The Illuminati
After a spate of terrorist attacks, conspiracy web sites and Michael Moore films, the secret organization that really runs things in this world – the Illuminati – has been blamed for everything from the rising cost of bottled water to George W. Bush’s choice of shirt-and-tie combos. As any multinational organization hell bent on world domination knows, reputation is everything.
“Their marketing team wanted to improve their world image by sending out a kickass rock and roll band,” says bassist Nick Sewell.
Sewell and guitarist Les Godfrey were the nucleus of Toronto garage-metal sensations Tchort. The duo didn’t languish between projects looking for creative “vision” as many musicians do after the breakup of a successful band. After the dissolution of Tchort, The Illuminati hit the ground running.
“Our last show with the old band was August 28,” Sewell says, “and our first show as Illuminati was 6 days later. We opened for Danko Jones in Kingston.”
The Illuminati have since opened for such big-name international acts as Andrew W.K., Nashville Pussy, The Darkeness, and rock legend Alice Cooper.
“It was awesome to play that Hallowe’en show with Alice Cooper at Massey Hall,” Sewell says.
“I smashed into him with some guitar cases,” Godfrey recalls. “I was coming through the doorway and he was coming around the corner, and I smashed right into his knees. It looked like I hurt him, but he was cool about it. He said he wouldn’t sue me or anything. He was a total gentleman, but I felt so bad that I hit Alice Cooper with a guitar case.”
When asked for other interesting tour stories, Sewell responded: “Nothing we’re at liberty to discuss. We’re a secretive band. Hence the name.”
The secret on The Illuminati is getting out. Shows are generally packed with converts to the band’s brand of party-rock. Things are looking good in Toronto, and Sewell is looking forward to their fall tour, when the band will promote its newest album, On Borrowed Time.
We want to get this new batch of songs ready because we intend to play the shit out of them on this upcoming tour,” Sewell says. “You get to see what works with a song. Something that conceptually sounds really good might not work as well live. There’s no place like the stage to battle test something and see if it’s actually an idea that holds water of if it’s just academic.”
“Sometimes they way you want to have the set on the record, it’s okay to put a couple of more obscure tracks on them,” Godfrey adds. “Live, it’s better to have things fast and furious. The more experimental stuff we’ll just put on the record.”
For more information on this musical secret society, check out http://www.theilluminati.ca