by Richard Skelly » Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:31 pm
No doubt about it. Vancouver’s rock scene benefitted mightily from the influx of creative American crossing the border for a new home. Most, but maybe not all, were affected by Vietnam: either as a draft dodger or conscientious objector.
No fewer than four US ex-pats played a role in Uproar, only one as a musician. Chicago native Tom Lavin, a great singer and blues guitarist, often played bass in this loud trio whose other members included guitarist Jeff Ridley and drummer Glen Hendrickson. The latter two were alumni from the United Empire Loyalists, a beloved fixture on the Vancouver rock scene until dissolving in 1970. Methinks Different Drummer is a UEL song carried forward to Uproar. That’s because it is co-written by Loyalist bassist/singer Rick Enns.
In addition to Lavin, there were three backroom ex-Yanks involved. Former Collectors managerJack Herschorn, who had earlier partnered with Tom Northcott’s New Syndrome label, wanted to own a studio. He brokered a deal to purchase Aragon, the West 6th studio-in-a-bunker, from Al Reusch. Canadian Charlie Richmond handled technical operations. Soon, Herschorn installed Americans Mike Flicker as chief engineer/house producer and Shelly Siegel, an elfin, whipsmart promoter, to market the rebranded Can-Base Studio.
The group, minus Herschorn, would eventually morph Can-Base into the Mushroom studio and affiliated label. In early days, however, they recorded artists like Uproar and Tom Middleton and licensed finished product to national labels. For Uproar, that meant a deal with GRT. In the days before Bruce Allen, fulltime rock managers in Vancouver were a rarity. Uproar cut a deal with a PR firm called Creative Management. The arrangement worked well enough for the trio to soon tread the boards across Canada by opening for the likes of Frank Zappa and Procol Harum.
Alas, Uproar disappeared after Different Drummer. Tom Lavin would then assemble a crack group of ace players to prosper as Powder Blues Band.