User:Waugh111

Little Alex The Legacy

It all started in 1974 with a band called " the Rats /Then"ICON" featuring Chuck Brown a classical guitar genius, and Alan Waugh a percussionist.

"ICON" then morphed many times, adding Duncan Reith on bass "ICON" never achieved their potential , and dissolved.

In 1976, not satisfied, yet so heavily influenced by the music of David Bowie, Mott The Hoople , T Rex , and itching to create something new Alan Waugh , and Chuck Brown began co writing new original material and wanted to take an edgy new original band to the club scene..........

In 1977 a new glam /alternative high energy band " Ronno " was formed with new supporting members on the drums, and bass. The band played their first of many shows @ club that later was to become tagged as the "punk rock Museum" in TO, a club called " The Turning Point ". The club owner's Joe, and Anne were so impressed by "Ronno" at a first glance, they penciled the band in for every Saturday night for a period of one year. "Ronno" also gigged at other clubs in TO, as well as in Hamilton ,and were again favorites @ both college / university pubs also.

Although the band had some measured success, and had started a cult following , the band then morphed again, after going through several bass players, and drummers , the founding members Alan Waugh, and Chuck Brown wanted to form an entire inclusive band that would just become " one ", and set out to interview players that would potentially become one with the band's founders. Kevin MacNamee became the new drummer, and then Mike Bernachi became the new bass player.This new band had began a new journey to become "one" as a band, and collectively came up with a new formula to increase revenue ,and exposure. That plan was to become a cover band that played the songs by the artists that had so influenced them, and to the introduce new original material that they wrote also.

So In 1979 the band came out of rehearsals called themselves " Midnight Rambler", and hit the clubs again covering, The Stones , Bowie , Mott The Hoople, and T Rex , while strategically introducing some newer original material as well. This new formula, and strategy worked very well,, as the band was known for its rendition of that great Stones song " Midnight Rambler" and was a hit ,around town. "Midnight Rambler "played throughout Southern Ontario getting regular work as a cover band, and getting a great response to the introduction of their original material as well , playing clubs like Larry's Hideaway , The Silver Dollar , The Elmocambo , The Upper Lip , Nickelodeon, The Gladstone , etc...

However Disco New Wave and the Eighties were fast approaching, a time and culture that would see rock n roll , with tube amps would become techno pop , and long hair , become big hair.

The Band as "one" regrouped, and resisted the changes in the current music culture. They were approached by Greg Houghton a friend, and believer in the song writers original material. Greg asked if they would consider going for it, and forming an "original band" to show case the bands music in hopes of getting signed to a major recording contract. Greg agreed to also manage the band if the band if the band would agree. So once again the band morphed as "one", writing new material , creating a new image ,and changing the band's name to "Little Alex" inspired by the film " A Clockwork Orange "

In 1981-1984 "Little Alex " actually became quite successful on the club scene, while also engaging the University, and College campuses in Toronto , Oakville ,and Hamilton. "Little Alex " were also added on some local concert billings as well. On a point of intrest "Little Alex" also played on the same circuit as some club bands you may recall, Oliver Heavyside, Trixie Goes Hollywood, Goddo ,Teenage Head , The Diodes etc..... and again surprisingly found favour in 1983 with a certain club manager , and once again landed another one year gig at a club in Toronto called "Derringers" on Friday nights for a period of one year. Many acts from Montreal would frequent the club, and on occasion a certain tight three piece band "Mars" would open for "Little Alex". L/A band members took notice of a song that "Mars" had written and preformed, a catchy tune entitled " New Girl Now". This relationship would soon become "Little Alex's " claim to fame, but also ironically become the end of the band as well. All that time, and all the hard work would finally catch up to the band, and any success accomplished ,would quickly disappear. An agent had heard "Little Alex" @ Derringers, and arranged a showcase for the band at the "Elmocambo" Nov 15th 1984 playing with another up ,and coming band 'MEDIA MANIA".

The bands would be playing for a record label, and industry management team in attendance, a new manager Chris McConnell was going to get one band signed to record deal. "Little Alex" were burnt out, dealing with internal battles, personal relationships, and drifting interests , basically blew it , probably preformed their worst show ever !

The band "Mars" eventually got that recording deal, and it was clinched with the demo song they submitted , and which won a Q107 Homegrown contest , and went on to be recorded and become a hit " New Girl Now". The record label added two bodies for looks, and they changed their name to "Honeymoon suite" the rest is history.

After "Little Alex" broke up, Alan and Chuck went on their separate ways ,to individual solo projects , however only Chuck persevered , going on to a full time career in music.

Chuck toured across Canada with many acts, and opened for many artists including The Spoons , and Burton Cummings

"Little Alex "also had some moderate success with Q107's Homegrown Contest " with Little Alex's" last band demo submission that was in 1983, but was nothing like the songs he ,or Chuck used to write when the band had set out to change the world, with raw power @ the Turning Point in the seventies, it was the last demo recorded by the band.

Chuck would go on to have some success on his own, with solo demo submissions to the Q107 homegrown contest in 1984, and again in 1985.

Band friends " Trixie Goes Hollywood "would also go on to have some success with a demo they submitted also.

19 years later ... at Chuck Brown's 40th b-day party @ his wife's art studio MT Wall in Toronto, many of the bands ,fans ,friends ,and family were invited for the very special occasion. Chuck ,and Alan were reunited ,and later in the evening someone brought out a couple of guitars, and the two tried to play a couple of songs. Still sounding relatively the same, minus a little hair someone suggested a reunion show ?

Shortly after the birthday party a friend of Alan's who is a very gifted recording artist ,and Juno Nominee for her CD release "Shine Like Stars", "Bec Abbot" , also encouraged Alan to just bring it together , asking the question why not ?

After months of shaking off the rust for Alan ,and Mike who were retired from music for those 19 years, the band was successfully booked by Craig Laskey @ the Horseshoe for " January 16 2003 @ the Horseshoe Tavern" in what was called " A Reunion @ the Shoe" a show for "Little Alex ".

The show was packed out with bus loads of old fans, coworkers, family ,and friends, and Bec Abbot and her family were also there in support, and she preformed an incredible set of music that was simply a delight and so well received by an already anxious audience. The night was so "electric" and was probably the best show the band "Little Alex " had ever played ,and probably even more important the band was still "one" again.

Included in the show were all the original songs from the beginning to the end, plus 4 newly inspired songs more recently written, and rehearsed before the reunion show by Alan , Chuck , and Kevin. The band surprised by the success, then chose carefully, and gigged strategically from 2003 - 2006, ending with another reunion of sorts, playing the Horseshoe Tavern again in support of old mates "Trixie Goes Hollywood", then again @ a show @ the Gig Theatre a new venue in Kitchener with "The Kings" and "Trixie Goes Hollywood".

In the summer of 2008" Little Alex " hit cottage country with The Kings and Trixe Goes Hollywood with a show @ the KEE in Bala!

Update 2009 : Well they are at it again ! "Little Alex" will team up with Kim and "Smooth Monkey" this year in an effort to raise awareness of the Organization ......Urban EX "Change the World by Changing You" this summer with the beginning of " The UrbanEx Outta the Box Tour" starting Fri June 26th @ the Oakville Waterfront Festival with Smooth Monkey and the Kings come see us at the (UrbanEx Gummy Bear Info Booth:) Stay tuned for more dates.

Update 2010 : After a brush with death and the loss of my voice took a year off:) now just getting my voice back and recording again. Planning a mini tour "Best of Both Worlds 2012" Somehow its just not as it seems....Stay tuned the best is yet to come:)

Kitchener Festival Nov 2012 Music 4 The Missing KW City Hall/Dec with Trooper Finally recording to release our long over due recording stay tuned. 13 Festivals in Southern Ontario 2013 ..

Little Alex and Popular Minority Productions present: A Film Project : "Wham Bam Thank you Glam !" A Documentary on the invasion of Glam on North America and the effect it had on one young band in Toronto "Little Alex " and The Toronto Music Scene........ Filming starts just before Christmas early New year to be screened Fall 2013 Description "1979 "Little Alex " hit the stage on a year long stint at the "Turning Point".1981-1985 Little Alex became successful on the Club & the University, & College scene in Toronto & Southern Ontario area. A "Little Alex" reunion @ the Horseshoe 2003 was incredible and relevant with new songs were back! General Information Kitchener Festival Nov 2012 Music 4 The Missing KW City Hall/Dec with Trooper Finally recording to release our long over due recording stay tuned. 13 Festivals in Southern Ontario 2013 . .Little Alex and Popular Minority Productions presents: A Film Project : "Wham Bam Thank you Glam !" A Documentary on the invasion of Glam on North America and the effect it had on one young band in Toronto "Little Alex " and The Toronto Music Scene........ Filming starts just before Christmas early New year to be screened Fall 2013