WHO TO CALL: Fashion Editor Layne Chusiensen 985-2131 (118) AT THIS moment Zulu Records label nuanager Gord Badanic is having fun. Michael Becker Music Reporter The Lynn Valley resident han- dies Zulu. his own nascent tabel _ Ape No Kill Ape Records, and he plays in his own pop group, Thrill Squad (a band once known as Go Four Three). He is not the archetypieal music. biz whiz. ‘There's no motivation in the thrill of the deal, The promise of hit-emachine bucks does not tuen his crank, “We do stuff because we feel like it, Cve found that to trying to get into the game of second guessing is contrived. The honest and most sen- sible thing to do is do something “because you feel like it, (fits fun. you're getting a positive feedback from: your friends beuause you're having fun doing it. “Ho other people like it, then good, Other peo- _ple who spend their time trying to figure out how to break that nut, it's a recipe for bitterness and disaster.” says Badanic, Zulu Records has released over 20 albums since 1983, The cata- Jogue runs the pop gamut: ambient dance, super hardcore, industrial music. Today the lubel is distributed by PolyGram. Zulu bands such as Daytona, Perfume Tree, Coal, Lung and Tankhog are at the receiving end of the invaluable profile made possible with linkage to a major record label. Says Badanic. “PolyGram has been great. Daytona went to Toronto for the first-time and they had front racking in all the big (music) stores and posters in the doorway. That’s something we couldn't have done ourselves. That's where having PolyGram help you out is a terrific benefit.” - The same support team backing PolyGram'’s: 4AD label effort for Canada (the British Jabel carries Cocteau Twins, Breeders, Pixies) deals with Zulu. At Zulu, Badanic finds the bands, cuts the cheques, erranges videos, advises and promotes. He was carliet plugged into Ziad during, Ure mid 1980s. when the febel wis cidependent. Bor about five years the label dis- Uibuted independent titles through. out Canada. J Weocarricd independent bands who dida’t have deals at the time, Jike the Cowboy Junkies. the Rheostaties, Jane Siberry, We bid about 1500 titles == Rhino Records. SST. Enigana which is now Restless. [set thatup.” he said, Badanie eventually shifted focus to pursue Go Four Three, “which was actually signed to Zulu, addly enough.” The band moved to Toronto, Reborn as Thrill Squad, the core of the group has since returned to Vancouver and released a CD on Badanie’s Ape No Kill Ape Records label, “It's the same style of music and we have a different drummer and a second guitarist: for. live shows now.” This month Thrill Squad will tar- get campus radio playlists and pro- duce a video. it's & good time for tocal music, Badanic has seen three cycles. “One was about °78-"80. That's when the first wave of punk bands hit — Young Canadians, Pointed Sticks, DOA, Subhumans, There really scemed to be this sense that _ the world could be the next thing to be won over, “A few bands broke up and the whole thing just came crashing down, | remember there was a 1.5 year period where there were no gigs. no bands, no records, it was horrible. Then we started playing. Grapes of Wrath came down from Kelowna when they — were Gentlemen of Horror. There was a second wave then. That seemed to crest around *88-"89." he said. Today, a number of independent labels are doing well. B.C. bands are breaking out all over the place, “We're just signing ‘another band, Knockdown Ginger. from East Vancouver (four singer-song- writers, amazing harmonies, really cool), “Tt seems once agitin tike nothing can stop it.” detalis on More hoxing attractions No cover charge - y: Come early... Food & Beverage a SS i aS) 135 Pemberton St. (at Welch) Specials 984-3558 Wednesday, January 4, 1995 + North Shore News - 11 STORIES _ NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge © LYNN VALLEY’S Gord Badanic plays for fun on the local music scene. He handies the Zulu Records and Ape No Kill Ape Records music labels and is also a member of Thrill Squad. Bank of Montreal Gymnastics Awareness Week is a province wide blitz of locally organized artistic gymnastics and trampoline activities. Asa popular lifelong activity, gymnastics offers physical development and positive self image building, through achievement of excellence at all ages and abilities/levels. y Excellence in sports at all ages and levels, requires S commitment and dedication. The same can be said for /. business. At Bank of Montreal, we share that commitment to excellence Wi in service, products, and most importantly people. = Gymnastics IT ig POSSIBLE Awareness For more information about gymnastics or trampoline programs in your community, contac at 737-3049.