Yesterday was a special day for me, my wedding anniversary. It gave me a chance to really reflect on my life and I realized that 20 years ago was a large turning point for me, my life literally changed and did a 180 degree turn from where I had thought and planned it was going to go.
1990 started off in an awesome way. What a way to begin the year than on New Year's Day when the girl I had loved secretly and whom I was seeing for a couple of months somewhat secretly finally officially became my girlfriend and we could freely express our affections publicly. I can still clearly remember that very first kiss lasting 5 minutes while we were standing outside by her car in the rain.
The circle of friends I had at that time, nicknamed the Cruise Crew, got to be about 8 of us by then too, 5 girls and 3 boys. We spent nearly every free time we had either hanging out or driving around, that is if my g/f and I weren't occupied together. There was one drawback and that was my best friend was almost totally ignored by then because he hated my g/f. Seriously, that word is strong and it was a fact and I was stupid by picking her over him when I should have found a balance. I even shelved the band he and I were in.
That time I had the beginning of my adult life planned out. Graduate, marry the girl I longed for, have a couple of kids, be an Air Force pilot and I would be happy. Something I learned though....17 years old is still too young to have your life planned out.
A quarter of the way through 1990, everything exploded. First was something i could have never predicted or imagined. After 5 years of her and I having feelings for one another secretly and finally being able to act on them, my g/f broke up with me. To this day I have no idea why. Even worse, she and all but two of my friends in the Crew decided to back off from me, basically ostracized me from a group that I helped to create. Everything sprialled downwards from there. Even my school marks took a nose dive, I actually failed a class!!!! Then an ex-friend whom was involved in criminal activity tried to entice me to help him.
The uphill battle to get my life back in order began a month after the break-up. My best friend, whom I ignored for my ex-g/f, was there to pick me up and showed me life was not at an end. The band started back up again, but the music was all an undertone of what I missed. So much for the fun music we made. Due to me not being able to take a class course, I could never be an Air Force pilot so there went my dreams of being one of the Snowbirds. I did find solitude and a good foundation in three things....my best friend, listening to Bonfire's albums (Def Leppard suddenly took the back seat in that period) and unintentionally finding a new love in my life, my wife, who was part of that Crew.
By mid-1990 things were coming into place that would shape my life's direction. I had two months to prepare myself for my last year of high school. I began dating the woman who is now my wife, the band was doing very good by getting an indie label contract and that arse of a criminal ex-friend was arrested and sent up the river (he would be killed in a jail riot in 1996). I even found a new direction to go in....the policing field. Not al things were in place by the time I graduated, but by the end of the third quarter of 1990 I had a good idea where my life was going to go.
The last three months of the year were pretty tough, but my skin got thicker. My ex-friends in the Crew appeared to be doing anything and everything to get a reaction from me. Yeah, sometimes they did, I mean it was natural, but I took heart in the small victories that I made and built on that. The band released our album and, what can I say, it was a disaster. Instead of possibly making ammends and hopes of even being on talking terms again, it only made the wedge between them and my ex-g/f and me even wider. We had to reinvent ourselves under a new name and success did start to come to us, but not at home. We were booked outside the immediate area often and we started to play cover songs of Bonfire with a bit of our own plus the odd time one from our previous recording.
My ex-g/f went down a very different road than what we both had planned for each other. It was a dark, dangerous one, but I always said to myself "hey, she picked him, now let her reap what she sowed". As much as I would have liked to have been that old friend again to help steer her to a different path, maybe even to a better b/f (no, not me, I was with my wife already) but I knew she was two things....stubborn and greedy. So I watched her go downwards while I was getting higher on my latter.
When 1990 ended, I was totally on a different road than I was when the year started. I was preparing to go to college to be a cop, my marks went back up and I even passed the class I failed, my future wife and I were together most of the year and many more years were coming up. My best bud was still by my side as support and being a true friend. The band too was on a good road to possible success. A major label was planning to scout us. Looking back to then, it was my most happiest moment, my most worst moment and my success story.
And now we're 20 years from that year. The band broke up due to two reasons, the popular music style changed and I promised my wife I would get out of it. Bonfire became my all time favourite band. I married my wife after graduating from college and even though I am not a cop, I have been involved in similar matters. My best friend and I have been buds now for 25 years and we hang when we can since we have families and live 20 minutes apart (unlike the previous 2 minutes, heheheh). The Crew slowly got back in touch with one another, all except two. One none of us care to talk to and the other is my ex-g/f, whom likely won't speak to any of us unless her husband is no longer in the picture. In all honesty I hope that doesn't happen. I hate seeing marriages break up, even if she really has to get away.
So here I sit, still reflecting back. Do I wish i could change anything? Yeah, there are a few places in 1990 I would change BUT it isn't the events many think I would change. In fact, some of the hardest times for me was needed to get me to be stronger, more harder and release who I should have been earlier. My best bud was my foundation, but my wife is my rock and she keeps me focussed on what is best for all of us. The changes I would make would not change who i am today or where I am. I'd still be married to my wife, I'd still have the jobs I have and above all, I would have earned the respect of those I cared about. I always live by two rules....don't ever lie and when you make a promise, you fulfill it.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cornwall Bridge - What's Up With Dat??
So here we are in another week and as I open my daily paper there is that reoccurring, tiring subject rearing its head up again. The issue of the Seaway International Bridge spanning from Cornwall to Cornwall Island to Rooseveltown in the USA. Ever since the day the Canadian Border Guards were issued side-arms, our bridge has gone through several steps...downwards. Now since this past summer there isn't a week that goes by that the bridge subject is not featured on the front page of our local newspaper. It is certainly getting tiring.
After a few outstanding issues were resolved a few years ago, all focus was on the future of the bridge crossing as it was time to replace it with a low level bridge since the empty threat of creating an all Canadian Seaway has long passed. Many citizens believe that all this mess was caused by the Natives of Akwesasne...any who think that certainly are not informed people that's for sure. I have a few friends who are border guards, the responsible respecting ones, not the new young "chip on their shoulders" ones. They gave me an account of why this mess happened and why we have that traffic disaster between St-Hubert's and Harvey's restaurants.
Apparently one resident of Cornwall Island decided he would show up at the Customs house and threatened to run a bulldozer through the building if the guards got their handguns that night. A complaint was made to the guards' union and their rep was advice to abandon the building. In solidaridy the entire staff walked out of the Customs House and have yet to return. It was a very empty threat, everyone knew it, but someone paniced and a decision was made. To me and many others it was a bad one. Apparently not one of the guards wants to go back, but that isn't true at all. It's a select few who don't want to go back and unfortunately the majority who believe otherwise are stuck because a united front must be shown publicly.
And in an odd event, together keeping their communities as partners and maintaining the friendly relations that has exisited here since 1784, the Cornwall Mayor and the Akwesasne Chief are united on the front of finding a solution ASAP. They even have a couple of ideas. Things is, who is listening? Oh we certainly are, us citizens of Cornwall and Cornwall Island, but the ones who count, the ones who can easily fix this problem refuse to listen to the voices of those affected by this problem. The MP for our riding refuses to speak his own mind and take action, to actually do what he was voted in to do....represent the people of SD&G and their concerns on Parliament Hill. Instead he is taking the stance of every other Conservative (REFOOOOOORM!!!!!) Party caucus member and their leader (dictator).....ignore it and either it'll go away or just forget about one stupid crossing since the Ogdnesburg/Prescott one is easier to access. The newest public relations release by the Ministry and our MP is that behind closed doors all personel related to the bridge issue are working hard to a resolution. Ok, so why is it that every municipal political person, the Mayor and Chief as well, are NOT involved? I mean, they are concerned parties in this problem BUT they are on record as saying nothing is being done. Guess what, me and MANY others don't believe you, Mr. MP, concerning those negotiations.
Before I am accused of being a Liberal supporter, let me lay something down at your feet. I don't believe in political parties. Both Liberal and Conservatives have several views that I agree with and both support issues that I don't agree with. I vote for who would best represent my views and will help my community. I could never always support Conservatives nor support Liberals if they are taking up causes that I don't believe in or feel are important.
So what sould solve this dilema? I like the idea of building the new bridge from Power Dam Drive across the Cornwall Canal and St. Lawrence River to Massena Point. As for the American Custims, just build a road with a concrete barrier/fence from the Point around the aluminum plant to the new building. Of course i already heard local politicians saying that is out of the question because we can't divert traffic from Brookdale. OMG, far be it from Cornwall to have more than one street that features hotels and restaurants. That is why the east end is not building up, no one wants to take a stance at building Cornwall as a whole rather than one condensed district. Besides, just make sure that highway 401 still shows Brookdale as the way to the USA and put a sign at Brookdale and 2nd Street saying "Bridge to USA ----->"...problem solved!
Now after all the cloak and dagger, towing the party line, false statements and outrageous complaints....can we PLEASE just solve the problem head on? Arm the guards...oh, they already are as per the law....get them properly trained, have the guards with attitude problems take anger courses or other classes on how to treat people with respect and let's all live in peace. This crossing has been around since 1900 and when the railway first opened it up until 1962 when the original bridge was closed up there was never a problem like there is today. Look at the past and see what worked and do it again. No one seems to learn from history, they just like living the moment or look to the future.
After a few outstanding issues were resolved a few years ago, all focus was on the future of the bridge crossing as it was time to replace it with a low level bridge since the empty threat of creating an all Canadian Seaway has long passed. Many citizens believe that all this mess was caused by the Natives of Akwesasne...any who think that certainly are not informed people that's for sure. I have a few friends who are border guards, the responsible respecting ones, not the new young "chip on their shoulders" ones. They gave me an account of why this mess happened and why we have that traffic disaster between St-Hubert's and Harvey's restaurants.
Apparently one resident of Cornwall Island decided he would show up at the Customs house and threatened to run a bulldozer through the building if the guards got their handguns that night. A complaint was made to the guards' union and their rep was advice to abandon the building. In solidaridy the entire staff walked out of the Customs House and have yet to return. It was a very empty threat, everyone knew it, but someone paniced and a decision was made. To me and many others it was a bad one. Apparently not one of the guards wants to go back, but that isn't true at all. It's a select few who don't want to go back and unfortunately the majority who believe otherwise are stuck because a united front must be shown publicly.
And in an odd event, together keeping their communities as partners and maintaining the friendly relations that has exisited here since 1784, the Cornwall Mayor and the Akwesasne Chief are united on the front of finding a solution ASAP. They even have a couple of ideas. Things is, who is listening? Oh we certainly are, us citizens of Cornwall and Cornwall Island, but the ones who count, the ones who can easily fix this problem refuse to listen to the voices of those affected by this problem. The MP for our riding refuses to speak his own mind and take action, to actually do what he was voted in to do....represent the people of SD&G and their concerns on Parliament Hill. Instead he is taking the stance of every other Conservative (REFOOOOOORM!!!!!) Party caucus member and their leader (dictator).....ignore it and either it'll go away or just forget about one stupid crossing since the Ogdnesburg/Prescott one is easier to access. The newest public relations release by the Ministry and our MP is that behind closed doors all personel related to the bridge issue are working hard to a resolution. Ok, so why is it that every municipal political person, the Mayor and Chief as well, are NOT involved? I mean, they are concerned parties in this problem BUT they are on record as saying nothing is being done. Guess what, me and MANY others don't believe you, Mr. MP, concerning those negotiations.
Before I am accused of being a Liberal supporter, let me lay something down at your feet. I don't believe in political parties. Both Liberal and Conservatives have several views that I agree with and both support issues that I don't agree with. I vote for who would best represent my views and will help my community. I could never always support Conservatives nor support Liberals if they are taking up causes that I don't believe in or feel are important.
So what sould solve this dilema? I like the idea of building the new bridge from Power Dam Drive across the Cornwall Canal and St. Lawrence River to Massena Point. As for the American Custims, just build a road with a concrete barrier/fence from the Point around the aluminum plant to the new building. Of course i already heard local politicians saying that is out of the question because we can't divert traffic from Brookdale. OMG, far be it from Cornwall to have more than one street that features hotels and restaurants. That is why the east end is not building up, no one wants to take a stance at building Cornwall as a whole rather than one condensed district. Besides, just make sure that highway 401 still shows Brookdale as the way to the USA and put a sign at Brookdale and 2nd Street saying "Bridge to USA ----->"...problem solved!
Now after all the cloak and dagger, towing the party line, false statements and outrageous complaints....can we PLEASE just solve the problem head on? Arm the guards...oh, they already are as per the law....get them properly trained, have the guards with attitude problems take anger courses or other classes on how to treat people with respect and let's all live in peace. This crossing has been around since 1900 and when the railway first opened it up until 1962 when the original bridge was closed up there was never a problem like there is today. Look at the past and see what worked and do it again. No one seems to learn from history, they just like living the moment or look to the future.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Highway 138 - Damn Lucky I Am Alive
The day started out ok. I woke up and decided to take my family to Ottawa for a surprise. First my wife said she wasn't in the mood, then my son started pulling his usual grumpiness when he is forced to do something. In the end everyone did want to go so we got things together and off we went.
We had just passed a part of Highway 138, just north of St. Andrews West, where the husband of a former high school classsmate of ours was tragically killed in a three vehicle accident. The driver in the wrong survived. I made a comment about how it must be hard for our classmate to go pass that point like we still get a bit of jitters at the corner where we were hit by a drunk driver. Then just a bit north of Bonville, a speeding silver Mazda driven by an women in her 50s attempted to pass me. That's when everyone on the road at that point and time all had heart attacks. Why you say? Here are points on the whys:
#1 - It was a double line, therefore no passing is allowed according to the Highway Traffic Act
#2 - I was travelling at a comfortable 90 kph....yeah, that's 10 over the speed limit BUT the Mazda was going at least 110 for it to quickly come up behind me and then overtake me so quickly.
#3 - We were approaching a small hill in the road, therefore we can't see the oncoming traffic, hence why there was a double line on the road.
#4 - THE BIGGEST reason why we were all nearly crapping bricks....there were a line of 6 oncoming vehicles coming at us with absolutely no time to allow a pass.
It is amazing how in just a few seconds several thoughts went through my head. What the hell was wrong with that stupid broad??!! OMG, I'm going to be in a multi-vehicle accident!!! I'm speeding up so the bitch has to get back behind me before she collides head on to the on-coming traffic!!! Holy crap, she's not slowing down and we're just feet away from the cars!!!! I have to protect my family and do what I can to lessen the accident!! Those poor people coming towards us are doomed!!! I'll get us out of this! All those thoughts went through my brain immediately.
Obviously I survived since I am writing this, but it was damn close to another accident on Highway 138 over a stupid driver. With seconds to spare I watched as the on-coming traffic moved to the shoulder of the road, horns honking as well as my own joining them. The "lady" never showed any signs of regrets of pushing everyone over and almost hitting my front bumper as she shoved her way in front of me. Just before she did I heard a slight bang. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw the first car of the on-coming traffic was in the ditch and from I think the last car in the line-up was missing their driver's side mirror. It was rolling down the highway. As I drove, keeping an eye in front of me and looking back quickly over and over, I saw people leaving their vehicles. I think everyone had a load of bricks in their pants.
I took the cellphone out of my coat pocket and handed it to my wife so she could call the Ontario Provincial Police about a possible accident behind us and to report the bitch in front of us. It was disappointing. The dispatcher was no help and my wife was so angry with the conversation that she said we would NEVER call to report a dangerous driver again then hung up. We watched as we continued on to the Highway 417 interchange as the Mazda continued to drive like a maniac, passing several vehicles even once passing in the left hand turning lane at Monkland. Then the gates at the train crossing near the road to Maxville went down. I saw her brakelights and it appeared she was stopping. I think she did....but then she wiggled around the barriers just as a VIA train nearly took out her back bumper, the engine's whistle sounding loud and longer than usual. I kind of wished she was hit as there were no other vehicles in the other lane to be involved in a crash. Last time we caught a good sight of the Mazda was when she suddenly flew into the distance and became a speck on the horizon when we were in front of the transport truck inspection station on Highway 417. No OPP vehicles in view and I did not see her pulled to the side by one between that point and Ottawa.
I blogged about it before, but after that experience I just had to speak up again. It is absolutely crazy that a person like that could even fanthom driving in such a manner. I was apalled, angry and ready to overtake the broad and throw one of our juice bottles at her car, but that would make me no better than her.
There needs to be more police presence on Highway 138 and people need to stop flashing their brights to other drivers after they pass cop doing speed checks so to warn them. it;s behaviour like that which is making our roads unsafe. If any of you think otherwise, go read my last blog about this issue. I am sure my recount of a dead baby in the car from an accident cause by recklessness will make you rethink your driving habits.
So yeah, I am kissing the ground I walk on. I am praying to God and thanking Him and whatever guarding Angel has been by my side several times in my life, especially then for protecting my family and other drivers.
We had just passed a part of Highway 138, just north of St. Andrews West, where the husband of a former high school classsmate of ours was tragically killed in a three vehicle accident. The driver in the wrong survived. I made a comment about how it must be hard for our classmate to go pass that point like we still get a bit of jitters at the corner where we were hit by a drunk driver. Then just a bit north of Bonville, a speeding silver Mazda driven by an women in her 50s attempted to pass me. That's when everyone on the road at that point and time all had heart attacks. Why you say? Here are points on the whys:
#1 - It was a double line, therefore no passing is allowed according to the Highway Traffic Act
#2 - I was travelling at a comfortable 90 kph....yeah, that's 10 over the speed limit BUT the Mazda was going at least 110 for it to quickly come up behind me and then overtake me so quickly.
#3 - We were approaching a small hill in the road, therefore we can't see the oncoming traffic, hence why there was a double line on the road.
#4 - THE BIGGEST reason why we were all nearly crapping bricks....there were a line of 6 oncoming vehicles coming at us with absolutely no time to allow a pass.
It is amazing how in just a few seconds several thoughts went through my head. What the hell was wrong with that stupid broad??!! OMG, I'm going to be in a multi-vehicle accident!!! I'm speeding up so the bitch has to get back behind me before she collides head on to the on-coming traffic!!! Holy crap, she's not slowing down and we're just feet away from the cars!!!! I have to protect my family and do what I can to lessen the accident!! Those poor people coming towards us are doomed!!! I'll get us out of this! All those thoughts went through my brain immediately.
Obviously I survived since I am writing this, but it was damn close to another accident on Highway 138 over a stupid driver. With seconds to spare I watched as the on-coming traffic moved to the shoulder of the road, horns honking as well as my own joining them. The "lady" never showed any signs of regrets of pushing everyone over and almost hitting my front bumper as she shoved her way in front of me. Just before she did I heard a slight bang. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw the first car of the on-coming traffic was in the ditch and from I think the last car in the line-up was missing their driver's side mirror. It was rolling down the highway. As I drove, keeping an eye in front of me and looking back quickly over and over, I saw people leaving their vehicles. I think everyone had a load of bricks in their pants.
I took the cellphone out of my coat pocket and handed it to my wife so she could call the Ontario Provincial Police about a possible accident behind us and to report the bitch in front of us. It was disappointing. The dispatcher was no help and my wife was so angry with the conversation that she said we would NEVER call to report a dangerous driver again then hung up. We watched as we continued on to the Highway 417 interchange as the Mazda continued to drive like a maniac, passing several vehicles even once passing in the left hand turning lane at Monkland. Then the gates at the train crossing near the road to Maxville went down. I saw her brakelights and it appeared she was stopping. I think she did....but then she wiggled around the barriers just as a VIA train nearly took out her back bumper, the engine's whistle sounding loud and longer than usual. I kind of wished she was hit as there were no other vehicles in the other lane to be involved in a crash. Last time we caught a good sight of the Mazda was when she suddenly flew into the distance and became a speck on the horizon when we were in front of the transport truck inspection station on Highway 417. No OPP vehicles in view and I did not see her pulled to the side by one between that point and Ottawa.
I blogged about it before, but after that experience I just had to speak up again. It is absolutely crazy that a person like that could even fanthom driving in such a manner. I was apalled, angry and ready to overtake the broad and throw one of our juice bottles at her car, but that would make me no better than her.
There needs to be more police presence on Highway 138 and people need to stop flashing their brights to other drivers after they pass cop doing speed checks so to warn them. it;s behaviour like that which is making our roads unsafe. If any of you think otherwise, go read my last blog about this issue. I am sure my recount of a dead baby in the car from an accident cause by recklessness will make you rethink your driving habits.
So yeah, I am kissing the ground I walk on. I am praying to God and thanking Him and whatever guarding Angel has been by my side several times in my life, especially then for protecting my family and other drivers.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Bonfire - Part 3: Other Projects
This has been a long time coming and I apologize to all who read this. It has been a hetric time here for me so once I had some free time I pasted the below as I wrote this last month. Enjoy!
So for the third part of the Bonfire feature I started, this one is about what the guys did while in the band or after they left. I mean you wouldn't think that a group being around since 1972 didn't have other projects. This only expands the Bonfire fanbase!
Domink Huelshorst was not the first to be an ex-Bonfire member but he was the first to go beyond the confines of the band to do other stuff in 1987. He would join an outfit called Kymera but left them two years later to join Number Nine in 1989. This group would be his first recordings after Bonfire as the band released two albums with Dominik as their drummer. He'd leave that group in 1994 and join back up with Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller for their project called Ex, which also brought Joerg Deisinger in too. That project lasted less than a year and Dominik would be part of Lost until 2000 and then form Volt the following year. In 2003 he would join Faro and Sabu, both were shortlived, and became a part of Lex and BrunoRock. Then in 2009, after a few teasing times where Dominik helped out his former bandmates, he rejoined Bonfire.
Dominik Huelshorst:
Bonfire - Don't Touch The Light
Number Nine - Everybody's Crazy
Number Nine - Colours
Faro - Angelost
Brunorock - Live On Fire
Brunorock - War Maniac
Bonfire - You Make Me Feel
Hans Ziller, the man behind the creation of the band, was let go in 1989 and he immediately started a new group called EZ Livin'. With the release of one album (After The Fire), Hans teamed back up with Claus and they started what became today's version of Bonfire.
Claus Lessmann, signature vocalist of Bonfire, left the band in 1992 to team back up with Hans and create what we have today as Bonfire.
Out of all the members and ex-members of Bonfire, Michael Bormann has to be the one with THE most projects releases. Not including his material pre-Bonfire, there was a demo album made with Bonfire that found its way to street level. Then of course there is the band he founded called Jaded Heart, which pre-dates his time with Bonfire. In 1997 he reunited with Angel Schleifer to released the shelved Bonfire album, they were called Charade now, and also started The Sygnet and Rain. He has been a soloist now since 2001 but remains in other bands/projects. These include Biss, Idea, 20th Century Boys, Zeno, The Trophy, Bloodbound and Redrum.
Bonfire - End Of An Era Demos
Jaded Heart - Inside Out
Jaded Heart - $laves and Master$
Charade - Charade
Jaded Heart - Mystery Eyes
The Sygnet - Children of the Future
Jaded Heart - IV
Jaded Heart - Diary
Rain - House of Dreams
Michael Bormann - Michael Bormann
Jaded Heart - The Journey Will Never End
Biss - Joker In The Deck
Jaded Heart - Trust
20th Century Boys - Beware of the Rex!
Charade - II
Michael Bormann - Conspiracy
Zeno - Runway to the Gods
Rain - Stronger
Bloodbound - Book of the Dead
Redrum - No Turning Back
Michael Bormann - Capture the Moment
The Trophy - Gift of Life
Angel Schleifer, perhaps Bonfire's best guitarist ever in my opinion, went on to other projects when the band broke up in 1994. He was involved with Demon Drive, Sabu, Charade and now is in fellow ex-Bonfire member's (Chris Lausmann) project called Voices of Rock.
Bonfire - Sleeping All Alone single
Bonfire - Point Blank
Bonfire - Sword And Stone single
Bonfire - Knock Out
Bonfire - Live...The Best
Bonfire - End of an Era Demos
Demon Drive - Burn Rubber
Sabu - Sabu
Charade - Charade
Sabu - Between the Light
Demon Drive - Heroes
Sabu - Resurfaced
Charade - II
Voices of Rock - MMVII
Voices of Rock - High and Mighty
Joerg Deisinger started out continuing making music and being in bands, but now he's a professional photographer. He went from Ex to Sabu to Soul Doctor, back to Sabu and then wrote a book on his life, which is a must read.
Bonfire - Don't Touch the Light
Bonfire - Fireworks
Bonfire - Point Blank
Bonfire - Sword and Stone single
Bonfire - Knock Out
Bonfire - Live...The Best
Bonfire - End of an Era Demos
Sabu - Sabu
Sabu - Between the Light
Soul Doctor - Soul Doctor
Soul Doctor - All Systems Go
Sabu - Resurfaced
Chris Lausmann was the first of the new Bonfire band to go on to other things. While still a member he reunited with his bandmates in Frontline, started Revolution and then left all three for a while. He popped up again now with his new project Voices of Rock.
Bonfire - Rebel Soul
Bonfire - Because It's Christmas Time single
Bonfire - Fuel to the Flames
Frontline - Right Attitude
Bonfire - Who's Foolin' Who
Bonfire - Strike Ten
Bonfire - 29 Golden Bullets
Frontline - Against the World
Voices of Rock - MMVII
Voices of Rock - High and Mighty
The last to leave Bonfire is Jurgen Wiehler just last year suddenly. He was involved with a few projects like Lustfinger, The Scovilles and Megaherz, a band he left Bonfire for.
Bonfire - Rebel Soul
Bonfire - Because It's Christmas Time single
Bonfire - Fuel to the Flames
Bonfire - Who's Foolin' Who
Bonfire - Strike Ten
Bonfire - 29 Golden Bullets
Lustfinger - Eiszeit
Bonfire - Live Over Europe!
Bonfire - Tell Me What U Know single
Bonfire - Free
Bonfire - The Early Days
Bonfire - Schanzer Herz single
Bonfire - One Acoustic Night
Bonfire - Double X
Lustfinger - Achtung Heilig!
Bonfire - Double Vision
Bonfire - The Rauber
Megaherz - Heuchler
Megaherz - Totgesagte Leben Langer
Uwe Kohler is the only present member of Bonfire who is (was?) involved with a side-project, specifically Affair with the album called No Substitute.
So for the third part of the Bonfire feature I started, this one is about what the guys did while in the band or after they left. I mean you wouldn't think that a group being around since 1972 didn't have other projects. This only expands the Bonfire fanbase!
Domink Huelshorst was not the first to be an ex-Bonfire member but he was the first to go beyond the confines of the band to do other stuff in 1987. He would join an outfit called Kymera but left them two years later to join Number Nine in 1989. This group would be his first recordings after Bonfire as the band released two albums with Dominik as their drummer. He'd leave that group in 1994 and join back up with Claus Lessmann and Hans Ziller for their project called Ex, which also brought Joerg Deisinger in too. That project lasted less than a year and Dominik would be part of Lost until 2000 and then form Volt the following year. In 2003 he would join Faro and Sabu, both were shortlived, and became a part of Lex and BrunoRock. Then in 2009, after a few teasing times where Dominik helped out his former bandmates, he rejoined Bonfire.
Dominik Huelshorst:
Bonfire - Don't Touch The Light
Number Nine - Everybody's Crazy
Number Nine - Colours
Faro - Angelost
Brunorock - Live On Fire
Brunorock - War Maniac
Bonfire - You Make Me Feel
Hans Ziller, the man behind the creation of the band, was let go in 1989 and he immediately started a new group called EZ Livin'. With the release of one album (After The Fire), Hans teamed back up with Claus and they started what became today's version of Bonfire.
Claus Lessmann, signature vocalist of Bonfire, left the band in 1992 to team back up with Hans and create what we have today as Bonfire.
Out of all the members and ex-members of Bonfire, Michael Bormann has to be the one with THE most projects releases. Not including his material pre-Bonfire, there was a demo album made with Bonfire that found its way to street level. Then of course there is the band he founded called Jaded Heart, which pre-dates his time with Bonfire. In 1997 he reunited with Angel Schleifer to released the shelved Bonfire album, they were called Charade now, and also started The Sygnet and Rain. He has been a soloist now since 2001 but remains in other bands/projects. These include Biss, Idea, 20th Century Boys, Zeno, The Trophy, Bloodbound and Redrum.
Bonfire - End Of An Era Demos
Jaded Heart - Inside Out
Jaded Heart - $laves and Master$
Charade - Charade
Jaded Heart - Mystery Eyes
The Sygnet - Children of the Future
Jaded Heart - IV
Jaded Heart - Diary
Rain - House of Dreams
Michael Bormann - Michael Bormann
Jaded Heart - The Journey Will Never End
Biss - Joker In The Deck
Jaded Heart - Trust
20th Century Boys - Beware of the Rex!
Charade - II
Michael Bormann - Conspiracy
Zeno - Runway to the Gods
Rain - Stronger
Bloodbound - Book of the Dead
Redrum - No Turning Back
Michael Bormann - Capture the Moment
The Trophy - Gift of Life
Angel Schleifer, perhaps Bonfire's best guitarist ever in my opinion, went on to other projects when the band broke up in 1994. He was involved with Demon Drive, Sabu, Charade and now is in fellow ex-Bonfire member's (Chris Lausmann) project called Voices of Rock.
Bonfire - Sleeping All Alone single
Bonfire - Point Blank
Bonfire - Sword And Stone single
Bonfire - Knock Out
Bonfire - Live...The Best
Bonfire - End of an Era Demos
Demon Drive - Burn Rubber
Sabu - Sabu
Charade - Charade
Sabu - Between the Light
Demon Drive - Heroes
Sabu - Resurfaced
Charade - II
Voices of Rock - MMVII
Voices of Rock - High and Mighty
Joerg Deisinger started out continuing making music and being in bands, but now he's a professional photographer. He went from Ex to Sabu to Soul Doctor, back to Sabu and then wrote a book on his life, which is a must read.
Bonfire - Don't Touch the Light
Bonfire - Fireworks
Bonfire - Point Blank
Bonfire - Sword and Stone single
Bonfire - Knock Out
Bonfire - Live...The Best
Bonfire - End of an Era Demos
Sabu - Sabu
Sabu - Between the Light
Soul Doctor - Soul Doctor
Soul Doctor - All Systems Go
Sabu - Resurfaced
Chris Lausmann was the first of the new Bonfire band to go on to other things. While still a member he reunited with his bandmates in Frontline, started Revolution and then left all three for a while. He popped up again now with his new project Voices of Rock.
Bonfire - Rebel Soul
Bonfire - Because It's Christmas Time single
Bonfire - Fuel to the Flames
Frontline - Right Attitude
Bonfire - Who's Foolin' Who
Bonfire - Strike Ten
Bonfire - 29 Golden Bullets
Frontline - Against the World
Voices of Rock - MMVII
Voices of Rock - High and Mighty
The last to leave Bonfire is Jurgen Wiehler just last year suddenly. He was involved with a few projects like Lustfinger, The Scovilles and Megaherz, a band he left Bonfire for.
Bonfire - Rebel Soul
Bonfire - Because It's Christmas Time single
Bonfire - Fuel to the Flames
Bonfire - Who's Foolin' Who
Bonfire - Strike Ten
Bonfire - 29 Golden Bullets
Lustfinger - Eiszeit
Bonfire - Live Over Europe!
Bonfire - Tell Me What U Know single
Bonfire - Free
Bonfire - The Early Days
Bonfire - Schanzer Herz single
Bonfire - One Acoustic Night
Bonfire - Double X
Lustfinger - Achtung Heilig!
Bonfire - Double Vision
Bonfire - The Rauber
Megaherz - Heuchler
Megaherz - Totgesagte Leben Langer
Uwe Kohler is the only present member of Bonfire who is (was?) involved with a side-project, specifically Affair with the album called No Substitute.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Cornwall Heritage Fair Cancelled?
Think back to 20 years ago for Cornwall. It was a somewhat great time economy wise and such. The 1980s recession did kill some businesses but the city hung on. There was always activities going on at the local museums, heritage groups and service clubs. Parades, community BBQs, skating and swim parties. It was a good time to be in the city.
We just started 2010 and it is amazing how things are today. Major businesses (Domtar, CIL, Courtaulds) that were considered safe employment are gone. Some of the well known downtown businesses are gone, killed by big box stores (thanks a freakin' lot, Wal-Mart). Parades are down to two a year (Rememberance Day and Christmas), community BBQs are nearly non-existant and events held by heriatge and service clubs dwindled.
I heard a rumour that the annual Cornwall Heritage Fair will not occur this year or any other year now. I remember years ago when the city was celebrating the 200 anniversary of the founding of Cornwall that the Fair began. I remember it best at the Brookdale Mall and it was fantasic to see so many groups together in honour of our history. I never knew when it was held, just that it was during the winter months. I then came to realize it was during smething called Heritage Week, not something readily advertized by our local media or City.
When the Brookdale Mall was demolished to make way for the present day plaza, which totally sucks by the way (miss the intimate shopping of a mall), I was shocked to learn that the Fair was shutting down. Then I learned one of the participants took the reigns and reloacted to the Cornwall Square. Thanks to the internet I discovered exactly when Heritage Week was and I even found some advertizing for the event. Although there were different locations and people each year, I always managed to find the Fair.
This year I was told by a little birdie that the Heritage Fair is cancelled. Problems with the location? No, not really. It actually involves legal issues thanks to insurance companies. From what I understand, the Cornwall Square needs insurance papers for anyone operating a business or having a special event within their walls. Makes sense of course. But the Heritage Fair is some kind of city event and now the organizing group is unable to obtain coverage. I don't understand what is different this time around compared to the previous years but there is. This birdie told me that there is a chance the Fair will be at the local library. I cannot see that happening with any success. It is not the same enviroment and there won't be much of any visits by the general public as there is at a mall.
So the way I see things, this is yet another annual Cornwall event that has been killed off with the new thinking of today's idiotic world of political correctness and mentality of people bringing forth civil litigations over thier own stupidity. I wish I could stand up and say something to the organizers and to those whom are responsible for killing the Fair, but I can't. All I am is a Mr. Joe Public. I never took part in the Fair, just enjoyed the fact it was there and took advantage of looking at and sometimes purchasing what the many groups had with them. It is a shame that soon this town won't have anything worth going to for us tax payers.
We just started 2010 and it is amazing how things are today. Major businesses (Domtar, CIL, Courtaulds) that were considered safe employment are gone. Some of the well known downtown businesses are gone, killed by big box stores (thanks a freakin' lot, Wal-Mart). Parades are down to two a year (Rememberance Day and Christmas), community BBQs are nearly non-existant and events held by heriatge and service clubs dwindled.
I heard a rumour that the annual Cornwall Heritage Fair will not occur this year or any other year now. I remember years ago when the city was celebrating the 200 anniversary of the founding of Cornwall that the Fair began. I remember it best at the Brookdale Mall and it was fantasic to see so many groups together in honour of our history. I never knew when it was held, just that it was during the winter months. I then came to realize it was during smething called Heritage Week, not something readily advertized by our local media or City.
When the Brookdale Mall was demolished to make way for the present day plaza, which totally sucks by the way (miss the intimate shopping of a mall), I was shocked to learn that the Fair was shutting down. Then I learned one of the participants took the reigns and reloacted to the Cornwall Square. Thanks to the internet I discovered exactly when Heritage Week was and I even found some advertizing for the event. Although there were different locations and people each year, I always managed to find the Fair.
This year I was told by a little birdie that the Heritage Fair is cancelled. Problems with the location? No, not really. It actually involves legal issues thanks to insurance companies. From what I understand, the Cornwall Square needs insurance papers for anyone operating a business or having a special event within their walls. Makes sense of course. But the Heritage Fair is some kind of city event and now the organizing group is unable to obtain coverage. I don't understand what is different this time around compared to the previous years but there is. This birdie told me that there is a chance the Fair will be at the local library. I cannot see that happening with any success. It is not the same enviroment and there won't be much of any visits by the general public as there is at a mall.
So the way I see things, this is yet another annual Cornwall event that has been killed off with the new thinking of today's idiotic world of political correctness and mentality of people bringing forth civil litigations over thier own stupidity. I wish I could stand up and say something to the organizers and to those whom are responsible for killing the Fair, but I can't. All I am is a Mr. Joe Public. I never took part in the Fair, just enjoyed the fact it was there and took advantage of looking at and sometimes purchasing what the many groups had with them. It is a shame that soon this town won't have anything worth going to for us tax payers.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Bonfire - Part 2: History of a Decadent Band
The band has existed for 38 years. They have 7 more releases than Black Sabbath, 8 more than The Rolling Stones, 12 more than their own countrymen, The Scorpions, 16 more than Dokken, 20 more than Motley Crue and The Beatles, 21 more than Bon Jovi and Van Halen, and 22 more than Def Leppard and Poison....still, no one seems to know who or what BONFIRE is. Although their history can be found in Wikipedia (I created the entry), here's the most important things any fan or future fan should know.
In 1972 Hans Ziller created a band with his brother Karl and called it CACUMEN, both being the guitarists. The history from the formation and who else was involved up to 1978 seems to be lost in the sands of time. What is known is that in '78 Claus Lessmann was hired as the lead vocalist and the group became a popular attraction. Also part of the band were guitarist Horst Maier-Thorn, Hans Hauptmann on bass, Hanns Schmidt-Theissen was on keyboards and Hans Forstner was the drummer. It was this line-up that put the first recording out in '79, the Riding Away single. When a full length album was being arranged, Karl left the band and Hanns bowed out, but did provide keyboards for recordings. The self-titled Cacumen album came out in 1981. For the 1983 release, Bad Widow, Hauptmann was replaced with Robert Prskalowicz and two years later the Longing For You EP was released. The band was gaining a great reputation and they decided to make a full-fleged career of being rock stars. Robert and Forstner though were nervous to make such a commitment and were replaced with Joerg Deisinger and Dominik Huelshorst respectively. Thus came the line-up that would step into the world-wide market.
First step for taking on the world was coming up with a new name. Although Cacumen was well known in West Germany, it just was not a favourite name for the record company executives. The band had a brain storming session and out of that came the new dedication of Bonfire. Their first album under the new name came out in 1986, Don't Touch The Light. Just before recording their follow-up, the group made a hasty decision of firing Dominik. This lead to the group not having a new drummer to record their album for 1987. They did use Ken Mary from Fifth Angel, but Ken declined joining. Fireworks was released and it became the group's Gold seller. By the end of the year, new drummer Edgar Patrik was hired on. When their second song from the album was prepared for release (along with a video), Horst's on-going illness had become too much for him and he had to quit the group. Angel Schleifer came in to take up the chore of second guitarist. For me this has to be THE best Bonfire line-up. Changes weren't through as during recording for the 1989 album, the band was forced to make a decision that even they in retrospect thought was not the best solution, they fired the founding member, Hans. Even with that decision, the record company decided to no longer promote the band in North America. strange since they recorded their next album, Point Blank, in the USA and toured there in support of the album. On the heels of that album, the band was asked to record a song for the Wes Craven movie, Shocker. Thus the Sword And Stone single was put out. In 1991, after going with a different producer, the album Knock out was released, clearly the band's worst effort. 1992 was the year that not only expanded the Bonfire interest but was also the worst blow they could take...Claus decided to leave, but in doing so he reunited with Hans to become a duo called Lessmann/Ziller.
1993....Bonfire fans was treated to four events. The announcement that Michael Bormann was Bonfire's new singer, the band releasing Live...The Best, a live recording when Claus was still the singer and the third thing was Lessmann/Ziller's release of a totally German language album called Glaub Dran. The forth thing came later, a bootleg release of End Of An Era, which was the demo songs recorded by Bonfire with Michael singing. The following year, Lessmann/Ziller released the Charlie & Louise single (for a movie with the same name) and the German language Fur Dich single. Unfortunately in the Bonfire camp things were not so good. The record company refused to release any music without Claus singing and to add insult to injury the grunge/alternative scene had taken root in the mainstream instustry. The band broke up. Lessmann/Ziller was not doing much better either. Acceptance to the duo was not as well as either hoped so they rebanded themselves as Ex and released the Die Antwort Weiss Der Wind single, a song all in German. After the release, Joerg and Dominik were asked if they would be interested in joining and accepted. This however only lasted for a very short time. Claus and Hans were still not pleased with the reception and realized that they needed to be Bonfire again.
After negotiating with Angel, Joerg and Edgar, a one-time payment was made to them in 1996 by Claus and Hans and thus Ex evolved into a second band called Bonfire. The album Feels Like Comin' Home came out right afterwards, with a limited edition German version called Freudenfeuer. Then a greatest hits album, Hot & Slow, was put out and the duo hired Chris Lausmann as rhythm guitarist, Uwe Kohler on bass and drummer Jurgen Wiehler. (To hear the music from 1979 - 1998, please use the following address to download a file with a song from each release.)
http://rapidshare.com/files/338821001/Best_Of_Claus_Lessmann-part_1.zip
This new line-up put out Rebel Soul in 1998 along with the Because It's Christmas single. Also added to that year was the release of Charade's self-titled album. Charade was formed the year before by Michael and Angel for the purpose of putting out the shelved Bonfire album they recorded in 1993. They decided to stay together and release new music. Bonfire released Fuel to the Flames the following year and then their former record company decided to capitalize on their new success by releasing a greatest hits CD called Who's Foolin' Who (not to be confused with the single of the same name from 1989).
In the new century, Bonfire started off by putting out Strike Ten, then a double greatest hits album called 29 Golden Bullets that featured new versions of songs and a demo. 2002 saw a loss of Chris in the band, but the foursome put out a live album called Live Over Europe! The following year they released a more modern sounding recordings. Tell Me What U Know single was the preview and then the album Free was available. Bonfire fans all around the world wondered what happened to their favourite band. 2004 though was a great year. Claus and Hans managed to aquire the rights to their older material from Cacumen (as well as Hans' band after he was fired from Bonfire, EZ Livin'). They re-released these recordings as The Early Days (a 5-disc set) that featured the original albums (along with the Lessmann/Ziller album) with additional recordings. Then they put out the Schanzer Herz single in honour of their hometown of Ingolstadt. Charade also released their second album, II. Bonfire decided to do a redition of the "MTV Unplugged" series by performing on TV an acoustical performance, which they released as a double disc called One Acoustic Night with a studio song for the benefit of the tsunami victims in Indonesia.
2006 was when Chris Limburg joined as co-guitarist. He had been supporting the band live for a few years and was formally asked to join. Double X came out immediately and another live disc in 2007 called Double Vision was released to great fanfare. 2008 saw the release of The Rauber, a rock-opera album that the band performed many many times in Ingolstadt's theatre, sold out almost every time as fans from all over congregated to the city.
Last year Bonfire lost Jurgen to another band, but to fill his seat, coming almost full circle, was Dominik again. A double best of ballads disc was released, You Make Me Feel, and now us Bonfire fans are waiting on the 2010 release of a new studio album with Dominik on drums. How will they sound now?
(To hear the music from 1999 to now, download from this link.)
http://rapidshare.com/files/338837432/Best_Of_Claus_Lessmann-part_2.zip
In 1972 Hans Ziller created a band with his brother Karl and called it CACUMEN, both being the guitarists. The history from the formation and who else was involved up to 1978 seems to be lost in the sands of time. What is known is that in '78 Claus Lessmann was hired as the lead vocalist and the group became a popular attraction. Also part of the band were guitarist Horst Maier-Thorn, Hans Hauptmann on bass, Hanns Schmidt-Theissen was on keyboards and Hans Forstner was the drummer. It was this line-up that put the first recording out in '79, the Riding Away single. When a full length album was being arranged, Karl left the band and Hanns bowed out, but did provide keyboards for recordings. The self-titled Cacumen album came out in 1981. For the 1983 release, Bad Widow, Hauptmann was replaced with Robert Prskalowicz and two years later the Longing For You EP was released. The band was gaining a great reputation and they decided to make a full-fleged career of being rock stars. Robert and Forstner though were nervous to make such a commitment and were replaced with Joerg Deisinger and Dominik Huelshorst respectively. Thus came the line-up that would step into the world-wide market.
First step for taking on the world was coming up with a new name. Although Cacumen was well known in West Germany, it just was not a favourite name for the record company executives. The band had a brain storming session and out of that came the new dedication of Bonfire. Their first album under the new name came out in 1986, Don't Touch The Light. Just before recording their follow-up, the group made a hasty decision of firing Dominik. This lead to the group not having a new drummer to record their album for 1987. They did use Ken Mary from Fifth Angel, but Ken declined joining. Fireworks was released and it became the group's Gold seller. By the end of the year, new drummer Edgar Patrik was hired on. When their second song from the album was prepared for release (along with a video), Horst's on-going illness had become too much for him and he had to quit the group. Angel Schleifer came in to take up the chore of second guitarist. For me this has to be THE best Bonfire line-up. Changes weren't through as during recording for the 1989 album, the band was forced to make a decision that even they in retrospect thought was not the best solution, they fired the founding member, Hans. Even with that decision, the record company decided to no longer promote the band in North America. strange since they recorded their next album, Point Blank, in the USA and toured there in support of the album. On the heels of that album, the band was asked to record a song for the Wes Craven movie, Shocker. Thus the Sword And Stone single was put out. In 1991, after going with a different producer, the album Knock out was released, clearly the band's worst effort. 1992 was the year that not only expanded the Bonfire interest but was also the worst blow they could take...Claus decided to leave, but in doing so he reunited with Hans to become a duo called Lessmann/Ziller.
1993....Bonfire fans was treated to four events. The announcement that Michael Bormann was Bonfire's new singer, the band releasing Live...The Best, a live recording when Claus was still the singer and the third thing was Lessmann/Ziller's release of a totally German language album called Glaub Dran. The forth thing came later, a bootleg release of End Of An Era, which was the demo songs recorded by Bonfire with Michael singing. The following year, Lessmann/Ziller released the Charlie & Louise single (for a movie with the same name) and the German language Fur Dich single. Unfortunately in the Bonfire camp things were not so good. The record company refused to release any music without Claus singing and to add insult to injury the grunge/alternative scene had taken root in the mainstream instustry. The band broke up. Lessmann/Ziller was not doing much better either. Acceptance to the duo was not as well as either hoped so they rebanded themselves as Ex and released the Die Antwort Weiss Der Wind single, a song all in German. After the release, Joerg and Dominik were asked if they would be interested in joining and accepted. This however only lasted for a very short time. Claus and Hans were still not pleased with the reception and realized that they needed to be Bonfire again.
After negotiating with Angel, Joerg and Edgar, a one-time payment was made to them in 1996 by Claus and Hans and thus Ex evolved into a second band called Bonfire. The album Feels Like Comin' Home came out right afterwards, with a limited edition German version called Freudenfeuer. Then a greatest hits album, Hot & Slow, was put out and the duo hired Chris Lausmann as rhythm guitarist, Uwe Kohler on bass and drummer Jurgen Wiehler. (To hear the music from 1979 - 1998, please use the following address to download a file with a song from each release.)
http://rapidshare.com/files/338821001/Best_Of_Claus_Lessmann-part_1.zip
This new line-up put out Rebel Soul in 1998 along with the Because It's Christmas single. Also added to that year was the release of Charade's self-titled album. Charade was formed the year before by Michael and Angel for the purpose of putting out the shelved Bonfire album they recorded in 1993. They decided to stay together and release new music. Bonfire released Fuel to the Flames the following year and then their former record company decided to capitalize on their new success by releasing a greatest hits CD called Who's Foolin' Who (not to be confused with the single of the same name from 1989).
In the new century, Bonfire started off by putting out Strike Ten, then a double greatest hits album called 29 Golden Bullets that featured new versions of songs and a demo. 2002 saw a loss of Chris in the band, but the foursome put out a live album called Live Over Europe! The following year they released a more modern sounding recordings. Tell Me What U Know single was the preview and then the album Free was available. Bonfire fans all around the world wondered what happened to their favourite band. 2004 though was a great year. Claus and Hans managed to aquire the rights to their older material from Cacumen (as well as Hans' band after he was fired from Bonfire, EZ Livin'). They re-released these recordings as The Early Days (a 5-disc set) that featured the original albums (along with the Lessmann/Ziller album) with additional recordings. Then they put out the Schanzer Herz single in honour of their hometown of Ingolstadt. Charade also released their second album, II. Bonfire decided to do a redition of the "MTV Unplugged" series by performing on TV an acoustical performance, which they released as a double disc called One Acoustic Night with a studio song for the benefit of the tsunami victims in Indonesia.
2006 was when Chris Limburg joined as co-guitarist. He had been supporting the band live for a few years and was formally asked to join. Double X came out immediately and another live disc in 2007 called Double Vision was released to great fanfare. 2008 saw the release of The Rauber, a rock-opera album that the band performed many many times in Ingolstadt's theatre, sold out almost every time as fans from all over congregated to the city.
Last year Bonfire lost Jurgen to another band, but to fill his seat, coming almost full circle, was Dominik again. A double best of ballads disc was released, You Make Me Feel, and now us Bonfire fans are waiting on the 2010 release of a new studio album with Dominik on drums. How will they sound now?
(To hear the music from 1999 to now, download from this link.)
http://rapidshare.com/files/338837432/Best_Of_Claus_Lessmann-part_2.zip
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Bonfire - Part 1: Local Radio Stations
In the summer of 1988, an exchange student from Minneapolis in the USA was in Sweden and heard an album called Look Sharp! by the group Roxette. He brought the album home and encouraged his local radio station (KDWB 101.3 FM) to start playing it. Although the album was not on the regular format catelogue, one DJ listened to it and decided to spin the LP. It wasn't long before Roxette became a much requested musi artist to be played on the air and thus the band had broken into North America. It is a legendary tale of a foreign group that had a record company who did not push them into what the record industry deems as the "mainstream" market of North America, more specifically the USA, and managed to by-pass board room politics and became big hitters in the music business. Roxette would go on to release Look Sharp! in North America and follow it up with 4 more releases plus a reissue of their first recording, Pearls Of Passion. Unfortunately the big record labels stopped P.R.ing the group (thanks in part to grunge and alternative styles) but mostly unknown is that Roxette released 7 more albums and are planning to release a new one (I have them all which is amazing to say since I am not into that type of music particularly).
The title says Bonfire....why did you open with Roxette?, you are likely thinking. Well I wanted to give an example of what has happened when a radio personality took a chance and played something off the regulated catelogue that could turn out to be the best thing for the band, the listeners, the fans, the radio and the record companies. That is because I am experiencing the same situation with a band that I have been into for 20 years and I've hit a brick wall. I am talking about what is likely THE best hard rock band out there currently who releases a new album every year for the last 17 years.....BONFIRE. This will be a three part series that I will be posting. Part 2 will focus on Bonfire themselves, Part 3 will cover what the present and past band members have done/are doing since being in the band. Today's part 1 is covering my own experience to get Bonfire some airplay on the radio and to return to North America, especially to Canada. Part 2 and 3 will feature link to some of Bonfire's music so people whom are reading this can hear the music and understand why myself and many others are fans and supporters.
The first time I had ever heard of Bonfire was in 1987. My best friend had a cassette album called Fireworks, easily one of the albums any hard rocker should have in their collection. The music was awesome sounding, great guitar riffs, heavy drumming and the lead vocals were harmonic and easy to sing along to. At that time Def Leppard was my favourite band so I didn't give Bonfire much attention. The following year I went to West Germany to visit my dad and over the radio and on the TV I had seen/heard some things that involved Bonfire. I was hooked with the song Never Mind. I returned to Canada and copied the Fireworks album from my friend. The band was growing on me. In 1991, Bonfire became my second favourite band and in 1996 they unseated the Leps as my #1 all time favourite. It is where Bonfire sits today for me and I doubt they will ever be unseated, especially if they keep pumping out great music like they have been. My one disappointment was that I got into the band after they stopped coming to North America. Once their Point Blank album was recorded, their record company refused to promote them here anymore. To this day if you go to any music store you can only order Don't Touch The Light and Fireworks, meanwhile the other 31 releases you have to hope the store has availability to imports. Yep, you heard me right.....31 RELEASES!!!!!! That's a total of 33 and they are releasing a new studio album this year. So after all this time and after the band played a couple of "come back" shows in the States I thought I'd try to help them in Canada.
First I contacted Cornwall Lift Off, a popular annual balloon fesitival that features many great music talent, some big names even. I let them know that Bonfire was trying to get back into the North American market and suggested that they get the band for 2010 while the group is looking for North American dates. I was told that the festival organizers "would check the band out and see what their Board thinks." Not bad for a start so then I contacted the radio stations. First I contacted CKON, a station that I knew would play different and new things at least once. Heck, back when I was working as a security guard in the early 1990s I once heard them play Bonfire's entire live album, Live...The Best, which was so surreal for me. I waited for a response to my e-mail but I never got a reply. I tried calling but was told to just e-mail my request, it would be easier. I then contacted the radio programmer for the Cornwall stations, who just happens to be the entertainment director for Lift Off. I was told that Bonfire was not a mainstream act and not on their regulated approved catelogue for air-play. That was strange because I wondered what happened to the songs Starin' Eyes, Sweet Obsession, Sleeping All Alone and the theme song from Wes Craven's movie Shocker called Sword And Stone....all songs Bonfire released and charted with in North America. It was then that I realized that the chances for Bonfire to even be considered a possible act to play at Lift-Off was little to none. I was nonetheless disappointed and for a while I felt that nothing could be done to get Bonfire here to Canada.
Joerg Deisinger, Bonfire's former bassist, released a book in 2008 called Fire And Fame. It was co-written with Carl Begai, who is living in Toronto and was my means to get the book much faster than others whom made orders (also was lucky to get his and Joerg's autograph!). It is a terrific read and is not a tell-all book, but a biography of Joerg's life, most centred on his career as a musician. He wrote about Bonfire's public relations problems, which was right from day 1 but only became a major problem when BMG decided to not release any more Bonfire albums in North America, starting with the 1989 release of Point Blank (a GREAT follow-up to Fireworks). Even with the first two albums that did get North American release, the problem was not many were pressed and record stores only ordered the bare minimum. As Joerg stated in one chapter, if the manager/owner ordered 100 units he did his job....he didn't have to push to sell the record if he didn't like the band or couldn't be bothered. There was more but I am not going to write everything here. So basically the band, which had great music and a growing fanbase, was swept aside and told that they weren't going to make it on the big stages of North America. Meanwhile they were huge in Europe and had no support to expand elsewhere.
So here we are, it's 2010 and it is still happening. Bonfire continues to play as headliners at various venues, have sold out their rock opera performances (The Rauber) every time. New music....heck GREAT MUSIC.....is being released by them more than the other "mainstream" bands like Def Leppard, Dokken, Kiss, Aerosmith and Van Halen (and who says these guys' new albums are any good?). Yet no one will support Bonfire's step into North America.
So I had given up on trying to convince Cornwall radio stations and festivals to play Bonfire for a time....but I did get a new boost that made me feel there might be a chance someday. Where I work, we keep the radio on. Finally, after we were able to predict what songs our local stations were going to play (seems it is ALWAYS the same ones) I got POed and put on one of Bonfire's CDs. Everyone liked it so I brought more in. Then on a suggestion from a co-worker, we called up the Virgin radio station in Ottawa, since that signal was coming in clearly, and to my suprise not only did they play Sword And Stone by Bonfire, but also one of their new ones, What's On Your Mind?. I went home and looked up the Virgin radio station's web site for Ottawa and there I saw a blessing. They have available for requests 19 of the 33 Bonfire releases...especially the best albums, in my opinion. So needless to say our industrial plant no long tunes in to local stations. It is not because our stations refuse to even consider playing Bonfire but because their catelogue is recycled too much and repetitive without being open to something new. It's pretty bad when you hear "Missin' You", "Hot 'N' Cold" and that cover version of "I Want To Know What Love Is" three times on the same station in a 12 hour period.
So let's end like how we started, reflecting back to 1988, Minneapolis and Roxette as our examples. If it was done back then it can certainly be done today. If a Cornwall radio station took a chance and played any of the more recent Bonfire songs, it could be the crack in the doorway that the band needs to make a full return to North America, a revival of their fan base here along with more sales and radio requests. Wouldn't that be nice?
The title says Bonfire....why did you open with Roxette?, you are likely thinking. Well I wanted to give an example of what has happened when a radio personality took a chance and played something off the regulated catelogue that could turn out to be the best thing for the band, the listeners, the fans, the radio and the record companies. That is because I am experiencing the same situation with a band that I have been into for 20 years and I've hit a brick wall. I am talking about what is likely THE best hard rock band out there currently who releases a new album every year for the last 17 years.....BONFIRE. This will be a three part series that I will be posting. Part 2 will focus on Bonfire themselves, Part 3 will cover what the present and past band members have done/are doing since being in the band. Today's part 1 is covering my own experience to get Bonfire some airplay on the radio and to return to North America, especially to Canada. Part 2 and 3 will feature link to some of Bonfire's music so people whom are reading this can hear the music and understand why myself and many others are fans and supporters.
The first time I had ever heard of Bonfire was in 1987. My best friend had a cassette album called Fireworks, easily one of the albums any hard rocker should have in their collection. The music was awesome sounding, great guitar riffs, heavy drumming and the lead vocals were harmonic and easy to sing along to. At that time Def Leppard was my favourite band so I didn't give Bonfire much attention. The following year I went to West Germany to visit my dad and over the radio and on the TV I had seen/heard some things that involved Bonfire. I was hooked with the song Never Mind. I returned to Canada and copied the Fireworks album from my friend. The band was growing on me. In 1991, Bonfire became my second favourite band and in 1996 they unseated the Leps as my #1 all time favourite. It is where Bonfire sits today for me and I doubt they will ever be unseated, especially if they keep pumping out great music like they have been. My one disappointment was that I got into the band after they stopped coming to North America. Once their Point Blank album was recorded, their record company refused to promote them here anymore. To this day if you go to any music store you can only order Don't Touch The Light and Fireworks, meanwhile the other 31 releases you have to hope the store has availability to imports. Yep, you heard me right.....31 RELEASES!!!!!! That's a total of 33 and they are releasing a new studio album this year. So after all this time and after the band played a couple of "come back" shows in the States I thought I'd try to help them in Canada.
First I contacted Cornwall Lift Off, a popular annual balloon fesitival that features many great music talent, some big names even. I let them know that Bonfire was trying to get back into the North American market and suggested that they get the band for 2010 while the group is looking for North American dates. I was told that the festival organizers "would check the band out and see what their Board thinks." Not bad for a start so then I contacted the radio stations. First I contacted CKON, a station that I knew would play different and new things at least once. Heck, back when I was working as a security guard in the early 1990s I once heard them play Bonfire's entire live album, Live...The Best, which was so surreal for me. I waited for a response to my e-mail but I never got a reply. I tried calling but was told to just e-mail my request, it would be easier. I then contacted the radio programmer for the Cornwall stations, who just happens to be the entertainment director for Lift Off. I was told that Bonfire was not a mainstream act and not on their regulated approved catelogue for air-play. That was strange because I wondered what happened to the songs Starin' Eyes, Sweet Obsession, Sleeping All Alone and the theme song from Wes Craven's movie Shocker called Sword And Stone....all songs Bonfire released and charted with in North America. It was then that I realized that the chances for Bonfire to even be considered a possible act to play at Lift-Off was little to none. I was nonetheless disappointed and for a while I felt that nothing could be done to get Bonfire here to Canada.
Joerg Deisinger, Bonfire's former bassist, released a book in 2008 called Fire And Fame. It was co-written with Carl Begai, who is living in Toronto and was my means to get the book much faster than others whom made orders (also was lucky to get his and Joerg's autograph!). It is a terrific read and is not a tell-all book, but a biography of Joerg's life, most centred on his career as a musician. He wrote about Bonfire's public relations problems, which was right from day 1 but only became a major problem when BMG decided to not release any more Bonfire albums in North America, starting with the 1989 release of Point Blank (a GREAT follow-up to Fireworks). Even with the first two albums that did get North American release, the problem was not many were pressed and record stores only ordered the bare minimum. As Joerg stated in one chapter, if the manager/owner ordered 100 units he did his job....he didn't have to push to sell the record if he didn't like the band or couldn't be bothered. There was more but I am not going to write everything here. So basically the band, which had great music and a growing fanbase, was swept aside and told that they weren't going to make it on the big stages of North America. Meanwhile they were huge in Europe and had no support to expand elsewhere.
So here we are, it's 2010 and it is still happening. Bonfire continues to play as headliners at various venues, have sold out their rock opera performances (The Rauber) every time. New music....heck GREAT MUSIC.....is being released by them more than the other "mainstream" bands like Def Leppard, Dokken, Kiss, Aerosmith and Van Halen (and who says these guys' new albums are any good?). Yet no one will support Bonfire's step into North America.
So I had given up on trying to convince Cornwall radio stations and festivals to play Bonfire for a time....but I did get a new boost that made me feel there might be a chance someday. Where I work, we keep the radio on. Finally, after we were able to predict what songs our local stations were going to play (seems it is ALWAYS the same ones) I got POed and put on one of Bonfire's CDs. Everyone liked it so I brought more in. Then on a suggestion from a co-worker, we called up the Virgin radio station in Ottawa, since that signal was coming in clearly, and to my suprise not only did they play Sword And Stone by Bonfire, but also one of their new ones, What's On Your Mind?. I went home and looked up the Virgin radio station's web site for Ottawa and there I saw a blessing. They have available for requests 19 of the 33 Bonfire releases...especially the best albums, in my opinion. So needless to say our industrial plant no long tunes in to local stations. It is not because our stations refuse to even consider playing Bonfire but because their catelogue is recycled too much and repetitive without being open to something new. It's pretty bad when you hear "Missin' You", "Hot 'N' Cold" and that cover version of "I Want To Know What Love Is" three times on the same station in a 12 hour period.
So let's end like how we started, reflecting back to 1988, Minneapolis and Roxette as our examples. If it was done back then it can certainly be done today. If a Cornwall radio station took a chance and played any of the more recent Bonfire songs, it could be the crack in the doorway that the band needs to make a full return to North America, a revival of their fan base here along with more sales and radio requests. Wouldn't that be nice?
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