Titan
Band Members:
Original Lineup:
David Roberts (Vocals, Keyboards)
Peter Large (Drums)
John Tate (Keyboards)
Dana Westall (Bass)
Steve (Jughead) Brown (Guitar)
Brian Frail (Guitar)
Other members:
Bruce Nelson (Guitar Replaced Frail, 1977)
Mark Desjardins (Guitar Replaced Brown, 1977)
John Biggs (Bass Replaced Westall, Spring 1979)
Jim Rice (Guitar Replaced Desjardins, Spring 1979)
Moe Lauzon (Guitar Replaced Rice, Fall 1979)
Ron Mayer (Bass Replaced Biggs, 1981)
Biography:
WRITTEN BY JIM RICE
Band was formed in 1976 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and spent their first
couple of years playing mainly school dances throughout the Canadian
Atlantic Provinces. Invested a large portion of revenue
back into the band, in time creating the largest light show ever
owned by a working band in the area. Band's lighting technician,
Peter Hendrickson eventually started renting out the lights and
formed Tour Tech East Ltd., still a major local and international force for
professional lighting and audio systems.
Recorded two independent singles, one of which Won't You Come
With Me reached number 9 on the local rock radio station and then
hit #33 in the top 100 songs of 1978. In 1979 the band was
featured on the national CBC Radio program, "The Great
Canadian Gold Rush" which was focusing on up and coming
bands from across Canada. Three songs were recorded for the
special "Light Up The Night", "Stole My Love"
and "Hold Me". This session was produced by Claire
Lawrence of Chilliwack fame.
In the Summer of 1979, the band opened shows for Moxy and Max
Webster (reprising a similar appearance the year before in
Welland, Ontario). Along with original material, the band at this
time featured what local reviewers said were, "a masterful
medley of Queen's music" and, "a superb rendition of
Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven". While opening for Max
Webster, Titan became the first local act to appear in the newly
opened Halifax Metro Centre.
Band spent the next few years traveling extensively throughout
Central and Western Canada and were "discovered" by Los
Angeles musician/producer/songwriter, Kim Fowley (Byrds, Frank
Zappa, Runaways). This union resulted in the song, "Midnight
Romeo" which appeared on the Eastern Alliance album in 1982.
Fowley had heard of the band through an article in a magazine and
in the hopes of them being the "next Loverboy",
contacted them while they were in St. John's, Newfoundland on
tour. With Bob Segarini producing, the band recorded five songs
at this time but only "Midnight Romeo" has seen the
light of day. Band was being referred to at this time as,
"the first mainstream rock band from Down East", and
"bigger than Loverboy".
Band soon broke up and Nelson and Roberts continued working
together in Bats In The Belfry, Screaming Trees, The Trees and Fire Rooster. They
have since re-united with Titan's original guitarist, Steve Brown
and perform under the name Blueberry Grunt.
John Biggs went on to some local fame as disc jockey and TV host
before eventually leaving Halifax.
Discography:
SINGLES:
197? Play Me/Dreamers(The Great Eastern Production Co.)
1978 Won't You Come With Me/(Why Are You) Leaving Me(Solar
Records)
COMPILATIONS:
1982 Eastern Alliance(CBS)"Midnight Romeo"