Vancouver’s K.T. Rouge aren’t interested in wearing spandex–except maybe on a good night

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 20, 1984

By Steve Newton

On the walls are album sleeves from Bryan Adams’ Cuts Like a Knife, Queen II, and Led Zeppelin IV. Headphones, cords, and guitar-string packets are also hung up here and there. And a single red spotlight in the middle of the room shines its gaudy glare on the four young men churning out crisp boogie like their lives depended on it.

Near the corner of Venables and Victoria Drive, in the basement of a large old house, the members of K.T. Rouge are doing what they like to do best. They’re making the walls of their rehearsal space shiver and shake, almost deafening the roving rock writer who’s come to check them out. But that’s okay, because he doesn’t mind a little volume (a little?) when the band is hot. And for a group that’s only been together three months, K.T. Rouge can really burn.

Guitarist Robert James, bassist Charles Kane, drummer Sparky Walker, and guitarist/keyboardist Dave Worthington combine to create a jagged and intense ’60s rock sound–like revved-up Tom Petty–that boasts catchy lyrics and slick lead-guitar harmonies. And the group’s vocals are shared by James, Walker, and Worthington, so even though the band’s newness does occasionally show through, their vocal delivery has wide-ranging possibilities.

James and Worthington began a songwriting partnership in July of last year–before K.T. Rouge was formed–that has resulted in the band having enough original tunes for a full night’s performance. And though the two guitarists are the main writers, says James, “We’re getting the rest of the boys into the act–they want their royalties too.”

Talk of royalties may sound a bit absurd from a band that is just starting out, but James is serious about the idea. That’s why he and Worthington have set up their own publishing company–to protect their individual interests as writers.

“We write all kinds of different material,” says James, “country and western tunes, Christmas tunes. Eventually we want to see [the publishing project] Angry Lion take off and do really well.”

And judging by the taste of James’s material that yours truly has enjoyed, it certainly could. One of the tunes that stands out is an anti-war song titled “Fields of Flanders”, which the band has just recorded in Blue Wave Studios for the Al Hyland/Waterfront Cabaret compilation. It’s a stirring piece of controlled chaos that starts off with drummer Walker’s military snarework–something he’s had plenty of time to work on while playing at B.C. Lions home games with the Beefeater Band.

An original member of local club act Crisis and devoted fan of John Bonham and Neil Peart, Walker has been drumming since he was four years old. The 25-year-old skinbanger has also played in club acts Deadline and Signals.

As for the other members of K.T. Rouge, James cites Tom Petty and the late great Tommy Bolin as his favourite rockers, while Worthington is a “real Bowie freak”. Bassist Kane calls Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, and southern bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and Charlie Daniels his biggest influences.

The first gig K.T. Rouge ever played was at the Vancouver’s Tonite Battle of the Bands,  which went, says James with a laugh, “Okay I guess. Chuck had to read charts offstage. He’d only been with the band three days.”

But their lack of time together has never deterred the band from getting out there and doing their best. They’ve also played a Battle of the Bands at the Zodiac Cabaret, and have appeared at the Waterfront twice–once during the Wet Coast Music Festival and then again December 30 with X Alien Heirs. They plan on releasing a 45 by the beginning of March to coincide with the cut on the Waterfront compilation album, and an EP by the end of June.

So what do they think the chances are for a new group to make it big in Vancouver?

“I think the situation is good right now,”  says James, “because with Expo 86 there’s a lot of focus on the city now. If a band plays its cards right and sticks together and gets the whole promo and advertising done right, they’ve got a really good chance.”

And if and when they make it to the concert stage, what sort of image would K.T. Rouge like to project?

“We just want to be ourselves,” says James to a chorus of yeahs, “and dress the way we feel like dressing. No image, no leather and studs.”

“And no spandex,” adds Sparky with a laugh, “except maybe on a good night.”

K.T. Rouge will be appearing at the Waterfront on Friday, January 27. That show will be broadcast live on Co-op Radio, CFRO.

To read over 100 of my other interviews with local Vancouver musicians since 1983, go here.