Hard Rock Miners

History

In 1985, members of The Hard Rock Miners started out busking on the streets of Vancouver, particularly on 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. This essentially electrified bluegrass lineup played standards, 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 and humorous versions of other country and western, funk, punk, and pop classics.

The band was officially formed in 1987. The original members were singer and guitarist Michael Phillips, bassist and vocalist Scooter Johnson, vocalist Oliver Metson who also played the washboard, singer Ingrid Mary Percy, singer Michael Turner on guitar and banjo, percussionists and singers Peter Carr, and Bill Ryan.

Turner later became an author, penning several books, including Hard Core Logo, which was about his experiences while fronting the band. 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. The store also served as a hub for up and coming bands who would perform at their "make rent" parties. Turner and Percy left the band in 1993.

The band performed several cross-Canada tours, both headlining and opening for international acts such as The 'Proclaimers', 'Country Dick Montana', 'The Pixies', 'D. O. A.', 'The Pogues' and continued to perform with fluctuating membership. All of the band's original members eventually left; replacing them over the years have been long time stalwarts Rob Thomson (guitar / vocals), Ike Eidsness (drums) and Paul Gould (mandolin / banjo), as well as Keith Rose (Roots Roundup), Ford Pier (SNFU, D.O.A.) and Linda McRae (Spirit of the West). The band also features guitarist and fiddler Sexy Pierre Lumoncel who joined the band in 1990 and toured and recorded with the band throughout.

The Hard Rock Miners performed frequently at Vancouver's Railway Club; in later years, the band hosted a monthly singalong there. Currently, the band performs only upon request for music industry functions and charity events.

Discography