Change of Heart (band)

Change of Heart was a Canadian alternative rock band, active from 1982 to 1997.[1] They had one Top 40 hit, "There You Go" in 1992, as well as several hits on Canada's modern rock charts, including "Trigger" and "Little Kingdoms".

Change of Heart
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1982 (1982)–1997, 2009, 2012, 2017
LabelsCargo Records
Associated actsA Neon Rome, Blurtonia, C'mon, Cookie Duster
Past membersIan Blurton
Ron Duffy
Glenn Milchem
John Richardson
Rob Taylor
John Borra
Mike Armstrong
Bernard Maiezza
Rob Higgins

The band had a diverse, genre-defying sound, with the songs on their albums crossing from pop to hard rock to something almost akin to punk.[1]

History

The band was formed in 1982 in Toronto, Ontario by vocalist and guitarist Ian Blurton and bassist Rob Taylor,[1] initially inspired by contemporary punk rock bands such as The Clash, Gang of Four and L'Étranger.[1]

Over the next number of years, Blurton also participated in a number of side projects, working with Jolly Tambourine Man, Cowboy Junkies, Slightly Damaged and A Neon Rome.[1] Original percussionist Mike Armstrong left the band during the recording of their 1987 album Slowdance, and would later join King Cobb Steelie.[1]

The band's 1989 album Soapbox featured the song "Pat's Decline", the band's first single to garner widespread national exposure on MuchMusic and Brave New Waves.[1]

Drummer Ron Duffy left the band in 1991, and was replaced by Glenn Milchem for the recording of their 1992 album Smile.[1] Following the recording, Milchem left to join Blue Rodeo, and was replaced by John Richardson. Bernard Maiezza, formerly of A Neon Rome, also joined the band during this era.[1]

Smile was produced by Michael-Philip Wojewoda, at the same time as he was juggling two other significant projects, Barenaked Ladies' Gordon and Rheostatics' Whale Music.[1] The album, which was recorded in just four days on a budget of just $5,000,[2] spawned the band's only Top 40 charting single, "There You Go", which took off after a radio program director in Saskatchewan placed the song in rotation on his station.[1] The album, a sprawling 21-song release which the band acknowledged would have been a double album if it had been released prior to the compact disc era, was compared by critics to Sonic Youth's influential Daydream Nation.[3] Fellow musicians also frequently praised the album; Milchem wore a Change of Heart T-shirt in Blue Rodeo's music video for "Rain Down on Me", Steven Page wore one in Barenaked Ladies' video for "Brian Wilson", and Andrew Scott wore one in Sloan's original video for "Underwhelmed".[1]

Following a cross-Canada tour with Crash Vegas, Taylor chose to leave the band. He was replaced by John Borra, Maiezza's former bandmate in A Neon Rome who had also previously toured as a solo artist opening for Change of Heart.[1] The band then embarked on tours as an opening act for The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo.[1] They also won $100,000 from that year's CFNY-FM "Discovery to Disc" competition, over Treble Charger and Killjoys.[4]

Following the tour to support their 1994 album Tummysuckle, Borra left the band and was replaced by Rob Higgins for the band's final album, 1997's Steelteeth.[1] Videos for the singles "Little Kingdoms" and "Grifter's Plow" received substantial airplay on MuchMusic's alternative showcase program The Wedge.

The band toured in 1997 to support Steelteeth, including the Another Roadside Attraction festival tour,[5] but broke up soon afterward.

Blurton, the band's singer and main songwriter, went on to form the bands Blurtonia and C'mon, as well as becoming a record producer. Maiezza went on to form Cookie Duster with Brendan Canning of hHead; that band released its debut album, produced by Blurton, in 2001.[6]

Reunion

The band's Steelteeth lineup, consisting of Blurton, Richardson, Higgins and Maiezza, reformed for a one-off show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto on June 20, 2009.[7]

A new 25 song, two-LP compilation entitled There You Go '82 - '97 has been assembled by Ian Blurton and was released on September 18, 2012 by Sonic Unyon Records.[8] To celebrate, the band reunited for a series of reunion shows starting with the 2012 edition of the Supercrawl festival in Hamilton, Ontario on September 15.[8] On October 5, 2012 there was a special Change of Heart show at the Horseshoe Tavern, which featured the participation of every former band member.[8]

The lineup of Blurton, Maiezza, Milchem and Taylor reunited again in 2017 for the 25th anniversary vinyl reissue of the Smile album, playing shows in Ontario and Alberta.[9]

Discography
  • 50 Ft. Up (1986)
  • Slowdance (1987)
  • Soapbox (1989)
  • Smile (1992)
  • Tummysuckle (1994)
  • Steelteeth (1997)
  • There You Go '82 - '97 (2012)

References
  1. Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, Have Not Been the Same: The Can-Rock Renaissance 1985-1995. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-992-9.
  2. Brendan Kelly, "Change of Heart is anything but derivative; We're no Nirvana clone". Montreal Gazette, October 21, 1992.
  3. James Muretich, "CD almost drove Change of Heart mad". Calgary Herald, November 19, 1992.
  4. Jennie Punter, "12 years along, Change Of Heart comes of age: T.O.'s foremost indie squad primed for major touring". Toronto Star, December 29, 1994.
  5. "Forget h.o.r.d.e., Lilith Fair and Lollapalooza, Another Roadside Attraction is the best touring festival on the continent". Edmonton Journal, July 18, 1999.
  6. "Brendan Canning on Cookie Duster and Life After BSS: 'I Wanted a Fresh Perspective'". Spinner, June 26, 2012.
  7. Ben Rayner, "North By Northeast All over the map; Music critic Ben Rayner offers his picks for the best of the annual music festival's 500 shows". Toronto Star, June 18, 2009.
  8. "Change of Heart Reveal 'There You Go '82-'97' Retrospective". Exclaim!, August 8, 2012.
  9. Peter Hendra, "Band's reunion puts 'Smile' on their faces". Kingston Whig-Standard, September 21, 2017.
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