Biography All Music Guide Wikipedia
All Music Guide:
In the early 1990s, five youths from London, Ontario decided to form a rock band named after a Hindu term meaning "celestial musicians to the gods." Paul Jago, guitarists Jud Ruhl and Brian Ward, bassist/keyboardist Beau Cook, and drummer Tim McDonald became the Gandharvas. After playing various live shows around the London area, Watch Music took an interest in the band; the Gandharvas then signed with the label in 1994. That same year saw the release of their debut album, A Soap Bubble and Inertia. The effort was a fun affair that included the Canadian hit single "The First Day of Spring." The track also took 1994's Song of the Year award at CFNY 102.1 FM in Toronto and was the most requested song on CIMX 89X FM in Windsor, Canada. The follow-up to the band's debut was 1995's Kicking in the Water, which saw the group heading in a darker direction. Upon the heels of that release, the band signed a major label deal with MCA Records. Together with co-producer Laurence Currie, known for his work on Sloan's One Chord to Another, the Gandharvas created their third full-length album, 1998's Sold for a Smile.
Wikipedia:
The Gandharvas was a Canadian alternative rock band formed in 1989 in London.
History
The band formed in 1989 as The Droogs (later The London Droogs), and released a self-titled EP in 1991. They changed their name to The Gandharvas in 1993, after Gandharvas, who are musical spirits in Hinduism.
In November 1993 they signed with the label Watch Music and in 1994 released their debut album as The Gandharvas, titled A Soap Bubble and Inertia. The album included the single "The First Day of Spring", which was named Song of the Year (CASBY Award) by The Edge 102.1 in Toronto, and was nominated for MuchMusic's Video of the Year. A Soap Bubble and Inertia entered the Canadian album charts at #51 in July 1994 and peaked at #39 on August 1, 1994.
In 1995, they released their second album Kicking in the Water, and shortly after were signed by major label MCA Records. Their 1997 release, Sold for a Smile, included the singles "Downtime" and "Watching the Girl". All three albums were also released in Japan on the label Avex DD.
Though Sold for a Smile was a minor commercial success (with the "Downtime" video receiving substantial play at MuchMusic), the album would be the band's last, as the grunge/alternative movement of the 1990s faded in popularity. They would announce their breakup in 2000.
Following the break-up of the band, Beau Cook returned to his former band, Smoother. Eric Howden is now the singer-songwriter for the Canadian band Raised by Swans. Vocalist Paul Jago became a geologist and moved to Arizona, later forming the band (duo with wife) SAID DOG.
