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April 27 - May 4,2003 |
Hall of Famer Cochrane
Tom reunited with Red Rider on the rock 'n roll highway
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2003-04-13
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Tom Cochrane
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During a ceremony in Ottawa over the past Juno Awards weekend, Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The Oakville-based singer/songwriter told Tandem recently that he is thrilled to now tread in the footsteps of some key musical inspirations and peers.
"I am following Daniel Lanois from last year, and in my estimation, he's the greatest producer that ever lived. And it was Bruce Cockburn the year before, and he was an inspiration from my Yorkville coffee-house days. I will still never consider myself in the same company as [fellow Hall of Famers] Joni Mitchell or Neil Young or The Band. These were my mentors, unbeknownst to them, from when I first picked up the guitar."
Cochrane may be modest about the honour, but it is the just reward for a fascinating musical voyage that began over 30 years ago. He is quick to stress, however, that, on the verge of turning 50, he is not about to hang up his guitar any time soon.
"I want people to realize I am not retiring. I feel I have some of my best work in front of me," he insists. The recent hit single, "Just Like Ali," showed that Cochrane can still deliver the goods, and he is excited about the cross-Canada tour he has just begun with a reunited Red Rider.
That band, featuring Tom as singer and chief songwriter, enjoyed significant success in Canada and the U.S. in the early '80s, delivering four acclaimed studio albums between 1980 and 1984. Some of the best Red Rider material (tunes like "White Hot" and the still topical "Lunatic Fringe") from that period is featured on Trapeze, a well-received double CD Cochrane retrospective that appeared last year.
Back in the saddle with Tom now is original Red Rider bassist Jeff Jones and pedal steel player Ken Greer. "Jonesy is a wonderful spirit to have around, and Kenny is sounding great," praises Cochrane. " 'Just Like Ali' has created a different level of awareness. A couple of the shows we've done a young audience has come out, and that's exciting."
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