Lindsay Mitchell

Lindsay Christopher Mitchell (born 28 May 1949) is an English-born Canadian musician and songwriter who achieved success as the guitarist and founder of the Canadian rock band Prism.

Lindsay Mitchell
Mitchell performing live at Whisky a Go Go, in 1977
Background information
Birth nameLindsay Christopher Mitchell
Born (1949-05-28) May 28, 1949
North London, England
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresRock, pop rock, arena rock, soft rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar
Associated actsPrism, Jim Byrnes

Early life

Born in North London, England, Mitchell emigrated to Alberta, Canada with his family in 1957, finally settling in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1962. He developed his guitar skills by emulating instrumental surf music bands such as the Shadows, the Ventures, the Astronauts, and British Invasion artists including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds.

Musical career

After graduating from high school two years early at the age of 15, Mitchell joined local Vancouver pop-rockers "William Tell & the Marksmen", which later morphed into "Paisley Rain". Following that, Mitchell became a member of the psychedelic era band, the "Seeds of Time".[1] During his tenure with the Seeds of Time Mitchell toured and played with venerated bluesmen Willie Dixon, Nick Oliveri, and T-Bone Walker, experiences which helped reinforce in Mitchell a deep-seated and lifelong love for the blues.

Prism

In 1973, Mitchell left the Seeds of Time to join guitarist/singer/songwriter Tom Lavin and his brother Jack as a member of the house band at Rohan's Rockpile, a live music venue in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver.[2] Then, in 1975 Mitchell joined Bruce Fairbairn's rhythm and blues band "Sunshyne", after being recruited to assist in helping to transform their sound from jazz fusion into blues rock.[3] To maximize the chances of securing a record deal, Mitchell voluntarily withdrew as lead vocalist and was replaced by Ron Tabak, who previously fronted the band "Not Fragile". The project was renamed Prism, and their self-titled debut album was released on the GRT label in 1977. The album achieved platinum status in Canada, a first for a debut Canadian artist. Although drummer Jim Vallance was initially the principal songwriter for Prism, Mitchell assumed the role after Vallance departed Prism in 1978 and was replaced by former Seeds of Time drummer, Rocket Norton. Mitchell went on to compose and co-compose numerous Prism hit songs, including "Armageddon", the title track for the third album and one of the band's most recognizable songs. He later received a SOCAN Song of the Year award for "Night to Remember", a ballad written for the Armageddon album.[4] Night to Remember also received an award from the Canadian Performing Rights Organization (PRO).[5]

Prism disbanded temporarily in 1982 but reformed again in the late 1980s with new singer Darcy Deutsch. Former lead singer Ron Tabak had tragically died as the result of a brain injury on Christmas Day, 1984.[6] Mitchell continued to perform with Prism until 2006 when he left the group following a dispute with sole remaining core member, Al Harlow.

Recent work

Lindsay Mitchell has played as a member of "Trainwreck", an acoustic psychobilly vocal and instrumental group formed in 1985 by the late Billy Cowsill (of the legendary Cowsill family band), and upright bassist Elmar Spanier.[7]

Following Prism Mitchell was a regular performer on the Vancouver blues scene, notably with British blues legend Long John Baldry, and with St. Louis-born actor/musician, Jim Byrnes.

Personal life

Lindsay Mitchell is a graduate of the University of British Columbia and holds a BA in Political Science (1998), a master's degree in Adult Education (2002), and a PhD in Curriculum studies (2010). He also served as the Ombudsman of the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia Vancouver (1998-2002). Dr. Mitchell now resides in Penticton, British Columbia.

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/seeds-of-time-mn0000936047
  2. https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/real-estate/illustrated-vancouver-vol-11-rohans-1923715
  3. http://pnwbands.com/sunshyne.html
  4. Prism, retrieved 6 April 2016
  5. "PRO Honors Jazzman Hoffman", Billboard, 14 November 1981, retrieved 6 April 2016
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prism_(band)#Death_of_Ron_Tabak
  7. Billy Cowsill's Trainwreck, retrieved 6 April 2016
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