Art Bergmann
Encyclopedia
Art Bergmann is a Canadian
rock singer-songwriter
who was one of the key figures in Canadian punk rock
in the late 1970s.
band called the Mount Lehman Grease Band. After Mount Lehman folded, Art founded his own band, called the Notorious Smorg Brothers, which he stocked with a myriad of different support artists.
Bergmann was later the lead singer and songwriter for Vancouver punk stalwarts Young Canadians
(formerly The K-Tels). Although the Young Canadians only recorded two independent EPs and a single before breaking up, their song "Hawaii" (co-written with Ross Carpenter) is one of the classic Canadian punk anthems. Although long out of print, the EPs, along with some unreleased live material, were reissued in 1995 as the album No Escape.
in 1988. Due to confusion with the popular American
band Poison
which had marred the band's most recent tour, however, the label decided to bill the band's releases as solo albums by Bergmann.
He released his debut solo album, the John Cale
-produced Crawl With Me, that year. 1990's Sexual Roulette, produced by Chris Wardman, became Bergmann's mainstream breakthrough, spawning the hit single "Bound for Vegas" and garnering him a deal with Polygram Records.
He followed up with a self-titled
album on Polygram in 1991, again garnering significant radio airplay for the singles "Faithlessly Yours" and "Message From Paul". He moved to Sony Records for 1995's What Fresh Hell is This?
, which won that year's Juno
for Best Alternative Rock Album. However, his record sales, while solid, were not spectacular, and Sony did not renew his contract.
1998's Design Flaw, produced by Peter J. Moore
and released independently, was a reworking of tracks from his first three albums, plus a cover of Gram Parsons
' "Sin City". The songs featured Bergmann on acoustic guitar, with backing by Chris Spedding
on electric. Bergmann then re-released 1984's Vultura Freeway in 2000.
Bergmann covered "Prisoners of Rock and Roll" on the Neil Young
tribute Borrowed Tunes, and contributed a song for the soundtrack to Terminal City Ricochet.
as Otto and Hard Core Logo
as himself. Additionally, he was featured in Bloodied but Unbowed
, a film featured at the 2010 Vancouver Documentary Film Festival.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
who was one of the key figures in Canadian punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
in the late 1970s.
Punk bands
Bergmann began his musical career with an AbbotsfordAbbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
band called the Mount Lehman Grease Band. After Mount Lehman folded, Art founded his own band, called the Notorious Smorg Brothers, which he stocked with a myriad of different support artists.
Bergmann was later the lead singer and songwriter for Vancouver punk stalwarts Young Canadians
Young Canadians
Young Canadians were a Vancouver punk rock band active for just under two years. The YC's were influenced not only by the other punk bands in town at that time such as D.O.A. and the Pointed Sticks, but also by the Dolls, the Stooges, and 1960s garage rock...
(formerly The K-Tels). Although the Young Canadians only recorded two independent EPs and a single before breaking up, their song "Hawaii" (co-written with Ross Carpenter) is one of the classic Canadian punk anthems. Although long out of print, the EPs, along with some unreleased live material, were reissued in 1995 as the album No Escape.
Solo career
In the 1980s, Bergmann played with Vancouver independent bands Los Popularos and Poisoned before the latter band signed to Duke Street RecordsDuke Street Records
Duke Street Records was a Canadian independent record label. The label was established in 1984 by Andrew Hermant and ceased operations in 1994. The Universal Music Group took over the label when it disappeared....
in 1988. Due to confusion with the popular American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
which had marred the band's most recent tour, however, the label decided to bill the band's releases as solo albums by Bergmann.
He released his debut solo album, the John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
-produced Crawl With Me, that year. 1990's Sexual Roulette, produced by Chris Wardman, became Bergmann's mainstream breakthrough, spawning the hit single "Bound for Vegas" and garnering him a deal with Polygram Records.
He followed up with a self-titled
Art Bergmann (album)
Art Bergmann is an eponymous album by Art Bergmann, released in 1991 on Polygram Records.-Track listing:# "Remember Her Name"# "American Wife"# "Message From Paul"# "Faithlessly Yours"# "Crackin' Up"# "If She Could Sing"# "Baby Needs Oil"...
album on Polygram in 1991, again garnering significant radio airplay for the singles "Faithlessly Yours" and "Message From Paul". He moved to Sony Records for 1995's What Fresh Hell is This?
What Fresh Hell is This?
What Fresh Hell is This? is an album by Art Bergmann, released in 1995 on Epic Records.It won the Juno Award for Best Alternative Album in 1996.The album gets its name from a quote by American wit Dorothy Parker.-Track listing:...
, which won that year's Juno
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Best Alternative Rock Album. However, his record sales, while solid, were not spectacular, and Sony did not renew his contract.
1998's Design Flaw, produced by Peter J. Moore
Peter J. Moore
Peter Joseph Moore is a Canadian music producer who was first recognized for his innovative recordings of the Cowboy Junkies, produced on a shoestring budget.-Early life:...
and released independently, was a reworking of tracks from his first three albums, plus a cover of Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
' "Sin City". The songs featured Bergmann on acoustic guitar, with backing by Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist, best known for his session work. Allmusic states - "Spedding is one of the UK's most versatile session guitarists, and has had a long career on two continents that saw him tackle nearly every style of rock and roll, as well as...
on electric. Bergmann then re-released 1984's Vultura Freeway in 2000.
Bergmann covered "Prisoners of Rock and Roll" on the Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
tribute Borrowed Tunes, and contributed a song for the soundtrack to Terminal City Ricochet.
Film appearances
He has also appeared in two Bruce McDonald films, Highway 61Highway 61 (film)
Highway 61 is a 1991 film by Canadian director Bruce McDonald.- Synopsis :The film stars Don McKellar as Pokey Jones, an orphaned barber in a small town near Thunder Bay, Ontario who dreams of becoming a jazz musician...
as Otto and Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo is a 1996 Canadian mockumentary adapted by Noel Baker from the novel of the same name by author Michael Turner. Director Bruce McDonald illustrates the self-destruction of punk rock...
as himself. Additionally, he was featured in Bloodied but Unbowed
Bloodied But Unbowed
Bloodied, But Unbowed is the debut album by the American band Desperado. Elektra records never released the album but it was heavily bootlegged on CD...
, a film featured at the 2010 Vancouver Documentary Film Festival.