The Music of Marc Grainge

The other day I was walking with my brother Jeff down Carlton St in Toronto. As we strolled past Maple Leaf Gardens I recalled reading how the Carlton Cinema was scheduled to re-open after extensive renovation. A few things came to mind – namely memories of Marc, me and the movies.

Music was the thing that truly bonded us, and we played our fair share together, but the movies were a true escape and a place to experience new worlds, exotic lands, and new concepts and intellectual landscapes. I recall some amazing movies at the Carlton but the one that most brings Marc to mind is Jesus of Montreal. Read more »

Sometimes I think about how long it’s been since we lost Marc. I started this website, in part, because I felt often that we didn’t lose him at all— that he’s really still here, inhabiting the air with with his wit, humour and enthusiasm.

The other day a friend sent me a link to a Wikipedia page for a Latin American author who died at the rather youthful age of 42. José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and revolutionary / thinker / professor / publisher. I think Marc was also a man who wore many hats. And I wonder what his epitaph would read? Does one exist? Read more »

If you didn’t realize it already, there is a great music player on the site. You just have to click the link at top left and a new window will open with a flash music player. when I play Marc’s tunes I like to go to the “Photos” page and click one of the 3 photos and open it to full screen and have Marc large as life in my monitor while he croons away in the background.

I hope you enjoy it. If you have any suggestions for songs I should add please let me know by email: mike (at) strongandfree (dot) ca

It’s been a long time since I did an update – or so it feels. I suppose getting something up every couple months isn’t a bad pace. Recently I started thinking about compiling some of Marc’s music and printing a CD or two. One of the best of the unpublished recordings, and something that was never released on cassette, is a 5-song EP I call “Live at Ryerson.” Marc recorded it with John Hajdu at Ryerson University in Toronto – shortly after my band “Spy Boy 5″ recorded some tunes there as well. Wayne was guest vocalist, the tapes recorded voice and guitar live with no overdubs, and the rest is history. Truth be told, this is the gem that needs to reach an audience. Marc’s last album “The Tide,” was never properly recorded and a handful of songs were near completion. “Live at Ryerson” is the last great recording Marc made. Looking forward to your comments.

Mike

Happy go lucky - Marc at "the Simpson's"

Photo by Ian Robertson

For more photographs from this set please click the “Photos” link at left

Some progress to announce on letting people hear Marc’s music! I have created a page on this site with a music player (click to open at left) – and I have uploaded the same mp3s to the Facebook group. Some recent additions include recordings of “Tired of Lines” and “Pulling My Pud.”

“Tired of Lines” is a beautiful song and it’s a high-quality recording.  It is one of the songs from an EP I call “Ryerson” which was recorded at Ryerson University in Toronto. There are 5 songs and at the end of the EP Wayne Bishop joins Marc on a typically rousing edition of “Convince Me” (two marvelous takes were recorded). I have mocked up some artwork in anticipation that this wonderful timeless music might be able to be formally published someday soon.

“Pulling My Pud” is a fun track that most people know from Marc performing in a live setting – so appropriately it’s from a live recording Marc made for me in the spring of 1994.

As a little bonus I have also included an mp3 of Jason Vincent and Chris Watts singing a song they wrote called “The Understudy,” inspired by Marc. It’s only 80 kbps but sounds pretty good.

Graham has kindly offered to share some of his amazing writing with Marc’s family, friends and fans, and I have some excerpts and stories for you. FYI – Graham knew Marc and spent a lot of time with him and Sarah when he lived in Vancouver during Marc’s last few years.  I was a bit sad that I never attended Marc’s funeral, but I got to spend time with Marc in 1994 over 4 weeks in Vancouver.  I was delighted when Graham agreed to write down his account of a very unusual ceremony performed for Marc that I have included here as an attachment. The story is called ‘Medicine Man’ and is a glimpse into the spiritual life of Marc and his appreciation and involvement with native culture. It is a quick download and a ‘must read.’

Here, is an excerpt from a work that Graham calls “Stills’ Life” and the excerpt is titled “A Friend’s Passing.” Thank you Graham!

A Friend’s Passing

Marc had a terminal disease which came at a shockingly young age compared to its average, ‘though there’s no good time for such a thing for anyone. Among the many, many descriptions of him, he was also a musician who played the guitar and wrote and sang his own songs. He sang softly, with long, emotive intonation, whereas his non-singing voice was energetic, enthusiastic and often accompanied by a deep, loud, unique laugh.

At the time, Marc and Roland were living in a coastal city far from most of their families and friends. Marc had gone through treatments and remedies, embracing-hoping-and-discarding the last one for the next one when no gain was made. In that city, Marc and Roland would meet on Saturday evenings for a mug of peppermint tea in a café near Marc’s home –often his only weekly outing- and talk comfortably while searching for jokes.

Weeks and months went by. Marc got thinner and ate less and less. Tiredness was constant.

The day before he passed, Roland visited him in his home, in his bed. Marc’s family and girlfriend and caregiver were also there. He lay in his bed with that yellow complexion that all people get near the end, but his eyes were bright and loving. He drank a little water, and Roland did not know how to stand properly or what to say or do. Marc knew this. Before Roland left, the last words Marc spoke to him were, “I love you.” Roland replied the same, but with a millionth of the wisdom in his friend’s voice.

The wandering grief and sadness Roland later felt were helped and eventually cured by the realization that his friend would not want him to be sad. Rather, Marc would want Roland to remember him fondly and to feel happy and appreciative for life and being alive. Roland rarely forgot this.

Download: Medicine Man (Word)

Today I’m determined to get on track with the archival of photographs. I have a dozen cassettes of Marc’s, but very few photographs and that bothered me a bit. Today I’m posting photos of Marc, his friends, and the places he loved – both here and at the Facebook group. (I know Sarah has some photos she is preparing to scan. looking forward to seeing them!)

Pender Harbour was a place I was very luck to stay when I visited Marc in BC in 1994. I stayed at Ingrid’s house and Marc drove us up on a Friday. I can still remember the ferry ride, and driving through dusk into the night. Marc stayed briefly, maybe two nights, and then left me for about 3-4 days. During that time I chilled out, rode bikes, and climbed Mt. Daniel – which is the topmost of the two pictures here. I wrote some poetry, which will appear on these pages sometime soon, and I was very happy to meet Marc’s family in Pender Harbour – Ingrid wasn’t there, but her sister and mother were helpful hosts – and I even had a Jack Kerouac moment when in exchange for a great dinner I delivered an impromptu poetry reading at Marc’s grandmother’s.

Mt. Daniel was one aspect of a place that was very important to Marc. On our full day together there, he brought me on a hike to the summitt and explained the history of the area and talked about the native ceremonies – as we passed spots on the mountain where campfires and traditional ceremonies take place. I ad a scare in the following days when I hiked up alone. Shortly after I took this picture with the self-timer, I heard from somewhere behind me, a terrific snort from some  kind of very large animal. I had been sitting in the sun, very tranquil and suddenly I had goodebumps and pure panic set in. I heard some snapping twigs and whether it was a bear, or cougar or other animal I still don’t know – but it was one of the most amazing crazy experiences of my life. I waited 10 minutes and then ran down the mountain in record time.

Thank you Marc, Ingrid and family for your amazing hospitality.

FYI – the lower picture is of ‘Oyster Bay’ – Marc’s mom’s place – low tide, early morning… for those traveling to the area, you can google maps for “Sunshine coast” and “Garden Bay”. it is a spectacular place, not too far off from Vancouver.

Here’s a little treat for you. Some postcards Marc sent me. We used to have a great written correspondence – we traded cassettes of our music, sent letters and even had a little postcard contest going – to see who could get the most debauched card through Canada Post! I’ve taken a picture of some classic cards here and the one with the woman’s legs, well, yeah, that won the ‘contest.’ Here’s a short description of each (from top left, clockwise):

1. Campbell’s Soup – Warhol print – 1995- Marc writes to Mike, Andrew, Brad on Palmerston Blvd: “…Just went to Andy Warhol exhibition…How’s life? Mine has been pretty transcendental…Cheers, and stay cool, Marc”

2. Bilibili – Fiji (around ’96 methinks) – The photo is a serene photo of a traditional Fijian boat – Marc writes to ‘Mike and friends’: “Fiji and Rarotonga have just been beautiful! So far Sarah and I have been snorkeling, sightseeing, harassed by shop owners and sellers and taken a cruise to some amazing islands. The folks here drink lots of kava, a mellow numbing sedative. So far I haven’t managed to get much of an effect from it yet (it’s accumulative) but am still trying… getting ready to go to New Zealand…Take care guys and Cheers, Marc”

3. Keith Richards painting – 1997 – Marc writes to me in Ajax: “Hey Mike, heard you are planning on coming out – sounds good!… It’s great having Graham out here… Ciao, Marc”.

4. Obscene Fat Lady in the surf ‘card’ – 1992 -This wasn’t really a postcard, and Marc and I had joked about sending ‘raunchy’ cards through the mail. We sent about 2-3 before our enthusiasm tailed off.

5. Painting by Nicotina Ceecepe – 1993 – Marc writes to Mike at Dovercourt Ave: “Here’s a little red eros for ya Mikey… Guadeloupe was wild, mucho smoko… say ‘h’ to Chris for me… Cheers, happy 1993, Marc” (on the top of the front he writes “say fella, what do you think of my pussy?” – crass card number 2)

6. Edmonton – early photo of Paddle Wheel boat – 1994 – Marc writes about music, and hanging out in BC, and asks about life in Ontario, and then adds a quote from one of his favorite writers, Kahlil Gibran: “Darkness may hide the trees and the flowers from the eyes but it cannot hide love from the soul”

7.  (centre) UBC Museum of Anthropology – date unclear, postmarked ‘Garden Bay’ – Marc writes a rant about an art dealer telling him the Indians are lazy (Marc had a summer job in a gallery and was horrified to learn his boss was a racist). Marc was passionate about respecting and understanding native ways. Perhaps Brett, Sarah and Graham can share some stories about that aspect?

It’s funny the lines I see that draw a little map of Marc’s life – the relation to art, and drug use, and always a positive attitude. I know the ‘experimentation’ theme might bother some, but it is so strikingly part of his character that it is a major theme throughout his entire life. Having said that it also just represents his playfulness, curiosity and openness to try and experience new things. Hope to see some photos and cards from others – send them to me at:m @ marcgrainge.com

Mike

“I had a dream that the
earth fell below me
and I floated all over the sky
‘had this vision that nobody knows me…”

Today I was going over some of Marc’s music.  Actually to put it in better terms – I was fully working on it – transferring to my computer using a professional sound card, editing the results, organizing it all into a sensible structure in music editing software. I looked at the old photographs, and found a stack of lyrics that Sarah sent me a couple years ago.

It seems that finally the timing is right to clean up some tapes, create this site – for friends, family, fans old and new. It’s been over a decade since we lost Marc but he feels near. I have just finished a rough mix of a lovely, somber song I remember from the late years: “The Roof Overhead.”

It is typical of his later music. A little solemn and introspective and very lyrical and deep. Hopefully in the coming weeks and months we can all work together to create a little archive and share some music and some memories.

Please feel free to post your thoughts here, or write me at m @ marcgrainge.com

Mike Simpson

Credits (Thanks!) – header photo: Ian Robertson, title “Folk Hero”: Andrew Brisbane (from a mixtape)