Sons of the Desert

Sons of The Desert was formed in Montreal (Ste. Anne de Bellevue) by original band members, and John Abbott College students, Neil Stewart (Korg organ/acoustic guitar), Peter Goodale (bass), Jimmy Spencer (drums) and Dave Goodman (rhythm guitar) in 1986. Guitarist and theatre student at Dawson Al Goulem soon added to the wall of sound on lead guitar. When the boys realized they had nowhere to rehearse Naomi Emmerson joined providing vocals and her folks' basement. It wasn't long before they had enough songs to start booking gigs. The crowds were easily captivated by their high energy live shows filled with catchy, pop-punk tunes with lyrics expressing love, lust and a touch of social angst. The press supported their efforts favorably and the band was featured many times in the Montreal Gazette, the Hour, the Mirror, the Westmount Examiner and became darlings of the all-ages scene. Their influences: blues, punk, 60's pop and rock, ska and more. Favorite mix tapes of the band members included The Replacements, Billie Holiday, Jerry Jerry and the Sons of the Rhythm Orchestra, The Specials, No Means No, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, Booker T and the MGs, Pebbles and Bam Bam, The Who, The Jam, Janis Joplin, Rush, The Asexuals, Elvis Costello, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Generation-X, The Clash and more! Fans and critics alike found the band’s sound hard to classify, but they were compared to the band “X”, Blondie, and others. The band released their one and only record "Sons Of The Desert" on Dessert Records in 1987, which featured new band member Maureen Bradley on bass. To promote the release of the vinyl, the band ventured off on a cross country tour that ended prematurely in Las Vegas after their "Hell Van" (a decommissioned Bell Telephone service van) blew up. The tour saw memorable crowds in Ste Catherines Ontario, Kent Ohio and Colorado Springs and a surreal show at Circus Circus. The band released two music videos that were on rotation on the then newly launched Musique Plus. "Wet Dream" and "Paradise" were both conceived and directed by Concordia University Communications student Danielle Comeau. In 1991 the band played their last gig. Members are now spread across North America meeting for this historic event in Montreal from Texas, New York, Vancouver and Montreal. They have achieved successful careers in music, film, acting and radio. In Montreal in December 2012 the band will celebrate 25 years since the release of their only recording by reuniting on stage to play all the oldies but the goodies at Sala Rossa..

Montreal, QC