BRIAN PLUMMER
THIRTY YEARS OF ROCK
- by barry newman -
There aren't too many musicians around who have received three fundraisers on their
behalf ... while out on the road.
That's what happened in Nanaimo last
December & January when Brian Plummer was
suddenly hospitalized in Saskatchewan while on
a road tour back east.
While still in hospital recovering from surgery,
local musicians organized the three benefits... all
unbeknownst to Brian.
Brian is particularly grateful to Mike Jarvis &
Tony Telfare (fellow Son's of Guns), Stuart
Parenteau, Sherry Lynn & One-2-One, Ken &
Brian Clint and Owen (Crazy Uncle Russell) ...
and to all the supporters who attended these
benefits at The Crown & Anchor (Qualicum Bay),
Rod & Gun (Parksville) and The Rocking Horse
Pub (Nanoose) respectively.
Unlike many other professions, "sick days"
aren't part of the intinerary for musicians on the
road, despite the considerable hazards. Such
mishaps create havoc with finances, especially
with all the investment made at a tour's onset.
And Brian is no stranger to the road...
With six albums now under his belt, Brian's
musical career spans some 30 years, peeking
with five cross-Canada tours in '85 alone. During
the early years, he frequently opened for or
shared stages with Kim Mitchell (band Max
Webster) and Tom Cochrane (Red Rider).
"Before I relocated, the inside of Harpo's
Nightclub (Victoria) was all I'd ever seen of
Vancouver Island. The roadwork was intense... a
frenzied blur," Plummer recalls... sort of.
"At the very end of our fifth tour of that year, as
we pulled into the parking lot at our Toronto
agency, the bus (formerly Jane Siberry's) just
died... it went to the junkyard."
"In Charlottetown, our bus slid off a snow bank
and crushed the car which belonged to that
concert's promoter."
"In an Edmonton nightclub once, our drummer
was deported (an incorrect work visa)... right in
the middle of the gig."
"Looking back, I'd say that Montreal (the food,
the wine & parties) and St. Johns, Newfoundland
were probably the best or liveliest places to gig."
It was on the road that Brian ran into his
childhood sweetheart, whom he hadn't seen in
many years. They married shortly after in
Toronto, where Brian was "based" for much of his
career. The continuous roadwork during the 70's
and 80's however, was also largely reponsible for
the breakup of his ten-year marraige.
Born near Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Brian was
raised in Edmonton, Jasper, Toronto, Ottawa &
northern Ontario. His early musical influences
included the Beach Boys and Del Shannon. His
first band was in Ottawa.
He soon moved to Saskatoon, where he met
fellow songwriter Al Higbee. "Al's words and
ideas worked out well with my musical ideas,"
states Brian.
They moved to Calgary, where Al went to
College, and soon took advantage of the college
studio there, beginning a writing collaboration
with Brian which has continued for many years.
Brian returned to Saskatoon around 1970 and
helped form Trina, which played extensively in
western Canada & the U.S. northwest. Eventually
the band based themselves in Toronto.
After five years of burnout, unable to secure a
record deal, Trina disbanded and a disillusioned
Brian took an 18-month break from performing.
Meanwhile, Al Higbee had landed a job with
CBC and managed to get Brian back into the
studio. 'Change'/MCA Records and producer J.J.
Stewart liked the demo.
Studio West in Saskatoon was booked right
away and with Stacy Heydon (of David Bowie &
Iggy Pop notoriety), Brian's first album 'No
Questions' was completed several weeks later.
SOUND CANADA MAGAZINE - Jan, '81 - Toronto
Our Reviewers Pick Their Most Beloved Albums of
1980. Top Ten Pop Albums:
1. Sky / Sky
2. Pink Floyd / The Wall
3. Bruce Cockburn / Humans
4. Al Di Meola / Splendido Hotel 5. Brian Plummer / No Questions
6. Joni Mitchell / Shadows and Light
7. Rough Trade / Avoid Freud
8. Paul Simon / One Trick Pony
9. George Jones & Tammy Wynette / Together Again
10. John Lennon and Yoko Ono / Double Fantasy
"Rock Album of the Year to my ears, was Brian
Plummer's / No Questions. His brand of rock personifies
all that one associates with teenage frustration, his
songs deal with stark images and grim realities of life on
the wrong side of the tracks. The sound is urgent and
impulsive." - David Farrell, Sound Canada Magazine
MACLEAN'S MAGAZINE - May 5, 1980
"Impressive Canadian debut albums have been
appearing with encouraging frequency of late, and none
displays more promise than Brian Plummer's / No
Questions." - Music for the Record
VICTORIA TIMES - August 16, 1980
"The experience of hearing both the band and the album
in the same day has left me a bit shaken and slightly
deafened, (they play loud rock and roll). I know for sure
that I have heard some great music, in fact, I think it's fair
to say that the songs of Brian Plummer are the best I've
heard from a Canadian songwriter." - Isaac Williams
THE EDMONTON SUN - Friday July 4, 1980
Plummer who is on a collision course with rock
acclaim...is a see-saw battler, a rock n' roll rattler who's
venom bites deep. - Tom Elsworthy
MONDAY MAGAZINE - VICTORIA - August, 1980
"The album, titled No Questions makes an impressive
debut, and judging from Plummer's stint last weekend at
Harpos, so does the man. It's produced songs that are
the rarest of combinations; both tough and literate." -
Daniel Godbout
THE GLOBE AND MAIL - June 5, 1980
"Plummer was worth the trip ... he is a Canadian Rock &
Roller in the strictest sense. He understands things like
timing, stage flair, and presence. Combine all those
attributes with a strong song writing talent and it gives us
Brian Plummer." - Allan Neister
One song off the album, 'Jacky Boy' was
initially banned in England, as it was at first
considered to glorify Jack The Ripper. However,
the review board's hasty decision was found to
be rather "overkill"... and the ensuing publicity
actually helped distribution.
Over the ensuing years, Brian went on to make
five more albums with Duke St. / WEA: 'I'm As
Guilty As You' (1982), 'No Questions' (1983 re-release); 'Without A Mark' (1984); 'Brian Plummer
& The Suspects' (1986); and 'Brian Plummer'
"Plums" (1998): a compilation CD which also
includes 8 brand new songs.
During this time, Brian also mastered records
in New York with Bob Ludwig and worked with
Daniel Lanois (guys who've worked on records
for Bob Dylan, U2, The Cars, Blondie and quite a
few other sucessful artists).
In 1984, Roger Daltry recorded "Money Talks",
also off 'No Questions', but the track never did
make it onto disk. And Brian never quite got that
big break into the American market, despite his
popularity in Canada and overseas, including
Sweden, Germany and South Africa.
Ironically, some people - depending on where
they reside - might know his work better from
radio & TV jingles he made during 1988-1990 in
Toronto and Saskatoon (some co-produced with
Lisa Delbello), including ads for Schooner Beer,
Budweiser and "Hey... It's Miller Time."
Brian has also written music for several
theatrical productions:
The Gospel Hour (Saskatoon - 1989).
Jenny (Toronto - 1989): a Ray Ramayya film
which was nominated for best picture at 1989
American Indian Film Festival.
The Remarkable Rocket (Station St. Arts
Centre, Vancouver - 1995) produced with
Randy Bergner.
Producing other artists is yet another big part
of Brian Plummer's current work with his label,
The ABCD Company, comprised of writing
partner Al Higbee, manager Reid King and
marketer Nancy Szastkiw (formerly with A&M).
Artists he has produced include Kurt McBurney
(Cobble Hill) and Gerard Blair (now in NY).
Brian wants to work with more artists on the
production level. Contact him at (250) 753-7346
or at: www.eyemean.com/plumweb
In the meantime, Brian still enjoys teaching
guitar in Nanaimo and he plays regularly with
Sons of Guns at the Crown & Anchor Inn in
Qualicum Bay on Sunday evenings. Not for long
though... next month he will be touring again...
promoting his new CD (which should be available
in record stores at any time). This CD, 'Plums' is
packed with 17 gems... all of them classics!!
While still in hospital recovering from surgery,
local musicians organized the three benefits... all
unbeknownst to Brian.