MMAR Coalition Against Repeal Party! Feds Lose Round 1

Let Them Eat Cake!

Recently, I stumbled across an event that was just too, well, different to not blog about. One of my fave bands that I promote through various means was playing in the 6 Nations of the Grand River Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, Canada, and I thought that a unique location and opportunity to check out that part of Ontario and culture, and possibly scope out some local aboriginal talent as well.

We overshot and found the coalition's event sponsors

Riding with Ray Yap, composer and lead guitar / singer for reggae / rockers, The Yappers, on his first visit to a reserve, he seemed mesmerized by all the signs advertising tax free products like cigarettes and gas - with gas actually under $1 litre! His reaction was like we were rolling into Vegas or in something like the Twighlight Zone!

After missing the place one time - as it's signage was hard to spot - we finally arrived, and, walking inside, found a beautiful spot to play - barn-like in its inner design, with high wood beam supported ceilings adorned with strategically placed chandeliers. The stage and sound equipment were top notch too, including the conveniently mobile sound booth. I'm told the place could get rowdy at times but on this night, as it would turn out, there was not even a need for a doorman - although some pretty scrappy looking gentlemen stood by who could certainly assert some control on someone need be I was sure.

Host for event in 6 Nations

As I wandered around during set up, I was amazed at all the paraphernalia their sponsors had put out for prizes and display as well as an array of baked goods that were made with pot,  complete with a big cake, adorned with green nougat pot leaves. It was almost like something out of a Cheech and Chong movie but in the future! Hey, man, shit happens when you're covering a reggae rock band. Ha.


The no-alcohol event was in support of medical marijuana for a fundraiser for the group called the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal who are on a mission to raise funds for lawyers fees in order to continue their battle to preserve the right for people to have the right to grow their own medicine (and food) - namely marijuana.

The Coalition which boasts over 6,600 members across Canada has raised over $144,000 so far towards the $250,000 needed to hire their top gun Lawyer, Johnny Conroy to take it to the next legal step. Essentially their argument is simple - Canadians are constitutionally entitled to grow medicine and food - without government control.

The (now former) federal government, for its part, had unveiled a list of reasons pot shouldn't be 'legal' including scientific, and fact based nuggets, such as "it's a gateway drug to harder drugs". Wow! Really hard hitting stuff, no puns intended. Former heavyweight boxing champion, George Chuvalo, who lost two sons to heroin overdoses and a wife to suicide thinks tobacco is the gateway drug. His son emphasized that fact before dying and Chuvalo has relayed his message for years now, yet the government has never acted to close this "gateway", nor created a list, despite also now knowing that the addictive nicotine laden drug also causes lung cancer.

" Tobacco is usually the first addictive poison a young person will introduce to their bodies" George Chuvalo

All successive federal governments, from my understanding, had always denied marijuana had any medical value - while at the same time holding the patent to the medical development of cannabis. This fueled conspiracy theorists that it was a cancer cure that government and big pharmaceuticals wanted to hide, and then control it, on their terms.

I'm not quite convinced on the cancer cure-all yet but I do believe there is medicinal value to be gleaned certainly - in some cases the only relief one can get - such as those afflicted with constant convulsions - so there seems no doubt now. Meantime the government has stopped issuing any more new grow licenses.

Event Poster

Vessels for use and growing

The tricky part for government is grappling control of it, given that cannabis is becoming more accepted as a medicine / treatment, and that seems covered by the peoples' right to grow it.

Thus the smoke-screens with the moral reasons for them controlling its sale and manufacture of it in forms for ingesting, such as pill, food, oil, etc. The government simply has not been good frankly at handling this part, or even growing on a quality on par as most self-growers and often lack consistency - something MMAR Repealists say they can manage much better. And that patients know what form or type works best for themselves.

For example, a person may find a certain strain seems to make them want to clean and do things, while another it made them feel groggy, but only the patient would know which side affect was affecting them and in what way, and they then would be able to adjust what product form they took to best suit their ailment.  Surely most Doctors won't have the ability to decipher that while 'prescribing". The government model would have you get what you get - and them large profits.

VIP upstairs

Another argument the government has trotted out is that it will cause crime and gang activity. Ha. Who do they think is controlling the bulk of the sales now? Even if the government tried to assert control, such as their recent attempts to clamp down on tobacco smuggling, people will still access it from the street, because it's cheaper - but not safer. So self-grown or a trusted supply of your medicine type is safer, more efficient, and stress free.

The Yappers rock out on stage

The establishment's clumsy attempts thus far at being proprietor of a medicine they claimed for years didn't exist, only exasperates the issue and so groups like the MMAR Coalition Against Repeal raising this issue in the courts and fighting a constitutional challenge is really the only way this can be decided.

It kind of reminds me of what always seems  wrong with "do-gooder" programs; for example when they leave people with lived experience off  the organizing committees and boards, resulting in ineffective programs or poor distribution of essential services. No difference. Surely this is one issue where "grass roots" input applies!?

Hey!..who ate part of this pot cookie?

The rest of the evening was an experience and a half, with an outdoor area set up for members to use their various medicines and share ideas and usage vessels, and, where I learned new terms such as Mango-melon, and what a dab was ( essentially oil made from cannabis). Lol. I also learned weed can be made into a solid butter-like substance from which "dabs' can be scraped off to be consumed for medicine without tobacco use.

In addition to the entertainment provided on this night, and the baked goods, and table munchies, solo singer keyboardist, The Lounge Lizard, also appeared onstage following The Yappers playing with unbridled passion it seemed this night, as well the hosts had an array of hip hop performers on the later slate, including somelocal aboriginal performers who rocked it!

Prizes Sponsor

The main event however, was a talk by legalize activist Jason Wilcox flown in from B.C. to address the group, and who's fight for the right to grow is where this all began. His knowledge on the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, which the government is currently trying to get enacted, is what alerted people to the issue, as essentially, he says, they are trying to remove the right for the sick and disabled to grow their own medicine while pushing the "industry" to commercial growers  expected to make patients start to pay up to 4 x what they had been previously, all for making a killing in a new taxes revenue stream.

In the best of times, I'm the world's biggest skeptic, until I see cold hard facts, and enough of them, and I'm still up in the air about some of the claims for medical marijuana - but I certainly don't deny it offers clear cut, life altering treatment in some cases and would encourage - if the government really wants to do some 'good"  that they start testing canabinboids, as well as the non psycho active C.B.D.'s, for all the various claims that people are saying its use of it is doing for them - like oil treatment for skin cancer etc - so they can be brought further into the treatment fold.
Government can't bogart the issue forever.

Just Crazy!

I met and wrote about the man who introduced John Lennon to former Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who then smoked pot with Trudeau's "Commission on Marijuana" reps, so it's certainly not new to government either. 

It seems ironic now that a prodigal son may be 'king" soon, and, when that happens, it is more likely the time for real change on this issue in Canada.

Recently, the Supreme Court sided with those choosing other methods than smoking it, and so, if you're a medical user, these may just be the horses to put your money on for this race! Watch for a MMARCAR event near you!

Peace Out!

Woodbridge Jazz, Blues, R&B, Latin Singer a TOM's TOP 10 G.T.A. Booking

I first caught whiff of songbird Lori Viola's husky vocals while sitting at the piano bar lounge at Villa Risi Ristorante ( Envision me speaking ala Humphrey Bogart ). I'd been sitting with Peter, one of the owners of Villa Risi, when suddenly this sultry voice wrapped in velvet enveloped my limited attention span - a feat in itself. I was enamored. This dame had class. Something, I, unfortunately, was born without. LORI VIOLA - Jazz, Blues, R&B, Latin, Swing, Italiano, Pop Singer

Lori Viola is also fluent in Italian and available alone, as a duo, or with her band.

Accompanied by her Pianoman, the steamy, bluesy,  jazzy, rythm and blues numbers Lori Viola belted out, added an ambiance so missing in today's G.T.A. entertainment scene - let alone dining and entertainment.

Performances in fine dining restaurants - even ones offering a fine cuisine and decor at affordable prices and a beautiful piano bar - are far and few between, and finding a gem Lady Singer with the range in both vocal abilities with the sheer number of songs that she is able to warble, was a definite bonus for me on this night, setting mood as such I'd not had in some time. A walk back in time if you will, like an old movie sound track, and certainly a pleasure worthy of any special occasion, wedding, reception, anniversary, birthday, swank theme night, fundraiser, or suitable film / tv / video / audio production.


Lori's R&B version of a "Georgia" so touched a local radio station owner as to inquire as to who the singer of the beautiful recording he was listening too was, unaware whilst dining in another room, that the sultry voice was no recording at all but a live performance of Ms. Viola, prompting him to request a copy to play on their station - which they did much to her delight...and that of the listeners!


Don't take my word for it, glimpse Lori Viola's video performance captured at a recent show!  You can be a listener now as Lori is now available across York Region, The G.T.A. and The Golden Horseshoe for a limited number of private bookings. Make your special event remembered for all the right reasons. Visit the website for booking contacts and more detailed information.

Singer Lori Viola is a TPE Productions Top 10 Booking

Who Really Broke Up The Beatles? The Johnny Brower Story

1969 this track was bleachers and entrance

Varsity Stadium in 2013

As I scanned the smattering of people seated just outside the fencing at Toronto's Varsity Stadium, I didn't notice Johnny Brower there, the man irreversibly tied to the break up of The Beatles, so I wandered over to what looked like was the main entrance and had a gander. The vibrant colours of the now, sports-only field, provided contrast to the current old greyish non-nondescript metal and wood doors, which I suspect still look pretty much like they did when Brower, along with partner Kenny Walker, hosted the concert that would be come to be known as the one that broke up The Beatles, The Toronto Rock n Roll Revival . Not Paul Mcartney, who'd preempted the imminent announcement from John Lennon by making his own declaration first - knowing the inevitable.

Lucky Ladybug

Johnny Brower

On my second swing by I spied him, wearing a blue toque that stood out on a not that cold day, likely to get my attention, but, at first, it had done the opposite as I hadn't been expecting it. Ha! But I did know what he looked like from the Pop69 Movie Party ,so, when our eyes met, I offered up, "Johnny!", and after a hint of recognition and shaking of hands, the first thing he said in his gruff raspy voice was, "A ladybug", pointing to his arm where one lay, "Good luck. That's a good sign for the movie", the obviously superstitious legendary promoter said, now with a hint of accent. Sun state no doubt.

Rare Beatle's Art Showing

Brower greets guest at Pop69 gala

Gazing around at the former location where the famous 12 hour festival was held, Johnny pointed out the entry gate location where people came through that Sept 13th day of 1969, offering that a track now lies in place of where the bleachers once were - which adorn just the east section now.

He was complimentary of the new sports field though. Still, as he described what it used to look like as an open field surrounded by seating on three sides, I got the sense J.B.thought they missed an opportunity for it's use as a concert venue over the years with this new design.

CanWood's Gordon Weiske & Billy Talent's Ian D'sa at Pop69 Party

Shortly in, he took a call from what sounded like one of the guys from back in the day, as he'd chuckled, " Hey, I was just talking about you..." Whoever it was could be represented in the Pop69 movie ,which is being developed by CanWood Entertainment, about this famous part of what has become world music history.

Some guys you can never turn off the wheeler-dealer, promo mentality, and I suspect Brower's one of those. His passion for rock & roll is obvious as he speaks, and it's history and his part in it are fascinating as well - which all came together this day in a nice bundled package.

Toronto's Rock N Roll Revival concert was headlined by The Doors but also featured Bo Diddley, Chicago Transit Authority, Tony Joe White, Alice Cooper, Jerry-Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys, Gene Vincent, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Little Richard, Doug Kershaw, Screaming Lord Sutch, Nucleus, Milkwood and Whiskey Howl - the only "local band. Alice Cooper's group was the backing band for Gene Vincent, while local act Nucleus provided support for Chuck Berry, and The Doors closed out the festival.

The then 20,00 seat Varsity Stadium attendees had no idea that John Lennon was even coming, and, if not for a smooth talking Johnny Brower in a phone call to Eric Clapton - who then relayed to Lennon that it was too late to cancel when he asked to on the day of the concert - they'd of been none the wiser! I can just imagine J.B.'s poker face as he deadpanned his position to Clapton that Johnny'd have to leave the country if they cancelled. But, sure enough, flanked by Johnny B himself and 80 Bikers from The Vagabonds Bikers Club, Lennon arrived at the dingy backstage area and after looking around at the squalor, declared, " I could have gone to Brighton!" Lennon didn't really even have a band - making up The Plastic Ono Band on the flight over. But his toughest sell  was convincing a junkie, as Lennon admittedly was back then, to come to a foreign country away from his source. Lennon is quoted as saying about that time doing the concert,

"We were full of junk too. I just threw up for hours till I went on. I nearly threw up in Cold Turkey (the song) - I had a review in Rolling Stone about the film of it - which I haven't seen yet, and they're saying, 'I was this and that.' And I was throwing up nearly in the number. I could hardly sing any of them, I was full of shit."John Lennon

   Lennon is also is quoted by Johnny B to have said afterwards back stage,

 " I haven't felt so alive in years"

But there was more to his reasoning for wanting to visit Toronto, as back then T.O. was a major rock & roll mecca and hub, and still is, but especially during the war being the biggest destination for draft dodgers, just as John Lennon was becoming very controversial with his messages of peace and anti-war. As JB would tell me,  " A lot of powerful people at the time very much wanted to squash his music and message " - Even trying to stop future Brower concerts by using various tactics such as revoking permit allowances close to concert dates. John Lennon with a return visit to Toronto with Johnny B in December of that same 1969 year, would go on to change Canadian history next.

Lennon's Limo and JB arrived here

Former site of Mcluhan's office

 "The limo pulled in right here and I walked John Lennon down this path to Marshall's office" Brower  said, reminding me Lennon was also a philosopher, when I'd inquired as to why he had wanted to meet this particular philosopher of communication theory,  Marshall Mcluhan, a Toronto University "Futurist" who coined the phrase, "Global Village", so badly. The walk had been very spiritual for Lennon he'd offered, " A dirt foot-pathway (now paved) had run through the area then, and, at the time, running brooks of water, wild life and the like and was known as being sacred ground to traditional native aboriginals, also seen about in traditional dress.

"And so you have to imagine the walk was very spiritual for John". Johnny Brower

As we walked the same route he and Lennon had I'd tried to imagine the atmosphere of the time, envisioning an area abundant with nature sights and sounds - tough to do on the now road-like maze of paths leading to non-descript concrete buildings. Of course I didn't have the drugs in my system he did either. Ha.

So did anyone ever blame you for the break up at the time, I asked? To which Brower predictably replied that no, Yoko Ono was blamed by all the masses, however his ability to put on concerts was hampered - such as the Toronto Peace Fest or Strawberry Fields Festival, which was moved and renamed several times, and ultimately, held at Toronto's Mosport having been hindered by governmental interference.

With the Vietnam war raging at the time, along with Lennon's powerful influence, the powers that be wanted him silenced, and so, almost by default, Toronto became the place - being the southern most spot to the U.S. - and home to bastions of war resisters and defectors. It truly was an explosive time - literally! And that aspect of those times has, in itself, cemented Toronto's place into the world history of rock and roll, and a very important role it was / is.

As we strolled, Johnny B pointed out where the office of Mcluhan had been - now a drab unappealing  old / new hybrid - a far cry from when the philosophers had discussed language and music and the difference between them. Afterward they'd arranged for JB and Lennon to take the train to Ottawa to meet the Prime Minister of Canada at the time, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. He'd set up the meeting through Bill Clement an undercover RCMP operative who was Brower's friend and whose job it was to keep an eye on American draft dodgers living in Toronto. Bill was a wild character, almost like Wild Bill Donovan, the U.S. C.I.A. agent who many times got very close to the people he was shadowing. And Bill Clement partied hard with the rock and rollers that Brower brought through town. Here is actual filmed footage of when Yoko and John enter showing an arm coming down after Lennon, stopping Clement, who was right behind, at the P.M.'s office door . The guard is frozen with an icy glare, and, recognizing him, hastily lets Clement in!

The train ride allowed J.B. several hours alone with Yoko & Lennon along  Ronnie Hawkins and his wife Wanda, as well as Ritchie Yorke the journalist and his wife Ann, pulling into in Ottawa very late having stayed awake most of the time.

Upon arrival, they were met  by two members of the Le Dain Commission which had been tasked with interviewing John Lennon on his views about marijuana since the commission was considering the possibility of legalization. So, What's a guy to do? They ended up smoking dope with the two men, and everyone had a jolly great laugh when one asked John if he thought it was addictive..."Meantime the guy was bogarting the damn joint the whole time!", laughed Brower, "Lennon at one point looked at him and said, pointing to the burning joint clutched in his hand, Well, what do you think ( about it being addictive )?" and everyone had  exploded into fits of laughter at that. Maybe so, however there is no doubting Trudeau's waning image at the time took a considerable swing upwards after his 50 minute visit scheduled for only 10, giving him a new resurgence politically - winning the election - in step with Lennon's endorsement of the Canadian P.M.

So Brower's setting up of this meeting, may indeed have changed a country as well!

" I was pleased to receive (Lennon and Ono),” Trudeau wrote in his memoirs, adding that the Beatle “was kind enough to say afterwards, ‘If all politicians were like Mr. Trudeau, there would be world peace.’ I must say that Give Peace a Chance has always seemed to me to be sensible advice "  Pierre E Trudeau

" So how did you ever get involved in all this?" I'd offered as we drove towards an old stomping ground of his, and Johnny relayed a little about how he'd been a placed in a prestigious private boys school because of his close living proximity to it as was done back then, growing up on Kilbarry Road which ran along the north side of the Upper Canada College, where he rubbed shoulders with the kids of the elite of the elite from 1961-65.

Many of his chums there were from international families, as a boarding school was part of the college where he met George Eaton (Eaton's Department Stores) and his brothers - one of whom Thor Eaton would eventually become his partner, along with Ken Walker, in Brower Walker Productions. These years were very formative for Brower musically too as he also played and sang in a couple of Toronto's most well known bands at the time - The Diplomats being the most well known - from 1963-65. Brower used to be the one to get gigs for his band and became good at it, so often he was asked to do the same for other bands - some of which he also began to promote.
At 19 he took on L.A. too - returning in 68 with a wife.


I envision a rat pack of guys with bands, putting on concerts at various venues, and embracing everything rock & roll of the times. J.B. gave me a little hint of what it might of been like to hang with them when as we drove through Toronto's Yorkville district to spark some memories - not a great idea since Brower told me only The Pilot remains from back then - but as we sat in slow traffic in the now upper-scale boutique-y tourist lure, he spied two beautiful youngish women dressed to the 11's, looks at them out the rolled down window and deadpans with a straight face,


"Excuse me, are you the escort girls were supposed to be meeting?"

Tom Pearson outside Toronto's famed Maple Leaf Gardens

Of course I had to play along by looking serious as well, gazing towards them in mock earnest anticipation, while the looks on their faces as they glanced back and forth to each other with a puzzled-like, semi-embarrassed expression was priceless. We laughed like school boys when just out of range. Well, at least I did, he only chuckled! Bad boys to the end! Ha.

Eventually he and Kenny had taken an office downtown, and a salary of $350 a week pay.  But the concert promoter-pioneers ran into all kinds of roadblocks while learning the ropes - like trying to promote "Blind Faith" with Clapton et al when the record wasn't ready until the day of the show - so they had nothing with which to promote it with! And there was no internet or instant news back then either which exasperated the whole promotional process.


It's well known, when Lennon and Ono arrived in Toronto in December 1969 to begin planning for the 1970 concert that wouldn’t happen, the city had been strategically plastered with posters, billboards and print ads bearing the message “WAR IS OVER! " If you want it ” and “Happy Christmas from John & Yoko.” An original copy of the poster is counted among the most coveted artifacts held today by the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Canadian War Museum and was featured in their 2011 illustrated volume, Treasures. What's not so well known is that it was mostly Johnny Brower and his buddies in Yorkville that put most of those up, with Johnny able to obtain some of the biggest and most prominent downtown spots literally overnight! And all this during a time when it's been revealed in de-classified documents released in 2007 in an RCMP report dated Dec. 30, 1969, that the Canadian Security Service began spying on ex-Beatle John and Yoko after they announced their plans for the Toronto Peace Festival.

I wonder how Lennon would feel about suits taking over Yorkville

Who knows? I'm trying to convince Johnny to do another concert like The Great Toronto Rock & Roll Revival Return or Strawberry Fields, the 35 Year Anniversary Concert, once the Pop69 Movie is completed! After all we do have a little in common as I've promoted  / created many an event - nothing on his level - but "first ever type"events and bands, promoting one now even, The Yappers, who's leader Ray Yap's uncle, ironically is, Phil Chen, current bass player for The Doors and one of rock & roll's most used session bass players of the 70's/80'. I've even got a genuine old school rock vocalist ready to go should Johnny want to revive The Diplomats! I even released a short documentary recently,  A Short Thin Pink Line, with cool music and footage w Carole Pope etc

Ha.... Oh well, we shall see. Until then the #Pop69movie will move forward in production, and I know Johnny wanted to auction off the rare Beatles art replica he revealed at a Hard Rock Cafe Gala to a good kids cause as well, reminding me of our parting that day, as I noticed just before we were about to,  Johnny walked over and gave some guy in need some cash, like he never forgot where he came from perhaps, or maybe the messages of love & peace he so passionately embraced back in the day is still part of who he is.

Beatles Influence today as seen on Toronto Sidewalk 2014

These guys, like Johnny Brower and Kenny Walker, pioneers of music / event promotion, who paved the way for the rest - including holding the first multiple day event concerts - could really show em how it's done today...old school! 'Know'mean!? Ha, and frankly, I think we'd all enjoy the ride!

Definitely candidates for The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned to TPE for future update blogs on the POP69 Movie coming to screens soon!@

Peace out!

Tom Pearson

This Blog was brought to you in part by CityVibe Contracting - The Disaster Relief Specialists - .

                                                            CityVibe Not Just Anybody!

International Day for Eradication of Poverty means Music and Movies in Newmarket!

In 2013 TPE decided to offer up Reggae rooted, The Yappers, for International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a day marked around the world with events.  

The Yappers will close off as headliners of an evening that will also include an open stage for anyone wishing to express out against poverty in whatever musical or artsy fashion they wish.

The evening will be opened with the showing of a short film followed by some hot & cold finger foods and refreshments.

There is no cover, but a donation is appreciated.

This is the 10th Newmarket held Int Day event as it expands, adding more and more arts to the frame each year to express desire for change, or in some cases coming from experience, expressing frustration and even hunger.

The 2014 Fri Oct 17 event will be held at a new location in Newmarket at Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket. Outdoor stage 7pm.

Itinerary in 2013

After a few words from TP to set up the night and introduced the first on the slate the short movie premiere of Shoots, Scores Produced and Directed by Tom Pearson and featuring Newmarket talent and which touches on mental illness, and the signs that can be seen. Mental illness is often a related cause to many in poverty.

After movie at aprox 7:30 pm the hot & cold food & refreshments arrived and the stage was open to anyone to speak, sing or perform while DJ Dan provided the in between ambiance and rotated visuals on the screens. Info and booths from community groups such as Jazzled a new youth opportunities group, PACC's FNYouth Road hockey Challenge, The Yappers with fan Tshirts, and opportunities to meet the cast of Shoots, Scores with signed movie posters and others were there as well.

Headliners The Yappers close out the evening followed by last words from Tom Pearson.

The event's goals are to entertain people immensely yet hope to spark solutions, talk, and have people walk away wondering what else can be done outside of the usual suspects - like food banks and shelters.

As one fellow in a wheelchair put it to me with limited physical mobility,

"Food banks are embarrassing, the food is not healthy, and some people can't eat canned food. I'm not kissing anyone's ass for food. I'd rather steal than starve. If they'd just give people enough to afford to buy their own food from a store(in dignity), people wouldn't have to(steal to eat)." while adding,

The Yappers Live!

" They can afford to pay a billion dollars to cancel a gas plant but can't afford to give us enough to cover the basics to survive on?"

Is this what we want? Or might there be a grain of truth to what the guy is saying - he's frickin hungry!


TP out

Beatle's Art Unveiling - # Pop 69 Release Party and Info

As the date grew closer, I began unravel a strategic plan in my mind for my possible upcoming presentation at the Pop 69 Party and rare artwork display and the unveiling of the world's sole replica of the only piece of art ever collaborated upon by all 4 Beatles. This  once-in-a-lifetime happening, shows off the only authorized physical copy of artwork created by all four Beatles - with the original having been given to The Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The party is to be hosted upstairs at the Hard Rock Café Toronto Doors open at 9pm, till late on September 10th 2013.

The soiree is also acting as an introduction of sorts to a film in development shown here in this film trailer about the Toronto Rock N Roll Revival show in 1969 which featured John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band and marked the first time any Beatle had played publicly without his mates. One week later The Beatles would be no more!

So it is with great excitement that I look forward to the opportunity to address and introduce, City Vibe Contracting, one of event sponsor businesses which will be donating the Yoko era-like food fare for the event. Not only do I relish an opportunity to rally people around a great company like C.V.C. - which in addition to renovating and construction are heavily invested in disaster relief - and for 15 years has been there to turn to when disasters strike, such as the recent Toronto's floods the worst in recent memory which affected thousands - but I also get to, in a way, be a part of Beatle's history as well as this art and film will themselves be lending a hand in opening a new Beatles chapter with this very unique walk down memory, er, Penny Lane!

Well, as someone in crisis or The Beatles might say, Help! I need somebody!  Thank goodness we have experts in such relief - Help! not just a-a-any bo-ody!- including trauma support trained and experienced - when such occasions arrive, and as such it was an easy way to sedge-way the group into The Beatles! A band whose message of peace and help unto others stands the test of time - like their music - and resonates with the theme and spirit of City Vibe and I'm sure will with countless fans as well.

The Beatles made Peace and Love household words

Recently in fact, Sir Paul Mcartney, donated 1,000 tickets for his show to train disaster and fire victims relief victims in Quebec, moving Caroline Tremblay who's husband, Guy Bolduc, was among the dozens killed when fireballs from an exploding train devastated Lac-Megantic’s downtown and engulfed the bar where he was performing to say,

“He adored Mr. McCartney,” She said in a letter to promoters, “You have allowed my children and me to discover the musical universe of this great artist and (a chance to) bathe in music at a party surrounded by our friends."

So The Beatles and who and what they represent live on, and that kind of spirit and image is a representation that fits well with the City Vibe brand.

The Movie

POP 69 
Johnny Brower, the legendary promoter of Toronto's Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival of 1969, has announced pre-production on Pop 69, a biographical, cinematic journey with Brower as a young entrepreneur wracked with ambition. A dreamer, who refused to give up even when passed a message John Lennon would not be attending, and in the end, making history for Canada.

Did the Toronto Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival  break up The Beatles?


POP 69 unveils how this historic moment came to be the #1 Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Moment in Toronto’s history.
Visit www.pop69party.com to rsvp.

Maybe I'll come as Elvis...The Beatles loved him

TP's final word...

None of my past musically connected contributions have ever been this unique. There is no doubt this art unveiling and subsequent film release will be a part of history and those who are lucky enough to attend or sponsor will be too. My 19 year old daughter recently remarked to me that The Beatles were easily the best band of all time. That's coming from a completely new generation of fans- and one that knows everything no less. Sound familiar? Ha. 

The Fab 4 has stood the test of time and now crossed generational boundaries and with it the demographic markets, opening a whole new can of worms and reaps to those who had the oomph to step on-board and make it happen again! Pop 69's success will be bound only by it's distribution and here's hoping towards a wide release!. Stay tuned ....!Coming soon to a screen near you!

Here's a spoof video of Sir Paul and John I'd recently thrown together in commemoration of the new Royal! Ha! Enjoy!

Tom out!

Surviving Summer Concerts Season

Well summer has been zipping along and before we know it we'll be complaining what a short one we had. I've tried to keep as busy as possible whilst maintaining a decent summer, and so far I think I'm failing - on all counts!

I passed on performing at the Collingwood Elvis Fest even though they offered to pay my way and had paid satellite shows. Just couldn't get motivated for it this year after last year's let down being judged in a wrong category. Maybe Wake Stock in August? Ha. Sure. I'm there. Not!

I did manage to attend Edge Fest on the same day that I was auditioning for one of the more weird gigs I've attempted to land for TPE. At first they'd wanted impressionists but somehow I apparently influenced them to look at genetic "characters" too such as a pirate etc. This confused me somewhat, as on top of it all you had to read from a script that would be a snap shot of you calling an online bingo game! The idea I guess is to spruce up otherwise boring straight bingo calling, and at any rate, I read it to the camera as Elvis, Don Cherry, an idiot, an ornery Scot, a wacky woman, gangster..and forgot a few like Thompson Williams! Not sure how I fared yet as they had said they'd let me know this week but I can think of better ways to

make $350 a day...!Ha or can I?

Anyway after that I went straight to the Edge Fest concert still dressed with white pants and shoes on and a white and red striped jacket in my bag that I'd used for the Don Cherry bit in the now pouring rain. I was supposed to meet a buddy at the gate who'd won free tickets and who was going to drive. Of course, he was already in but allowed to the gate to get me in just in time to stand for the next 6 hours in one freekin' spot in the pouring rain all so we wouldn't lose our frickin' spot to hear Monster Truck  who seem to have a bit of a Pink Floyd influence, and later the Luminaires, but they were crap. Anyway it's not worth the battle to protect the bag all night long and fend off attacks on my hat that everyone seemed to love, along with the jacket, just to say we did it! Rock on!
Thank god for the umbrella hat buddy had for me!

I've kept up with blogging and online stuff too though, and good to see Jazzled moving forward with the youth oriented social web-hub having had its first contest winner of a Kobe Reader and new website beginning to take shape.

And one must pay bills! I finished up a clients t.v. show proposal package which originally I had geared towards industry funders but which she had wanted amended to include private investors, so I simply added a limited partnership to it's structure.

And why can't one have fun while working? To that end I agreed to M.C. a hockey banquet complete with stand up comedy which of late of taken a returning interest. I tried out some new material out at a recent open stage in Newmarket and it was very well received (they laughed hard) so I know I can do it. It's a cool feeling when they laugh where you think they should and are comfortable enough to add to it or improvise on your feet. A rush. It's a challenge too, and I guess something that's been missing of late for me. The motivational factor. A challenge that any age person can tackle and succeed at, oh yea, and they are paying me too, that helps. Years ago I had once been a participant in Canada's Funniest New Comic Contest losing to Jeremy Hotz. He won peeking out from his hand to deliver his zingers. Then I got full custody of my kids ending that path...for then!

The Newmarket Jazz Festival was well attended for a first timer but lacked much actual jazz music. The day I attended I spent four hours there and heard not one song. Too often blues, rock, calypso and everything else was played - some really good music - just not on theme. Too bad for this year, but maybe next year they'll invest more time to book some more jazz now that they know if you simply build it they will come!@.

Come on! Surely there has to be something more to do this summer before it too late than these same old, same old themed events....The Tastes of the Danforth Festival is coming up attracting over 1,000,000 visitors and I guess Newmarket's attempt to mirror it would be the ' Multicultural Festival" upcoming, but again, been there done that. I need something different!

There is one $$deal out there worth checking out with something for all ages at the Festival of Friends or Friendship Festival, whatever in Fort Erie this weekend and it gets 10's of thousands of people over 3 days and is free with big names like Chubby Checker...all free..!

Here's a detailed list of Ontario festivals for August! ...Pick one and go!

TP Out!