Joel Gibb

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Joel Gibb (born 1977 in Kincardine, Ontario) is an artist and singer/songwriter, who leads the "gay church folk" group The Hidden Cameras.

His first involvement with the music scene was as editor of a fanzine devoted to independent bands, Glamour Guide for Trash. He also hosted a college radio show at CFRE-FM in Mississauga, Ontario. At the same time, Joel was writing his own songs and, in 2001, he released some of his recordings under the name The Hidden Cameras on his own independent record label EvilEvil; a CD entitled Ecce Homo.

He then gathered together a group of musicians to perform his work, playing everywhere from art galleries to churches to porn theatres to parks. Along the way the band grew to include up to thirteen members, including a string section, choir and go-go dancers, its audience growing at the same time.

In 2003 the Hidden Cameras were signed to Rough Trade, a well known British record label who released the band's next CD/LP, The Smell of Our Own the same year. They began to tour North America and Europe extensively. In 2004,The LP/CD Mississauga Goddam was released, followed by the LP The arms of his 'ill' on the California label Absolutely Kosher Records. The LP/CD Awoo came out in 2006 on Rough Trade, EvilEvil and Arts & Crafts. All The Hidden Cameras releases to date have been produced by Joel Gibb.

Gibb exhibits his artwork in various galleries and has been included in group shows in the past at the Tate Modern, among others. His work comprises drawings and banners, both of which are featured on The Hidden Cameras CDs and records. As well, the handstitched banners are often hung from the ceiling at band performances. Featuring symbols relating to different aspects of the group such as cameras, nooses, bread, skulls, cakes and many more, they are arranged in unusual combinations and create a dense layer of meanings. He also shows the videos he has directed for The Hidden Cameras.

In 2008, Joel Gibb made his acting debut, alongside Vaginal Davis, Calvin Johnson, Mark Ewert and Jena von Brucker, as one of the stars of the film The Lollipop Generation, directed by G.B. Jones.

Gibb currently lives in Berlin.

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