Slash & the Bleeding Hearts co-hosted CJSR's The Shoebox on September 11th, 2019 as part of the Legends of the Edmonton Music Scene series. This bio is from 'Slash & the Bleeding Hearts' drummer & band founder George Miller.

 

“I started the band around 1979 with singer Barry Sainchuck. Barry and I played together in a band called Gallery, and when that band folded we started ‘Slash & the Bleeding Hearts’.

We added guitarist Kevin Alstad, and bassist Gary Law (RIP), and off we went. Taking on big debt from buying a PA system and lighting gear, which without we could not have booked the larger and reputable gigs.

Around 1981/1982 Barry decided it was time to move on, so we started to look for his replacement, eventually finding Mark Boutiller as the singer, while also adding rhythm guitarist/ keyboard Kelly McCarthy, and legendary sound man Bill Kennedy (RIP).

 

Shortly thereafter bassist Gary left the band, and we added Eugene Goertzen who had just finished playing in the local band Patch. I was very familiar with Gene as he and I played in Gallery together, so the new rhythm section came together in a hurry.

 

One of the bands big turns happened when we opened for a show at the University of Alberta. I think it was the first gig with the new members, and the room went absolutely crazy.

After that, we were booked solid going from playing ‘low profile’ bars to crowds of 500 to 1000 people, lining up outside local clubs every weekend.

 

As things went on, we decided to take the band on the road. Gene was not able to continue as he had started his own business with his brother, so we parted ways and added bass player Don Airchuck. (RIP). Not long after Don came on board, Kevin was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and had to leave the band for treatment. He beat the cancer and was back to his normal self about a year later. In the meantime, we replaced Kevin with Brent McNab, (RIP.) and Don with Frank Juskiw (RIP).

 

We worked hard on trying to get a record deal but were never able to find the one we wanted, and a few years later Slash & the Bleeding Hearts was finished, and we all went our separate ways, but always stayed close to each other. The band was like a family to all of us and to this day still is to this day.

The band went on hiatus around late 1984, and had a reunion show in 1990 at the Convention Inn South.”