One of the most influential pop musicians to emerge from Britain is making a rare solo appearance at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre on March 4. Midge Ure, leader of the groundbreaking UK band Ultravox — and the man who co-founded Live 8 and Band Aid (and co-wrote "Don't They Know It's Christmas") — has been a successful solo artists since the mid-80s, but has continued his relationship with his former band. After working on live albums, the latest Ultravox record, and the updated version of “Do They Know it’s Christmas” in support of the 2014 Ebola outbreak relief efforts, he has also found time to present his newest studio album Fragile.

QUICK DETAILS
Who: Midge Ure, with special guests Blue Peter What: A rare Toronto appearance of the influential British pop star, Live Aid and Band Aid co-founder, one-time member of Thin Lizzy, and front man of Ultravox; Midge Ure's successful solo career has been ongoing since 1985.

Why: Because this is classic new wave music, and too few artists play it any more

When: Wednesday, March 4th — Doors 7:30 p.m Show 8:00 p.m.

Blue Peter's Chris Wardman and Jason Sniderman recently played some shows with Vancouver legend Art Bergmann.

[...“Dirge #1” sounded great thanks to his fantastic band which included producer/guitarist Chris Wardman and Blue Rodeo skin man Glenn Milchem.]

Full Article Here:
thescenemagazine.ca/art-bergmann-live-alive

Who: Art Bergmann
From: Vancouver, BC
Where: This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton ON
When: Thursday, October 23, 2014

Mike Bambrick, founding Blue Peter drummer in a shot that is actually both post and pre band. Mike and Chris Wardman had a teenage band that needed a bass player. Mike suggested Geoff McOuat.... and Geoff had this friend Paul Humphrey, and a name: Blue Peter.

But Chris, Paul and Geoff were still in school and Mike wanted to start playing professionally so he eventually left to play in punk bands like The Ugly and ZRO4, (shown here with Rick Joudrey's brother Dave, who was also a Viletone). Mike also played in The Sharks with Sherry Kean, David Baxter and future Blue Rodeo bass player Bazil Donovan. Then, in late 1979, he rejoined Blue Peter. So this vintage 70's pic is kind of an after-and-before photo.

Mike Bambrick in ZRO4.
L to R: Dave Joudrey, Zero, Mike Bambrick, Tony Brighton.

From Ben Rayner's Art Bergmann interview:
Bergmann plays the Great Hall on Friday night with an all-star band that includes Blue Rodeo’s Glenn Milchem, ex-Blue Peter members Chris Wardman and Jason Sniderman, and bassist John Dinsmore.

Also playing This Ain't Hollywood on Thursday Oct 23 and Wakefield QUE on Saturday Oct 25. C'mon out.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2014/10/22/art_bergmann_still...

By: Ben Rayner
Pop Music Critic, Published on Wed Oct 22 2014

Artist: Blue Peter
Track: "Don't Walk Past"
Year: 1983

Highlights: Multiple martinis, a typewriter (what is that again?), a checkerboard floor, artsy lighting, mysterious authorities, David Byrne-like dancing.

Did you know? The video was once number 85 on a MuchMusic list of top videos of the century.

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It's all back: the synths, the skinny jeans, the studded jackets and, of course, the hair — and along with it, an ever-growing new wave of new wave bands.

7. Blue Peter
"At the forefront of the movement — their 'Chinese Graffiti,' 'Radio Silence' and 'Don't Walk Past' are a trifecta of new wave gems."

http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2014/8/Jian-Ghomeshi-counts-down-11-favourit...

Nash the Slash, the Toronto experimental musician born Jeff Plewman, whose projects included the progressive rock band FM, has died at age 66.

Full Story

Plewman, who frequently performed wrapped in surgical bandages with a top hat and sunglasses, posted the following message in 2012 to announce his retirement:
(Excerpt:) Thank you to David Marsden and CFNY-FM for being the only Canadian radio to play my music (as well as the records of a multitude of rising independent Toronto bands like Drastic Measures, The Diodes, The Curse, Blue Peter and Teenage Head).

Release Date: March 25, 2014
Label: Universal Music Canada

Buy it on iTunes Canada:
itunes.apple.com/ca/album/icon-best-of-canada-the-1980s/id840475174

After punk exploded in the late ’70s, this infamous Gerrard Street new-wave mecca kept the fire burning into the ’80s—even if its many famous performers were in danger of getting doused by the overflowing upstairs toilets leaking onto the stage.

[We nurtured a lot of local groups who got signed from playing regularly at The Edge and from being promoted the same ways we would promote The Police or whoever,” says Topp.
He namechecks more than a dozen Toronto acts of the time, including The Mods, Drastic Measures, The Sharks, The Curse, Spoons, Battered Wives, The Demics, The Dishes, Johnny and the G-Rays, Blue Peter, and The B-Girls.]

http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/then-now-the-edge/