going to play something from rats here. Hold on here. Oh, yeah. You know, I've seen their face before. I'm not sure. You mentioned Cheryl Crow, but this is, this is better than any of that. What the hell?

But this is also your first. I love this man. Billboard Hot 100 song. You're on the Billboard Hot 100 100 with this song. Yeah? FYI.

I don't know if you know. I don't know if Casey Kasem shouted you out or whatever. But I would imagine that make you a believer would have been the bigger than this. I'm of the opinion. This is your Billboard Hot 100 debut.

Sun's going to rise. How is that even possible? What do I even know? Nobody knows. Is this your favorite album? Or Racine? You like rats better. Yeah.

What makes this one your preference? Because a lot of people They go racing or get the fuck out Yeah, most people like recing better I like heavy, bluesy guitars That's my thing And I love intense drum Everything, I just like it better

It's more for me Yeah It's just It's more intense Is this George Martin producing this? Holy smokes, it is a No, it's Nick Didia

That's Stevie playing Stevie and I wrote the song Oil and water Oil and water I never listen to the shit You didn't know you were coming over for a listening party Should I be recording this Just kidding

I'm recording Am I recording? Hold on yes I am okay So I realized I asked the question I want to know if you got rich off of the bodyguard And actually that's I have another burning question, but...

I didn't get rich off of pretty much anything. But you're happy. Happy as a clan. Would you be happier if you were richer? Nope. I'd just still be happy. Because you're not, like, you're not living under a bridge. No. No, I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm just not, you know, super looted or nothing.

Of course, that's all relative, isn't it? Like, you own a home? Yes. You're rich. You're in the 1%, uh... You know what, when I'm around the house and I sing it's sad Jordan. I've just spent a week with Uber. You spent with Jeff Bezos.

Who are you spending this time? No, but more in that vein. Get out of here. You're going to drop a name? Well, that one's, no, I'm not. That one's off the chart. Yeah, I couldn't do that. But it's hard to even conceive of that.

It's like just another world. Closed captioning. Sass has made a taking a marijuana joint to her mouth Even though I don't because I just That shit makes me paranoid So now that you probably preferred it when it was illegal Because you were doing dangerous things And now that it's legal

It's like I don't need to do that anymore I stopped doing it when I was like 21 I used to smoke cash in Montreal Interesting But that 21 Okay so it's been it's been 10 years since you know I don't know Okay so

Rats And I again we're going to I'm going to confirm later if sun's going to rise is your first Billboard Hot 100 hit. I have no idea. Here's the big question. Hi Road Easy, by way, is a great sing-along. I'll just sing it randomly around the house.

It's got a great hook to it. Yeah. Who wrote this hook? Me. I know. I just wanted you to say it. It's another song that Stevie and I wrote together. You two.

Okay. Well, we wrote all of rats together, so there's that. Were you really being considered as the lead singer for Van Halen? Oh, for. Did John Moore ask you about this? No, he doesn't. Okay. Oh, no.

Um, where's that Kim Crawford shit you got up there? You're holding out on me. I'm, hey. What time is it, bro? You know, I don't even, I don't even drink wine. My wife likes wine. Oh, well, I was going to say, well, then you'll just have to give it to me, but I cannot take it out of the mouth of wine. And she saw it already.

Yeah, that ain't, that I know. I know. I would let her you care with her. Um, uh, I forgot the question. The question is, the big question is. What? Were you, in fact, uh, Oh, and the Van Heelan.

Mike. So here's the thing. Who freaking knows? All I know is I was with them for three months. Me, Alex, and Ed. And Scotty, Ed's guitar tech, at Ed's house in Laurel. Well, not Laurel Canyon.

Oh, with David Cross. Cold Water Canyon. It's off of Coldwater Canyon. Cold Water, because I lived right down the street from them. And I was friends with Ray Daniel. who managed them for a hot minute in the 90s. One day I'm at home and the phone rings

but this is like in the, this is before cell phones, right? So in the phone rings, I answer the phone and this voice goes, is this sass? I'm like, yeah, who's this? I can't tell you that, but I just need to know if you can you come up,

I'm going to give you an address. I want you to come here and just sing some stuff. And I'm like, what the fuck? What the fuck is this? Like, shut up. No. Who are you? I mean, tell me your name. Wouldn't tell me, wouldn't tell me.

And I just finally hung up on him. Two seconds later, phone rings again. It's Ray Daniels office going, did Alex just call you? And I'm like, who the fuck is Alex? Some dude just call Alex Van Halen. They want you to go up and I'm like, that was Alex Van Halen. What's with the covert underdog vibes? Underdoggy vibes.

What's that? Watergate. Well, then I found out later because, I mean, he's just like, he is super spy under cover of the night. Anyways, but the most wonderful person I loved, I totally love Al. Anyway, so yeah, and so I end up going up there, and basically what I did, I was their bum boy

for about three months, because they were publicly on the wagon, but probably not. And somebody had to buy the booze. Wow. Somebody had to buy the beer. Right. Because these boys could go, they'd be like this, watch this ass, like, and the whole fucking thing down.

Like a frat boy. I'm going to tell you what? It was impressive. Anyway, so, and we just hung out and talked and babbled and just had a great time, and they played me some stuff. And I'm like, what am I doing here? Listen, I'll tell, let me speak behalf of fans everywhere that, okay, so Sammy Hagar leaves Van Halen. And then the guy they ended up replacing him. Gary, Sharon.

Right, from extreme. And that did not go well. It did not end well. You would have been a much wiser choice. Perhaps, but I am the one that responsible for. looking at them one day and going, you guys aren't actually thinking of having like a female singer in this band, are you? Oh, that's not a good move, because then they

won't pick you. Because I was horrified. The thought of a female singing hot for teacher didn't do it for me back in 19, whenever the hell that was, and I couldn't see my, and then all I could think of, Mike, was the idea that what if it was a disaster and I, for the rest of my

flipping life, would be considered the girl, the woman that destroyed Van Halen. I was like, you know, I ain't fucking do this. You could have been like Yoko Ono. But it could have been the opposite. But that's all I could think of. So that was the end of that.

I'm good at that. Well, they made the wrong choice. But I'm glad you finally for the record. I mean, it sounds like, by the way, that sounds like they were auditioning you. They were. They were. Ray said, yes, of course they were. It's now definitive fact.

It's not a definite fact. I told them was the worst idea they ever had in their entire lives. I said so did it and I. So did you end up as a judge on Canadian Idol. Um, they asked me. They asked me to audition. They asked me to audition. Sorry, I was...

No, no. Do you happen to know any of the... I'm guessing they had, like, they wanted one person to be... I know that the American Idol was modeled after... They modeled it. Yeah. But you had four.

Yeah, and some other countries had more than that. Oh. The really weird story? Yeah. Is that in 1981, I lived in Montreal and I had a roommate named Martin Mill Hewish, who's an author,

does all kinds of music. stuff. Anyways, Marty was my roommate. One night, Marty comes, he used to hang out. You're not from Montreal at all, so you don't know what I'm talking about, but on Crescent Street, there was this bar that Thursdays, it was called Thursday, infamous place. Anyways, he comes home and he's got this young kid in tow and he was British. Marty was British, is British. This young kid's British and he goes, sass. This is Simon and he has this band called the, I don't remember, the easy beats or some crap. That's not the name, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, the something beats.

Anyways, or the crocodile, I don't know, some shit. And he wants to be a manager and he's, the, he brought the band over from England and they've run out of money and they got kicked out of the hotel. And I said they could stay in the basement. Do you mind? I said, of course, I don't mind. I mean, I don't get a shit. I'm like 20. Anyways, so he got all the kids, all these young British dudes are all sleeping in the basement for the next like two weeks.

Anyways, we're great friends. Simon goes back to England, comes back over, hangs out in the basement again, goes back to England. And then gets hired by this huge management company in the UK. And so he like three months later, he's a junior manager, three months later, the artist that he's brought into this, fold has a worldwide hit called 19. The song was Paul Hardcastle. The song was, I know the song very well.

The average age of the Vietnam soldier was 24 years old, but he was 19. I love that song. That was his artist. So all of a sudden, he's like the big cahuna. Yeah. Right?

Then he finds the spice girls. And then he starts this thing called Pop Idol in the UK. His name is Simon. Fuller. Not Simon, the other one. Not Cowell. This is Fuller. This is Simon Fuller. That motherfucker had not one cent lived in our basement. Is now one of the most wealthy people

in Europe and is still the sweetest guy in the world. Anyways, he had nothing to do with me getting hired. That's just a coincidence. Isn't that weird? That is so weird. So, okay, can you name the other judges? Like, do you remember your... On Canadian? In Canadian Idol.

Of course I can. I know. I just find... Farley. Farley Flex. Is he? Okay. Yeah, he managed Maestro Fresh West. That's right, I think. He definitely did. You know, you're the third, I should point out,

you're the third Canadian Idol judge to be on Toronto mic. You bastard. But definitely. You've been cheating on me, mom. You were messing around of John Moore this morning. Okay, who's John Moore to ask you the bodyguard sound? You were messing around with the other three fuckers on this? This is so wrong.

Yes, okay, so hold on. All right, so Farley Flex, who I had a great, I had a great chat with Carth. I really like him. He's awesome. I haven't seen him in 15 years. I'm not lying. I'll reintroduce you guys.

You're both FOTM. Do you know what FOTM stands for? No. Friend of Toronto Mike and you're both FOTMs, okay? That's so sweet. Also on this program. Jake and Zach. Now, Zach I've never met,

but Jake Gold's been on this show. What kind of a person is Jake Gould? I love Jake. He's like a wonderful When he's your friend He's really your friend Like he'll give you the What if he's not your friend?

Then you are a sorry MF And I'm glad he's an FOTM I don't know if Farley is listening right now But I know Jake's listening right now So you just make sure You don't say anything You're gonna regret,

Zazes But okay and Zach I've never met Zach But I think he's in the East Coast Or something now Maybe you've lost touch of Zach Did you get along of Zach? Yeah

Yeah Is that an oil water situation? No, he was Zach. Okay, so Zach Werner. He was exactly Zach. Exactly Zach. But for, and I can't remind me, how many seasons does Canadian? Six.

Six. I know. Insanely long. Unbelievable, man. I couldn't believe it lasted six years. But that was, uh, that's a lot of Canadian television exposure. So you got some coin out of that too. Yes, sir.

People are so interested in how much money you make. How much money did you make from Canadian Idol? I don't really know, but a lot. Good. Relative to what I make now. Well, that could mean anything. Precisely. Now, other than, nowadays when people talk about Canadian Idol,

the only name I hear that comes up, they talk about Carly Ray Jebson. Yeah, and Melissa O'Neill. Melissa O'Neill is like a, she's on the Rookie, and she did like Broadway. She's amazing. She was my favorite. Okay, cool.

I mean, they also, they also mention. I like Carly, too. Carly's great. Sweet human being. Right, right, right, right, right. Can I just play a tiny clip from Canadian Idol? Just, uh... Is it the fart?

No, I'm not... Is there a fart? You farted on Canadian Idol? Oh, my God. No, I did it. Oh, yeah, Ben Maroonie was on Canadian Idol. Yeah, I love Ben. I thought this was interesting.

So this is a clip of, uh, Sloan's Money City Maniac. This is just, uh... I know. I just think it's amazing. What the fuck is this? I know. No, what is this? Seriously.

Yeah. What is it? This is the top eight or something, or top six or something. Top six are just, they're all singing together, like a medley, Money City Maniacs by Sloan on Canadian Idol. I have zero memory of this. But you don't remember a lot of things, that's okay. This is how you stay young.

I just think it's amazing that there was a show in this country where they would all get together and it wouldn't be like, I don't know, a way to Houston song or whatever, but they're only going to sing a song by Sloan. Sloan. It's awesome. Isn't that? I know. I think that had a lot to do with the producers as well, though.

They were very Canadian-centric, as they should have been. It was Canadian Idol, after all. And a couple of quick hits here before we get to the Rebel Moon Blues, which is actually not, by the way, Rebel Moon Blues, and I'm going to play a track from that at a moment. It's actually not available until March 13th, so that's coming soon, but that's exciting. I just got to ask you because I've been collecting Blackie and the Radio King's,

so Stephen Fearing and... Colin. Colin. Well, he's the one I'm missing. because he doesn't live around here. But Tom Wilson's been on the show. In fact, that, you see that? I love Tom. See that.

I recognize that. That's Tom Wilson, when he discovered he's a mohawk. I love that guy. I love that guy, too. He's coming back on the show because apparently his mother-in-law and his brother-in-law are die-hard fans and they want him back. So he was texting me the other day. So, yeah. Tom.

Say how to Tom. I will. I love Tom. I can't even imitate Tom. This is too deep. I can't do it. But what was it like working with Colin Lyndon? phenomenal. He's an amazing guitar player. He's actually from Montreal, too. No, he's not. He lived in Montreal or something like that. I can't remember. But anyway, yeah. No, he's phenomenal. Love him. Love that guy. I haven't seen him in years either.

Makes two of us. Okay. Okay. Who's coughing? Oh, that's Steve. Okay, so Steve's coughing. And I'm laughing. I think I never do. All right, talk to me, Sass. Okay, this is leaving trunk from the first cut, actually, from Rebel Moon Blues.

Because even though it's not available until March 13th, I have connections. Yeah, and also they put out, Am I wrong? You want to hear, I can play, okay. Yeah, please. Yeah, I will dig that up. I want you to tell us, like, what inspired this project, what exactly it is. Talk about Rebel Moon Blues, and I'm going to... Find out.

Yeah, yeah. So please talk. Rebel Moon Blues happened because I was asked to make a blues record, said no, and then got talked into it by smarter minds than myself. And I realized that it's such a broad genre that you can, like half of what I've done before is pretty much blues, but it's blues rock. So you take the rock off it and just keep the blues. This is what you get. Do you know what I'm saying? Totally, totally.

So I'm like, I'm thrilled. filled with this stuff. Plus, it's bringing, just because you call it something different, it's amazing how it changes. Okay, if you were going to, sorry, I'm sorry, to trample over you. I was going to ask you,

pick a song from Rebel Moon Blues you'd like me to play. Well, what about, am I wrong? And you don't have to play the whole thing. Chris Cadell! Amazing, are you going to tour this bluesy stuff? Yes, ma'am.

Because right now you're doing some David Bowie stuff. Okay, so what's the Bowie stuff? The Bowie stuff, it's called a Bowie celebration, and it's the brainchild or the pet, project of Mike Garson, who was Bowie's piano player, his keyboard player for like 40 years in all sorts of different lineups. And the rest of the band are all alumni of different lineups of bands that Bowie had. So it's really, really cool. And I mean, that catalog,

it's undeniable. It's just phenomenal. I grew up. Well, I really got it. Like when I was 13 and 14 years old, the very first show I ever saw. concert I ever saw live was Bowie's Diamond Dogs. And he was just such a huge inspiration, I'll say that rather than influence, because my music isn't very Bowie-ish, but, well, maybe some of it, but you know what I mean? Sure. He just, like, he made it okay to feel different to me. To me.

So is there going to be a, like, a Sass Jordan tour? Yeah. Well, actually, we're doing the blues stuff in. In the Netherlands in May, we've got a week we're doing in the Netherlands in May. And right now, my fabulous agents are working on any kind of stuff that we can do. We've got a show in Buffalo, I think. Then there's a show. But I want to do like a whole bunch together.

So that's what we're trying to do. String them all up. No, cool. Now, what was the jammy? We just lost you to do. One of my favorite Toronto miced guests of all time. And today I learned Sass, George. has passed away all too soon at the young age of 63.

SAS visited my home studio in February 2020, a mere month before the world changed. And she was absolutely wonderful. There was an energy in the room I don't think I've felt since. She was like a drug. And the listener feedback heard me. it wasn't just me who was affected. Sass Jordan,

like David Marsden and Gino Vanelli, is one of those guests whose episodes are referenced by people when they meet me for the first time. Sass Jordan was pure delight. Something unto nothing is Sun. My sincere condolences to all who knew and loved with Sass.

She wasn't just a rock star. Okay. So big Canadian hair. Like, tell somebody, double trouble. Make you a believer in high road easy. She wasn't just a judge on Canadian Idol. Sass, how was this experience for you? Which put her in front of millions of Canadians every week.

She was somebody very special. That was 90 minutes? Close, I think. So here's episode 588 of Toronto Mike. Let's just keep going. Featuring almost 90 minutes of pure Sass. I loved it. I loved it.

So much fun. Hook this. I didn't even know.