The Romaniacs

Last updated
The Romaniacs
OriginCanada
Genres Rock
Years active1984 (1984)–1995 (1995)
Past members
  • Calvin Cairns
  • Steve Bengtson
  • Scott White
  • William Butler
  • Danny Greenspoon
  • Ron Thompson
  • Richard Baker

The Romaniacs was a Canadian rock band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their music combined Eastern European, Gypsy jazz, and pop. [1] They made extensive use of costumes and props, including a large map, during their live shows. [2]

Contents

History

The Romaniacs formed in 1984. They performed at first in clubs and small venues, telling an invented story of their ethnic history of the band members. [3] [4] [5]

The band toured extensively in Canada and the United States.They had a long stint at the Saskatchewan Pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver, and that year released their first recording on cassette, entitled Ethno-Fusion. The group also toured Australia in 1988, including a week-long appearance at the Canada Pavilion during the World's Fair in Brisbane. [6] [7] That year they released their first album, World on Fire. [8]

In 1990 the band contributed the song "Ecstasy of the Martyr" to the compilation album Polka Comes to Your Haus. [9] The Romaniacs disbanded in 1995.


Personnel

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. K. Page</span> Canadian poet (1916–2010)

Patricia Kathleen Page, was a Canadian poet, though the citation as she was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada reads "poet, novelist, script writer, playwright, essayist, journalist, librettist, teacher and artist." She was the author of more than 30 published books that include poetry, fiction, travel diaries, essays, children's books, and an autobiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Men Without Hats</span> Canadian synthpop and new wave band

Men Without Hats are a Canadian new wave and synth-pop band, originally from Montreal, Quebec. Their music is characterized by the baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk, as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the 1980s with "The Safety Dance", a worldwide top ten hit, and "Pop Goes the World". After a hiatus for most of the 1990s and 2000s, Doroschuk reformed the band in 2010, and released Love in the Age of War (2012). The group, based in Vancouver, has continued to perform, including tour dates announced in support of the release of two studio albums, Men Without Hats Again , in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Royal City was a Canadian indie rock band from Guelph.

<i>Touch</i> (Sarah McLachlan album) 1988 studio album by Sarah McLachlan

Touch is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. It was originally released on October 11, 1988 through Nettwerk and Capitol Records. The album was then re-released on April 3, 1989 through Nettwerk and Arista Records with additional material and new cover art. The album includes "Vox", McLachlan's debut single, which reached number 90 in Canada upon its release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Sinnaeve</span> Canadian musician

Kenneth "Spider" Sinnaeve is a Canadian musician. He was a founding member of the popular Canadian band Streetheart, and since 2001 has been a member of Loverboy, replacing late bassist Scott Smith. Sinnaeve has also contributed to many albums and played live performances with George McCrae, Helix, Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, Kim Mitchell, The Partland Brothers, Lee Aaron, and The Guess Who. He is known for his extended solos, which often last 15–20 minutes.

Payolas was a Canadian rock band that was most prominent in the 1980s. Evolving from a new wave sound toward mainstream pop rock, they were best known for the single "Eyes of a Stranger", from their 1982 album No Stranger to Danger, an album that won the band four Juno Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subhumans (Canadian band)</span> Canadian punk rock band

Subhumans were a Canadian punk rock band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odds (band)</span> Canadian alternative rock band

Odds are a Canadian alternative rock band based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They were nominated for six Juno Awards in the 1990s. As of 2014, they are on their fifth record label.

Paul Brennan is a Canadian musician. As a drummer, Brennan has been a member of Big Electric Cat, the Animal Slaves, Odds and Big Sugar. He has also contributed as a guest musician on albums by Meryn Cadell, Sarah McLachlan, Taste of Joy, Julie Ann Bertram and Mae Moore. He is currently playing with Alannah Myles and Ellis Meek and performing locally in Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Doucet</span> Musical artist

Luke Doucet is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has written and performed as a solo artist and as a member of the indie rock band Veal and the folk rock band Whitehorse.

Streetheart is a Canadian rock band, originally from Regina, Saskatchewan and later based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their best known songs include "Here Comes the Night", "What Kind of Love is This", and their cover of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb".

The Farrell Brothers are a rockabilly group from Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada. Their stage show was noted for being professional and high energy.

Stonebolt is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver. Their sound also included elements of pop and country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Nervous Fellas</span>

One of Canada's Rockabilly bands, The Nervous Fellas began in Vancouver, British Columbia, around the winter of 1986. The band took its name from the lyrics of a Smiley Lewis song titled "Real Gone Lover". Their set list comprised obscure covers from the 1950s and their own original songs.

The Razorbacks were a Canadian rockabilly band that attained moderate national popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band was known for its lively stage show, and made regular appearances on The Tommy Hunter Show on CBC.

Das Fürlines were an all-female punk-polka band that emerged from New York's Lower East Side in the mid-1980s. Though the band released a few songs on underground polka and holiday music compilations, Das Fürlines did not release any records of their own, opting instead to publish a cookbook. The band's tribute to German culture and music extended to include many songs by 1960s proto-punk group The Monks.

Scruj MacDuhk was a Juno-nominated Canadian folk music group based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The band included singer-songwriter Ruth Moody, current member of the Wailin' Jennys, and also Clawhammer banjo player/vocalist Leonard Podolak, who went on to form The Duhks.

Canadian jazz refers to the jazz and jazz-related music performed by jazz bands and performers in Canada. There are hundreds of local and regionally based Canadian jazz bands and performers. A number of Canadian jazz artists have achieved international prominence, including Oscar Peterson, Maynard Ferguson, and Gil Evans.

The Dreadnoughts are a Canadian 6-piece folk punk band from Vancouver. The band combines a wide range of European folk music with modern street punk. The band has seven full-length albums and three EPs on various labels, and has played around 500 shows in around 30 countries. They also used to perform before 2020 as a traditional polka band at polka festivals, under the name "Polka Time!". Their performance peak was in 2010, when 180 shows were played.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C'mon (band)</span> Canadian rock band

C'mon was a Canadian rock band based in Toronto, known for its explosive live shows. The core members were Ian Blurton on guitar and vocals, and Katie Lynn Campbell on bass and vocals and with Randy Curnew and later Dean Dallas Bentley on drums.

References

  1. David H. Flaherty; Frank E. Manning (1993). The Beaver Bites Back?: American Popular Culture in Canada. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 206–. ISBN   978-0-7735-1120-0.
  2. "Romaniacs setting the world on fire". Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont., Craig MacInnis Jun 1, 1988 Page: D.1
  3. "Mole-head musicians give Toronto the eyeball tonight". Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. Greg Quill Jan 24, 1986 Page: D.10
  4. "The Romaniac Brothers music played with different twist". Winnipeg Free Press, January 23, 1987 - Page 39
  5. "Romaniacs Rock in Ethno-rhythm". Medicine Hat News via Newspaper Archives March 03, 1988 - Page 3
  6. "Fiddle fanciers' delight continues". by Maria Kirley - Campbell River Mirror May 14, 2013
  7. "Quartet loaded with bunk". Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives May 24, 1988 - Page 38
  8. "Legendary Lads have Real Success". Medicine Hat News via Newspaper Archives June 09, 1988 - Page 24
  9. "Polka Comes to Your Haus". AllMusic. Review by Dave Sleger
  10. "World on Fire". WorldCat record

Bibliography