Wednesday, February 22, 2006





One of the great but mostly unsung bands of the 90s in Canada may have been Vancouver's The Blue Shadows. When I was hired to photograph them I knew three of them. Jeffrey Hatcher, Elmar Spanier and J.B. Johnson. I knew Hatcher through his connection with the Odds. Spanier and Johnson had been members of my favourite 80s pop band Maurice and the Cliches (Goodbye Mr Bond!).Taking photographs of he Blue Shadows gave me the opportunity of meeting the legendary Billy Cowsill. I instantly liked him and I will never forget his speaking voice similar to my alto saxophone playing friend Gavin Walker. In recent years I have run into J (pronounced Jay) a lot and I have marvelled at his intricate mechanical devices which he exhibits in such Vancouver galleries as Monte Clark.