PUBLISHED IN THE KITCHENER WATERLOO RECORD TUESDAY, APRIL 01, 1997
By Nick Krewen
When he creates and performs his distinctive elixir of firebrand rock, COYOTE SHIVERS only has one objective in mind.
"I prefer to go for the jugular," Shivers said last week from Ancaster, his home away from his New York City home while he lays down some sketches for a future album at Hamilton's Grant Avenue Studio.
"In my mind, I don't like listening to rock songs about the rainforest or anything political. Rock 'n roll has nothing to do with that. It's just fun to me. Besides, rock 'n roll is slang for sex."
Raw and ruthless songs such as "Classic Car", "Leather Jacket Weather" and "Happiness Is A Warm Bong" on the current self-titled Coyote Shivers album reinforce the first viewpoint. "Bisexual Girl" and "She Drove Me To Drink And Drive" advertise the latter.
And comparisons with every cult icon from IGGY POP and JOHNNY THUNDERS through LOU REED and JOONATHAN RICHMAN haven't hurt, either.
"I'm always compared to people I like, " says Shivers, 28, who is also touring in Ontario to promote his album. He appears tonight (Thursday) at Mrs. Robinson's opening for Hamilton punk kings FORGOTTEN REBELS.
"I'm flattered by those comparisons. To me, that music sounds very mainstream, not like THE SPICE GIRLS."
If you're still scratching your head trying to place the name Coyote Shivers, you're not alone. Although he's worked with ROBBIE ROBERTSON on the former BAND singer's classic self-titled 1987 album, produced the late great Toronto instrumental combo SHADOWY MEN ON A SHADOWY PLANET and played guitar with THE DAVE RAVE CONSPIRACY, Shivers is more conspicuous in the public eye at the moment as husband of former rock groupie-turned manager BEBE BUELL, and stepfather of hot actress LIV TYLER.
Admitting that his relationship with Tyler "feels like being a big brother," Shivers downplays the family connection as any sort of career advantage. "It doesn't matter," he says. "If you don't have the talent, or can't deliver, the door will close."
Shivers seems to have talent to spare. Born in Toronto, he relocated to Hamilton when he was nine years old. The city he dubs "the Liverpool of Canada" is where he listened to his first rock music when a friend played him a KISS and a RAMONES album, and where he picked up his first guitar.
He also spent some time as a teen hanging around Grant Avenue recording studio, creative home in the mid '80s to producer DANIEL LANOIS, and at the time a workshop for BRIAN ENO during some of his developmental work in ambient music.
"I didn't work on his sessions, although I met Brian at the coffee machine a lot," Shivers recalls. "I was there for the rest of the sessions. There'd be country albums being recorded or THE TROUBLE BOYS. It'd be jingles one day and PARACHUTE CLUB the next. Where a lot of the music wasn't my type, the energy and the atmosphere always made it fun."
One day, Lanois asked Shivers to give him a lift to the Buffalo airport.
"After we crossed the U.S. border, Dan asked me to drive to L.A. instead. Maybe it's because I owned a '68 Firebird convertible," Shivers recalls. "He bailed out around St. Louis, saying, `You're younger than me. I'll meet you there.' It took me three days. I drove straight. I don't even recall if I slept."
Once there, he spent the next six months assisting with Robertson's album, and decided he didn't like The City Of Angels. He joined THE DOBERMAN GANG, moved to Amsterdam, returned, and joined SHARKSKIN and The Dave Rave Conspiracy, the latter prompting his move to the Big Apple.
These days, Shivers and his band -- bassist DAGON SPECTOR and drummer JACK PEDLER -- are getting a few good breaks. His song "Sugarhigh" is one of the highlights of the gold Empire Records movie soundtrack, and the trio even opened a few stadium dates for KISS last year in front of 25,000 people.
"I figure we did pretty well, considering fans pay $50 to see KISS and you're the one in the way," says Shivers.
DISCOGRAPHY
1992 -- Dave Rave Conspiracy, Valentino's Pirates -- Mole/Melodiya
1994 -- Dave Rave Conspiracy, Three Octave Fantastic Hexagram - Gritty City
1996 -- Coyote Shivers, Coyote Shivers -- Mutiny
COLLABORATOR
1994 -- Various Artists, 22 Original Hits, 22 Original Stars
1997 -- Various Artists, Empire Records
CONTRIBUTOR
1987 -- Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson
1995 -- aGNELLI & rAVE, Cowboy Flowers Sessions
1997 -- Lauren Agnelli & Dave Rave, Confetti!
PRODUCER
1991 -- Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham
FILMS
1997 -- Johnny Mnemonic
1997 -- Empire Records
©1997, 1999 Nick Krewen, Octopus Media Ink
-30-