In 1977, when I graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Architecture I hadn’t envisioned a career in music. Although I’d been working part time in gigging cover bands since 1968, that was more of an outlet for the love of music performance than any intent toward a career. When the recession of 1978 hit, there was literally no work for new architects, I turned to music for a part time income and never turned back.
Music became my full time and professional career in 1980. Although I had been working for close to two years writing and recording intricate folk/jazz songs and hoping to get work, it was only after writing a collection of 4 pop songs for an un-named project in 1979 that my songs received attention. In December of 1979, Warren Cosford the Program Director of a popular Toronto radio station (CHUM FM) offered a live radio broadcast based on my song “You’re On My Radio” and thus was born Zero-One.
COMING SOON!
While searching for a USA record contract, my song “Metal of the Night” was selected by Music Director, Eddie Van Halen as the feature song for the Universal movie “The Wild Life”. Hanover Fist signed to MCA Records in Los Angeles and the Metal of the Night album was released in 1985.
In spite of strong successes, the 1985/86 “Washington Wives” scourge against heavy metal created a sensitive and unprogressive environment for the Metal of the Night album in the USA. Thus MCA marketing reconfigured the album with the addition of the Bryan Adams / Jim Vallance song “Fits ya good” as the new radio friendly spearhead. The band name was shortened to Hanover and the album was also re-titled “Hungry Eyes”.
I toured the USA extensively with Hanover, and my songs experienced high radio profile in primary markets such as Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York City, and Detroit.
Within weeks, I had had completed writing 9 more songs and settled on a band name. Zero-One performed live at the El Mocambo to a Canada wide live simulcast in February of 1980. The band had immediately attracted nationwide attention, signed management with Concert Productions International and secured a record contract with Anthem Records. The self titled album was released in the summer of that year and no less than 4 singles received regular radio play across Canada to spearhead their fall and winter tour.
Without a USA release, Zero One hit an impasse in 1982. Interested in graduating to a larger live audience, I opted to write a heavier collection of songs. These songs attracted the attention of producer Stacy Heydon (Teenage Head, Sherriff) and over the next 2 years I developed what would become the Hanover Fist project.
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CURRENT LIVE PERFORMANCE
I have returned to my cover band rock roots, and I’m now performing regularly in the Greater Toronto Area with a Classic Hits band called “Kaboom”, and a special Beatles Tribute project called Yeah Yeah Yeah.
1979 - you're on my radio, invisible man, and you're on you're own
demo's attract the attention of Chum FM - lands live broadcast
12 song zero one package lands management deal with Michael Cohl and Bill Ballard and subsequent album release on Anthem Records
You're on my Radio, You're on your own, Oh No, Girls, and the Invisible Man get cross Canada airplay on the CHUM group and the Q107 network radio stations.
1984 - Metal of the Night attracts the attention of Eddie Van Halen
10 song Hanover Fist package lands USA album deal with MCA / Universal