Hard Rock Miners

Hard Rock Miners
Band Photo
Background information
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia
Genres	Rockabilly/hillbilly/country/folk
Years active	1985 (1985)–
Labels	Epic/Sony Music Canada
Past members	Michael Phillips, Scooter Johnson, Oliver Metson, Ingrid Mary Percy, Michael Turner, Peter Carr, Bill Ryan

The Hard Rock Miners were a Canadian rockabilly/hillbilly/country/folk band based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 1985, The Hard Rock Miners could be found busking on the streets of Vancouver, particularly on the very trendy Robson Street in the city's Downtown West End. Their music could be best described as eclectic. As they moved to gigs at Vancouver venues, their instrumentation included acoustic and electric guitars, and washboard amongst others. Their musical stylings with this essentially electrified bluegrass lineup included 'Pistol Packin' Mama', the Brothers Johnson's 'Get The Funk Out of My Face', Nancy Sinatra's 'These Boots Were Made For Walkin' and speedy punked up versions of other country and western, funk, punk, and pop classics. They were a band with a sense of humour par excellence. At the time, a definite must see for those who enjoy a party atmosphere. While filming the feature film "Cousins" (1989)in Vancouver, cast members Isabella Rossellini, Ted Danson and Sean Young were often spotted in the large crowds that formed around their performances.

The band was formed in 1987 by Michael Phillips-Guitar/Vocals, Scooter Johnson-Bucket Bass/Vocals, Oliver Metson-Washboard/Vocals, Ingrid Mary Percy-Vocals, Michael Turner-Guitar/Banjo/Vocals, Peter Carr-Snare Drum/Cymb./Vocals and Bill Ryan-Things that make noise/Vocals/Drunk Dancing. Turner later became an author, penning the books Hard Core Logo, American Whiskey Bar and The Pornographer's Poem and Carr went on to Producing Film and Television including Gough Lewis's 1997 controversial Sundance Festival winner "SEX; The Annabel Chong Story".

In 1991 Carr and Johnson opened a comic, cult video and cappuccino bar called Pop Media Culture. The store featured independent press comics, fanzines and cult videos which were not appreciated by members of Canada Customs who confiscated material frequently forcing them to close. The store also served as a HUB for up and coming bands who would perform at their infamous make rent party's. Turner and Percy left the band in 1993.

The band performed several cross-Canada tours headlining & opening for international acts such as 'The Proclaimers', 'Country Dick Montana', 'The Pixies','The Pogues' and has soldiered on with a mildly fluctuating membership.

Aside from the band's original 1985 line up, (which no longer contains any original members), plying their talents in the Miners over the years have been long time stalwarts Rob Thomson (guitar / vocals), Ike Eidsness (drums) and Paul Gould (mandolin The band also features the string wizardry on guitar and fiddle of Sexy Pierre Lumoncel who joined the band in 1990 and toured and recorded with the band throughout. / banjo), as well as Keith Rose (Roots Roundup), Ford Pier (SNFU, D.O.A.) and Linda McRae (Spirit of the West).

Currently, the Hard Rock Miners perform only upon request for music industry functions and charity events.

Discography

• Making The Bedrock (on tape)
• The Final Frontier (Epic/Sony Music Canada)
• Rock 'n Roll Welfare
• Play City Billy