Big John Bates

Big John Bates: Noirchestra

The Noirchestra was unveiled in 2012 ^[6] and their dark, edgy rock style is influenced by their underground musical tendencies - a style also embodied by fellow Cascadian Mark Lanegan. Recording originally began in 2010 with the song Scarecrow Close which was featured in Hot Topic stores across the USA. This success was followed by demo recordings at Mark Robertson's studio (Legendary Shack Shakers) in Nashville, TN (2011) from which a cover version of Rawhide was released. The LP/EP pair Battered Bones / Headless Fowl was recorded in early 2012 at Todd Simko's New Westminster studio. The tracks were mixed and mastered in Denver, CO by Robert Ferbrache (Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Wovenhand, 16 Horsepower), creator of the "Denver Sound".^[7]

These sessions were split with six songs (and two videos) released in North America as Headless Fowl in April 2012 by Frontman Records and the remainder released in Europe as "Battered Bones" on Rookie Records (Germany) in Sept 2012. The "Headless" release was accompanied by a March/April 2012 co-headlining tour of the US and Canada with Murder By Death (band).^[8] Videos for the post-rock instrumental "Amerkin" and the psyche-country "Taste the Barrel" were produced by Chris Ray and Hora Morrior and released on YouTube to support the tour. "Taste the Barrel" was also featured on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's TV show Arctic Air.

"Battered Bones" was supported by a Fall 2012 headlining tour through the EU and North America. These dates included CMW in Toronto and the Halifax Pop Explosion where their dramatic performance earned the festival's highest rating among bands such as Black Lips, Elliott Brood and Wintersleep.^[9] The band began this tour as 4 piece but the 4th member subsequently disappeared without a trace during the tour. Following the tour Frontman Records compiled 13 tracks from the sessions and released them digitally as The Headless Fowl LP.^[10]

2014 saw the band release the 7" single "Black Timber, Bitter Root" mixed by The Smugglers (band) guitarist David Carswell (New Pornographers, Destroyer_(band)) on Rookie Records and completed a 22-date headlining tour of Europe in May 2014. The band again became a 4-pc, adding cello to their live sound and completed a Can-Am tour with White Cowbell Oklahoma and The Paceshifters in Nov/Dec 2014. On their time off the band wrote and recorded their sophomore LP From the Bestiary to the Leathering Room in their studio aboard the Caleuche, Bates' boat moored in Vancouver's False Creek. They followed the release with a two-month European tour May–June 2015 (Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria) with a CAN-AM tour following in Fall 2015. After this tour Bates and Bones met electric violinist RequiEmily and invited her to join the group. The LP saw its Canadian release in Spring 2016 followed by dates in the USA and a second EU tour in Nov/Dec 2016. In March 2017 the Noirchestra completed their first tour of Japan playing 9 shows in 6 cities and recording two songs in Kyoto with Alternative Tentacles artist Ultra Bide.^[11][12] In May/June 2017 a third round of EU touring that completed the promotion for "Bestiary" with both club and festival shows. In summer 2018 the band performed festivals and shows while beginning the recording of their upcoming release "Skinners Cage" (release date Mar 2019) in Wilhelmshaven, DE.

As of 2016, the Noirchestra is composed of Big John Bates (guitar/vocals), Brandy Bones (upright bass/vocals), RequiEmily (electric violin) and Ty-Ty the Saviour (percussion)^[13]

Big John Bates & the Voodoo Dollz

The group formed in 2000 and musically considered themselves a garage band although they were embraced by the neo-psychobilly scene. They cited influences such as Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, the Cramps, Reverend Horton Heat, early Alice Cooper, the pioneers of swing music and the new burlesque revolution. They were the first touring band to incorporate burlesque performers and performed over 1000 shows and festivals throughout Europe and North America. Shortly after forming the band John bought his trademark handmade Gretsch White Falcon 6136 (after a conversation with Rick from SCOTS and Elvez) from the bassist in Badfinger and it remained his main guitar for the duration of the band. Big John Bates has supported such notable artists as the Fuzztones, the Blasters, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Solomon Burke, Koko Taylor, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Boss Hoss and Andre Williams^[14] (Dynamite Magazine).

Each of their four albums (and live DVDs) had different drummers and upright bassist sCare-oline. She also incorporated traditional and gothic bellydance early in the group's career, performing while the songs "Whiplash" and "Salome's Last Dance" were played with guitar and percussion. Documentaries in North America on the A&E Network and Discovery Network interviewed John about the influences of both film-maker Russ Meyer and authors Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane on the lyrical content and neo-burlesque styles. Bates' version of "Tainted Love" from their Mystiki album (2003) was used in the French film "Un singe sur le dos" by Jacques Maillot. All of their recordings were engineered by co-producer Todd Simko (Pure). The final recording for the Voodoo Dollz was done in 2010 by Big John Bates, Brandy Bones and drummer JT Massacre at Faceplant Studios in Vancouver. Two songs were recorded; the first Noirchestra song "Scarecrow Close" and the final Voodoo Dollz song "Bad Pussy" There was also a video shot in Minneapolis, MN by Ryan Schaddelee featuring Big John at the mercy of the Voodoo Dollz led by Brandy Bones. The Scarecrow Close 7" single was released on Rookie Records and was also available at Hot Topic across the USA.

Annihilator

Bates first band was as a founding member (singer and songwriter) of Annihilator, the "highest-selling thrash metal band from Canada". Meeting Jeff Waters through mutual friends with the intention to cover AC/DC songs, they instead decided to write originals together and the two of them formed Annihilator.^[15] John then recruited bassist Dave Scott and Jeff brought in drummer Paul Malek. The band rehearsed relentlessly over a two-year period, honing their craft as songwriters and beginning the band's live legacy with a residency in Val D'Or Quebec. During this time Waters and Bates co-wrote most of the tracks from the albums Alison Hell and Never, Neverland before the first version of the band dissolved. John later co-wrote songs on King of the Kill, engineered the demos for the record deal, and sub-sequentially wrote songs included on the three following albums. Bates also contributed a guitar track to "Remains".^[16] John still continues to co-write with Jeff Waters for Annihilator.

John also performed as guitarist for Bif Naked for a brief period during her Plum Records period.