Bouchard’s Outrageous Canadians Featuring ALBERT BOUCHARD!!!!

Howdy Folks…
I speak about BLUE OYSTER CULT a lot.  I think that part of me loves living in the past because times back then were exciting for me.  I was open to all sorts of music, and the bands that played an impact on me really created who I am today as a person.  As much as I have always loved various styles of Rock N Roll, I have always been a fan of creative induced Rock N Roll.  No other band really captained this genre better then BLUE OYSTER CULT.
I was in grade 7 when I first heard of Blue Oyster Cult.  I was an alter boy for Holy Cross Church in Oshawa, and another alter boy turned me on them.  His older brother was quite the music guru and learning about BOC made things a lot more exciting for me musically.  During those years, Godzilla was becoming an FM radio hit, and Don’t Fear The Reaper had already left its print on the masses. 
The more obsessive I became with BOC, the more I became aware of credits.  The more I studied the credits, the more I saw the name ALBERT BOUCHARD.  Personally speaking, Albert Bouchard was the brains that made the BOC body function.  His imagination, his melodies, and music made BOC artistically rich.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to host a BRAIN SURGEONS show. The BS were a band that included Albert Bouchard.  Being a Dictators fan, I was elated to see that Ross The Boss was playing with the Surgeons.  I was super excited to host this show.  In the back of my mind, I knew that Albert Bouchard from BOC was coming into the venue that I managed.  The closer it was to the date, the more I became aware of how much I really missed those golden years with Bouchard in BOC.  1972 - 1982 was a remarkable decade for BOC.  These composers sang everything from Dominance and Submission to Joan Crawford rising from the grave.  Needless to say, that once the Brain Surgeons finished their show, I chatted with Albert Bouchard till the early hours. 
Meeting Albert Bouchard left a very spectacular impression on me.  It was like meeting Bobby Orr when I was a kid.  I was star struck.  I remembered the live BOC shows that I went to see.  I remembered buying the records as a kid, and I remember re-buying the records on CD. 
Just recently, I contacted Albert Bouchard to come up for a visit.  We spoke about presenting a workshop as well as performing live.  Instead of having Albert sit in with a bar band doing the bar circuit set list, we decided to form a band that would allow Albert the opportunity to play a bunch of songs that we so dearly miss. 

I assembled a band of Hamilton musicians that would be dish out the BOC dynamics.  We needed a name.  Sir Bouchard wanted the word “Canadian” in the name, so keeping with the BOC acronym, we decided upon BOUCHARD’S OUTRAGEOUS CANADIANS.  The band includes…
Strat Andriotis - guitars
Sean Royle - guitars
Dave Elley - Bass
Lisa Winn - Vocals
Buckshot Bebee - Vocals
Greg Brisco - keyboards
Ginger St. James - vocals
Eric Herrmann - percussions and vocals
And finally….ALBERT BOUCHARD.
The debut of the OUTRAGEOUS CANADIANS takes place on Friday April 25th at the Bovine in Toronto, and Saturday April 26th at Club Absinthe in Hamilton.
Folks….enjoy this interview with Albert Bouchard.
I would like to dedicate this piece to Rob Sweeney (Durango 95, Purple Toads, Dominators, Boneyard Devils, Get Ready To Rumble, Crummy stuff).  His patience in teaching me about cool Rock N Roll has payed off.  After all, we are hosting an Albert Bouchard week. 
Does it get any better?

Blue Oyster Cult is an American musical institution.  Looking back at the band's infancy, it must have been somewhat interesting to see where the band would eventually land.  Both Buck Dharma and yourself started out in a band called Soft White Underbelly.  The band seemed to be soaked with lots of psychedelic sounds.  Who was Soft White Underbelly?

Soft White Underbelly was a band started by Sandy Pearlman in the summer of 1967. It had a shifting line up until the band got a record deal with Elektra in 1968. Previous to that there were a lot of musicians who came and went. Some of the singers were Steve Noonan, Jackson Browne, Jeff Richards, Richard Meltzer and finally Les Braunstein. Guitarists were John Wiesnthal (Jackson Browne's teacher) Jackson Browne, Allen Lanier, Jeff Latham, Steve Noonan and Don Roeser, We had a cello player named Mike Witzel and Sandy Pearlman played harmonica. I played drums and Andrew Winters played bass and acoustic guitar.

How much touring did the SWU do.  Were there any magical shows that stood out for you?

There were no tours as I can recall. We did mostly one off gigs or multi-night stands around New York City.

What bands or artists inspired SWU to begin its own creative music?

We were inspired mainly by the blues guys, Muddy Waters, BB King and the rock guys Chuck Berry and also the Beach Boys, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Coasters. A band that influenced both Buck Dharma and myself were the Blues Project. The band as a whole was also influenced by Cream and the Grateful Dead.

I have heard various stories about SWU releases.  Could you be kind enough to set the record straight on this?

There has never been an official SWUB release. We cut several demos for Elektra and others and recorded basic tracks for an album but when Les Braunstein left the band the album was shelved.

You eventually started the Stalk Forest Group.  Many of us know this as the original BOC.  Who was in the original line up of the Stalk Forest Group?

Stalk Forrest was the same as BOC with the exception of Joe Bouchard on bass instead of Andy Winters. The material was more like SWUB however.

You were obviously a fan of many literary works.  How did you meet Sandy Pearlman and Richard Meltzer?  Was this during the SFG era?

Pearlman was a friend of Don Roeser on Long Island and Meltzer was his friend.

I would have loved to be in the room while Meltzer, Pearlman and yourself were working on music.  Describe the songwriting compatibility with the 3 of you?

We never were all in a room together working on songs. I would work on songs with Pearlman but Meltzer just gave me lyrics and said to do whatever I wanted with them. He didn't contribute anything to the music part of the song. OTOH his songs were easier to make music to because they rhymed more consistently and had an easily identifiable rhythm.

Oh, and other question about The Stalk Forest Group. Did Les Sing in the SFG?

No we changed the name from SWUB because at our Fillmore debut with Eric we were so bad we had to change our name.

At that time, what was Eric Bloom doing musically?  Was he part of a band ?

Eric took over from Les when we became SFG. Before that he was our road crew.

I read that there was another band before BOC called Oaxaca?

WE called ourselves that before we decided on SFG

Did you visit the Mexican state?

I've never been there but hope to someday.

Is it true that Sandy's dad owned a pharmacy?  I get this humourous image of the boys in the band hanging out at the Pharmacy, but not really sitting in the Sods fountain section of the store!...

He did own a Pharmacy in Smithtown Long Island but we did not get our drugs there.

Eventually, Joe, Eric, Donald, Allen and yourself became Blue Oyster Cult.  I read somewhere that the name was inspired by Sandy Pearlman.  How did he come up with the name?

The name was the title of a song Sandy wrote for the song cycle called Imaginos.

How did BOC land the deal with Columbia?  Was Columbia Records also working with Soft White Underbelly?

Soft White Underbelly and SFG both auditioned for Columbia and were turned down before we auditioned once again before the big cheese, Clive Davis. He decided to sign us.

Your first album was mixed with heavy rock songs as well as psychedelic flavoured songs like `` Scream`` and "She's As Beautiful As A Foot".  Personally, I thought that it was a great ensemble of songs.  Who was BOC inspired by musically at that time?

We had made a conscious decision to do our take on Black Sabbath and we were really enjoying the first King Crimson album but by the time we made the record we were having the idea that we had a pretty unique sound and really were trying to get away from any obvious imitations.

BOC has always been able to build great melodies within these diverse musical styles.  That's a hard thing to do, Mr. Bouchard!  However you seem to create these melodies consistently.  How important is that aspect of songwriting?

All music, even instrumentals, comes from singing. The human voice is our original instrument. I just try to find something that is singable and sounds different. I can spend years on a song.

The song I'M ON THE LAMB, BUT I AIN'T NO SHEEP had the same lyrics as THE RED AND THE BLACK.  Had you considered continuing the trend?  It may have been interesting having one song on each release with these particular lyrics attached to a different melody.

It has almost the same melody as well. It's a funny idea that I might do again. Some of the Ünderbelly folks want to do that on our record we've been working on.

How were you introduced to Lenny Kaye?  How did you meet Patti Smith?

I met Lenny with Patti. Sandy Pealman introduced us to Patti. He wanted her to be our lead singer but the rest of the band didn't want a girl.

During the time of your first recording, as a music fan, who were you watching and listening to?

I've always been a jazzer, Coltraine, Byrd, Count, Duke and Armstrong. I was digging everything that was on the radio as well. It was the early years of progressive FM radio so there was a lot of cool stuff around. Enough lists…

Many may not know that you wrote the bulk of the the BOC songs 72 - 82.  Did you approach the song with lyrics first or did a song start from strumming a guitar?

Most of the time, I started with the lyrics. I would record little guitar and piano riffs on my riff tapes but these were not anything but little bits. Sometimes I would match a riff I had with a lyric I had but the songs usually did not come together until I had a lyric.

So, you must be a milk lover if you make reference to a Guernsey cow...

Cow was one of the original names for SWUB.

1972 - 1982 Personally, this is a pretty impressive decade.  Most of my favourite bands live in those 10 years.  Everything from BOC, The Dictators, Mott The Hoople, NY Dolls, Sparks, DMZ, all the way to Chesterfield Kings first record.  You must have been aware of the magic happening everywhere. Care to share any specific times that stand out?

First Patti Smith gig was memorable, just her and Lenny and it was amazing. The most amazing stuff for me was before that. Seeing Jimmi in a little club, the Who, Santana and Sly and the Family Stone at the Fillmore, Cream, Grateful Dead, Blues Project and Muddy Water at Cafe Au Go Go.

Songs like WHAT IS QUICKSAND remind me of Quicksilver Messenger Service or the Dead.  Were you listening to both bands during SWU.

Yes.

BOC took the Dictators under their wings early on during their career.  How did you enjoy working with those young Dictators?

I thought they were great and hysterically funny.

You must have or had a pretty impressive record collection.  Am I correct to presume?

I don't have many records anymore but I have a 30 gig iPod that is cram packed.

The music industry changes often and quickly.  A few weeks ago I read a story online that indicated that vinyl is the only musical format that continues to increase in sales, more so than CDs.  What's your take on that?

Really? Wow!

So, I have to ask you about the term Diz-Busters.  Is it true that this refers to someone or something that makes one ejaculate.  If this is true......SEVEN?  Wow!

No. It's someone who alters the penis in not a good way. Very bad.

Did you know that a very super cool band from Sweden called The Nomads had a side project called the Screaming Diz-Busters?

I'd love to hear them.

Jazz creeps into the BOC music a lot.  Did any of BOC study Jazz in school?

The only one who studied it was Joe. The rest of us just picked it up but Don Roeser Sr. is an excellent jazz sax player.

One of my favourite live albums of all time is ON YOUR FEET ON YOUR KNEES.   Its the perfect description of a live Rock N Roll band.  Oddly enough within the first 10 years of BOC, you released 3 live records.  I really liked Some Enchanted Evening, and there were a few great moments in Extra Terrestial Live.  Were you a fan of live records in general?

Actually I wasn't in general but for BOC those records are my favorites.

Who was the Animals fan in the band?

How can you not like the Animals? I just did a tour with them in France (2 originals) and they're still awesome.

BOC had some pretty impressive tours.  You shared the stage with all sorts.  Rush, Black Sabbath, UFO, Be Bop DeLuxe, Utopia, The Dictators, early ACDC.  Is it true that you also played with Mott The Hoople, Iggy, NY Dolls, and even T-Rex?

Yes and a huge list more. Sorry Lou.

I think that it is safe to say that AGENTS OF FORTUNE increased the popularity of BOC.  Once the popularity stepped in, did the job of being a musician also change?

Many things changed. Lifestyles, workload, record company pressure, inter-band jealousy, outside-band jealousy, expectations, disappointments, temptations, drugs. It's not hard to loose your way.

How does popularity change creativity?

You can say you're not distracted but it's easier said than done.

Subjectively speaking, some of the coolest bands and acts name drop BOC as inspirations.  Here are only a few...  Radio Birdman, The Dictators, The Nomads, Julien Cope.  This is quite remarkable!

In the mid 80's BOC actually changed their name to Soft White Underbelly for a short while.  What was the idea behind the resurrection of the name?

We wanted to play some gigs in small venues before or after we did the big show in the same town so it was a way to do that and not freak the promoters of the big show out.

The character IMAGINOS and the concept is still so current, especially when you take into consideration some Political figures.  Do you agree?

Imaginos is about the past and the future.

Most recently, you created the Brain Surgeons.  This band is a representation of a current Albert Bouchard in a more current form of musical business.  How do you like having your own record label?

It was great for the first 10 years. Sometimes it gets tiring being the leader though.

The Brain Surgeons also featured Ross The Boss on its last release.  How did you hook up with Ross for this record?

The Dictators had broken up for probably the last time and he was available. I've always wanted to have a band with him so it was great for the two years we worked together. Now we're on to other things but I'm sure we'll play together again.

Did you feel an obligation to continue on creating Heavy Rock with the Brain Surgeons?  Did you consider maybe forming a psychedic band, or jazz band instead?

That's what I'm doing now with Ünderbelly.

The Brain Surgeons were like a tease to most BOC fans, and I say that with respect.  Knowing that Albert Bouchard is in the band makes the fans expect to hear some BOC music.  You must be delighted to know that your music never expires.  Did this conflict with your creative insight?  Or did this inspire more music to be created?

It did at first but after a while I learned how to give them what they wanted and also please myself by giving them something they didn't expect too.

Many true BOC fans felt like there was a death in the band once you left.  There are so many variations on why the band continued sans Albert.  I continued collecting BOC records post Albert, but that delicious spice that made BOC so tasy was missing.  Could the 5 of you possibly consider working together permanently again?  Considering that the original line up is still alive and well, it could make a reunion very possible.

We talk about it occasionally. It's possible.

You are going to be backed up by 8 Hamilton Ontario musicians for a few shows in Ontario.  Do you venture into these territories often?  How many times are you asked to "Chuck Berry" a back up band?

This is a first for me.

Continuing on with the BOC acronym, BOUCHARD'S OUTRAGEOUS CANADIANS debuts on April 25th in Toronto and April 26th in Hamilton.  Should this be a successful project musically, would you consider continuing on with this idea?  I know that the Outrageous Canadians are willing to share the limo with you, Sir!

Of course.

You are teaching music in New York.  These students also represent the future of music.  Would you say that Rock N Roll is going to be alive and well with future generations?

Most of my students still love punk so I'd say so. It's the white grandfather of hip hop.

Do your students realize who Albert Bouchard is?

Thanks to Will Farrell and SNL.

Recently, you had the opportunity to visit France.  Was this trip related to working with Les from Soft White Underbelly?

Yes, Les is the main singer in Ünderberlly.

I read somewhere most recently, you are in a trio with Dennis Dunaway, and your brother Joe Bouchard.  Any talk of releasing a record?

We talk about it but as we have many other projects it's on the back burner for now.

Who are you listening to nowadays?

A mix of classic rock, world music and jazz.

You have always enjoyed Sci-Fi.  Are you still enjoying the new slant on it?

I'm not as into sci-fi as I used to be, mostly literature and crime novels.

Have you ever read Umberto Eco's FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM?  It reminds me of a BOC-esque story.  The only thing that is missing is the 2 Bouchard Bros, Bloom, Lanier and Roeser.

I had the book but never read it and and lost it somewhere.

You had a very unique drumming style compared to other Rock Drummers.  Who did you look up to as Percussionists?

Gene Krupa, Joe Morrello, Tony Williams, Ringo, Keith Moon, Bonham etc.