Latest news with #FarewelltoFriendsTour
The Province
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
Bill Henderson reflects on Chilliwack's cross-Canada farewell tour
For all the many directions Bill Henderson's life in music has led him, it has always come back to the band Chilliwack. Chilliwack lead singer and songwriter Bill Henderson at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver on April 18. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Green guitar case in hand, Bill Henderson stands outside the Vogue Theatre. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors That night, April 18, Chilliwack played its final Vancouver show at the Granville Street venue on the group's 55th-anniversary Farewell to Friends Tour. Before the concert, Henderson posed for photographs next to his star on the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame Star Walk, which he was inducted into in 1994. The lead singer and primary songwriter for Chilliwack, he formed the band in 1970 out of the ashes of popular early Vancouver band The Collectors. Over the past five decades Henderson has topped the charts with classics from Lonesome Mary, to My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone). He also pursued a successful solo career. A founding member of the Artists Rights Coalition and former president of the Songwriters Association of Canada, as well as director of the Canadian Association of Recording Arts and Sciences for six years, Henderson has been a leader in advocating for artists in the digital age. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Perhaps one of the most surprising facts about his long career is that he also found time to be the musical director for Sesame Street Canada in Vancouver from 1989 to 1995. For all the many directions his life in music has led him, it has always come back to the band Chilliwack — and the important role it played in Canadian music history. Reflecting on the journey, Henderson had these five take-aways: The Collectors in 1969. Henderson is on the far right with guitar. Vancouver Sun On why it's time to say goodbye … 'I'm getting old, I'm 80. With that age comes some memory lapses and forgetting things and I know that is happening. I won't be the guy out on the road who can't sing anymore, but is booked. Since The Collectors, the rock band thing is full-tilt and I wouldn't have it any other way. But touring is stressful and I can continue making music in easier ways.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chilliwack the band: From left, Rick Taylor, John Roles, Brain MacLeod, Bill Henderson and Ab Bryant in 1980. Vancouver Sun On the historic set list … 'The band that exists right now hasn't done any recording but has been playing live for almost 30 years. And that time has answered the question of, 'What goes in the set list?' It includes blasting out Lonesome Mary to start and then giving the crowd songs like California Girl, about the option to move to the U.S. and choosing not to, and telling the stories behind the songs. We've added Stand Up this tour since it suits the times and people are standing up. It's great.' Chilliwack, a successful mainstay of the local rock scene, hangs out in Gastown. Clockwise from top left: band members Bill Henderson, Glenn Miller, Ross Turney and Howard Froese on Jan. 7, 1975. PNG On the shift from psychedelia to power pop … 'We really do cover everything we used to do from those early extended psychedelic jams right up to crowd favourites like Crazy Talk. The band has been through a lot of different eras and, along the way, I learned the ropes of songwriting. One of the most important lessons of that was learning that, a lot of the time, you think you have a winner, it's a total dog. And the scribbled idea 15 minutes before practice is the one.' On the Chilliwack farewell tour. Photo by Jeff Bassett / PROVINCE On driving record companies crazy … 'What drove record companies crazy about the band and my songs is that we never did the same thing, so they couldn't come up with a consistent plan how to market us. But that is what made it possible to have hits from Crazy Talk, with that jazzy feel, to My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone). The truth about that song is that I didn't want to put it out, even though I wrote it. Because I thought it was just groove and no substance. The band disagreed, thankfully, and we have a great time performing it to this very day.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bill Henderson on the Chilliwack farewell tour. Photo by 2018 Erich Saide / Chilliwack On keeping your voice in fine working order … 'I'm still always learning the craft, to this very day. My daughter Camille is a professional vocal coach and she has played a key role in keeping my voice in shape so I can still hit all the notes and not hurting my instrument. Back in the days when Brian (Too Loud) Macleod was in the band, after three nights in a row, I couldn't talk or sing. Here I am, way older, and that is gone.' Chilliwack Farewell to Friends Tour The tour continues across Canada. Check out the full list of dates: May 8: First Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ont. May 10: J.W. Marriott the Rousseau Muskoka Resort, Minett, Ont. May 22: Massey Hall, Toronto June 11-12: Festival Theatre, Sherwood Park, Alta. July 12: Parksville Outdoor Theatre July 20: Old Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, Ont. Aug. 28: Bronson Centre, Ottawa Sept. 19: East Park London, London, Ont. Sept. 23: Royal Theatre Victoria Sept. 25: Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Nov. 6: TCU Place, Saskatoon Nov. 8: Conexus Arts Centre, Regina Nov. 21: Clarke Theatre, Mission sderdeyn@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Sports Sports News Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Bill Henderson reflects on Chilliwack's cross-Canada farewell tour
Article content Green guitar case in hand, Bill Henderson stands outside the Vogue Theatre. Article content That night, April 18, Chilliwack played its final Vancouver show at the Granville Street venue on the group's 55th-anniversary Farewell to Friends Tour. Before the concert, Henderson posed for photographs next to his star on the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame Star Walk, which he was inducted into in 1994. Article content Article content The lead singer and primary songwriter for Chilliwack, he formed the band in 1970 out of the ashes of popular early Vancouver band The Collectors. Over the past five decades Henderson has topped the charts with classics from Lonesome Mary, to My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone). He also pursued a successful solo career. Article content Article content Perhaps one of the most surprising facts about his long career is that he also found time to be the musical director for Sesame Street Canada in Vancouver from 1989 to 1995. Article content Article content Article content 'I'm getting old, I'm 80. With that age comes some memory lapses and forgetting things and I know that is happening. I won't be the guy out on the road who can't sing anymore, but is booked. Since The Collectors, the rock band thing is full-tilt and I wouldn't have it any other way. But touring is stressful and I can continue making music in easier ways.' Article content Article content 'The band that exists right now hasn't done any recording but has been playing live for almost 30 years. And that time has answered the question of, 'What goes in the set list?' It includes blasting out Lonesome Mary to start and then giving the crowd songs like California Girl, about the option to move to the U.S. and choosing not to, and telling the stories behind the songs. We've added Stand Up this tour since it suits the times and people are standing up. It's great.'
