Greg McConnell
Encyclopedia
Greg McConnell was a Canadian
indie rock
musician, who was a member of the alternative country
bands Absolute Whores
(where he used the stage name "Ugly Dick Adonis"), Lost Dakotas
and Stratochief
.
McConnell was famous for his cowhide
-trimmed upright bass, which Steve Earle
once described as looking "like Dwight Yoakam
threw up on it".
On Easter Sunday, 1999, McConnell died unexpectedly while on a camping trip in Tobermory
, Ontario
. In May of that year, a memorial "GregFest" was held at Toronto
's Horseshoe Tavern
, featuring Stratochief, Jughead, Adam Faux and a one-off Whores reunion; funds raised from the show were used to dedicate a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail in Caledon
to McConnell's memory.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
musician, who was a member of the alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
bands Absolute Whores
Absolute Whores
'Absolute Whores' are a Canadian indie rock/Cowpunk band most active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The band consisted of Greg McConnell as Ugly Dick Adonis, Vaughan Passmore as Blind Pig Neuton, Albert Saxby as Clint Rude. Michael Lavery as Sven Campbell and Johnny Trash as himself...
(where he used the stage name "Ugly Dick Adonis"), Lost Dakotas
Lost Dakotas
Lost Dakotas was a Canadian alternative country band in the 1990s. The band originally consisted of vocalist Paul Dakota and bassist Greg McConnell , who began in 1989 as a busker duo at the corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto, Ontario...
and Stratochief
Stratochief
Stratochief is a Canadian alternative country band.The band was originally formed by Greg McConnell, following the breakup of his earlier band, Lost Dakotas. Vaughan Passmore and Johnny Trash, McConnell's 1980s bandmates in Absolute Whores, joined McConnell in the new band.The band's debut album,...
.
McConnell was famous for his cowhide
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
-trimmed upright bass, which Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
once described as looking "like Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
threw up on it".
On Easter Sunday, 1999, McConnell died unexpectedly while on a camping trip in Tobermory
Tobermory, Ontario
Tobermory is a small community located at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula in the municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. It is 300 km northwest of Toronto...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In May of that year, a memorial "GregFest" was held at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
, featuring Stratochief, Jughead, Adam Faux and a one-off Whores reunion; funds raised from the show were used to dedicate a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail in Caledon
Caledon, Ontario
Caledon is a town in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. In terms of land use, Caledon is somewhat urban, though it is primarily rural in nature...
to McConnell's memory.