Brutus (Canadian band)
Encyclopedia
Brutus was a Canadian rock band formed in 1969 and active, with interruptions, between 1969 and 1978.
(then billed as "Wally Soul") as vocalist, Tom Wilson as bassist, Michael Magann on trumpet, Lance Wright on drums, Sonny Wingay on guitar, and Bill Robb on sax and trombone. The band was the opening act for popular Canadian and American acts that were touring Canada, such as The Guess Who
. At one point, the level of band popularity was such that a recently-formed Chicago
opened for Brutus at the University Of Waterloo
, with Chicago's debut The Chicago Transit Authority
album. Their 1970 single "Funky Roller Skates" made it to #7 on RPM's list of Canadian Content songs receiving airplay, although the track did not cross over into the top 100.
Brutus disbanded in 1971, then reformed with a revised line-up and new look in 1973. They decided to add a theatrical flair to their stage act, similar to the glam rock bands that were popular in Britain during the same time. With a mixture of heavy makeup, wild costumes, and sexual innuendo, Brutus became a popular live act, but found few friends with the local authorities or concert organizers. Brutus' live performances reached a pinnacle with a sold out performance at Toronto's Ontario Place
.
The new Brutus lineup recorded two singles on GRT Records in 1975, with "Ooh, Mama Mama" becoming perhaps in retrospect their most remembered recording -- although it failed to chart, it was named top Canadian single in an end-of-year poll by the Montreal Star
. Their debut album would follow in 1976, featuring the group's #65 chart hit "Who Wants To Buy A Song", but only one further (non-charting) single would follow before they disbanded.
Four notable guitarists associated with Brutus were Gino Scarpelli, later of Goddo
, Paul Dean
, later of Streetheart
and Loverboy, Jerry Doucette
, who has had a distinguished solo career, and John Bride, later of the Cameo Blues Band
.
History
The original band consisted of Walter ZwolinskiWalter Zwolinski
Walter "Zwol" Zwolinski is a Canadian musician and songwriter and founding member and front-man for the Canadian rock band Brutus . The band charted a minor Canadian hit, "Who Wants To Buy A Song", a #65 hit in 1976. Zwol then embarked on a solo career and charted two Top 100 hits in the US and...
(then billed as "Wally Soul") as vocalist, Tom Wilson as bassist, Michael Magann on trumpet, Lance Wright on drums, Sonny Wingay on guitar, and Bill Robb on sax and trombone. The band was the opening act for popular Canadian and American acts that were touring Canada, such as The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
. At one point, the level of band popularity was such that a recently-formed Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
opened for Brutus at the University Of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, with Chicago's debut The Chicago Transit Authority
The Chicago Transit Authority (album)
The Chicago Transit Authority is the eponymous debut album by the Chicago-based rock band The Chicago Transit Authority, who would later be known as Chicago. It was recorded and released in 1969.-History:...
album. Their 1970 single "Funky Roller Skates" made it to #7 on RPM's list of Canadian Content songs receiving airplay, although the track did not cross over into the top 100.
Brutus disbanded in 1971, then reformed with a revised line-up and new look in 1973. They decided to add a theatrical flair to their stage act, similar to the glam rock bands that were popular in Britain during the same time. With a mixture of heavy makeup, wild costumes, and sexual innuendo, Brutus became a popular live act, but found few friends with the local authorities or concert organizers. Brutus' live performances reached a pinnacle with a sold out performance at Toronto's Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
.
The new Brutus lineup recorded two singles on GRT Records in 1975, with "Ooh, Mama Mama" becoming perhaps in retrospect their most remembered recording -- although it failed to chart, it was named top Canadian single in an end-of-year poll by the Montreal Star
Montreal Star
The Montreal Star was an English-language Canadian newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It folded in 1979 following an eight-month pressmen's strike....
. Their debut album would follow in 1976, featuring the group's #65 chart hit "Who Wants To Buy A Song", but only one further (non-charting) single would follow before they disbanded.
Four notable guitarists associated with Brutus were Gino Scarpelli, later of Goddo
Goddo
Goddo is a Canadian band formed in 1975. Goddo had mixed major label success from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. After reforming in 1989, they revived their career with several new studio and 'best of' packages...
, Paul Dean
Paul Dean (guitarist)
Paul Dean is the lead guitarist for the Canadian rock band Loverboy which reached huge fame in the early 1980s.-Biography:...
, later of Streetheart
Streetheart (band)
Streetheart is a Canadian rock band, from Winnipeg, Manitoba that got its start in Regina, Saskatchewan. Their best known songs include "Action", "Hollywood", "Teenage Rage", "One More Time", "Tin Soldier", "What Kind of Love is This", and their disco remake of "Under My Thumb".-Biography:Keyboard...
and Loverboy, Jerry Doucette
Jerry Doucette
Jerry Doucette is a Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter.Doucette joined numerous bands prior to his solo career, starting with The Reefers during his childhood. He eventually moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and subsequently signed a solo recording deal with Mushroom Records...
, who has had a distinguished solo career, and John Bride, later of the Cameo Blues Band
Cameo Blues Band
The Cameo Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band, originally formed in 1978. It is particularly notable for its association with several of Canada's leading blues singers, including Richard "Hock" Walsh, Tony Flaim and Chuck Jackson, all of whom were also associated with the Downchild Blues...
.
Singles
- 1970 "Funky Roller Skates" / "Flyer" (Quality)
- 1970 "Duck Pond" (Quality)
- 1971 "Help Me, Free Me" (Yorkville)
- 1975 "(Let Me Down) Slow And Easy" / "Tonight, Tonight" (GRT)
- 1975 "Ooh Mama Mama" / "Ride Cowboy Ride" (GRT)
- 1976 "Who Wants To Buy A Song" (GRT)
- 1976 "Ooh Mama Mama" (Pye - UK)
- 1976 "Sailing" / "Search For Tomorrow" (GRT)
Members
- Walter Zwolinski (lead vocals, organ, synths)
- Sandy White (bass)
- Sonny Wingay (guitar)
- Bill Robb (sax, trombone)
- Michael Magann (trumpet)
- Lance Wright (drums; 1969–1970; 1972–1973)
- Len Sembaluk (drums; 1971)
- Bruce Gordon (trumpet, organ, guitar, bass; replaced Magann)
- Danny Smith (drums; replaced Sembaluk 1973-1978)
- John Bride (guitar, banjo, ukelele)
- Frank Ludwig (keyboards; 1975)
- Dennis Pinhorn (bass; 1975)
- Doni Underhill (bass; replaced Pinhorn 1975-1976)
- Chris Brockway (bass; replaced Underhill 1976-1977)
- Woody West (guitars)
- Laurie Del Grande (piano, organ, synths)
- Dave Breckles (drums)
- Breen LeBoeuf (bass, vocals)
- Paul Dean (guitar)
- Bill WadeMoxy (band)Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, from previous members of the rock group, Leigh Ashford — which included singer Douglas "Buzz" Shearman Earl Johnson , Bill Wade Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in...
(drums) - Gino ScarpelliGoddoGoddo is a Canadian band formed in 1975. Goddo had mixed major label success from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. After reforming in 1989, they revived their career with several new studio and 'best of' packages...
(guitar) - Jerry Doucette (guitar)