Brian Sheppard - Mr. Advertising (PART 2) sits in on The Whiskey Wednesday Show

Brian Sheppard - Mr. Advertising sits in on The Whiskey Wednesday Show
Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats In St.John’s in 1982 I cut my teeth playing bass with local skate/punk bands who wholeheartedly embraced the DIY model of the punk rock culture. SNFU were the first band I had ever seen who had taken this model to a national level and upon seeing the energy and intensity of the performance I knew - this was what I wanted to do with my life.
At 18 I relocated to Toronto and landed a job at Music Express Magazine which let to the position of photo editor where I got to work with legendary photographers Floria Sigusmondi, Herb Ritts and Annie Leibovitz shooting bands like David Bowie, REM and U2 as well as hundreds of touring band around the world. This introduction to the music business, record companies, PR agencies and band management helped me to understand the relationship of band and audience from the viewpoint of the ‘machine.’
As well, sharing office space with Management Trust (Jake Gold) led me to an audition with The Watchmen. In turn this changed my life direction for over a decade as I toured the world and grew as a songwriter and artist. In 1999 I began working a lot with Big Wreck singer Ian Thornley who at the time was married to my sister Christine. Big Wreck and The Watchmen were in between albums and both bands were feeling the weight of years of touring and the change in the record companies as we moved into the digital age. Ian and I decided to form a new band which led to the creation of Thornley with whom I toured relentlessly for many years. Towards the end of Thornley, Ian had decided to recreate the magic that was Big Wreck and again I toured with the band under that name as I began parting ways with the lifestyle and direction of the band.
Upon leaving Thornley, there was a period of return to DIY with independent records which captured my solid endeavours - from six string bass singer songwriter (Quest Storey house) through several incarnations of bands including Bad Intent, The Variety Show Players and in 2017 the unlikely local crew which has grown to become Music For Goats.
In 2015 my wife’s MS diagnosis took me away from constant roadwork and as I began learning the ropes as a full time caregiver. MS attacks were more impactful that we had hoped and in 2019 we relocated to Ottawa where she underwent a Stem Cell Bone Marrow Transplant (one of 8 a year done in Canada). This treatment has stopped the MS progression but the damage from the transplant itself was pretty severe and to this day my wife is in a wheel chair and needs full-time support.
Once again embracing the DIY ethos I created a recording studio and a broadcast studio in my house as we rearranged our living spaces to make the house more accessible. This allowed me to continue producing records for artists (Jane Archer and The Reactionaries, Muddy Hack, Caravan Haylan) while also enjoying my own space for making my records.
As well, the development of The Whiskey Wednesday Show created a need for a production studio which we also created in our home. The Show has grown into a seven camera, 24 channel audio, weekly livestream hosting guests from Rick Mercer, William Prince and Joey ‘Shithead” Keithley (D.O.A.) to Matt Mays and Bob Izumi. Songs and stories every week with your host Ken Tizzard and Music For Goats.
It is now January 2024 and I am once again looking to release another album of original music with the current line-up of Music For Goats; Neil Lucy (guitar) Ken Grant (bass) and Dave Lawrence (drums) and Steve Dagg (RIP - drums). This album titled “THE DAGG SESSIONS” celebrates the songs created before drummer Steve Dagg was diagnosed with Cancer. After a year long battle of treatments Steve passed away in the winter of 2023. We had recorded the drums for the entire record in September before Steve’s illness was terminal.
Dave Lawrence, a newcomer to Campbellford, was recommended by a friend and to my amazement was living just down the road from me, actually same street. We met up, jammed and Dave has been settling into the new role while navigating the massive repertoire and as well finding his place in a grieving machine while remaining positive and looking forward.
The Dagg Sessions is available on all platforms on April 30, 2024 The Dagg Sessions will be available on vinyl thanks to contributors who purchased sections of the back album cover in order to help out with up front costs. Yes, we are sell outs… As for style of this record, I have to say it fits in with the Americana genre pretty well as if combines folk, country, rock and pop into a collection of songs that once again document a time and place in my own personal history.
Ken Tizzard www.kentizzard.com [e-mail]
Press Inquiries: Cam Carpenter 416.912.0619 [e-mail]