I am currently, and have been for 24 years, the lead singer and co-writer for Spirit of the West. The band has been my home, family, creative outlet and travel companion through the UK, USA, Canada and Europe. We've been through a lot together: Marriages, Children, Visectomies..... Spirit started off as a trio in 1983 with Geoffrey Kelly, J. Knutson and myself. Together we recorded our self titled first album with Barney Bentall and in 1986, Tripping Up The Stairs with Paul Hyde, lead singer of The Payolas. Eventually we added Hugh McMillan in 1986. In that same year J. left and we were once again a trio with Hugh on bass, mando and bass pedals, Geoffrey on bodhran, flutes and whistles and myself on acoustic guitar. This version of the band recorded Labour Day and travelled across Canada and the UK and finally made it to St John's Nfld where we were introduced with, "Please welcome all the way from Canada, Spirit of the West". We've
had a love affair with The Rock ever since.
After years of relentless touring and at the tail end of a two month UK jaunt, the band imploded in the parking lot of a pub in Hull. We had just finished playing a gig in what was reputably the hangout of one of our favourite bands, The House Martins. 60 days in a small van had taken its toll and Hugh made the decision to leave. For those of you who have seen him play you will agree he is a monstrous musician and so two people were required to fill his boots. Linda Mcrae on bass and accordion and Daniel Lapp on fiddle and trumpet. Some of my favourite tours were with this line up. Newcastle, Shetland Folk Festival, and the UK stint where we found our accommodations by announcing from the stage that we had nowhere to sleep. In the end, we had too many drinks, far too much fun and after a short riotous 6 months Daniel left the band. Oddly enough, his replacement was the resurrected Hugh McMillan. It was with this line up of Geoffrey, Hugh, Linda and myself that we recorded our Save this House album which led to more touring, more travel, more adventures.
We toured the UK with one of my favourite bands The Wonderstuff and made an appearance in their movie Welcome to the Cheap Seats. It was just prior to this time that we added drummer Vince Ditrich into the line up and went on to record another half dozen albums. Linda left the band in 1998, was replaced by Tobin (The Gull) Frank and we have been stable ever since. You can visit us at here at sotw.ca.
I am also an actor. I studied at Studio 58 in Vancouver in the early 80's, gave up the thought of it when I joined the band and then dove back into it eight years ago.
My Theatre credits include:
- Of Mice and Men at The Vancouver Playhouse. I played Witt, one of the
hired hands and I created the sound scape.
- The Three Penny Opera with The Vancouver Opera. I played Macheath .
Morris Panych directed.
- Miss Saigon at The Arts Club Stanley Theatre. I played The Engineer. Joni Mitchell: The River at The Vancouver Playhouse, playing the male lead.
- Cabaret at The Arts Club Stanley Theatre playing The Emcee.
Film and TV credits include:
Intelligence, The CBC drama currently running on Wednesday nights at
9:00pm and midnight. Also on Friday nights at 11:00pm I play the CSIS
agent James Mallaby
Blood Ties, I play the recurring role of Astaroth, Demon Lord.
I have two solo albums. Acoustic Kitty came out in 2001 under the name John Mann on the Nettwerk label and December Looms comes out in December 2006 under the name Mister Mann. It was recorded in Bakerstreet Studios in October and November. Many of my favourite songs and albums feature individuals singing solo with an acoustic guitar or little accompaniment. Bright Eyes, The Decembrists, Eef Barzelay, Wilco, the songs they sing with the least clutter are often their most immediate songs to me.
December Looms, my new record, is me getting naked.
Got home from Gabriola Island, unpacked, had supper, turned on tv, "Harmony Cats" was on, so cool to see you around seven forty five at night busking in Vancouver in a movie whilst realising your son was probably playing a Victoria house concert right at that same moment.
Massive Congrats for twenty five years, Spirit Of The West, I am presently enJOYing Spirituality 1983-2008, it sounds great! Wonder if you will tour Victoria with it!
Hey Mister Mann! Just stopping by to say hi, listen to some music, and trying to keep in touch! Hope you're having a great summer! Cheers from Victoria, BC! -Riley Smith
Hi John, Greetings from Warsaw. We are waiting on our very delayed flight to leave. I think I'll be a day late and a few zlotych short getting home. See u soon. Love G
Hey John... I am going to miss the SOTW gig at The Kee.. too bad. Such happy memories. Amazing that you're still alive and rockin after the shenanigans of '03 ;-) Hope you and yours are well. Cheers from Toronto!
