Cowboy Junkies
Toronto-based musicians, Michael Timmins (b. 21 April 1959, Montreal, Canada; guitar) and Alan Anton (b. Alan Alizojvodic, 22 June 1959, Montreal, Canada; bass), formed a group called Hunger Project in 1979. It was not successful and, basing themselves in the UK, they formed an experimental instrumental group, Germinal. Returning to Toronto, they joined forces with Timmins’ sister Margo (b. 27 June 1961, Montreal, Canada; vocal) and brother Peter (b. 29 October 1965, Montreal, Canada; drums). As the Cowboy Junkies (which was simply an attention-grabbing name), they recorded their first album, WHITES OFF EARTH NOW!!, in a private house. Their second album, THE TRINITY SESSION, was made with one microphone in the Church of Holy Trinity, Toronto for $250. The band's spartan, less-is-more sound captivated listeners and, with little publicity, the second album sold 250,000 copies in North America. The tracks included a curious reinterpretation of Blue Moon called Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis) and the country standards, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and Walking After Midnight. Lou Reed praised their version of his song, Sweet Jane, and, in 1991, they contributed To Lay Me Down in a tribute to the Grateful Dead, DEADICATED. Their 1990 album, THE CAUTION HORSES, included several vintage country songs which, true to form, were performed in their whispered, five miles-per-hour style. The extent of the Cowboy Junkies’ fast growing reputation was sufficient for them to promote the 1992 album BLACK-EYED MAN at London's Royal Albert Hall.