Musical Background
After deciding that playing guitar would be a cool way to meet women, Barrie bought a $75.00 Raven at the mall and off he went. By the time he learned three chords Punk rock hit Toronto in 1977. Since all the fans of Punk were also in bands, Barrie teamed up with Stephen "Baby Oil" Hall and formed "The Toyzs". After destroying an audience with a fire extinguisher the band disbanded after Baby Oil was given a nice rest in Whitby Sanitarium. Over the next three years Barrie and Baby Oil formed The Existers. More a part of New Wave (as punk had died at the time) they learned a fourth chord and off they went. The band played solidly for all that time. They had one single (Telex Love/Spadina) on Shyanne Records. It got play-listed on Q107 and CFNY in Toronto and got into rotation for a few months. No one made any money but what is new?
When the Existers ended Barrie and Baby Oil then formed a power trio "Australia" with drummer George B. Harrison. A much heavier sound, this band's played for two and a half years in clubs around Toronto. After Australia fizzled out Barrie left the band world and went into radio and became a programmer at CIUT 89.5fm. Many years later Stephen "Baby Oil" Hall died from Rockitis and George and Barrie met at the funeral. Musicians being musicians they got together a wrote a tribute CD and have continued until now with the lineup you see in this website. Barrie has always played original music and he continues to write his own tunes to this day.
Musical Influences
Patti Smith, Ian Hunter, Brian Ferry, Social Distortion and a few million more.
Hobbies
Racing Sailboats