GrimSkunk

Infobox Musical artist
Name = GrimSkunk

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Img_capt = GrimSkunk (2006)
Img_size = 350px
Landscape =
Years_active = 1988--present
Label = Indica Records
Associated_acts =
Influences =punk, rock, progressive and world music
URL =
Current_members = Franz, Joe Evil, Alain Vadboncoeur, Vincent Peake, Peter Edwards
Past_members = Marc Saint-Maurice (1988-1999), Todd Wircham (1999 - 2004)
Notable_instruments =

GrimSkunk is a rock band from Montreal, Quebec with punk, rock, progressive and world music influences. It was formed in 1988 from the ashes of hard-core band Fatal Illness.They are regarded as being part of the foundation of the Quebec "alternative" scene, having influenced many young musicians and bands.

History

GrimSkunk played their first show in April, 1989. Their first demo, Autumn Flowers, was released two years later, in April, 1991. After releasing three more albums, they founded an independent Montreal-based record label, Indica Records, in 1997.

The band, along with Groovy Aardvark, were among the first "alternative" bands to tour Quebec, thus creating a market for this genre.

In 1997, longtime manager (and friend of the band), Simon Gallipeault, was killed in a "hit-and-run" longboard accident involving a car. The investigation was unsuccessful, as the driver fled the scene without helping Gallipeault. The band is now self managed with Franz Schuller as the main "mouthpiece". The 1998 album, Field Trip, is dedicated to their lost manager and his voice is sampled before the track 'Live for today'.

The band's bassist, Marc "Boris" Saint-Maurice left in 1999 to become a full-time politician and activist in the marijuana legalizing movement in Quebec and Canada. Todd Wircham replaced Saint-Maurice for a few years. He has since been replaced by Vince Peake, former singer and bass player of the now defunct Quebec band Groovy Aardvark.

The band went on a short hiatus in 2000 after singer Joe Evil suffered serious burns from a fire in his apartment.

In 2002 the band released what is perceived as its most commercial album to date, Seventh Wave. The album was panned by fans after a reviewer for local paper 'Le Journal de Montreal', frustrated with the band trying to go in a new direction, wrote a critic seen as "unwarranted, childish and subjective". He wrote that the band had "sold its soul to the devil", which caused turmoil among fans. Some of them subsequently refused to buy the album, and accused the band of selling out.

In 2002, they performed their first and only unplugged show in Saint-Roch Church in Quebec City.

In 2006 they released 'Fires under the road' which marks a return to what fans call the "classic" GrimSkunk sound and is said by many fans to be their best album yet.

GrimSkunk is known to integrate many languages in their songs, such as French, English, Spanish, Greek and Arabic. They have also integrated many styles of music, including Punk, classic rock, metal, reggae, rap and world music among others.

Members

* Franz - Rhythm guitar, vocals
* Joe Evil - Keyboard, vocals
* Alain "Ulf" or "VdaBC" Vadboncoeur - Drums, vocals, percussions
* Vincent Peake - Bass
* Peter Edwards - lead guitar
* Marc "Boris" Saint-Maurice - Bass (1988-1999)
* Todd Wircham - Bass (1999 - 2004)

Discography

* "Autumn Flowers Demo" (GrimSkunk Productions) 1991
* "Exotic Blend E.P." (GrimSkunk Productions) 1992
* "Rooftop Killer 7" (GrimSkunk Productions, L'Oblique, en Guard Records) 1993
* "GrimSkunk" (Indica Records) 1994
* "Meltdown" (Indica Records) 1995
* "Autumn Flowers" - Rerolled (Indica Records) 1997
* "Fieldtrip" (Indica Records) 1998
* "EP 2000" (Indica Records) 2001
* "GrimSkunk Plays... Fatal Illness" (Indica Records), 2001
* "Seventh Wave" (Indica Records) (2002)
* "Live + DVD unplugged" (Indica Records), 2003
* "Fires Under The Road" (Indica Records), 2006

External links

* [http://www.grimskunk.com/ GrimSkunk's official web site]