biography

-- the red orkestra

Canadian singer-songwriter Johnny Charmer burst onto the Toronto music scene in early 2000, having joined Canadian indie darlings Red Autumn Fall as a guitarist and keyboardist. Shortly after the demise of the band, Johnny formed Charmer with ex-RAF singer Simeon Ross, and drummer Gail Thompson, along with Winnipeg ex-pats Steve Payne and Brad Sveistrupp. After several years playing shows across Ontario and Quebec-and even a tour in the Northwest Territories-Johnny left the stalling band to play guitar with Toronto rock 'n' roll mainstay, and Fading Ways Records chief, Neil Leyton, and eventually to form his own band, Red Orkestra. Red Orkestra started as a side project for Johnny as an outlet for his writing and the original line-up included Leyton on bass, Devin Stoneham on drums, and Ian "Loaf" Woodward (the Pariahs) as lead guitarist. What began as a side project, however, quickly became the focus of Charmer's musical efforts.

In May of 2004, Red Orkestra released their debut album After the Wars to critical acclaim. Embracing the new technologies that were revolutionizing the music industry, Johnny chose to release his album with a Creative Commons licence, to enable fans to freely copy and share his music without fear of legal repercussions. It would be the world's first internationally distributed Creative Commons CD release.

Shortly after the release of After the Wars, Johnny's band-mates returned to their own projects, thus leaving Red Orkestra as a band of one. Having relocated to Waterloo, Ontario, Johnny re-staffed the band with two former Candidates; guitarist Stephen Parkinson and bassist Neil McDonald, with Rick Andrade sitting in on drums. Shortly after the new line-up took shape they were in the studio with producer Steve Payne recording Life with the Machines; the Red Orkestra's second full-length album. Life with the Machines was released in July 2006 and spring 2007 saw Johnny head to Europe for his first tour on the Continent in support of the album.

Johnny will head back across the pond this October to re-join Neil Leyton and the Ghosts on another European tour. Upon his return, Red Orkestra will be back in the studio to record an EP for release this fall in advance of their third full-length album.

www.redorkestra.com and www.myspace.com/redorkestra.

E-mail: johnny_charmer@yahoo.co.uk