Album Notes

Vern Michaels - Lead Vocals, lead guitar, harmonica

HISTORY

....Vern Michaels began touring with "cover bands" in the late 80's. It was in this grueling age of playing 6 nights a week all over western Canada that he honed his guitar playing and began exploring his craft as a songwriter. Several bands fell by the wayside before he co founded Edmonton's Blackwater Jack in 1990. Blackwater Jack were a huge draw in Cabaret and clubs in Alberta with a repertoire of classic southern rock covers complimented by their own original material. However, even a growing fan base and constant sold out shows couldn't keep it together and the band split in late 1994 with one EP under their belt. ("we lived like we were rock stars already...the decadence, drugs etc...Motley Crue without the fame and money...it couldn't last"...VM)

"....VERN'S VIEW...."

".....After BWJ split I knocked around the Edmonton music scene for a year and did mostly nothing. A couple of gigs here and there with others. Then I moved with my wife and daughter in '95 to rural Saskatchewan and essentially gave up music altogether for about 2 years until... like unfinished business, I realized I still needed to play. I began writing again without any real direction and around '97 I began playing with some locals and took on the job of frontman/lead singer as well. We did a handful of low key gigs as "Dillinger". By '01 I was hooked up with a Saskatoon band called "Rock Show Radio" that lasted about a year. We did our last gig in Aug '02 and by Oct of '02 I had formed the first of the VMB with former RSR drummer Todd Ehman and bassist Rob Ehman. This lineup took us through 2004 when Todd left the band. Rob was to follow in late '05. Since then the lineup has evolved a few more times featuring most notably Saskatoon's Shane Dion on drums. Bass guitar duties in 2011 are shared by Vern Nixon and Brian Kelly. Both are renowned Saskatchewan fill in/session players who also have their own bands so you can see why they have no permanent home with the VMB. Busy fellas! "

Recordings....
.....We recorded our first CD in 2007. An EP called "black 'n' white". With Eric Jonasson on drums, (BWJ alumnist) Don Jorgensen on keyboards, and Jody Johnson on Bass, it was recorded hastily between shows in Prince Albert Sk. It was Followed by 2009's "midnight and moonshine" which was done a little live and in my personal home studio.
Epilogue.....
....Shane and I worked much more closely on the new album between his "soggy bottom studios" and my "Blind Dog Studios". The band is better than ever. We still play largely country/rock covers and mix in a few of our own material. I'm happy to say the new material is being received well everywhere. The VMB party lives on. Life is good!!