Steve-O made his name rolling with the Jackass crew, the Johnny Knoxville collective whose specialty is YouTube-friendly comedy that pushes gross-out humour to its limits.
Members of the skateboarding posse got filthy rich along the way, with the Jackass series of films, home videos and TV series notching upwards of a half-billion dollars in profit. Steve-O’s personal life was no less of a rollercoaster ride, which led to a multitude of arrests and two separate mental-hospital stays.
In recent years, Steve-O (born: Stephen Glover) got sober and rebuilt his life and career. He competed on Dancing With the Stars, wrote an autobiography (Professional Idiot: A Memoir) and began life anew as a vegan. It was at this point he also turned a corner on his new career path — that of a standup comic.
A former circus clown, his performances still feature some “bar tricks” and stunts, and though he is prone to occasionally lighting himself on fire, the current version of Steve-O the performer is both older and wiser.
Fans will have a firsthand look when Steve-O visits Vancouver Island for two performances in September. He will appear at Club 9one9 on Sept. 6 and at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on Sept. 7.
Tickets for the Victoria show are $29.50 (plus service charges) at Lyle’s Place, the Strathcona Hotel and ticketzone.com.
Nanaimo tickets are $29.50 (plus service charges) at the Port Theatre box office, porttheatre.com or 250-754-8550.
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An offshoot of Sepultura — one of the most influential metal bands of the modern era — will make its Victoria debut next month.
Soulfly, the group fronted by Sepultura singer-guitarist Max Cavalera, is booked to play Club 9one9 on July 30. Cavalera formed Soulfly after leaving Sepultura in 1996, a move that effectively ended the iconic Brazilian group he founded.
Sepultura continues today with another singer, but fans of Cavalera’s guttural growls and politicized lyrics consider Soulfly the one and only legitimate option at present. As such, plan your ticket-purchasing wisely because this could go the distance.
Tickets are on sale for $25 (plus service charges) at Lyle’s Place, Ditch Records, the Strathcona Hotel and clubzone.com.
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Montreal’s much-loved, oft-lamented indie rockers the Unicorns are back after 10 years away — at least for the time being.
A longstanding rumour was put to bed Thursday when Unicorns members Alden Penner and Nick Thorburn tweeted a picture of themselves hugging, followed by news that the reformed band would be the opening act for Arcade Fire on five August arena dates.
It would appear the upcoming dates are the only appearances on tap for the Unicorns, which was formed by Campbell River products Thorburn and Penner, who operated under the pseudonyms Nick Diamonds and Alden Ginger while in the group.
Both Thorburn and Penner are graduates of Carihi Secondary in Campbell River. After the demise of the Unicorns, Thorburn went on to create the acclaimed group Islands (which played Victoria in March) while Penner began a solo career under the Clues moniker.
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The return of former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland will go ahead as planned, albeit in a smaller, more intimate venue.
Weiland, who also fronted platinum-selling rockers Velvet Revolver, will now bring his solo tour with his new band, the Wildabouts, to Club 9one9 on June 28. Tickets for his previously scheduled performance at the McPherson Playhouse will be honoured.
Tickets can still be purchased for $67.50 (plus service charges) at the McPherson box office, by phone at 250-386-6121 or at rmts.bc.ca.
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Ladysmith native Pamela Anderson appears alongside former Smiths frontman Morrissey in the latest video promoting World Peace Is None of Your Business, the British singer’s upcoming new album.
Anderson appears in the clip for the album’s new single, Earth is the Loneliest Planet. The striking video was filmed atop L.A.’s famed Capitol Records Tower and features the pair gazing off into a sunset. To watch, visit timescolonist.com/arts.
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Victoria singer Maureen Washington has been named the best jazz/soul act at the 2014 Black Canadian Awards.
She bested five competitors for the award, including Sharon Musgrave and KellyLee Evans. Nominees in other categories at the June 7 gala included Jully Black, Fefe Dobson, K’naan, K-Os, Shad and Maestro.
Washington, a Prince George native who has lived in Victoria since 2006, was unable to attend the Toronto awards gala as she was on her honeymoon in Mexico at the time.
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The annual Peak Performance Project announced its Top 12 this week, and the list includes Nanaimo act the Wild Romantics.
The indie folk duo, which features Aleisha Kalina and Evan Miller, is the lone Island act to make the cut. In years past, acts from the Vancouver Island region dominated the list of nominees, with Victoria band Current Swell winning the title and $100,500 top prize in 2011.
Other nominees in this year’s competition include Vancouver’s David Newberry, Fernie’s Shred Kelly, and Surrey’s Good For Grapes.
To celebrate their nomination, the Wild Romantics uploaded a new song to their Soundcloud page.
