Sheep Look Up

Sheep Look Up was a Canadian post-punk band, based in London, Ontario. Active from 1982 until 1988 their original line-up consisted of Matt Owen (vocals), Brian Bogue (guitar), Greg Moore (drums), Mark Deroux (bass) and John Francom (piano, saxophone).

In early 1983 the guitarist was replaced by Gilbert Smith and the vocalist began using the stage name Will Power. This is the line-up by which the band became known. From 1983 until 1986 Lisa Patterson guested on saxophone and keyboards.

In 1983 their first release was a 4 song cassette Entropic Concern. The tracks ("Burning", "Civil Disobedience", "Jumper" and "Wordless One") received airplay on college radio stations. The original tape featured Brian Bogue but was later dubbed to reflect Gilbert Smith's somewhat different sound.They were also featured on the seminal alternative compilation "Domestic Animals" released by Peter Moore. It was compiled from his huge collection of Live Binaural of the local music scene and a variety of other recordings made from 1979 - 1983.

In 1984 they were included on the equally seminal "Animals Fight Back" (A Christape) a compilation also made from a variety of recordings between 1977 - 1984.

In 1985 they were nominated for a "U-Know" award for Best Non-Recording Artist.

In 1986 "Like A Rat" was included on the vinyl LP London Underground, a compilation released by CHRW.

In 1986 the vinyl EP Sheep Look Up was released. The record consisted of four songs: "Rapture", "Falasha", "Big Heart" and "Spaghetti Western" and got a good deal of local airplay. The EP also charted #1 on numerous College stations across Canada. As well as charting in far flung places like Milan Italy and Bath England. The band toured "Across the left half of Canada" in the spring and fall of 87 to promote the EP.

The band spent the spring and fall of 1988 doing a variety of showcases for major labels and a number of North American, Canadian and European subsidiaries.

In 1988 a rough mix of their soon to come full length LP circulated as a demo tape. It featured 4 songs recorded and produced with Chris Wardman; "No Good Men", "Propaganda Train", "Girl Song A" and "Final Days". A final version of the LP was never released due to lack of funds and eventual dissolution of the band.

Three videos were made. "Like a Rat" was from a Halloween performance at the Forest City Gallery in London Ontario, "Iskra" was an experimental video shot during a live performance at the Rivoli in Toronto, Ontario and "Spaghetti Western" was made from a variety of found footage, live performance and candid videography compiled while on tour in 86/87. All three videos aired on Much Music.

Over the course of their career they opened for a number of big acts including The Fall, The Stranglers, Marianne Faithful, Gene Loves Gezebel, Shriekback, and numerous others. They also did a short US tour supporting John Cale in the winter of 86 and supported Love and Rockets across Canada in the spring of 87.

The band's name derives from the John Brunner novel The Sheep Look Up. Note however that the band drops "The" from the title.

Their music is available for free download from the [http://chrwradio.com/lma/ London Music Archives] as well as from myspace.com/sheeplookup

Videos of the "second line-up" while opening for Howard Devoto can be seen at www.youtube.com/user/LiveAtFrys [http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveAtFrys] .

Sources: [http://londonpunkrock.kicks-ass.org/scarchives/theartgallery/art_gallery.htm Ground Zero] and [http://chrwradio.com/lma/ London Music Archives] .