BIG JOHN BATES was formed in 2011 by long-time Gretsch player John Bates and Montana's Brandy Bones on Hofner upright bass and cello. Bates (“one of Vancouver’s most notorious musicians” - Toronto’s Globe & Mail) does contribute vocals but Bones sings lead with her “soulful screams" (What's Up Magazine) and "eerily whispery vocals" (Music Examiner - Toronto). As co-writers they combine western Americana with dark post-rock to create a sound they alternately call Americana Noir and Rustic Punk that shares stylistic elements with 16 Horsepower, Godspeed, You Black Emperor and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.. In 2012 JT Massacre re-joined the band as percussionist after a 2-year absence. They have been known to tour with multi-instrumentalists including keyboards, tuba, steel guitar and cello.
The 2012 albums were both mixed and mastered by producer Robert Ferbrache (Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Woven Hand). The "Headless Fowl" (EP) on Alternative Tentacles was supported by a 2012 tour with Murder By Death (band) while "Battered Bones" (LP) on Rookie Records was supported by a headling tour through eight countries in North American and the EU. All Big John Bates recordings have been included in Library and Archives Canada "dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible."
BIG JOHN BATES & THE VOODOO DOLLZ (2001 - 2010)
Influenced by the Cramps and the new burlesque revolution, the Voodoo Dollz was formed by guitarist John Bates in 2001. Bates was the first artist to bring burlesque performers on tour throughout Europe and North America (2002) (Dynamite Magazine).
The band included upright bassist sCare-oline although each of their four albums and live DVD had a different drummer as described by articles in Bizarre Magazine (2005), Tattoo Life Magazine (2010), on Europe's VH1 and on national television in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The final DVD, Clockwork Blues, featured Brandy Bones and JT Massacre and included both upcoming BJB songs and one un-released track. Documentaries in North America on the A&E Network and Discovery Network have interviewed John about the influences of both film-makers such as Russ Meyer and authors Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane on the lyrical content and neo-burlesque styles. Bates' version of "Tainted Love" from their Mystiki album (2003) was also selected for the soundtrack of the French film ""Un singe sur le clos".
Before shutting down in 2010 the group had played well over 1000 shows in 17 countries. Highlights included headlining to 10,000 at Germany's Stemwede festival; being banned by Mandalay Bay due to an overly risque performance; playing a Federal prison in Belgium; sharing the bill with the Fuzztones at the first Stag-o-lee Festival; supporting the Blasters at Raalte in Holland and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the Ink & Iron Festival in Long Beach; playing a mountaintop in Italy with Andre Williams. They also broke into outer space on Battlestar Galactica (Season 3, Episode 14 – The Pleasure Planet).
ANNIHILATOR / BATES MOTEL (1985-1998)
John Bates was the original singer and a founding member of the highest selling heavy metal band from Canada, Annihilator, formed in Ottawa, ON with Jeff Waters. Waters has stated in interviews that the band would likely not have formed without Bates' involvement. Beginning with 1989's Alison Hell on Roadrunner Records and continuing until 1997's Remains, John & Jeff co-wrote of many of Annihilator's most well-known songs (Alison Hell, Human Insecticide, WTYD, I Am In Command, King of The Kill). John left with bassist Dave Scott to form the short-lived Ligeia after which John founded Bates Motel (vocals/guitar). Bates Motel released four cassette-EPs then re-located from Ottawa to Vancouver in 1992. They recorded one FACTOR-funded album (Tales of Ordinary Madness - Tomcat Records 1996) recorded at Watersound Studios and produced by Jeff Waters. A second album was scrapped except four songs released as Big John Bates - Vibro-Psychotic in 1999.
Read more about Big John Bates: Featured Performers, Discography
Famous quotes containing the words big, john and/or bates:
“the small town big shot who, although very short,
who although with a cigarette-stained mustache,
who although famous for lobster on the rocks,
left me here, nubkin, sucking in my vodka
and emphysema cigarettes, unable to walk
your walks, unable to write your writes.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“People named John and Mary never divorce. For better or for worse, in madness and in saneness, they seem bound together for eternity by their rudimentary nomenclature. They may loathe and despise one another, quarrel, weep, and commit mayhem, but they are not free to divorce. Tom, Dick, and Harry can go to Reno on a whim, but nothing short of death can separate John and Mary.”
—John Cheever (1912–1982)
“A boy’s best friend is his mother.”
—Joseph Stefano, U.S. screenwriter, and Alfred Hitchcock. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins)