Windwalker (band)
{{more citations needed|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| origin = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| genre = Rock
| years_active = {{start date|1990}}–{{end date|1993}}
| label = Mint
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| current_members =
| past_members = *Stuart Oijen
- Philippe Doebeli
- Anthony Hempell
- Glenn D'Cruze
}}
Windwalker was a four-piece rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia who were active from 1990 to 1993.
History
Philippe Doebeli and Glenn D'Cruze founded Windwalker in Vancouver, B.C., having previously played together in various high school bands. They put out an ad in the Georgia Straight which was answered by vocalist Stuart Oijen and Anthony Hempell. Oijen had previously played in the band Silent Gathering with Keith Parry.{{Cite book|last=Fontana|first=Kaitlin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uhHRQN117IC&dq=windwalker+vancouver&pg=PA25|title=Fresh at Twenty: The Oral History of Mint Records|date=October 2011|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-052-3|language=en}}
In 1990, the band won Shindig, a Vancouver-area battle of the bands, which became one of the defining moments in the band's history. During the performance, Oijen carried a pig's head onto the stage and began hacking it with a machete, before tossing the head into the audience.{{Cite web|title=CiTR's Shindig celebrates 35 years of battling bands in Vancouver|url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/events-and-entertainment/citrs-shindig-celebrates-35-years-of-battling-bands-in-vancouver-1940977|website=Vancouver Is Awesome|language=en|access-date=2020-05-11}} Windwalker recorded a cover of Ministry's "Burning Inside", which was included on the seven inch vinyl record The Mint Is A Terrible Thing To Taste, the first release for newly formed Mint Records.{{cite magazine|author=Larry LeBlanc|title=Mint Records still fresh after ten years|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49|date=1 September 2001|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=49–|issn=0006-2510}} The band recorded one album, Rainstick with Mint in 1991, and went on a tour organized by the label.{{cite book|author=Kaitlin Fontana|title=Fresh at Twenty: The Oral History of Mint Records|url=https://archive.org/details/freshattwentythe0000font|url-access=registration|date=1 October 2011|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-052-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/freshattwentythe0000font/page/48 48] and 371}}
Windwalker contributed songs to two more compilations: a cover of Donovan's "The Fat Angel" on Island of Circles (Nettwerk, 1991); and the original "Ghede" on Bovine Select Cuts (Bovine Prophets, 1992).
The band also recorded an album called The Sandglass at First Music Studios before they broke up, but it remains unreleased.
Windwalker disbanded in 1993. After Windwalker broke up Exu Nazares fronted The Technicians (of the Sacred) for five years and later led the band Les Barons, working with Circo Fantasma and Jeremy Gluck.
Personnel
- Stuart Oijen (now known as "Exu Nazares") - Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
- Philippe Doebeli - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
- Anthony Hempell - Bass and Backing Vocals
- Glenn D'Cruze - Drums
References
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Category:Canadian rock music groups
Category:Musical groups from Vancouver
Category:Musical groups established in 1990
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993