Merril Hotel Chatham

Venue: Merrill Hotel
Location: Chatham Ontario.
Address: 2-4 King Street West.
Circa: 1989
Built: 1890’s.
Picture: Circa 1960’s

Musical History: During the 1980’s & 1990’s, the venue was on the decline. Becoming known as a seedy venue where bands & strippers would perform along side seedy activity. The building itself would undergo huge renovations making it a beautiful place by the 2000’s. It became a popular rock & blues bar “The Blind Dog” & The “Metro“. Eventually it would become a high class Motel known as the Retro Suites. Today (2012), It stands as a world class Motel that is unique with its many themed rooms.

Description: known historically as the Merrill Hotel, is located on the southwest corner of King Street and William Street in the City of Chatham, Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The property consists of a three-storey salmon-brick commercial building that has served as a hotel since its construction in the 1890s. The Merrill Hotel was opened on the site in the 1890s by Francis Towne Merrill. It was one of the first brick buildings to be constructed on the King and William block. The business was so successful that in 1903 it expanded, adding a “hallway and staircase” on the pie-shaped lot on the corner next to it (what is now 20-26 William Street South). For over a century the Merrill Hotel has provided hospitality to the Chatham community and its visitors, a tradition that continues as the structure now serves as the entrance to a boutique hotel, the Retro Suites.

Send your pics & info to:

Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
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Kivell Family music 1989

 

Group: Kivell Family
Year: 1989
Genre: Gospel (Adult Contemporary)
Home: Chatham Ontario

Members:
Gary, Sherrill, Sue (19), Syndie (18), Ben (13) and Brian (11).

Notes: The nine song release contains five original tracks.
This is the second cassette release from the Kivell family. The first release is entitled ‘In His Time’ and did not contain any original material.
  The family has been performing since 1982. Their travels brought them through Ontario and parts of the United States. The Kivells have received many awards from the Canadian Gospel Music Association, including best group, best vocalist, song of the year and album of the year.

The family group would become well known as ‘Gary Kivell and the Kivell Family Singers’.  This was the start to decades of music that the family name shared with communities.

Any one who has info or cover art information/scans, can contact us at
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

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Crooked River

click pic to enlarge

Band:Crooked River
Year: Circa 1985/1989
Genre: Country Cover Band

The band could be seen live at the Merrill in Chatham and other local venues. 

Members:
Gary Comeou
Tammy Jones
Roger Heatherington

Email your pics & info to us @
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

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Tom Lockwood – Passion Flower (1989)

 

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Tom Lockwood
Release : Passion Flower
Date : 1989

After receiving encouragement from many guitarists, including Classical virtuoso Liona Boyd, Tom releases this cassette of all original solo guitar performances (produced by Steve Fowler).

This release is well reviewed and one track especially; “Blues for Lenny Breau” receives substantial CBC airplay.

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M.A.D. – Generation Zero (1989)

ARTIST : Mutually Assured Destruction
HOME : Chatham, Ontario, Canada
DEMO RELEASE : Generation Zero (Cassette)
DATE : 1989
 
Members
Rob Johnston – Vocals, Guitars
Mat Davis – Guitar, B.Vocals
Ted Hart – Bass
Walt Perin – Drum
 
Download The Demo here.
Download tested and is a zip file provided by another website.
 
THE SCOOP :
        9 intense thrash metal songs from these teens. This cassette release became an instant local classic with the song “Hold Your Breath” & it’s political punch.
      The skill level of this band was amazing & the hard work quickly brought them a record deal
 with ‘Fringe Records’ based in Toronto Canada. They did some heavy touring with such bands as SNFU, NOFX, Dayglo Abortions, Death Angel, Sacrifice & much more. 
       The band began playing locally at the Cadillac Tavern in Blenhiem, doing all ages shows. Generation Zero still holds on as one of the best demos released by a local band in the harder music genre. 

TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1
Plastic Cast, Political Dismay, Ignorant Advice, Hold Your Breath
SIDE 2
Another Perfect World, Technological Noose, Endangered, Generation Zero, Embodied Frustrations

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Review below from here.        
Generation Zero was the shit back-in-the-day… and it still holds up nicely. This, MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION’s second demo, is full of dizzyingly complex Thrash Metal riff-a-thons that twist and turn in so many directions that your head’ll spin. Vocalist Rob Johnston adds a bit of a crossover vibe to the whole thing with a Punkish delivery and politically charged lyrics… for some reason Animosity era C.O.C. comes to mind. The rhythm section hints at Germany’s VENDETTA, while the guitar playing shows a bit of a Bay Area influence… think VIO-LENCE’s aggression mixed with TESTAMENT-ish riffing. The playing is fantastic throughout, and all the elements combine to create an orgiastic, no-holds-barred, all-out Thrashfest. Really hard to pick a favourite, but “Technological Noose” is excellent, as is the title track. Downloading is a must! Internet review.
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2010 Update
  I just want to go on record as saying that this demo from this young metal cross over band is still the most brilliant and ambitious recording to ever come from Chatham Ontario. In 2010, the political point this album makes is still relevant today. The musicianship is energetic, real, raw, angry, sympathetic, and 100%  chemistry  driven from this high school aged band. M.A.D. changed line ups in the following years and released 2 more Cd’s ‘Tabboo of the Western World’ and ‘Songs for the Ugly’. What can’t be denied is the fact that this album alone has more reality than most young bands could ever dream of capturing in a lifetime, whether it be metal, punk, rock, country, or soul music. S. Beaulieu. 
 

Click video below to preview the release.

If video does not appear, watch it here.