Pete Lesperance
Encyclopedia
Pete Lesperance is a Canadian
guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as the former lead guitarist for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem
. Lesperance was born October 13, 1968 in Scarborough, Ontario
. Lesperance was a guitarist in the Oshawa
metal band Minotaur before forming Harem Scarem with Blind Vengeance vocalist Harry Hess
in 1987.
Lesperance's solo album, Down In It, was released in 2004 in Japan
only, where Harem Scarem had their main fanbase. With fellow guitarist Mike Turner
(ex-Our Lady Peace
), they put together the band Fair Ground
. Together they released a new version of Down In It.
Lesperance's own studio, Hope Songs, is located in Toronto, Ontario. Lesperance has produced many bands, including the rock band One Short. He is currently finishing up albums for Canadian Idol
contestants Aaron Walpole
and Suzi Rawn
.
His influences include Eddie Van Halen
, Brian May
, Nuno Bettencourt
and Steve Vai
.
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...
guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer best known as the former lead guitarist for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem
Harem Scarem
Harem Scarem were a Canadian melodic rock band from Toronto, ON. Harem Scarem achieved popularity in Japan and their native Canada in the early 1990s. Harem Scarem were active from 1987 to 2008...
. Lesperance was born October 13, 1968 in Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. Lesperance was a guitarist in the Oshawa
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
metal band Minotaur before forming Harem Scarem with Blind Vengeance vocalist Harry Hess
Harry Hess
Harry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
in 1987.
Lesperance's solo album, Down In It, was released in 2004 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
only, where Harem Scarem had their main fanbase. With fellow guitarist Mike Turner
Mike Turner (musician)
Mike A. Turner is a musician and producer. He is the former lead guitarist of the band Our Lady Peace. After his departure from OLP he began producing music and played guitar in the Canadian band Fair Ground, with Harem Scarem guitarist Pete Lesperance...
(ex-Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
), they put together the band Fair Ground
Fair Ground
Fair Ground is a Canadian Rock band.Fair Ground was formed by Canadian guitarists Pete Lesperance and Mike Turner, of the bands Harem Scarem and Our Lady Peace, respectively...
. Together they released a new version of Down In It.
Lesperance's own studio, Hope Songs, is located in Toronto, Ontario. Lesperance has produced many bands, including the rock band One Short. He is currently finishing up albums for Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
contestants Aaron Walpole
Aaron Walpole
Aaron Walpole was the third-place finisher in the third season of Canadian Idol. Born in London, Ontario on March 7, 1979, Walpole currently resides in St. Thomas, Ontario...
and Suzi Rawn
Suzi Rawn
Suzi Rawn was a top 4 finalist in Canadian Idol season 3. She is known for her rock and blues singing style as well as her unique clothing amongst the Canadian Idol finalists. Her hometown is Kamloops, but she grew up in Ottawa and has lived in Calgary and Montreal...
.
His influences include Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Bettencourt
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
.
With Harem Scarem
- Harem ScaremHarem Scarem (album)Harem Scarem is the 1991 self-titled debut album by the Canadian hard rock band of the same name. Music videos were shot for the songs; "Slowly Slipping Away", "Honestly", and "With a Little Love"...
(1991) - Mood Swings (1993)
- Voice of Reason (1995)
- Karma CleansingKarma CleansingKarma Cleansing is a 1997 album by the Canadian Hard rock band Harem Scarem. The album was released as Believe in Japan with the songs "Cages" and "The Mirror" being replaced with "Staying Away" and "Baby With a Nail Gun"...
(1997) - Big Bang TheoryBig Bang Theory (Harem Scarem album)- Track listing :-Band members:*Harry Hess – lead vocals, guitar, producer.*Pete Lesperance – lead guitar, backing vocals, producer.*Barry Donaghy – bass, backing vocals.*Darren Smith – drums, backing vocals....
(1998) - Weight of the World (2002)
- HigherHigher (Harem Scarem album)- Track listing :-Band members:*Harry Hess - lead vocals, guitar, producer.*Pete Lesperance - lead guitar, backing vocals.*Barry Donaghy - bass, backing vocals.*Creighton Doane - drums, backing vocals....
(2003) - OverloadOverload (Harem Scarem album)-Band:*Harry Hess - lead vocals, guitar, producer.*Pete Lesperance - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer.*Barry Donaghy - bass, backing vocals.*Creighton Doane - drums, backing vocals....
(2005) - Human NatureHuman Nature (Harem Scarem album)- Track listing :-Band:*Harry Hess - lead vocals, guitar, producer.*Pete Lesperance - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer.*Barry Donaghy - bass, backing vocals.*Creighton Doane - drums, backing vocals.-Release history:...
(2006) - HopeHope (Harem Scarem album)Hope is a 2008 album by the Canadian hard rock band Harem Scarem. This is the bands twelfth and final studio album. The European version of the album contains an acoustic version of "Higher", which was originally from their 2003 album of the same name....
(2008)
Guest Appearances/Collaborations
- Doctor Rock & The Wild Bunch - Stark Raving Mad (1994) - Guitars
- Honeymoon SuiteHoneymoon Suite (band)Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian rock band formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The band's name was a nod to the fact that Niagara Falls is the unofficial honeymoon capital.-Band history:...
- 13 Live (1994) - Engineer, Mixer - Mystery - Backwards (1995) - Producer (with Harry HessHarry HessHarry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
) - Lame - Ol' Doctor Bomb (1996) - Producer (With Harry HessHarry HessHarry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
) - Fall From Grace - Within The Savage Garden (1997) - Guitar Technician
- Steve Holliday - Stark Raving Mad (1997) - Guitars
- Xntrik - Focus (1997) - Guitar Technician
- Fiore - Body Electric (1998) - Producer
- Fiore - Today Till' Tomorrow (1998) - Producer (With Harry HessHarry HessHarry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
) - Rafa Martin - Corazon De Hierro (2000) - Guitars
- Stupid Angel - Stupid Angel (2000) - Producer (With Harry HessHarry HessHarry Hess is a Canadian record producer, singer and guitarist best known as the former frontman for the Canadian melodic rock band Harem Scarem....
) - John Boswell - Stranger In The Mirror (2002) - Guitars
- Ken Tamplin - Wake The Nations (2003) - Guitars
- Maureen Leeson - aka MOE (2003) - Guitars
- Billy Klippert - Billy Klippert (2004) - Composer, Guitars
- Brian Tulk - The Pop Machine (2004) - Guitars
- John Grolman - Existence (2009) - Guitars, Backing Vocals
- LORD - Set in Stone (2009) - Guest guitar solo: Track 11: "New Horizons"
- Liberty N' JusticeLiberty N' JusticeLiberty N' Justice is a Christian hard rock band started in 1991 by Justin Murr and Patrick Marchand. In 2002, Murr continued with the Liberty N' Justice name, contacting several well-known artists to join him in creating the new album Welcome to the Revolution...
- Light It Up (2010) - Guitars, Backing Vocals: Track 11: "Beautiful Decision"