I can’t recall how this recording session came together. The Katz were all involved in sideline projects at the time. Rick was playing with a punk band out of Burlington, Ont., called the Heebie Geebies and was also cutting demos with some of the guys who’d form Eye Eye. I was recording with the guitarist from Groovy Religion and had begun to abandon the drums in favor of writing and recording with a Korg synth and some Roland sequencers. Gord and longtime friend Simon Clemo had begun writing and recording in closed sessions at Midnight Productions and Lance, while often working with Gord on his own demos, had begun plans to move Midnight Productions from Oakville, Ont., to Toronto. (I’d eventually sell my share of the studio when Rick and I started playing in the cover band Persons Unknown.)
As foregone as the Katz’ disintegration may have been, this recording of the Clash hit “Police on My Back” (recorded at Nimbus 9 in Toronto’s Yorkville district) was an unexpected return to what the Katz had always been—a straight-up rock band, aggressive and uncomplicated, with Rick driving the whole thing on his trademark, brass-plated Fender Stratocaster. It was one of the most thrilling recording experiences of my life.
credits
from Kat Trax,
track released January 26, 2011
Xristopher Bland: vocals, keyboards
Rick Wood: rhythm, lead guitars
Lance Bland: rhythm guitar
Gord Bell: bass
Jeff Branch: drums
Engineered by Vince Newly
Recorded at Nimbus 9
“Police on My Back,” written by Eddy Grant for the Clash album “Sandinista!”
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