MEDIA ADVISORY: NEW TIME!

TRIBUTE BANDS, a four-part documentary series narrated by Toronto native and Rockstar: INXS finalist Suzie McNeil, each one-hour episode follows tribute bands that pose as:
Rush – “For the Love of Rush” airing Oct. 28th, 7:00 p.m. ET
Queen – “Keeping The Spirit of Freddie Alive” airing Nov. 4th, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Tragically Hip – “Keeping Up With The Hip” airing Nov. 11th, 7:00 p.m. ET
The Police – Encore presentation of “The Next Best Sting” on Nov. 18th, 7:00 p.m. ET

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 – 7:00 p.m. ET “FOR THE LOVE OF RUSH”

In this week’s episode, TRIBUTE BANDS speaks with Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson about what’s its like to have their own legion of tribute bands. We meet the undeniably obsessive Dave Cornwall (a.k.a. Spageddy Lee) who fronts an Arizona-based Rush tribute band called Freewill. Dave has transformed his home into a Rush museum and his garage into a recording studio with much of the same gear used by his heroes. Mike Deyo of Burlington, Ontario, has spent over $20,000 on gear for his Rush tribute band 2112. As a teen, Mike fled an abusive home and lived on the streets; he credits the music of Rush with seeing him through and helping him keep his dreams alive.

Mike’s ultimate goal: for 2112 to play Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall.

TRIBUTE BANDS

THE LATEST ORIGINAL FOUR-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES ON E!
DEBUTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 – 10PM ET/PT (1 hour)

(CALGARY, September 28, 2007) – E! is proud to present Tribute Bands, the network’s latest all-new Canadian original documentary series. Narrated by Toronto native and Rockstar: INXS finalist Suzie McNeil, each one-hour episode follows a tribute band paying homage to The Police, Rush, Queen and The Tragically Hip.

From CanWest MediaWorks and Executive Producers Allison Grace and Michelle Metivier, this 4-part documentary series makes its television debut Sundays at 10pm ET/PT beginning October 21 on E!.

By day they work in law offices, hospitals and factories; by night, they morph into Sting, Geddy Lee, Freddie Mercury and Gord Downie. Virtually every major rock band has spawned a tribute group. Tribute Bands features interviews with artists and industry veterans including Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, the former manager of The Police Miles Copeland and Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury’s longtime personal assistant.

“E!’s roster of Canadian original documentaries continues to take viewers backstage with the premiere of Tribute Bands,” said Christine Shipton, Vice President of Original Programming for CanWest MediaWorks Inc. “E! is a vibrant new network and we are committed to providing viewers with a host of quality Canadian programming that reflects this fresh, new point of view.”

“The Next Best Sting” follows the maniacal and ever-entertaining Miles Copeland, who managed The Police for 23 years and is the brother of Police drummer Stewart Copeland. After witnessing the success of various Police tribute bands, Copeland decides to form “the ultimate Police tribute band.”

In “For The Love of Rush”, viewers meet the obsessive Dave Cornwall (a.k.a. Spageddy Lee) who fronts an Arizona-based Rush tribute band called Freewill. Tribute Bands also connects with other groups trying to emulate one of the most technically proficient bands in the world.

“Keeping The Spirit of Freddie Alive” trails Joe Russo’s fight to escape New York’s seedy club scene with Almost Queen, and Scotland’s Gary Mullen who has made a considerable fortune fronting One Night of Queen.

The series concludes with “Keeping Up with the Hip”, a look at three Ontario-based Tragically Hip tribute bands as they try to ride the wave of one of Canada’s most beloved bands.

TUNING GUIDE…

Sundays at 10pm ET/PT
“The Next Best Sting” – October 21
“For the Love of Rush” – October 28
“Keeping the Spirit of Freddie Alive” – November 4
“Keeping Up with The Hip” – November 11

Lofty Pines Motel – The Tragically Hip
Wetlands, New York, New York 7-23-1998

Tonight: ‘world’s tallest midgets’

Belly Up brings talent from north of the border


ASPEN — It’s a big-name rock band headlining at Belly Up Aspen on Monday. Tragically, The Hip probably doesn’t ring a bell.

The Tragically Hip, better known simply as The Hip to their fans, are hugely popular north of the border, but the Canadian quintet has never hit mainstream success in the States. Consequently, a band that plays sold-out arena shows at home, judging from several web bios, appears in smaller venues and clubs below the boarder. The band heads from Aspen to the Boulder Theatre on Tuesday before turning south for dates in Texas and New Orleans.

Drummer Johnny Fay reportedly once quipped that being the biggest band in Canada is “like being the world’s tallest midgets.”

The heights of their U.S. success not withstanding, these guys were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2005. They’ve got some 10 studio albums, a couple of compilations and a box set to their credit since emerging from Kingston, Ontario in 1983.

Their latest, “World Container” was released in Canada late last year and in March in the United States. The third track “In View” quickly charted in Canada — the latest in a long string of homeland hits for the band.

When the group played Halifax, Nova Scotia last month, reviewer Stephen Cooke of The Chronicle Herald in Halifax, wrote: “Few Canadian bands thrive in the bloodstreams of their listeners like The Tragically Hip.”

The band’s current lineup features Rob Baker on lead guitar, Gordon Downie on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, drummer Fay, Paul Langlois handling rhythm guitar and backing vocals, and Gord Sinclair on bass and backing vocals.

Opening for The Hip is up-and-coming Canadian singer/songwriter Joel Plaskett and his band, Emergency, touring in support of their 2007 release, “Ashtray Rock.”

The band is dubbed Joel Plaskett Emergency; Plaskett has several East Coast Music Awards to his credit in Canada, including male artist of the year, single of the year and songwriter of the year.

Tickets to Monday’s Belly Up show are $40. The music starts at 10 p.m., after Monday Night Football (the Giants at Atlanta) on the club’s big screen. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the football (no cover until the music). 450 S. Galena St.

Also on Monday: Aspen Community Church hosts the Shooting Stars Concert at 7:30 p.m. featuring singer/songwriter Steve Brook from Spain. Hear his John Denver tribute song, “Shooting Stars,” and learn about its connection with Laurie Olson’s new book of the same name. $10 donation. 200 E. Bleeker St.