Platinum Blonde (band)

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Platinum Blonde
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active1979–1990, 2010–present
LabelsCBS Records
Members
Past members
  • Joey Ciotti
  • Ray Bailie
  • Chris Steffler
  • Kenny MacLean
  • Sascha Tukatsch
  • Daniel Todd
  • Rob Laidlaw
  • Dave Barrett
Websiteplatinumblonde.com

Platinum Blonde, known briefly as The Blondes, is a Canadian

Toronto, Ontario in 1979. Vocalist Mark Holmes
has been the only consistent member of the band since its inception.

They are an image conscious band that took advantage of the advent of the

VJ, Christopher Ward said of the band: "If ever there was a Canadian band that was tailor-made for the video era, it was Platinum Blonde."[1]

The band was most prominent in the 1980s with singles such as "Standing in the Dark", "Not in Love", "Doesn't Really Matter", "Situation Critical" and "Crying Over You". In 1984 they were one of the top-selling Canadian bands in Canada, second only to Rush. At that time, the line-up consisted of Mark Holmes on lead vocals and bass, Sergio Galli on guitar, and Chris Steffler on drums. Scottish musician Kenny MacLean became the band's bassist and keyboardist in 1985. Sascha Tukatsch replaced Steffler on drums in 1987.

Due to declining record sales, as well as personal and financial issues, the band broke-up in 1989. Inspired by MacLean's frequent suggestions of a reunion over the years, Holmes, Galli and Steffler brought the band back together in 2010 (MacLean died in 2008.) The band was inducted into the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame in 2010. On September 28, 2023, Platinum Blonde was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.[2]

History

hairdressing and played in bands on the side.[4] Platinum Blonde was initially formed in Toronto in 1979 as a punk and new wave band that consisted of Mark Holmes on vocals and guitar, Joey Ciotti on vocals and bass guitar, and Ray Bailie on drums.[5][6] They played songs by such artists as Marc Bolan, Gary Glitter and The Police.[4] In 1980 they released a seven-inch single with the songs "Hey Hey You" and "No Regrets", but eventually disbanded.[6]

In 1982, Holmes placed a

want ad in a Toronto newspaper looking for new musicians to join the band.[4] Percussionist Chris Steffler and guitarist Sergio Galli answered the ad.[4] Steffler (b. 1958/1959) grew-up in Wasaga Beach, where his parents owned a trailer park and campground, and where Steffler played drums for local bands before moving to Toronto in 1978.[7] Galli (b. 1959/1960) was enrolled in the architecture program at the University of Toronto when he answered Holmes' ad.[8]

The band recorded a seven track

MuchMusic (later known as Much) also launched in 1984, further exposing their music to a wider audience.[7][13]

While the band's lyrics were not particularly romantic, ("Not In Love", for example, was quite the opposite,) the band's look in combination with their music's catchy pop hooks attracted a fanbase that consisted heavily of teenage girls.[4] The band held a free concert at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square in 1983 that attracted a crowd of 25,000 screaming fans and resulted in 40 people being sent to hospital.[13] By 1984 they were one of the top-selling Canadian bands in Canada, second only to Rush.[14] The band toured across Canada on Bryan Adams' 1983 tour and on Billy Idol's Rebel Yell tour in 1984.[10] They also played New York City's The Ritz with Dead or Alive in 1984.[10]

Scottish musician Kenny MacLean joined the band in 1985, taking over the role of bassist from Holmes and also playing keyboards, and Platinum Blonde released their second album, Alien Shores.[15][16] Produced by British producer Eddy Offord, the album was a departure from their first two releases and added elements of funk.[17] Holmes said that the sound was greatly influenced by the Ohio Players.[17] The five songs on the second half of the album were also written around the concept of extraterrestrials visiting Earth thousands of years ago, inspired by a theory posited by author Erich von Däniken in his novel Chariots of the Gods?.[17] Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson also contributed a guitar solo.[18] Singles from the album included "Situation Critical", "Crying Over You", "Somebody Somewhere", and "Hungry Eyes". "Crying Over You" marked the band's first #1 single and went gold.[19] The video for "Crying Over You" won a Gemini Award for best music video and Alien Shores sold over 500,000 copies.[11][20][21]

Steffler left the band in 1987 was replaced by drummer Alexander "Sascha" Tukatsch, who provided percussion for Platinum Blonde's 1988 album,

sci-fi television series War of the Worlds, as well as in the episode "Mug Shot" on the Mr. T series T. and T.[25][26]

While Contact was positively received by critics, and the title track was a modest hit in Canada, the album sold 150,000 and did not become the breakthrough into the US market that the band had hoped for.[22][23][27] The band parted ways in 1989 and the following year Yeah Yeah Yeah was released under the band name The Blondes.[8][28] MacLean, who also released a solo album that same year, told the Calgary Herald that he was "not proud of" Yeah Yeah Yeah and that it was produced out of "contractual obligation."[15] In 1999 Holmes told Maclean's that drugs and poor business decisions played a role in the band's demise and told the Edmonton Journal that he had been involved in a four-year battle with Sony to regain the rights to his songs and get out of his contracts.[11][28]

After the break-up, Galli created his own architectural design firm, called Belair Design.

happenings of the 1960s, these club events parlayed into the establishment the Mod Club Theatre in 2002, which was co-founded by Holmes and where he would sometimes spin records under the moniker DJ MRK.[31][32]

On November 21, 2008, MacLean held a CD release party at the Mod Club for his third solo album Completely.[33] MacLean and Holmes also played some Platinum Blonde songs for the attendees.[34] MacLean had been suggesting to Holmes for some time that the band get back together, but he died of a heart attack within hours of his performance at the Mod Club.[34] MacLean's body was found in his apartment three days later.[29]

In 2010, Holmes, Galli, and Steffler reunited and played their first Platinum Blonde reunion show at the Mod Club.

Crystal Castles released a version of "Not in Love" featuring Robert Smith of The Cure on vocals.[34] Steffler was unable to continue to play with the band after developing tinnitus.[34]

In June 2012, Platinum Blonde members Mark Holmes and Sergio Galli, along with drummer Dan Todd and bassist Rob Laidlaw released the album Now & Never.[5] As of 2020, the band was reformed as a trio with Mark Holmes returning to playing bass, Sergio Galli returning on guitar, and Justin "Juice" Kadis on drums.[citation needed]

On September 28, 2023, Platinum Blonde was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame at the Canada's Rock of Fame induction ceremony at Massey Hall[2]

Musical and visual style

Platinum Blonde's early sound was a mix of new wave and pop rock, mixed with heavier, arena rock-style guitar.[4][16][30] Their highly financed videos and fashion conscious look, along with Holmes's British accent-inflected vocals, drew comparisons to Duran Duran.[1][14][17] Due in part to their blonde spiky hairstyles and fashion choices, in combination with Platinum Blonde's early days covering the band, there were also comparisons drawn between Platinum Blonde and The Police.[4][16][19]

In 1984, Liam Lacey of

VJ Christopher Ward described their sound as "deftly mixing strains of Elvis Costello, The Police and Tears for Fears with big sing-along choruses."[1]

Throughout the 1980s, the entire band had long blond hair, often spiky, teased or tousled.

make up.[5][13][38] In their early videos they were portrayed with an aloof demeanor.[14] The band's look and attitude was described by the press as "pretty", "glamorous", "cocky" and "androgynous."[14][18][22]

In 1985, Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail described the band's look as "sort of Duran Duran meets Rod Stewart" and Alan Niester, also of The Globe and Mail, said that same year, "the band managed to create its own fashion revolution, manufacturing a flashy, sophisticated Platinum Blonde 'look' that was copied by its fans across the country."[14][17] Mike Devlin of the Times Colonist wrote in 1999: "The band's blonde, tousled manes inspired a legion of hairdo followers. Their Dayglo suits started a fashion revolution. Their arty videos helped shape the early image of MuchMusic."[38]

Their esthetic was very popular with teenage girls, somewhat to the band's dismay. Holmes told the Ottawa Citizen in 1985, "We are often judged by the first three rows of screaming girls. They don't look beyond that to where the college students and our older fans are sitting. Being judged by our appearance and by people fainting often shatters what we are doing musically. It is painful for us sometimes."[19] In a 1990 interview with the Calgary Herald, MacLean said "We were the New Kids on the Block of that period," and added "I still like the music, so I would never be embarrassed about being a teen idol."[15]

Band members

Current

  • Mark Holmes – vocals (1979–1990, 2010–present), guitar (1979–1982) bass (1982–1984, 2014–present)
  • Sergio Galli – guitar (1982–1990, 2010–present)
  • Justin Kadis – drums (2020–present)

Former

  • Joey Ciotti – vocals, bass (1979–1981)
  • Ray Bailie – drums (1979–1981)
  • Chris Steffler – drums (1982–1987, 2010–2012)
  • Kenny MacLean – bass, keyboards (1985–1990; died 2008)
  • Sascha Tukatsch – drums (1987–1990)
  • Rob Laidlaw – bass (2010–2013)
  • Daniel Todd – drums (2012–2019)
Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Best of Live (1993)

Compilation albums

Extended plays

  • Platinum Blonde
     (1983)

Singles

Title Release Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[39] 		US
[40]
"No Regrets" 1980  — — non-album single
"Doesn't Really Matter" 1983 31 — Standing in the Dark
"Standing in the Dark" 43 —
"Sad Sad Rain" 1984 57 —
"Not in Love" 44 —
"Take It from Me" 1985 — —
"Crying Over You" 1 — Alien Shores
"Situation Critical" 8 —
"Somebody Somewhere" 1986 23 82
"Hungry Eyes" 57 —
"Father Christmas" — — non-album single
"Contact" 1987 13 — Contact
"Connect Me" 45 —
"Fire" 1988 49 —
"If You Go This Time" 71 —
"Yeah Yeah Yeah"
(as The Blondes) 		1990 75 — Yeah Yeah Yeah
"Beautiful" 2012 — — Now & Never
"Hi 2 B Lo" 2020 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9780345810359
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  2. ^ a b "Canada's Walk of Fame". Canadaswalkoffame.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
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    . July 26, 2007. p. A6. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. 1960, Mark Holmes of the Canadian rock group Platinum Blonde was born.
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  5. ^ a b c d Rellinger, Paul (August 19, 2016). ""Devil music" still getting its due courtesy of reborn Platinum Blonde". kawarthaNOW.com. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Platinum Blonde – Hey Hey You / No Regrets". Discogs. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e Hayes, David (December 12, 2011). "Rocker marches to his own beat: Chris Steffler has lived in the same west-end apartment for 30 years". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
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  33. ^ "Mourners celebrate life of Platinum Blonde bassist". CTV News. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Press. December 5, 2008. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  34. ^ a b c d "Platinum Blonde frontman says band back because world needed rock stars". Waterloo Region Record. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Press. August 19, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  35. ^
    ProQuest 2220074420. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via ProQuest
    . I miss him so much. We decided, because of Kenny, that we would get back together. It was great to play together the other night (Wednesday at the Mod Club in Toronto). We wish Kenny was there.
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  39. ^ "Canadian peaks". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
  40. ^ "Platinum Blonde Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 November 2023.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Platinum_Blonde_(band)&oldid=1211785469"