Biography
Formed in 1987, Crash Vegas began as a side endeavor when Blue Rodeo guitarist Greg Keelor, long an admirer of Toronto roots singer/songwriter Michelle McAdorey, decided to assemble a band she could front. McAdorey and Keelor brought ex-Martha & the Muffins bassist Jocelyne Lanois and drummer Ambrose Pottie into the group, and the quartet soon performed regularly throughout Toronto whenever Blue Rodeo’s calendar permitted. Within months the new band’s popularity made it impossible for Keelor to continue with both acts; he departed on good terms, after which Colin Cripps, previously of the Spoons, took his place. Crash Vegas quickly secured a deal with Blue Rodeo’s Risque Disque imprint and cut their debut album, Red Earth, in 1989, again utilizing Keelor on guitar. The record yielded the single “Inside Out,” which reached the Canadian Top 20, and drew favorable notices in both Canada and the United States for its folk-rock blend and McAdorey’s forceful, youthful voice.
Risque Disque ceased operations in 1990, leaving Crash Vegas without a label for several years. During the hiatus Lanois, who had grown dissatisfied with the limited inclusion of her own songs, exited and was succeeded by Darren Watson. Eventually signed to Polygram, the band issued its second album, the harder-edged Stone, in 1993; one track was mixed by Nirvana producer Butch Vig, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner, a Crash Vegas enthusiast, contributed songwriting and vocals. Despite solid reviews, the slightly grungier sound produced no hits, and the group again found itself without a contract.
Well-connected allies in the industry kept the band active nonetheless. They appeared on the 1993 charity single “Land,” credited jointly to Midnight Oil, Daniel Lanois, Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas, and the Tragically Hip. Sony Music Canada also enlisted them for its Neil Young tribute Borrowed Tunes in 1994. Their spirited reading of Young’s stark yet hopeful “Pochahontas” was chosen as the album’s lead single, unexpectedly returning Crash Vegas to the Canadian charts after a five-year absence.
Even as the single climbed, the lineup began to fracture; both Pottie and Watson departed while the band was tracking its forthcoming Sony debut. That album, Aurora, arrived in 1995 amid considerable anticipation and generally strong notices, yet sales remained modest. Now reduced to McAdorey and Cripps, the duo recruited Eric Chenaux on bass and Gavin Brown on drums from Phleg Camp to support a Canadian and European tour spanning 1995–1996. Once the trek ended and momentum had again stalled, the pair elected to disband. McAdorey later pursued a low-key solo path, releasing her first album, Whirl, in 2000, while Cripps joined Junkhouse and served as a sideman for Jim Cuddy, Colin Linden, and additional artists.
Risque Disque ceased operations in 1990, leaving Crash Vegas without a label for several years. During the hiatus Lanois, who had grown dissatisfied with the limited inclusion of her own songs, exited and was succeeded by Darren Watson. Eventually signed to Polygram, the band issued its second album, the harder-edged Stone, in 1993; one track was mixed by Nirvana producer Butch Vig, and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner, a Crash Vegas enthusiast, contributed songwriting and vocals. Despite solid reviews, the slightly grungier sound produced no hits, and the group again found itself without a contract.
Well-connected allies in the industry kept the band active nonetheless. They appeared on the 1993 charity single “Land,” credited jointly to Midnight Oil, Daniel Lanois, Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas, and the Tragically Hip. Sony Music Canada also enlisted them for its Neil Young tribute Borrowed Tunes in 1994. Their spirited reading of Young’s stark yet hopeful “Pochahontas” was chosen as the album’s lead single, unexpectedly returning Crash Vegas to the Canadian charts after a five-year absence.
Even as the single climbed, the lineup began to fracture; both Pottie and Watson departed while the band was tracking its forthcoming Sony debut. That album, Aurora, arrived in 1995 amid considerable anticipation and generally strong notices, yet sales remained modest. Now reduced to McAdorey and Cripps, the duo recruited Eric Chenaux on bass and Gavin Brown on drums from Phleg Camp to support a Canadian and European tour spanning 1995–1996. Once the trek ended and momentum had again stalled, the pair elected to disband. McAdorey later pursued a low-key solo path, releasing her first album, Whirl, in 2000, while Cripps joined Junkhouse and served as a sideman for Jim Cuddy, Colin Linden, and additional artists.
Albums
Singles
