The Look People
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The Look People were a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1980s and 1990s. They were the most outlandishly quirky band on the Canadian music scene of their era, although they did have a moderate hit in 1991 with a cover of War's "Low Rider" and received five CASBY Award nominations for their CD "Small Fish, Big Pond".
The band formed in 1985 around the lineup of vocalist Jaymz Bee, guitarist Andy Flinn, bassist Walter K., drummer Mike Weilenman and percussionist Great Bob Scott. Flinn subsequently left the band and was replaced by Fabio Marc Baltensperger; Baltensperger in turn left and was replaced by Longo Hai. Wilenman quit before their first recording, leaving Great Bob Scott to fill the chair as drummer and percussionist.
The original lineup released the EP Stop Making Cheese in 1986 which was recorded in Switzerland and released in North America on AMOK Records.
By 1988, the band was down to duo Bee and Scott, who composed music with producer Walter Zweifel and subsequently played several shows with support from John Bottomley and Chris Bottomley. The following year, a new permanent lineup formed, consisting of Bee, Scott, Clay Tyson, Kevin Hearn, Bazl Salazar and "Aardvark Q. Dardknarbles". This lineup recorded the band's 1989 outing More Songs About Hats and Chickens.
Salazar and Dardknarbles subsequently left the band, and guitarist Longo Hai returned.
Following the band's 1991 album Boogazm, Look People made their most successful European tour, and criss-crossed Canada twice. After Boogazm, Tyson left the band and was replaced by Chris Gartner. In 1992, Look People became the house band for the CBC variety show Friday Night with Ralph Benmergui, with Bee at the helm as Music Director and Artistic Consultant. Following the cancellation of that series, The Look People made one final tour of North America and performed their last show at The Palamino Club in North Hollywood, with an opening act that consisted of rock music performed by Madisson, Raven, Ron Jeremy and other porn stars. Bee subsequent created lounge music, releasing albums as Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra, and many others.
The Look People also attracted many notable musicians as guest players, including Dave Bidini, Ray Montford, Colin Linden, Richard Underhill, Bob Wiseman, Holly Cole and Nash the Slash.
