Brian MacLeod (Canadian musician)
Encyclopedia
Brian Oliver "Too Loud" MacLeod (June 25, 1952 in Halifax, Nova Scotia - April 25, 1992 in Vancouver, British Columbia) was a Canadian
musician, songwriter and music producer, best known as a member of the bands Chilliwack
and Headpins
.
Brian appeared as a guitarist
in the Canadian band Pepper Tree and was a member of Huski and Garrison Hill with best friend Denny Driscoll in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1978, while working the Ontario bar circuit with Stingaree (which included fellow guitarist Bernie LaBarge
) he was invited to join Chilliwack and first appeared on their album Lights From The Valley. In addition to guitar, Brian occasionally contributed on vocals, drums
, and keyboards
-- and he eventually co-produced the band's albums, notably Opus X (1982) for which he received a Best Producer Juno Award
.
With bassist Ab Bryant, Brian initially formed Headpins as a side project to Chilliwack. After Opus X Brian left Chilliwack to focus his efforts on Headpins (featuring Denise McCann
and eventually Darby Mills
on vocals) released on Solid Gold Records in Canada and MCA Records
in the United States. Also to his credit, Brian produced other albums for such artists as Kick Axe
, D.O.A., Paul Dean
, Holly Woods
(Toronto), Tim Feehan
, and Chrissy Steele and shares songwriting credits with Bryan Adams
, Loverboy
, Chicago
and Jermaine Jackson
. Brian also joined friends Denny Driscoll, Rick Livingstone and Ross Damude as the drummer for their band Montana with their co-written song "Lorelei".
Living exclusively on his prized boat Grand Marnier (with full recording studio onboard) with his "first mate" a cockapoo named Sailor, Brian was a fixture at both Coal Harbour and Granville Island Marinas in Vancouver. He was also often spotted driving his beloved red and white classic Corvette convertible. Brian was also in training for his small aircraft pilot license.
In 1990, Brian collapsed onstage and was diagnosed with sarcoma
cancer with a tumor in his upper chest cavity which metastasized into bone cancer. After his death in 1992, several friends organised the Brian MacLeod Benefit Concerts which featured some of the best musicians on the Canadian music scene and continued through 1997.
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...
musician, songwriter and music producer, best known as a member of the bands Chilliwack
Chilliwack (band)
Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
and Headpins
Headpins
Headpins are a Canadian rock group, founded as a side project in the late 1970s by then Chilliwack members Ab Bryant and Brian MacLeod. Macleod was impressed by the vocal talents of Vancouver rock singer Denise McCann, and asked her to join his new venture...
.
Brian appeared as a guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in the Canadian band Pepper Tree and was a member of Huski and Garrison Hill with best friend Denny Driscoll in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1978, while working the Ontario bar circuit with Stingaree (which included fellow guitarist Bernie LaBarge
Bernie LaBarge
Bernie LaBarge is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter.-History:Bernie LaBarge began studying guitar at age 11, shortly after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964. Bernie has been playing professionally since 1967...
) he was invited to join Chilliwack and first appeared on their album Lights From The Valley. In addition to guitar, Brian occasionally contributed on vocals, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
-- and he eventually co-produced the band's albums, notably Opus X (1982) for which he received a Best Producer Juno Award
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...
.
With bassist Ab Bryant, Brian initially formed Headpins as a side project to Chilliwack. After Opus X Brian left Chilliwack to focus his efforts on Headpins (featuring Denise McCann
Denise McCann
Denise McCann is an American-Canadian singer/songwriter.-Biography:Growing up in a musical family, Denise McCann (born December 16, 1948, in Clinton, Iowa) is an American-Canadian singer/songwriter.-Biography:Growing up in a musical family, Denise McCann (born December 16, 1948, in Clinton, Iowa)...
and eventually Darby Mills
Darby Mills
Darby Mills is a Canadian rock vocalist, best known as the lead singer for Headpins. The band's hits included "Don't It Make You Feel", "Celebration", "Just One More Time", and "Line of Fire"...
on vocals) released on Solid Gold Records in Canada and MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in the United States. Also to his credit, Brian produced other albums for such artists as Kick Axe
Kick Axe
Kick Axe is the name of a heavy metal band from Canada that reached its climax in the 1980s. They produced four albums during their career, with the longest gap between albums being 18 years...
, D.O.A., Paul Dean
Paul Dean
Paul Dean may refer to:*Paul Dean , Australian clarinetist from Southern Cross Soloists*Paul Dean , American baseball pitcher...
, Holly Woods
Holly Woods
Holly Woods is an American rock singer whose notable works include five platinum albums by the rock band Toronto.- Biography :...
(Toronto), Tim Feehan
Tim Feehan
Tim Feehan is a Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, LA area studio owner and mix master.-Career:Tim Feehan graduated from the University of Alberta in 1984 and began his recording/songwriting career quite accidentally when his college band "Footloose" was asked by a local studio owner to record...
, and Chrissy Steele and shares songwriting credits with Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
, Loverboy
Loverboy
Loverboy is a Canadian rock group formed in 1980 in Calgary, Alberta. Throughout the 1980s, the band accumulated numerous hit songs in Canada and the United States, earning four multi-platinum albums and selling millions of records...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
. Brian also joined friends Denny Driscoll, Rick Livingstone and Ross Damude as the drummer for their band Montana with their co-written song "Lorelei".
Living exclusively on his prized boat Grand Marnier (with full recording studio onboard) with his "first mate" a cockapoo named Sailor, Brian was a fixture at both Coal Harbour and Granville Island Marinas in Vancouver. He was also often spotted driving his beloved red and white classic Corvette convertible. Brian was also in training for his small aircraft pilot license.
In 1990, Brian collapsed onstage and was diagnosed with sarcoma
Sarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
cancer with a tumor in his upper chest cavity which metastasized into bone cancer. After his death in 1992, several friends organised the Brian MacLeod Benefit Concerts which featured some of the best musicians on the Canadian music scene and continued through 1997.