Music
Press
23 May, 2008
MURRAY BREWSTER
The Canadian Press
A concert by a troupe of Canadian entertainers was interrupted last night when the Taliban launched a rocket attack on NATO's main base in southern Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield.
Country singer Diane Chase, left front, rock singer Ginette Genereux, centre, East Coast blues guitarist Matt Minglewood, right, and members of the Toronto-based rock band Suckerfactory; Colin Daniel, left back row. and T.Z. Wade, right back row, listen to questions before the show. The show resumed after about one hour.
TALIBAN ROCKET ATTACK INTERRUPTS SHOW
BY MURRAY BREWSTER
The Canadian Press
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan
-Hundreds of NATO soldiers got a dash of Canadian music and humour last night before a Taliban rocket attack forced a troupe of entertainers to temporarily douse the lights at Kandahar Airfield.
The music and jokes had been flying for about an hour when the first explosion and siren forced everyone to scurry for nearby bunkers. No one was hurt.
Kandahar Airfield, the main base for Canadian and alliance troops in southern Afghanistan, has been hit routinely over the last few weeks with wildly erratic 107 millimetre rocket fire intended to harass NATO forces.
The show was interrupted for about an hour before performers retook the stage and carried on.
One of the headline acts was East Coast blues rocker Matt Minglewood, who has spent the last couple of days mixing and chatting with the troops. It is the guitarist's second trip to entertain soldiers in the war-torn country, and he said a lot has changed in almost four years.
Reading about the dangers and the casualties wasn't enough to prepare him for a "chilling" trip to what soldiers call "the bone yard" - a storage area at the base for armoured vehicles wrecked by
roadside bombs. "It's just brutal to see it," said Minglewood, who traded in his signature cowboy hat for a ball cap and a desert neck scarf. "People at home, they would never understand until you look in a vehicle where people lost their lives in. It brings the reality smack'dab in front of your face."
Country singer Diane Chase, on her third -concert tour in Afghanistan, said she looks up to soldiers and believes most Canadians feel the same way, even if they can't be here. "People talk about having baseball players as heroes, you know, break a world record. That's not a hero, these are heroes." Chase said she was excited to bring a little bit of Canada to troops, not only from back home but from other countries as well. "They're just so grateful of us giving up our time to come over and perform for them," said Chase prior to the show. "What we get back is far greater than what we bring them. It's hard to go home and perform for a regular audience after being here."
The musicians held an impromptu jam with soldiers, some of them just returned from forward operating bases for rest and relaxation, outside of the main Canadian recreation hall on Thursday night.
Musical comedian Kenny Shaw hosted the show, performed in front of troops from Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia, Portugal, France and Romania.
- London Free Press
Discography
discography
In The Middle of Something 2000
The Ride 2004
Gettin There 2009
singles
In The Middle of Something Top 10
Walkin Away With You Top 20
Taking Back My Heart Top 10
There I Go Again Top 20
Crazy In Love Top 20
The Ride Top 20
music Videos
In The Middle of Something Top 10
Walkin Away With You Top 10
Taking Back My Heart Top 10
There I Go Again Top 10
The Ride
nominations
Independent Female Vocalist of the Year CCMA 2007
Independent Female Vocalist of the Year CCMA 2006
Independent Female Vocalist of the Year CCMA 2005
Photos
Bio
The last decade has seen an explosion in the world of Canadian Country Music. Never before have so many artists from Canada been recognized around the world for their contribution to the art of country music. This explosion has inspired a whole new generation of aspiring artists to look to their horizon and make the commitment needed to forge a career in the most demanding of businesses.
Happy to accept this challenge is Sudbury native, Diane Chase. Challenge has always come naturally to Diane as she grew up being the youngest child in a family of ten. Sometimes it took a while to get noticed in our family, just because there were so many of us Diane fondly recalls, but with the release of her first single it seemed that getting noticed by the Canadas Country Music establishment would be the least of her problems. The first single In The Middle of Something zoomed into the Top 10 and stayed entrenched at the top of radio play lists for nearly two months. As well, the video was a favorite on CMT earning a spot at #9 on their Top 20 Countdown.
Diane began singing at age five and by the time she was a teenager she was touring Ontario and Quebec as the lead singer of the popular band Flirt. Soon it was obvious that if Diane wanted to sing professionally, she was going to have to move to Toronto. However, before she could go, there was the matter of finding a replacement. There was a girl from Timmins that was causing a stir, so they recruited her to join the band. Eileen (later to become known as Shania) Twain took over as lead singer of Flirt and Diane made preparations to move to the big city.
Once in Toronto Diane firmly established herself as one of the top female vocalists in town. She also earned her Canadian securities license and began working in investment banking during the day. Eventually, realizing that music was too big a part of her, Diane made the commitment to become a recording artist. She knew the only way this was going to happen, was if she got out and made it happen. She started knocking on doors in Toronto and Nashville and the search led her to Cedar Tree Studios in Kitchener, home to such well known artists as Jamie Warren, Beverley Mahood, John Landry and Lace as well as CCMA Producer of the Year, Rick Hutt.
Dianes accomplishments over the next three years certainly set her on a course for success. Her 2nd single Walkin Away With You earned Top 20 status (#6 video on CMT), her 3rd single Taking Back my Heart climbing to yet another Top 10 position (#9 video on CMT), 4th single There I Go Again went Top 20 ( video #8 on CMT), 5th single Crazy In Love yet another Top 20 hit. She earned awards for Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2000 & 2002 Ontario Country Performer & Fan Association Awards as well as numerous CCMA nominations to date.
Dianes previous CD, THE RIDE, launched in June 2004 is a top down, music up, fun-filled journey through some of countrys back roads and city streets, states Chase. There are some introspective moments giving you an idea of who I am, and where I came from. THE RIDE boasted two Top 20 hits with the release of the self titled single The Ride followed by I Hate Love.
Of late, Dianes time has been filled with writing and touring the globe in support of her success. Shes criss- crossed the country many times performing over 85 concert dates in the last few years and has been honoured to have the opportunity to entertain our Canadian Forces troops in both Afghanistan/The Persian Gulf and our Canadian north not once but 5 times, an experience she says has been life changing. Just last year she toured France and is looking forward to a return appearance this year. A consummate professional with the ability to captivate and engage an audience, Diane leaves each an every concert ticket buyer looking forward to her next performance with CD in hand. She appeals to both male and female country fans alike and has the ability to endear herself to all.
With a brand new CD titled Gettin There on the launching pad and in stores April 28th, and its first single Rich Girl just released to radio Diane beams with excitement at what lies ahead. All indications support the belief that this CD, like its predecessors will no doubt deliver yet another collection of hits to country radio and country fans alike!
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