 Visit Jimi at popstar.com and win a Pop Romantico
poster signed by the artist. Hundreds of celebrities. Write a
fan letter to your favorite popstar. A recommended sight. Just
have fun... |
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Watch AC webshorts
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DAVID MARSDEN
- ONE ON ONE ON RADIO
- My fascination with pop culture has always been entertained
by the very special individuals I had the pleasure of meeting
over the years. Of course, it helps if you, yourself, have some
of these qualities as well. Growing up in the 60's in Toronto,
Canada, I found that the choices for convincing entertainment
were still an import product. Then one day I turned on the TV
to see this lanky, good-looking, young man with an Everly Bro's
haircut. The show was called Mickey A Go Go, and for the first
time, I was watching a local show that appeared as American as
apple pie. (From Ciao Magazine) |
 By
JIM SLOTEK
Toronto Sun - Recently, while lined up at The Sun cafeteria,
I found myself next to Shawn O'Shea of our business office --
the best-preserved grandfather you'll ever meet and a bit of
an old hipster. I admitted to him that in a sentimental moment,
I'd downloaded the '70s radio hit Gypsy from his old band Abraham's
Children, and offered to buy him a coffee in lieu of royalties.He
demurred, good-naturedly, offering the opinion that the song's
been out of print for a long time and it should pretty much be
public domain at this point. I got the feeling he felt it was
just nice to be remembered. (Send
us your feedback and don't forget to add a photo) |
 Shawn O'Shea - Surfin The Beat - So I
sit down to check my email and decide to slip Serfin The Beat
by ex Abies Babies guitarist Shawn O'Shea in my drive.. His first
solo cd since who knows when. Mr. O'Shea's songs are structured
like Legos, each block fits nicely into the next. ...(read
more) |
 AC..
trains boats and planes. Each town or city blended into each
other...where are we? |
 Director,
musician Peter Foldy and Shawn having a gay ole time aboard some
chartered boat in Halifax, NS. Peter was supporting his hit,
Bondi Junction and opened for AC during a tour of many cities
in Eastern Canada. |
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Toronto Canada: Shawn O'shea - First came to the attention of AC
when Jimi suggested that a second guitar be added to the group,
The material was taking a more heavier sound and the addition
of another guitar would enhance the super pop group. After many
auditions with characters that were hungry to join a happening
goupo de musica, Shawn was introduced to us. Mr. O'Shea added
a complimentary addition to the new AC sound. The band would
rehearse for a month straight preparing for the "Lock Up
Your Daughters Tour" that would see the band doing 45 dates
in Canada and the US. A veteran of the Canadian music scene,
Shawn O'Shea has performed from coast to coast (including the
Arctic) in clubs, colleges and stadiums. He has shared the stage
with such Canadian acts as Kim Mitchell, Teenage Head, A Foot
in Cold Water and Moxy as well as international artists like
Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper and Taj Mahal. His creative band Fat
Mouth had a very heavy cult like following. The group was known
for its raw and loud power live. Fat Mouth included Gerry Fielding
drummer ala tight which continues to work and produce
with Shawn. In 2001, Shawn released his first solo CD 'Serfin'
The Beat' containing 10 original tracks of the riff-rock he's
well known for (read review) .
Shawn's second CD (working title 'Rebel Station') featuring 11
new songs is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008.
Shawn produced the first CD (2000's 'Bay Ridges Blues') for Toronto
bluesman Jimmy Fraser, and completed Fraser's second CD ('The
Circus Goes On') in the fall of '07. He also handled the production
duties for Canadian lounge-country artist Angus McHardy's 2002
CD 'Stolen  Memories'. The spring
of 2008 found him producing new Toronto singer/songwriter Laurie
Harvey. Shawn's other credits include his 18-song, pop musical
'Crazy Nights' (completed in 2007) and his science-fiction novel,
Sister Snow. A sequel to 'Sister Snow' is on the drawing board,
but no completion date is currently set. (courtesy of www.shawnoshea.com)
Toronto Centre For The Arts 09
- Photo By George Onuska |
 By day,
they're mild-mannered reporters. But tomorrow night, they don
their Guitar Hero capes and do their rock 'n' roll duty at the
Opera House at Newzapalooza V -- The Battle of the Media Bands.
Bands from the Sun, the Star, the Globe, Canadian Press and Reuters,
plus Back-draft, a special guest band from the Toronto Fire Depart-ment,
will perform for fun, and fundraise on behalf of the Children's
Aid Foundation. Acerbic Trevor Boris, of MuchMusic's Video On
Trial, hosts the event, with judges Farley Flex of Canadian Idol,
This Hour Has 22 Minutes' Geri Hall and Yuk Yuk's boss Mark Breslin.
The Sun's outfit, The Screaming Headlines, features movie critic/vocalist
Jim Slotek (who will harshly critique his own performance), Jim's
son Michael Slotek on rhythm guitar, Queen's Park correspondent
Jonathan Jenkins on drums, Sun alumnus Ian Harvey on bass, and
the Sun's own veteran rocker Shawn O'Shea (ex of legendary Cancon
band Abraham's Children) on lead. |
 Hello Shawn I really enjoyed your concert. Besides
all the songs I was familiar with , your new stuff rocked. The
band has gotten much heavier over the years/ I'm glad that Moncton
was able to see such a great band like AC. Love Janet NB (read more feedback) |
 Hello Shawn not sure that you will remember
me but I was the girl with the poster and album you signed. I
just wanted to say thanks a lot for signing everything for me.
You guys were amazing. I have never seen so many fans outside
your hotel room. Anyway thanks. Amber S.- Vancouver BC (talk2us) |
 The Killing Road -
WE had a philosophy on the road: You can spend the night, but
don't use my toothbrush in the morning. How preposterously arrogant.
But as much as some don't like to admit, rock n roll is a cavalier
art. From the first day I picked up a guitar, I felt my confidence
was enhanced drastically, and in the process the recognition
of my talents exuded. I remember the first gig I performed at
was a dance at a boys and girls club. After we finished our set,
I was swarmed by pretty girls wanting my sole attention. That
was the beginning. My instrument became my addiction. Endless
hours were spent honing my craft, in the basement of my parents'
home. I would sometimes feign illness so that I could stay home
from school to play my guitar. My feelings of proliferation....(read more) |
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I
was surfing the web and thought I would google Abraham's Children.
I was so surprised to see so many links. I hope this finds it's
way to Shawn. Remember the girl with the funny hat..ha ha Halifax,
NS (talk2us) |
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 New video now up. AC live @ the
Toronto Centre for the Arts. Wishing On A Star |
 CHELSEA LONDON Alan Caddy - It was in the early part
of 1972 that I first met Alan. I recall he was a slender man,
that stood about 6' tall, with a very heavy British accent. He
was introduced to us by Gary Salter, then president of Avenue
Of America record label. Upon my initial encounter with Alan
we hit it off and I could see that I would like this man. Gary
had mentioned that he would probably be producing our album which
we were ready to start. This would be the follow-up to our first
commercial hit single, "Goodbye Farewell". Before I
get into the session, let me give you a bit of history on Mr.
Caddy. He was born in Chelsea, London, was classically trained,
and served as a soprano in Westminster Abbey. He studied violin
and was the leader of the orchestra at his school in Battersea.
Alan joined a skiffle group called the Five Nutters as a guitarist.
In 1958 he would join Johnny Kid and The Pirates and was regarded
as real rock n roller musician. He made his first TV debut with
that band on ITV's Disc Break in 1959 with their song "Please
Don't Touch", a moderate hit that established the group.
In 1960 the Pirates would come out with "Shakin All Over"
that would comfirm them as a staple pop band of the time. The
song would knock Cliff Richard from the top of the charts. After
about a year the band would begin to fade and soon decided to
pack it in. Alan would go on to form The Tornados. The band's
hit "Telstar" would stay on the British charts for
over 25 weeks with 5 of those at number one. It was released
in the US and Canada on the London label and would be the first
British record to reach number one on the Billboard Charts. The
Tornados would continue to release records but none of them could
achieve the success of "Telstar". By 1964 the group
was going through changes and Alan was well-placed to make a
living as a session musician, and even become a star in his own
right. In the early 70s he moved to Canada and started  producing
cover albums for Avenue of America. Ok... back to AC. We began
recording the TIME album and the idea of having a British producer
was exciting and at times elevating from the standards that Canadian
bands were used to. His arrangements were magical. I would spend
many hours even after the sessions just watching and listening
too him work. Over the next couple of months we became really
good friends and shared many private moments together. When the
album was completed he came up to me and said, "I really
enjoyed working with you and I believe you are going to be a
star". I was wowed and thanked him for a incredible experience.
We would go on to begin a second album that would never see vinyl
heaven, but my memories of Alan are as vivid as if it were yesterday.
I was very sad when I heard of his passing in 2000. He will be
missed but can always be heard on "Gypsy", "Thank
You" and the rest of TIME |
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FAT MOUTH Shawn,
Gerry Fielding, Vince Moffat |
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