|
Hardroad
Biography
To create something new
sometimes we have to go back to where we started. The members of
HardRoad have taken similar paths to get this point in their careers.
When Earl Johnson joined forces
with Russ Graham in 2008 to form Hardroad, the cornerstone of a great
band was put in place. Earl Johnson comes with the reputation of being
one the most prolific guitarists in Canadian rock history; having been a
founding member of Canadian rock legends Moxy and playing with
luminaries such as Rick James, Rita Chiarelli, and Lee Aaron; Earl’s
resume reads like an encyclopedia of Canadian rock music.
No one who grew up in the late
70’s or early 80’s can forget The Killer Dwarfs. They stood out against
the cookie cutter bands of the time with their unique sound and
energetic live shows. The one thing that stood out with anyone who saw
them perform was the kinetic energy of their frontman, Russ “Dwarf”
Graham. Russ put everything he had into every performance and the result
was great success for the band on an international scale; touring with
such bands as Iron Maiden, Skid Row and Pantera.
When Earl and Russ needed a
rhythm section to fill out their sound they knew they could not settle
for anything less than the best. The search for a Drummer led them to
another great player from an era when musicianship meant something and
being able to pull it off live was paramount.
No great rock band is complete
without an awesome drummer and HardRoad has one of the best. Morgan
Evans has a musical pedigree that can be described as outstanding. His
father played sax for such greats as Dizzie Gillespie, Tom Jones, and
Sonny and Cher. With a bloodline like that, it is only natural that
Morgan would take to music. He has performed with artists like Lee
Aaron, Kevin Dubrow of Quiet Riot, Killer Bee, and the Florida band
Julliet. Morgan has toured the world extensively for 17 years and brings
a wealth of musical experience to Hardroad.
Newcomer Eric Papky from
Hamilton ON, holds down the bottom end. Eric cut his teeth in Hamilton’s
original music scene in the ‘90s and has worked exclusively in the music
industry his whole life. From a college diploma in jazz guitar to being
the original bassist from the band Threat Signal, Eric’s well honed
chops make him the perfect addition to HardRoad. He brings the same
level of excitement and enthusiasm to the project as Earl and Russ and
delivers the drive to HardRoad’s music.
It would be selling them short
to say these musicians relied on their past accomplishments and stopped
there. HardRoad is something different all together. You cannot deny the
past but one listen to future classics such as “Miles” “Tempted” and
“Heading Home” solidifies the fact that HardRoad is still bringing it
and at full force. The band’s live shows are a combination of the band’s
years of stage work and new-found energy for this exciting new music.
HardRoad, forged from the past, driving hard into the future.
|
