Why (Canadian band)

WHY
Background information
Origin Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres Rock
Years active 1993 (1993)–present
Website www.whytheband.com
Members
  • Brian Cook
  • David Kuusselka
  • Dave Bergmuller
  • Eric Norquist

WHY is a Canadian band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1993. They released their first album THE NAKED SOUL in 1994. They use their music to promote and support positive causes. Their most recent album released was WHY "The Leap" (2013) with singles "Weep" and "Do It Scared" are currently recording their next one. WHY had two hit singles from Red, "The Surface" and "Red", the latter winning song of the year on Winnipeg radio station KICK FM. WHY also gained further notoriety with their video and hit single "Prisoner of Hope" in 2010.[1]

Origins

WHY first took shape in 1993 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The name for the band WHY was inspired by lead singer Brian Cook. As Cook explained, "I was watching a TV special on John Lennon around 1992 and there was a part filmed the day he died and fans were all around his and Yoko’s New York apartment with candles and signs and one sign just said "WHY." No question mark, just three capital letters, and I thought, "That’s the most used word in our troubled world." Henry Thoreau said, "Why is the beginning of knowledge," so it seemed right for a band with so many questions."[2]

History

Soon after their formation, WHY released their first album The Naked Soul and followed it up with The Rise and Fall of the Question Mark. After playing shows in support of the latter album, the band underwent a line-up change and did not release their next album, The Lazarus Effect (a medical term for the turnaround that AIDS victims have when put on AIDS meds) until 2002.[3] It was also around this time that WHY began its involvement with the Make Poverty History campaign. Copies of the LAZARUS EFFECT album (the title song having already received air play in major markets across Canada) were also given out before U2 concerts in Ottawa and Montreal and were made available at Make Poverty History and on-line at cdbaby.com with a portion of the proceeds from the album going directly to the charity. The single Keep My Peace was also made into a video.[4]

In 2007, WHY released the album RED. The single (and title track) "Red" was serviced to radio worldwide. "Red" sat a #1 on Winnipeg radio station KICK FM's Top 40 chart for 4 weeks in a row, and was named "Song of the Year". The second single "The Surface" also charted, hitting #1 on KICK FM and #5 on THE Q FM in Victoria, BC and was named on the Winnipeg Free Press' Top 10 songs of 2007.[3] WHY played many shows in Winnipeg supporting the album and appeared on A Channel's The Big Breakfast playing their hit song Red. That same year, WHY was also showcased in Canadian Music Magazine.[3][4][5] In an interview with online magazine Interference, singer Brian Cook explained that The theme of RED was based on all the connotations which the color represents: anger, joy, passion, danger, heat, for example.[2] After the album was completed, Cook became aware of the (RED) campaign and offered the use of WHY's single "Red" at no cost. However, the song was never picked up by the (RED) campaign.[2]

Soon after the release of RED, WHY underwent another line-up change. During this period, WHY released singles "We Started Out (Somebody's Baby)" and "More or Less" as part of Ray Zahab's next film Running the Sahara.[6] This gained them further notoriety and the band soon was back with their now current line-up.[7]

In late 2009, WHY began recording for their next album due out in the fall of 2011. During this period, they recorded and released their hit single and video Prisoner of Hope which charted as high as #6 on Winnipeg's KICK FM. The song was also picked up by several other radio stations throughout Canada. Devastated by the earthquake in Haiti, WHY decided to donate 100% of funds raised by downloads of the song from cdbaby.com and iTunes to UNICEF. The video was also featured on UNICEF's website under the featured videos.[8] During the summer of 2010, the "Prisoner of Hope" video was entered into a contest for an opening slot before Bon Jovi in Winnipeg and made it to the finals losing to Canadian pop star Sierra Noble. Later that same summer, The video was again entered in Winnipeg Radio Station, Curve FM's "Rock on the Range" Contest and was again a finalist. Prisoner of Hope was played on Curve FM and members of the band were interviewed on air.

Since then, WHY has continued to record the rest of their upcoming album and has released the single "Crash into the Future". The band has also recorded a re-mix version featuring Grammy nominee Fresh IE. On World's AIDS Day, 2010, WHY played a benefit concert which also included music by Fresh IE at the Winnipeg Convention Center.[9]

WHY released their fifth album, The Leap, in 2013.

WHY have played festivals, have been opening act for recording artists: DANKO JONES, ILL SCARLETT, EDGAR WINTER and UNCLE KRACKER… WHY recently voted “Best Rock Band In Canada” by INTEL CANADA star search.

Charity work

Singer Brian Cook's devotion to WHY's causes began before the creation of the band. He was involved with World Vision and sponsored a child. He also acted as a World Vision representative showing films and speaking about the mission of World Vision. As time went on, the band has donated proceeds from their albums to The Global Fund, Make Poverty History, and UNICEF.[2]

WHY where just invited by Bono's ONE Campaign to film a performance of an iconic Protest Song to be part of Bono‘s brainchild Agit8 for the G8 to draw attention to extreme poverty. WHY covered The Stones “Gimme Shelter” and invited beloved Winnipeg R&B singer FLO to join the rooftop performance. WHY‘s performance is featured on ONE.org international site.And footage from WHY's performance was featured in the Official ONE trailer. WHY were the only Canadian rock band asked to participate.

WHY continues to support Make Poverty History, UNICEF, and other causes and is committed to raising awareness about these organizations through its music.

WHY's music has been featured on the websites of the charities Impossible 2 Possible and WaterCan, in fundraising efforts for OXFAM, UNICEF, and on Brad Pitt's MySpace page.[5]

Other causes

Personnel

Current members

Discography

Albums[4]

EPs

Singles

References

  1. ↑ "WHY". Myspace. 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Artist Profiles & Interviews : U2 Interference – U2 Fans, Pop Culture Webzine, & More". Interference.com. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  3. 1 2 3 "Canadian Musician Showcase » Blog Archive » Why - July/Aug 2008". Canadianmusician.com. 2008-07-17. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "WHY | Alternative rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada". Whytheband.com. Retrieved 2015-09-05.
  5. 1 2 "Why Artist Page". radio3.cbc.ca. CBC Radio 3. Retrieved 27 February 2011. External link in |work= (help)
  6. ↑ "South Pole Quest on Vimeo". Vimeo.com. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  7. ↑ "WHY | Winnipeg, MB, CA | Alternative / Rock / Pop | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  8. ↑ "Канал користувача unicefcanada". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  9. ↑ "WORLD AIDS DAY CONCERT Winnipeg - WORLD AIDS DAY CONCERT at Winnipeg Convention Centre". Eventful. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
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