CIMN Interview

Halifax-based "The Grunions" put on a good show as they kicked off the new school year at the S.U.’s first main event on Thursday September 6. CIMN’s Rodney St. Pierre spoke with the band.

CIMN: Tell me about the name.

G: We were originally called the Spawning Grunions but then "Spawning" was dropped for biological reasons, wasn’t it Rob? Yeah, I think it was rather sexual reasons, wasn’t Tim? ... Our new Drummer, Mr. Steve Prebert (clap) joined the band approximately 2 weeks ago. So their band you see has actually been together for 2 weeks. CIMN: What exactly is a Grunion.

G: It’s a Fish! We got the name when we were in grade 12. We were looking for names through a biology book. We made up a Ist of stupid names... The Mossy Nostrils and all sort of other weird names. The Mossy Nostrils lost to the Spawning Grunions. They (grunions) go and beach themselves on the shore and then lay their eggs and die, it’s kind of beautiful.

CIMN: Do you write your own material?

G: Oh yeah, we usually do one or two a set. CIMN: Do you consider yourselves basically a "cover band"

G: Yeah, but we hate that title. We have a lot of our Own songs written, it’s just a matter of bringing them out.

CIMN: Do you all sit down and write together? How does it come about?

G: It’s a group effort

Steve: Actually, I write all the songs (lying) and I’m the best.

G: The best place to try songs out is with a crowd like this. We played a couple of them tonight and people didn’t vomit.

CIMN: That’s a good sign.

G: There was actually quite a nice response, they went over well, even the reggae Stuff. We have a real reggae feel. We draw our influences from Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Steal Pulse, Peter Tosh. Sometimes we're influenced from other realms of music and then we apply reggae to it. U2 has a heavy influence

on us.

CIMN: Recently many artists have voiced their

Opposition to corporate

sponsorship. How do feel about being sponsored by a beer company?

G: When you're a cover band, it’s one of the most respected thing you can have, really because when you're a cover band, you’re playing other people’s

_ songs anyway. the

better bands are the one’s that manage to get a sponsorship. If someone out there is willing to help you along...If they have faith in you as a product because as a cover band that is what you are...I can’t think of too many bands that started as an original band. Even the Stones were a cover band once. If the most successful band in the world can do it...the Grunions a currently touring Maritime university campuses. They are planning to release an independent cassette of original material in about 2 weeks time.

Student Discount on Music

Radioland - 10% off on regular priced cassettes and compact discs, excluding T.V.-advertised and sale

products.

Charlottetown - Confederation Court Mall: 566-5350

Summerside - = County Fair Mall: 436-9665

Matthew’s Music Ltd. - 10%

discount on regular priced musical

instruments.

Summerside - 15 Granville St: 436-9665

September 13th, 1990

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