This is the first set of questions for what hopefully will become a monthly addition to the Chilliwack Fan Site. Bill Henderson has graciously accepted the offer to answer any questions you might have concerning Chilliwack or any of his other projects. Be sure to send your questions to Ask Bill. Again, thanks Bill!
Bill Henderson: The record company loved the tune. We all thought it could be recorded much better than the first version. There's a fair amount of rhythmic inaccuracies and rough playing on it. We kinda thought
tighter might be better. what do you think?
From Sean & Brenda Beston (beston@home.com):
2. I won't ask the same question that most everyone else will be asking:"what can we expect, or should I say, can we expect anything from
Chilliwack (or just Bill Henderson) on CD in the next few years". It must be obvious from this web site that all the fans want all the old stuff on CD. So my question is this: "Is there anything along the lines of demo's, outake versions or unreleased b-sides that could be compiled for a 'From The Vaults' CD?"
Bill Henderson: Yeah there's some stuff. I'm actually working on a live Chilliwack CD right now which I hope to have out in the summer. There's also a live solo CD in the works. New songs are being written. I'm making a slow left back into music.
From Eriksen (eriksen@freewwweb.com):
3. Bill, greetings from Vancouver Island! As a former Vancouver resident, I had the pleasure of watching Chilliwack perform several times in the late 70's - early 80's. Most memorable were shows at the QE theatre and one at the Coliseum where you guys played several encores, well after the PNE staff had turned on the lights! Well done.
I would really like to learn some Chilliwack songs, however I don't possess the greatest ear (I must have played the "Baby Blue" solo 200 times on cassette before I got most of it right), I can't find any Chilliwack songbooks anywhere. Your songs from that era are too good to be forgotten, so can you please suggest a source for some sheet music? Was a comprehensive compedium of Chilliwack music ever published?
Bill Henderson No. "My Girl" and "I Believe" were released in Sheet music form. That's about it. I'd like to see sheet music out there though. Don't know how many people would want it.
From Diane Kuz (dkuz@pangea.ca):
4. How did the name "Chilliwack" originate for the band? None of the members were from Chilliwack were they?
Bill Henderson: Nope. Well, we started out with the band doing alot of music that had a vaguely first nations sound to it. Alot of tom rhythms, very little snare drum, chanting from the vocals etc. Someone suggested the name. The drummer actually. We liked the sound of it so we said yeah.
From Diane Kuz (dkuz@pangea.ca):
5. How realistic is it to say that we will soon see the classic
Chilliwack album "Dreams Dreams Dreams" available on CD?
Bill Henderson: Well that's embarrassing. It'll be a while I guess. We had plans to do it. It's complicated. I definitely want to see it out but it'll be a while.
From Jason Penney (da013@freenet.toronto.on.ca):
6. I am almost 26 years old and I've been listening to Chilliwack since I
was about 7 years old. I had the song My Girl on a K-Tel hits record
called Hit Express and I played it over and over. At that age I didn't
really understand what it was like to have a favourite song or artist,
but I realized I had adopted Chilliwack as my favourite. I bought Opus X
and Wanna be a Star, and then later Segue on tape, and I played Opus X
so much that I wore out the tape and bought another one. I still have
that one today and the others, as well as several used records I bought
over the years. I'm still trying to collect everything, but I don't even
know all the records that exist. I discovered Riding High in a used
store this past summer and never heard of it so I bought it. One day
I'll get a record player again and hear it!
One day when I was still very young, Chilliwack came to my small town in
Newfoundland but I was too young to be able to go, so I was disappointed,
and never did see the band all these years, but in September this past
year, 1999, I heard on the radio in Thunder Bay (I'm attending University
there now) that Chilliwack was going to be playing at Scuttlebutts. I
didn't know what to think, if it was true or not, but I went there and
sure enough, they were playing. Finally I got to see them and it was one
of the best feelings I've ever experienced because it's been a part of my
life as long as I can remember, finally being fulfilled.
Bill mentioned that they'd been playing together for a while and might
consider going further with the band, depending how things go, so I was
wondering if there are any plans to put out a new album or tour on a
bigger scale again. I live in Toronto and would love to see them there,
on stage and in the CD store.
Bill still has a great dynamic vocal range and I think a lot of people
would be honoured to see and hear him again.
Bill Henderson: Like I said earlier, a live album is in the works with an expected availability time of this summer. Large scale tours are not going to happen. I really don't want to be out that long. However, I love playing. More than just about anything. So gigs there'll be, just not long tours.
From: erisa_major@yahoo.com
7. Bill, For the "Breakdown in Paradise" album - did the birds on the cover of the lp signify anything?
Bill Henderson:Paradise? A fake one? Gaudy colours, painted on tin.
mchoma@yahoo.com:
8. Bill - "I Believe" has got to be one of my favorite songs. If you don't mind me asking, what was your influence for the song?
Bill Henderson: Well, really just a whole background of years of playing standards. I learned guitar and chords and the beginning of songwriting by playing "casuals". Gigs where you play with different guys every time out. Doing weddings, banquets.. all of that stuff. This was a long time ago. Early 60s. Latin music, bossa novas, cha cha cha, tangos, rhumba, as well as stuff like Misty, I only have eyes for you, Moon River.... poppy schmaltzy stuff, was what you had to be able to play. That's how I made a living. I believe has some of those poppy, Latin roots in it.
tracyc77@hotmail.com:
9. Were there plans for another Chilliwack album after "Look In, Look Out"?
Bill Henderson: No
cpaul@gateway.net:
10. Does Chilliwack have any tour plans for the Spring/Summer?
Bill Henderson: Yes were putting together dates now. All Canadian so far. Rock Festivals, Fairs etc.
chilliwack99@yahoo.com:
11. Besides UHF and Chilliwack, are you involved in any other projects?
Bill Henderson:Some solo dates. Some songwriter workshops.
chilliwack99@yahoo.com
12. Any more projects as producer?
Bill Henderson: No.
Q13.(Re: Breakdown in Paradise Album) What did Bucky Berger do on the album - did he tour with the group?
Bill Henderson: Bucky played drums with Chilliwack for a while. Touring and on that particular album. I think he was only with us for about a year.
Q14. Does any Chilliwack concert footage exist?
Bill Henderson: There is a live video special that was made in the mid 80s. It contained
virtually an album's worth of music. Mostly the hits. Videos were also done for My Girl and Whatcha Gonna Do.
Q15. Has Bill worked with Claire Lawrence, Howie Vickers or Ross Turney since they parted ways?
Bill Henderson: Claire and I have stayed in touch and do the odd thing together. We did a quasi
"Collectors"
reunion for the Vancouver Children's Hospital a few years back, that included
Howie. Ross lives in
LA and Glenn in Toronto and I don't have much contact with them now.
Q16. What's Bill's favorite Chilliwack album (i.e. which was the most fun to
>make)?
Bill Henderson: Either Dreams Dreams Dreams or Wanna Be A Star. Both were extremely hard work
but satisfying.