Kim Mitchell

Last updated

Kim Mitchell
Kim Mitchell publicity image.jpg
Background information
Born (1952-07-10) July 10, 1952 (age 71)
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Genres Rock, hard rock, progressive rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1973–present
Labels Anthem, Alert
Website kimmitchell.ca

Joseph Kim Mitchell (born July 10, 1952) is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to a solo career. His 1984 single, "Go for Soda", was his only charted song on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 86. [1] Several other singles such as "Patio Lanterns", "Rock and Roll Duty", and "Rockland Wonderland", reached the top 20 in Canada.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Early life

Mitchell attended St. Clair Secondary School in Sarnia. During the 1970s, Mitchell began playing with local bands in Sarnia. After going through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and "Zooom" headed for Toronto, Ontario. Zooom eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling to the Greek islands.

Career

1972–2003

On his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster with fellow Sarnia native Pye Dubois. Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster in 1982, [2] with session work and a succession of solo albums.

A new sound was tested on the club circuit and recorded on his 1982 self-titled mini-album. [2] Songs such as "Chain of Events" featured Mitchell's lead vocal and guitar and Dubois' suburban storytelling, anchored by the visceral drum/bass combination of Paul DeLong and Robert Sinclair Wilson. Peter Fredette added a vocal and guitar counterpoint.

In early 1985, the song "Go for Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and remains his best known song outside of his native Canada. [2] His most successful Canadian album was the follow-up, 1986's Shakin' Like a Human Being , [2] featuring the hits "Alana Loves Me", "Easy to Tame", and the biggest hit of his career, "Patio Lanterns". His 1989 album, Rockland , achieved critical acclaim and was the highest placing chart album of his career. [2]

In 1992, Mitchell played guitar on the track "Brave and Crazy" from Tom Cochrane's album Mad Mad World . In that same year he also made a cameo appearance (as himself) on the third-season finale of the Canadian sketch program The Kids in the Hall . In 1995, Mitchell participated in the Kumbaya Festival to raise money for AIDS research. [3]

2004–present

Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming an afternoon drivetime host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107 (CILQ-FM) from April 2004 until August 2015. [4] [5]

On November 15, 2004, Mitchell was awarded the National Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2004 SOCAN Awards in Toronto. [6]

In 2006, Mitchell provided a guitar solo on the song "Wind It Up" from the Barenaked Ladies' album Barenaked Ladies Are Me . [7] [8]

Mitchell opened for Def Leppard at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on July 16, 2007. His eighth studio album, Ain't Life Amazing, was released on July 17, 2007. [9]

Mitchell has been on the same live bill with many acts over the course of his solo career including Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, and Van Halen.

In January 2016, Mitchell suffered a heart attack, for which he underwent emergency surgery. [10]

On May 21, 2020, Mitchell was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, although due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada the honour was not formally presented to him until 2021. [11]

On October 2, 2021, Mitchell performed a sold-out show at the "Sarnia OktBorderFest" in Point Edward, Ontario, followed by the Barenaked Ladies. It is estimated that over 6,000 people were in attendance over the two-night event. [12]

Discography

Mitchell at the Fergus Truck Show, 2008 Kim Mitchell Fergus 2008.jpg
Mitchell at the Fergus Truck Show, 2008

Albums

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsCertifications
CAN
[13]
US CAN
[14]
1984 Akimbo Alogo 23106Platinum
1986 Shakin' Like a Human Being 63× Platinum
1989 Rockland 42× Platinum
1992 Aural Fixations 17Gold
1994 Itch 55
1999 Kimosabe
2007 Ain't Life Amazing
2020 The Big Fantasize

Extended plays

YearTitleChart position
CAN
1982 Kim Mitchell 38

Live albums

YearTitleChart positionsCertifications
CAN CAN
[14]
1990 I Am a Wild Party Platinum

Compilation albums

YearTitleChart positionsCertifications
CAN
[13]
CAN
[14]
1995 Greatest Hits 31Platinum
2005 Fill Your Head with Rock

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN CAN
Content
(Cancon)
US
[1]
US
Rock

[15]
1982"Miss Demeanor"Kim Mitchell
1984"Lager & Ale"Akimbo Alogo
"Go for Soda"2218612
"All We Are"7910
1986"Patio Lanterns"12136Shakin' Like a Human Being
"Alana Loves Me"314
1987"Easy to Tame"322
"In Your Arms"97
1989"Rock 'n' Roll Duty"71Rockland
"Rockland Wonderland"10
1990"Expedition Sailor"20
"Lost Lovers Found"78
"All We Are" (Live)73I Am a Wild Party
"I Am a Wild Party" (Live)43
1992"Find the Will"28Aural Fixations
"America"3
"World's Such a Wonder"8
"Pure as Gold"21
1993"Some Folks"16
1994"Acrimony"402Itch
"Wonder Where and Why"638
"Lemon Wedge"1
1995"The U.S. of Ache"78
"Rainbow"21Greatest Hits
"No More Walking Away"35
2020"Wishes"The Big Fantasize
"2Up 2B Down"

Guest singles

YearTitleArtistAlbum
2006"Young at Heart" Charlie Major Shadows and Light

Juno Awards

Mitchell has been awarded several Juno Awards for his work:

Television appearances

Family

Kim Mitchell has two sons, Josh and Jesse. Jesse works for his father as a drum tech and road manager.

He was the subject of the Rush song, "I Think I'm Going Bald". [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barenaked Ladies</span> Canadian rock band

Barenaked Ladies (BNL) is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold in Canada. They reached mainstream success in Canada when their debut with Reprise Records, Gordon, featuring the singles "If I Had $1000000" and "Brian Wilson", was released in 1992. The band's popularity subsequently spread into the US, beginning with versions of "Brian Wilson" and "The Old Apartment" off their 1996 live album Rock Spectacle, followed by their fourth studio album Stunt, their breakout success in 1998. The album featured their highest-charting hit, "One Week", as well as "It's All Been Done" and "Call and Answer". Their fifth album, Maroon, featuring the lead single "Pinch Me", also charted highly. In the 2010s the band became well-known for creating and performing the theme song for the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Stockwood</span> Canadian pop musician

Kim Stockwood is a Canadian pop musician, singer and composer originally from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She has recorded as a solo artist and also as a member of Atlantic Canadian music group Shaye with Damhnait Doyle and Tara MacLean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Kim (singer)</span> Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter

Androwis Youakim, better known as Andy Kim, is a Canadian pop rock singer and songwriter. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec. He is known for hits that he released in the late 1960s and 1970s: the international hit "Baby, I Love You" in 1969, and "Rock Me Gently", which topped the U.S. singles chart in 1974. He co-wrote "Sugar, Sugar" in 1968 and sang on the recording as part of the Archies; it was #1 for four weeks and was "Record of the Year" for 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Webster</span> Canadian hard rock band

Max Webster was a Canadian hard rock band formed in Toronto in 1972. The band was relatively successful in Canada, with several best-selling albums, and had some minor success in the UK, before dissolving in 1981. They were best known for their high energy stage shows, disciplined musicianship, and eccentric compositions combining elements of progressive rock, folk, punk, and new wave. The band's founder, Kim Mitchell, subsequently enjoyed a long and successful solo career in his native Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Page</span> Canadian musician (born 1970)

Steven Jay Page is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was a founding member, lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the music group Barenaked Ladies. Page left the band in February 2009 to pursue a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Robertson</span> Canadian musician

Lloyd Edward Elwyn Robertson is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the band Barenaked Ladies. He, along with former member Steven Page, founded the group in 1988. As of Page's departure in 2009, Robertson and bassist Jim Creeggan are the only remaining original members of the band.

<i>Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music</i> 1996 compilation album by Various artists

Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music is a 4-CD box set released in 1996 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Juno Awards. A second box set, Oh What a Feeling 2, was released in 2001 to mark the awards' 30th anniversary, and a third set, Oh What a Feeling 3, was released in 2006 for the 35th anniversary. All of the sets feature popular Canadian songs from the 1960s onward. The sets were titled for the song "Oh What a Feeling" by rock band Crowbar. The original 25th anniversary box set peaked at No. 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified Diamond in Canada.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Old Apartment</span> 1997 single by Barenaked Ladies

"The Old Apartment" is a song by the Canadian alternative rock group Barenaked Ladies. It was the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and first Mainstream Top 40 hit, appearing on the albums Born on a Pirate Ship, Rock Spectacle and Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits. The music video for the song, which garnered a Best Director nomination at the 1997 MuchMusic Video Awards, was directed by fellow Canadian and fan Jason Priestley at his own suggestion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murray McLauchlan</span> Musical artist

Murray Edward McLauchlan, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player. He is best known for his Canadian hits "The Farmer's Song," "Whispering Rain," and "Down by the Henry Moore".

Ian Campbell Thomas is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actor and author. He is the younger brother of comedian and actor Dave Thomas. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Pye Dubois is a Canadian lyricist and poet. He has worked mainly with Kim Mitchell and Max Webster, and occasionally Rush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Wilson (song)</span> Barenaked Ladies song

"Brian Wilson" is a song by Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies from their 1992 album Gordon. The song was written by Steven Page as a tribute to the Beach Boys' co-founder Brian Wilson. It was released as a single and peaked at number 18 on the Canadian Singles Chart. In 1998, the song peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Wilson himself covered the song on his live album Live at the Roxy Theatre (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Creeggan</span> Musical artist

Andrew Burnett Creeggan is a Canadian musician, known for being a former member of the alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies. He was also a member of the trio The Brothers Creeggan, and a solo artist having released three albums.

<i>Rockland</i> (Kim Mitchell album) 1989 studio album by Kim Mitchell

Rockland is the third solo album by Canadian rock musician Kim Mitchell, released in 1989. The album was the fourth-best selling Cancon album in Canada of 1989. "Rock n Roll Duty" was second-most played Cancon song in Canada of 1989, while "Rocklandwonderland" was the ninth-most played Cancon song in Canada that year. The album was certified double platinum in Canada. Rockland was released internationally on the Atlantic Records label.

<i>Long Way to Heaven</i> 1985 studio album by Helix

Long Way to Heaven is the fifth studio album by the Canadian heavy metal band Helix. This album was their third for Capitol Records, and there were bigger expectations from the band after the success of the previous Walkin' the Razor's Edge. The first single was "Deep Cuts the Knife", co-written by Paul Hackman and Bob Halligan Jr. The song received heavy airplay in the U.S., gaining "double breaker" status, and in Canada was added to heavy video play on MuchMusic. Q107 in Toronto had the song riding at number 1 for several weeks on their "Top Ten at Ten". Their first tour to kick off the album was in Sweden where they became the first Canadian rock band ever to tour that country extensively. For this they achieved their first number 1 album in that country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barenaked Ladies discography</span> Band discography

The discography of Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies consists of 14 primary studio albums, three themed studio albums, 41 singles, three live albums, two greatest hits compilations, and three video releases. This list does not include material recorded by band members individually or with other side projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patio Lanterns</span> 1986 single by Kim Mitchell

"Patio Lanterns" is a song by Canadian rock musician Kim Mitchell that was first released as a single in June 1986 and later appeared in the 1986 album Shakin' Like a Human Being. An acoustic recording of the song was released as a single in 1995 and also included in the album Greatest Hits released the same year. By 1996, the song had been broadcast on Canadian radio stations more than 100,000 times. The song was described by the CBC as "quintessentially Canadian".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahead by a Century</span> 1996 single by the Tragically Hip

"Ahead by a Century" is a song by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip. It was released as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, Trouble at the Henhouse. The song reached number one on Canada's singles chart, and is the band's most successful single in their native Canada. It was one of the 10 most-played songs in Canada in 1996. The song was nominated for "Best Single" at the 1997 Juno Awards. The song was certified platinum in Canada in 2016.

Gary McCracken is a Canadian musician. He was drummer for the band Max Webster from 1976 to 1981, when the band dissolved. As a member of Max Webster, McCracken played on four studio albums and co-writer and lead vocalist for the band's hit 1979 single, "A Million Vacations". He also collaborated on "Battle Scar" with Rush and drummer Neil Peart in 1980. McCracken has also played with bands including Triumph, Wrabit, Klaatu, and released a solo album, Audioscapes, in 2000.

References

  1. 1 2 "Billboard > Artists / Kim Mitchell > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 297. ISBN   0-7535-0257-7.
  3. "Kumbaya disc needs more odd couplings" [ permanent dead link ]. Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. By Peter Howell and Geoff Chapman Sep 2, 1995 Page: L.8
  4. "Kim Mitchell becomes DJ". CBC News. July 27, 2004. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  5. "Q107 Toronto | Shows". Q107.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. "2004 SOCAN Awards" Archived October 7, 2016, at the Wayback Machine . SOCAN website
  7. "Barenaked Ladies Are Me - Barenaked Ladies | Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  8. "Barenaked Ladies – Barenaked Ladies Are Me (2006, Digipak, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. "Kim Mitchell's back in his groove". Hamilton Spectator. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  10. "Rocker Kim Mitchell recovering after heart attack". Toronto Star . The Canadian Press. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  11. Nick Krewen, "Kim Mitchell says Songwriters Hall of Fame honour caught him by surprise". Toronto Star , July 21, 2021.
  12. "'Oktborderfest' concerts attracted large crowds to Point Edward".
  13. 1 2 Peak positions for Kim Mitchell's albums in Canada:
  14. 1 2 3 "Gold Platinum Database: Kim Mitchell". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  15. "Billboard > Artists / Kim Mitchell > Chart History > Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard . Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  16. Trailer Park Boys – Season 7 – "We Can't Call People Without Wings Angels – So We Call Them Friends"
  17. "Caress of Steel". Rush.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.