Not to be confused with Harum Scarum.
This article is about the Canadian rock band. For the Scottish folk band, see Harem Scarem (folk band). For other uses, see Harem Scarem (disambiguation).
Harem Scarem
File:HaremScaremSoBlind.jpg
Background information
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Hard rock, Melodic rock
Years active 1987–2008
Labels Warner Bros., Frontiers, Vespa Music Group, WEA International
Associated acts Rubber, Blu Bones, Helix, First Signal, Blind Vengeance
Website haremscarem.net
Past members

Harry Hess
Pete Lesperance
Barry Donaghy
Creighton Doane

Darren Smith
Mike Gionet

Harem Scarem were a Canadian melodic rock band from Toronto, ON. Harem Scarem achieved popularity in Japan and their native Canada in the early 1990s. Harem Scarem were active from 1987 to 2008. Throughout their career, they released 12 studio albums, plus numerous live and compilation albums.

Contents

History [link]

Early years [link]

Harem Scarem was formed in 1987 by guitarist Pete Lesperance and singer Harry Hess, formerly of Blind Vengeance who had recorded one heavy metal album in the late 80's. The lineup was rounded out by Darren Smith (drums) and Mike Gionet (bass). They recorded a demo CD in 1990, which garnered them attention since most demos at the time were released on cassette tape only. On the strength of this demo, they were signed to Warner Music and recorded their first album. This demo CD, which was sold to fans, is long out of print.

Commercial Success [link]

In 1991, Harem Scarem released their self titled debut album, which charted at #68 on the Canadian album chart. The band scored a hit single from the album; "Slowly Slipping Away", which charted at #25 on the Canadian single chart. They also managed to chart two minor hits; "Honestly" and "Love Reaction" The following year, Harem Scarem was able to gain some notoriety when 8 songs from their debut album Harem Scarem were predominantly featured in the Canadian teen series Degrassi Junior High, and Degrassi High's farewell TV movie, School's Out.

Harem Scarem released their second album in 1993, Mood Swings, which had a harder sound to it than their previous album. It also featured the recorded vocal debut of drummer Smith on the song "Sentimental Blvd." A fan favorite, Mood Swings charted at #83 on the Canadian charts. The album's lead off single was "No Justice", which managed to chart at #59 in Canada, while the other two singles failed to chart. Mood Swings caused the band to gain popularity in Japan, and the band's previous album was quickly issued in that country the following year. This was followed by a live and acoustic EP, appropriately titled Live & Acoustic.

Short Lived Success [link]

In 1995, the band released their third album Voice of Reason. The album introduced a change in the band's musical style, and was darker in sound than the first two albums. The song "Blue" was released as a promotional single and had a music video for it, however it failed to chart. Bassist Mike Gionet departed after Voice of Reason for personal reasons and was replaced by former Blu Bones member Barry Donaghy.

The next two albums, Karma Cleansing (which was released as Believe in Japan) and Big Bang Theory, saw Harem Scarem modernizing their sound. Barry Donaghy also made his lead vocal debut with Harem Scarem on "Sometimes I Wish" from Big Bang Theory. Both the albums and the singles from them again failed to chart. In 1998, the band released their last commericial single "So Blind".

Rubber [link]

In 1999, Harem Scarem changed their name to Rubber, and released two albums under that name in Canada. However, they still used the name Harem Scarem in Japan and the rest of the world. Pete Lesperance made his recorded lead vocal debut on the song "Trip" from the self-titled Rubber CD. They made a music video for "Sunshine", which had actors that looked like Jay and Silent Bob, and parodied movies which were released around that time, such as American Pie. The second album under the Rubber name, Ultra Feel, featured their new drummer Creighton Doane (brother of Melanie Doane) replacing Darren Smith. Smith briefly switched to guitar and joined Helix as a touring member. The band soon dropped the Rubber name and switched back to their original name, Harem Scarem.

Later Years and Breakup [link]

2002's Weight of the World (released as a Rubber album in some markets) harkened back to the earlier sound of Mood Swings. It was followed in 2003 by Higher. The album's sound was more of a combination of classic melodic rock with a modern production. The album also featured the power ballad "Higher". The year 2003 also saw the release of Harry Hess' debut solo album Just Another Day which was well received by fans. In 2004 Pete Lesperance released his debut solo album Down In It (re-recorded with Mike Turner and released under the band name Fair Ground in 2006).

Continuing their prolific output of studio albums, 2005's Overload was followed by Human Nature in 2007. The Japanese version of Overload features a cover of the AC/DC classic, "You Shook Me All Night Long".

On July 19, 2007, lead singer Harry Hess announced that Harem Scarem "will make one more studio record, and then after 20 years we have decided to move on to other things".[1][2] The final album, called Hope, was released July 2008.

Regarding the breakup and a possible reunion, Creighton Doane said:

“ There were no falling outs [sic] or personality problems, it was more a matter of time. People were getting busy with other projects and I think it just became one of those things where lives go on and you want to do something else...Go out while it’s not a complete mess and you’re still making good music. ”
“ Maybe there’ll be a great opportunity for a reunion, who knows? Everyone in the band gets along famously, we work together all the time, so there’s a sense that it’s not completely over. But still, it was the best thing to do.[3] ”

Post-Breakup [link]

On June 21, 2010 Frontiers Records announced a new studio project called First Signal featuring ex-Harem Scarem members Harry Hess and Darren Smith. The album was released on August 27, 2010 [4]

Much of the Harem Scarem back catalogue was reissued in September 2010, featuring bonus tracks. Included in the reissue program are albums formerly only available in Japan, such as B-Side Collection, Rocks, and Ballads.

Band members [link]

  • Harry Hess - Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
  • Pete Lesperance – Lead Guitar, Vocals
  • Mike Gionet – Bass, Vocals
  • Darren Smith – Drums, Vocals
  • Barry Donaghy – Bass, Vocals
  • Creighton Doane – Drums, Vocals

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 id:Vocals/Keyboards/Guitars              value:purple     legend:Vocals/Keyboards/Guitars
 id:Guitars/Vocals             value:green      legend:Guitars/Vocals
 id:Drums/Vocals                value:gray(0.40) legend:Drums/Vocals
 id:Bass/Vocals          value:orange     legend:Bass/Vocals

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

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 bar:Hess text:"Harry Hess"
 bar:Lesperance text:"Pete Lesperance"
 bar:Smith text:"Darren Smith"
 bar:Gionet text:"Mike Gionet"
 bar:Donaghy text:"Barry Donaghy"
 bar:Doane text:"Creighton Doane"

PlotData=

 width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Hess from:01/01/1987 till:end color:Vocals/Keyboards/Guitars
 bar:Lesperance from:01/01/1987 till:end color:Guitars/Vocals
 bar:Smith from:01/01/1987 till:01/01/2000 color:Drums/Vocals
 bar:Gionet from:01/01/1987 till: 01/01/1995 color:Bass/Vocals
 bar:Donaghy from:01/01/1995 till:end color:Bass/Vocals
 bar:Doane from:01/01/2000 till:end color:Drums/Vocals

</timeline>

Discography [link]

Studio albums [link]

EPs [link]

Live Albums [link]

Compilation Albums [link]

DVDs [link]

  • Video Hits & More (2002)
  • Live At The Gods (2002)
  • Raw And Rare (2007)

References [link]

  1. ^ Harem Scarem.net - news update July 19, 2007
  2. ^ MelodicRock.com - news posted July 19, 2007
  3. ^ Bravewords: HAREM SCAREM Drummer Creighton Doane Discusses 2008 Split - "Go Out While It’s Not A Complete Mess And You’re Still Making Good Music"
  4. ^ melodicrock.com news: First Signal - news posted June 21, 2010

External links [link]

Harem Scarem
Studio albums
Singles
  • "Slowly Slipping Away"
  • "Honestly"
  • "Love Reaction"
  • "Something to Say"
  • "Change Comes Around"
  • "No Justice"
  • "If There Was a Time"
  • "Die Off Hard"
  • "Rain"
  • "New Religion"
  • "What I Do"
  • "Turn Around"
  • "So Blind"

https://wn.com/Harem_Scarem

Harem Scarem (disambiguation)

Harem Scarem were a Canadian melodic rock band.

Harem Scarem may also refer to:

  • Harem Scarem (folk band), a Scottish folk band
  • Harem Scarem (Australian band), an Australian rock band, recorded for Citadel Records
  • Harem Scarem (album), a 1991 album by the Canadian band Harem Scarem
  • "Harem Scarem", a song by the Dutch band Focus from their 1974 album Hamburger Concerto

    • See also

  • Harem (disambiguation)
  • Harum Scarum, a 1965 musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and the soundtrack album with the same name by Elvis Presley
    • Read more
    This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Harem_Scarem_(disambiguation)

    Harem Scarem (folk band)

    Harem Scarem is a Scottish folk band.

    Biography

    Harem Scarem was formed in 2003 by Inge Thomson (of the Karine Polwart band), Sarah McFadyen (of Aberfeldy), Nuala Kennedy, Eilidh Shaw (of The Poozies), and Ross Martin (of the Julie Fowlis band). They have released three albums, Let Them Eat Fishcake (2002), The Birnam Witch Project (2005) and Storm in a Teacup (2008).

    Members

  • Inge Thompson (piano accordion)
  • Sarah McFadyen (fiddle)
  • Nuala Kennedy (flute, woodwind)
  • Eilidh Shaw (fiddle, vocals)
  • Ross Martin (guitar)

    • Discography

  • Let Them Eat Fishcake (2002)
  • The Birnam Witch Project (2005)
  • Storm in a Teacup (2008)

    • References

    External links

  • Biography
  • Review of Let them eat Fishcake
    • Read more
    This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Harem_Scarem_(folk_band)

    Harem Scarem (album)

    Harem Scarem is the 1991 self-titled debut album by the Canadian hard rock band of the same name. Music videos were shot for the songs; "Slowly Slipping Away", "Honestly", and "With a Little Love". The album charted at No. 68 on the Canadian charts.

    The album includes guest appearances by fellow Canadian stars such as Ray Coburn of Honeymoon Suite, Carl Dixon of Coney Hatch and Paul MacAusland of Haywire. It also boasted a co-writing credit by award winning songwriter Christopher Ward of "Black Velvet" fame.

    Connection to Degrassi

    In 1992, Harem Scarem was able to gain some notoriety when 8 songs from their debut album were predominantly featured in the Canadian teen series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High's farewell TV movie, School's Out. This marks the first DHX Media to be record label by Warner Music Group that has no connection to My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.

    Track listing

    Charts

    Album

    Singles

    Personnel

    Band

  • Harry Hess – lead vocals, guitar, producer
  • Pete Lesperance – lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
    • Read more
    This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Harem_Scarem_(album)

    Harem Scarem (Australian band)

    Harem Scarem were an Australian blues rock group which formed in 1982. They issued two studio albums, Pilgrim's Progress on Au Go Go Records (1986) and Lo & Behold on Citadel Records (1988) before disbanding in 1989. The early line-up was fronted by Christopher Marshall on lead vocals and included his brother, Charles Marshall first on bass guitar, then rhythm guitar and, when fronting the group from 1987, was also on lead vocals. By September 1985 they had been joined by Peter Jones on drums and percussion; Barry Palmer on lead guitar; Glen Sheldon first on rhythm guitar and then on bass guitar; and Chris Wilson on harmonica and saxophone. Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, felt that "Few alternative bands of the day could ever hope to match that line-up for muscular bravado and sheer instrumental firepower". On 18 May 2012 Peter Jones died of brain cancer, aged 45.

    History

    Harem Scarem were formed in Melbourne in 1982 as a blues rock group by Christopher Roy Marshall on lead vocals, his brother Charles Vernon Marshall on bass guitar, and Philip Wales on guitar. Early in the following year Clifford Booth joined on drums and Glen Robert Sheldon was on rhythm guitar. Christopher Marshall, Sheldon and Wales were former school friends. Harem Scarem's first gig was in February. They signed with local label, Au Go Go Records, which issued their track, "Love Attraction", on a various artists' compilation, Asleep at the Wheel (1983). Soon after the line-up was expanded by Kurt Hans Linotner on harmonica and David John Moll replaced Wales on lead guitar.

    Read more
    This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Harem_Scarem_(Australian_band)

    Podcasts:

    Harem Scarem

    ALBUMS

    Lo & Behold

    Released 1988

    Harem Scarem

    ALBUMS

    Mood Swings II

    Released 2013

    Hope

    Released 2008

    Raw and Rare

    Released 2007

    Human Nature

    Released 2006

    Overload

    Released 2005

    Higher

    Released 2003

    Weight of the World

    Released 2002

    Rubber

    Released 1999

    B-Sides Collection

    Released 1998

    Big Bang Theory

    Released 1998

    Voice of Reason

    Released 1995

    You Want It All

    Released 1994

    Mood Swings

    Released 1993

    Harem Scarem

    Released 1991

    Live In Japan

    Best Of...

    Live at the Gods 2002

    Higher

    Karma Cleansing

    Believe

    Ultra Feel

    Harem Scarem

    ALBUMS

    Is It the Sea?

    Released 2008

    The Birnam Witch Project

    Released 2005

    Let Them Eat Fishcake

    Released 2002
    Email this Page Play all in Full Screen Show More Related Videos
    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Victim Of Fate

    by: Harem Scarem

    (Hess/Lesperance)
    Count the days of my ever after
    And I cannot fill my hand
    There's a space and a hole in my mirror
    Where I used to stand
    I'd drag the snakes that claim to love me
    Down the sewers of my hell
    With the face that the world pinned upon me
    I'm just a prisoner of my head
    I don't believe in calm surrenders
    Cut at the knees I bleed a victim of fate
    As I lay in the fault around me
    Burn the bed of nails I had
    And I pray that the road of plenty
    Fills the manholes where I tread
    I'll make the waves begin to tremble
    Cut at the knees I bleed a
    Victim of Fate
    Forever is closing in, if I wait
    The chance may never come again at all
    To shelter me from myself
    I feel the amphetamines
    I feel them instead of me
    I feel the amphetamines
    They don't know
    I don't believe in calm surrenders




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