By Jim Barber
A fixture, an irrepressible inventive dynamo, a powerhouse performer and an necessary artist who has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for nearly 45 years, Lee Aaron continues to be a pressure to be reckoned with as a songwriter, vocalist, and reality teller.
With songs reminiscent of ‘Steel Queen,’ ‘Barely Holding On,’ ‘Solely Human,’ ‘Whatcha Do To My Physique,’ ‘Arms On,’ ‘and Intercourse With Love,’ Aaron was a ubiquitous presence on rock radio and music video tv all through the Nineteen Eighties and into the Nineteen Nineties. After experimenting with alt-rock within the Nineteen Nineties and releasing an acclaimed jazz album, Slick Chick, in 2000, she returned to the rock and roll fold, with a renewed sense of function and a extra vibrant fashion, highlighted by a string of six albums beginning with Hearth and Gasoline in 2016. Every album has continued to not solely assist return previous viewers members to the fold, reinvigorate those that by no means left, and convey many new adherents, but in addition generated fairly good bodily gross sales as an impartial artist within the age of digital downloads.
This summer time, she is acting at quite a few festivals, in addition to opening for Nineteen Eighties American rockers Evening Ranger on Friday, July 25, at On line casino Rama outdoors Orillia, Ontario. After that, she performs on the Saskatchewan Ex in Saskatoon on Aug. 2, earlier than heading to the large stage in Minnedosa, Manitoba for the annual Rockin’ The Fields Competition the next day. Within the fall, she already has a string of dates booked alongside the legendary Nazareth.
“Yearly, each summer time is a special story. The fact is there are solely, like 100 festivals and about 700 bands that every one need to play them. And you may’t actually return to the identical festivals 12 months after 12 months. So, some summers are approach busier for me than others. This summer time I might say is a reasonably busy one, however I even have loads of different exhibits scattered all year long,” Aaron informed Music Life Journal from her dwelling in British Columbia.
“I began taking part in in February and I type of haven’t stopped. I’ve the exhibits in Rama and in Saskatoon and Rockin’ The Fields after which this fall I’ve various exhibits with Nazareth once they head throughout Canada. It’s positively busy.”
With 16 studio albums, 1000’s of live performance appearances world wide, and a limiteless storehouse of memorable moments, Aaron has determined that now’s the time to get her story – her entire story – down on paper.
“I’d at all times thought that many individuals, the general public normally, particularly in Canada and I assume all through the world solely know a floor model of my story. My husband [John Cody who is also her drummer] has stated to me for 20 years, ‘if you happen to write your story and also you inform the reality, it’s going to be actually attention-grabbing for folks to learn.’ So, once I acquired a star on Canada’s Stroll of Fame [in 2023], I began to take it extra severely. It was a really attention-grabbing expertise to observe a three-minute presentation, an summary of your profession a 3rd social gathering places collectively for a ceremony like that and it was extraordinarily nicely accomplished. It’s attention-grabbing to see how different folks view you,” she stated from her dwelling in British Columbia.
“I had been engaged on these memoirs lengthy previous to 2023 in dribs and drabs, as a result of I’ve been so busy. However that occasion type of lit the hearth below me to finish them, to lastly get them accomplished as a result of mine isn’t just a narrative of a lady in rock. It’s a narrative of getting to combat a bunch of feminist battles all through the Nineteen Eighties to have my voice heard within the boardroom, within the studio, and on stage, to have a journey of paving a path for ladies to choose up guitars and write indignant songs within the Nineteen Nineties. Within the nineties, the world’s music tradition was primed for that. There was Courtney Love and Gap, Veruca Salt, the Breeders and naturally Alanis. The world was prepared to listen to girls’s voices in a rock context, whereas within the Nineteen Eighties it was all about battling simply to have the ability to write my very own songs.
“I might combat and inform them I’m an artist; I’ve issues to say. However again then it was extra, ‘now we have 10 songs from our writer and we wish you to file them, we see them as hits, and that is our imaginative and prescient for you. And right here, put on these garments,’ which often entailed brief shorts and as little else as doable, as a result of girls have been so marketed in a sexualized style within the Nineteen Eighties. So, I had a number of main obstacles to climb over that many individuals aren’t conscious of. I believe my story is a narrative of empowerment for anybody who’s had massive challenges of their life and profession.”
She stated she believes the potential viewers for this e book goes past simply younger girls attempting to make a profession in music and leisure, that it’s a narrative of perseverance, of battling towards outdated considering and a patriarchal construction that holds many individuals again.
“Folks within the business, rock and roll followers had solely actually a floor model of who I’m. This memoir supplies far higher perception into who I used to be as an individual again then, and the alternatives and selections that I made, and what knowledgeable these decisions and selections. But in addition, it’s concerning the woman that at all times wrote songs about being robust. As an artist all through my profession, I can’t depend what number of occasions I’ve been doing a present and had a younger girl come as much as me and say, ‘, I simply love your Some Ladies Do [1991] album, or that tune ‘Robust Ladies Don’t Cry,’ from Bodyrock [1989] bought me by way of a tricky time in my life and I’ve at all times been so impressed by you.’ I’ve at all times wished to put in writing materials that embodied loads of feminine empowerment and songs of inspiration and rising above challenges. I sort of have a look at my story as the identical factor. Even for somebody that was by no means into onerous rock music, however say is a housewife who’s gone by way of a divorce, it may be a really inspiring learn due to the fires that I walked by way of and naturally there’s a cheerful ending, as a result of I’m completely satisfied,” she defined.
“I did write an incredible quantity about my childhood which was additionally difficult. I do know when I’m studying about say of considered one of my favorite artists or somebody I’m involved in, I already know the arc of their successes proper? What I discover extra attention-grabbing is possibly one thing that occurred to them of their childhood that was actually vital. I believe while you’re prepared to dig deep and inform a human story, which is what I’m attempting to do with this memoir; a really human story about challenges I confronted rising up, I believe that’s much more relatable for folks when folks can determine with it and suppose, ‘oh this individual had a really imperfect life as nicely and I can completely relate to that.’ I believe when folks can relate to your struggles, it’s a much better approach of humanizing your story. I actually do suppose individuals are much more involved in issues they’ll relate to than all of the awards that I’ve received, or all of the rock stars that I’ve met. Most of that’s not one thing folks can determine with.
“And yeah, 100 per cent, writing about my childhood was actually onerous. It was onerous to return there as a result of as we develop and mature … and I’ve been by way of loads of remedy through the years to work by way of issues, and considered one of my favorite psychiatrists, he at all times stated that the issues that work to maintain you secure while you have been a toddler will destroy your maturity. They will destroy your grownup relationships. So, it was fairly painful to return and have a look at a number of the issues that occurred. Nevertheless it’s all a part of the journey to the place I’m now.”
Aaron stated she hopes to have the manuscript accomplished by the top of the calendar 12 months, for publication in 2026, alongside a brand new biggest hits assortment of music (extra about that shortly). Within the interim, and in between summer time competition exhibits, she shouldn’t be solely battering the keys on her laptop, but in addition reaching out to mates, household and colleagues each previous and current to assist spherical out the narrative within the memoir.
“I haven’t been posting practically as a lot on socials currently as a result of it’s simply taken loads of very targeted, intense time to finish the e book. And I’ve been talking to lots of people. I’ve spoken just a few occasions to John Albani, who was my co-writing associate [and band member] for a few years. I’ve additionally talked to my household, my dad and mom, former bandmates and different folks within the business I labored with, as a result of they bear in mind issues that I forgot,” she stated.
“Their perspective on a selected tour or story is perhaps fully totally different than mine. However, yeah, I’m placing loads of time and vitality into it. And I attempt to be in keeping with the work. Immediately, I’ve bought a few appointments this afternoon, then now we have a dinner date this night, so in the present day shouldn’t be going to be a writing day. However tomorrow most likely will likely be, though I by no means know when these productive hours hit. I do know if I can get three to 4 actually targeted hours, even when that signifies that I get impressed at 11 o’clock at night time and keep up till 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., that’s higher for me than setting apart a bunch of hours within the afternoon after which sitting there twiddling my thumbs and taking a look at a display as a result of it’s probably not working for me in that second. I’m somewhat little bit of an evening owl, so I wish to work at night time and sometimes get very impressed when my home may be very quiet. I attempt to say I’m going to spend this many or that many hours a day, nevertheless it doesn’t actually matter when to me. If I get on a roll, I’ll simply preserve writing.”
The as-yet untitled memoir will add one other layer to Aaron’s legacy, which begins within the very early Nineteen Eighties when the teenaged singing sensation landed a file deal, started touring, and releasing albums, beginning with the Lee Aaron Venture in 1982, adopted by the album that not solely broke her into the onerous rock and metallic mainstream, but in addition created a picture and id within the public consciousness which has left behind lingering misrepresentations and considerably tainted Aaron’s personal view of her profession.
“Simply to be clear, I’m not near desirous to retire but. I nonetheless have my voice; I nonetheless have my well being and my energy – 100 per cent. I’m nonetheless very impressed to maintain writing and recording and performing. What’s occurred for me, which has additionally been inspiring and motivating me to complete my memoirs, is simply that the Lee Aaron narrative has shifted within the final decade or so once I began actually telling the reality about how I felt concerning the early years of my profession and a number of the actually awkward advertising I used to be subjected to. A variety of the notion that’s nonetheless on the market that, nicely Lee Aaron was that rock chick from the Nineteen Eighties; that robust speaking woman who work the brief skirts and blah, blah, blah. That’s such a superficial degree of what I represented,” she stated.
“It’s about my willingness to speak about the truth that, for instance the tune ‘Steel Queen’ was speculated to be about girls with the ability to run the world. It was concerning the matriarchy, not the patriarchy. It was a really robust feminist assertion on the time. However then in all of the publications and stuff, right here I’m in my Xena outfit sandwiched in beside WASP who have been placing baggage over girls’s heads and setting them on fireplace on stage, and bands like Motley Crue and Bon Jovi the place girls in all their movies and advertising materials have been in bikinis and getting all moist at a automobile wash or one thing like that. So, the message was sort of skewed and misplaced again then by advantage of the place it landed within the Nineteen Eighties.”
The brand new hits package deal options re-imagined new recordings of her songs from the Nineteen Eighties and into the Nineteen Nineties, notably those that have been on the previous Attic Information label. The package deal will even include fan favourites and reside live performance staples from her most up-to-date albums, which have been launched on her personal label, beginning with 2016’s Hearth and Gasoline as much as and together with 2024’s Tattoo Me. Aaron doesn’t management the masters from her again catalogue and slightly than combat the present house owners by way of all of the hectic, prolonged and costly authorized shenanigans that may entail, she determined to take her band, the one which has been taking part in all these songs on stage for practically a decade, into the studio and file them as they’re introduced now.
“I don’t actually have the emotional bandwidth to need to get into a giant authorized battle over it. However there may be clearly demand for this music, and since I’ve such a improbable band, we determined to simply re-record a number of the hits, a number of the favourites. And we’re not secret about it. We’re not attempting to re-record them and emulate precisely they approach they have been initially recorded. We’re simply going to file them the way in which we play them now. So, it is going to be the very best of my previous catalog, reimagined, and the very best of every part else I’ve recorded since then. I even have a few treasures nonetheless in my treasure trove: 4 songs that weren’t launched on Elevate [2022]. I don’t know if I’ll put all of them on this, however we’re most likely going to incorporate a pair. I even have some stuff from after we recorded some reside songs at [famous Toronto night club] the El Mocambo. And I additionally suppose we’re going to file a model new single and throw it on there as nicely. Additionally, just like the memoir, I’m not taking a look at this as a profession topper or something like that. It’s extra like closing a chapter, and having a companion piece to go together with the e book. It’s telling folks the story of my life in phrases and in music up till now – understanding that there’s much more to return.”
Moreover husband Cody on drums, the present Lee Aaron band additionally contains premier Canadian shredder Sean Kelly, who has additionally labored, and continues to work, with artists reminiscent of Helix, Nelly Furtato, Crash Kelly and Emm Gryner, and long-time bassist Dave Reimer.
“I like my band proper now. I’ve labored for years, since John Albani left within the mid-Nineteen Nineties to go to Nashville and open up a studio, to curate a gaggle of musicians that I completely love and completely love taking part in and touring with. When the 4 of us get in a room collectively, magic occurs. And we nonetheless have many albums left to go. So, this ‘Better of’ assortment is simply the top web page of a chapter. It’s a very distinctive fan piece that my devoted followers would need to personal to mark the closure of a chapter whereas we transfer on to the subsequent one.”
The cool factor concerning the future is that these chapters have but to be written, and what phrases are to be scrawled on these pages can change and evolve. For Aaron, there’s nonetheless lots to do, nonetheless an abundance of curiosity, creativity and inspiration ready to be tapped into.
“I don’t have every part mapped out for the subsequent decade however I do know that I want to get again to Europe and do some taking part in there, notably England. I do know that’s on our agenda. It’s simply that submit COVID it’s change into virtually prohibitive to get your self over there when it comes to flight prices and every part. However that’s one thing we’d love to do. And , I nonetheless love jazz. Folks ask me on a regular basis, would I do one other jazz album, and I don’t need to say an excessive amount of as a result of if I don’t do one thing, folks will preserve bringing it up, however I say by no means say by no means. I don’t know. I do know Sean and I’ve talked about how a lot enjoyable it will be to put in writing a rock opera,” she stated.
“That might be tremendous enjoyable however I don’t need followers to start out asking, ‘when is the rock opera coming?’ as a result of it’s simply considered one of a bunch of concepts that we’re bouncing round. I definitely know now we have extra unique Lee Aaron albums in us. My son, who is nineteen, and actually, actually into loads of the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties music not too long ago stated, ‘mother, I believe you must lean right into a heavier album. It will be actually cool.’ He and I like loads of comparable stuff. He’s into much more of the bluesy heavy rock like Royal Blood and bands like that. So, possibly I’d do an album which may shock some folks somewhat bit. A variety of journalists and different folks incessantly say, ‘Lee why don’t you simply make an album that sounds just like the Nineteen Eighties while you have been actually, actually standard.’ Why would I do this? I’ve been there, accomplished that. I’m much more involved in pushing the bounds of what I really feel I’m able to into areas that make me really feel like I’m rising and increasing as an artist. Folks inform me I ought to make one other Bodyrock. I may, nevertheless it won’t be that attention-grabbing to me, which suggests it wouldn’t be as genuine.
“Not very many Canadian artists have been in a position to make new information and really have them promote to the purpose the place they really obtain royalties of their checking account. I’ve been getting these funds. Nothing sells within the bodily world the way in which it used to, however mine promote fairly good, and I really feel actually enthused about that. And once I play reside, I’d say an excellent 1/3 of my set is new materials and folks understand it and so they’re singing alongside to it. In order that’s inspiring for me.”
For extra info on Lee Aaron’s upcoming exhibits, in addition to updates on her memoir and biggest hists launch, go to her social media channels or https://www.leeaaron.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Moreover his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his group. Contact him at jimbarberwritingservices@gmail.com.