- The Lowest of the Low
The Lowest of the Low were a Canadian
alternative rock group in the early 1990s. Although they never broke through to the mainstream, they were one of the most influential bands on the Canadian alternative music scene.First incarnation
Formed by
Ron Hawkins ,Stephen Stanley and David Alexander, the band was originally known as Popular Front. The band's punk-inspiredjangle pop quickly became a popular draw on theQueen Street West club circuit inToronto .In 1991 they released their debut album, "
Shakespeare My Butt ", featuring songs they had already performed and toured for several years as Popular Front. Hawkins's songs were filled with lyrics aboutMarxism and theSpanish Civil War , but also contained many references to Toronto landmarks like the Don River,Bathurst Street , and his local pub, "The Only". The album was actively supported by Toronto radio station CFNY, and quickly made the band a popular name across southernOntario and westernNew York . The album became one of the best-selling independent releases in Canadian history (although it was eclipsed in the same year byBarenaked Ladies ' "Yellow Tape"), and was later named one of the ten greatest albums in Canadian music history by the music magazine "Chart".In 1993, the band signed a distribution deal with A&M Records, and released "Hallucigenia" in 1994. Unfortunately, the band was riven with tensions, and broke up later the same year.
Hawkins released a solo album, "
The Secret of My Excess ", in 1996, and then formedRon Hawkins and the Rusty Nails .Reunion
In 2000, The Lowest of the Low set aside their differences for a five-show reunion tour, which saw the band playing to sold-out venues in Toronto and
Buffalo, New York . In 2001, the live album "Nothing Short of a Bullet " was released. The album also featured a second disc with three new studio songs, including a cover of aBad Religion song."
Sordid Fiction ", the band's first new studio album since 1994, was released in 2004. Following the tour for that record, the band went on extended hiatus again.In November 2007 the band announced that they were breaking up for good. Their final Canadian show was
December 4 ,2007 at theHorseshoe Tavern in Toronto. The absolute final show wasDecember 8 , 2007 at Club Infinity inWilliamsville, New York . This concert was released by fans of the band as a DVD, incorporating several camcorder recordings of the show and a soundboard audio patch. The fan released DVD was entitled "Into the Black", and can be downloaded on Ron Hawkins web site."Rosy and Grey", from "
Shakespeare My Butt ", has been covered byWeddings Parties Anything . The band has also been cited as a major influence byThe Weakerthans .Members
*Ron Hawkins (vocals, guitar)
*Stephen Stanley (guitar, vocals)
*David Alexander (drums)
*Lawrence Nichols (keyboards, harmonica, vocals)
*Dylan Parker (bass)Past Members:
*John Arnott (bass)Discography
Albums
* "
Shakespeare My Butt " (1991)
* "Hallucigenia" (1994)
* "Nothing Short of a Bullet " (2001)
* "Sordid Fiction " (2004)ingles
* "City Full Of Cowards b/w Crying Like A Postcard, Bit" (1992)
* "Gamble b/w Night Of The Living Assholes" (1994)
* "Motel 30 b/w The Unbearable Lightness of Jean" (1994)
* "Kinda' The Lonely One [live] " (2001)ee also
*
List of bands from Canada External links
* [http://www.lowestofthelow.com The Lowest of the Low]
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