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Coney Hatch to rock with Midland's Kevin LaBrie as its lead singer... by PAUL SANDERSON After a musical apprenticeship drumming for local "basement bands," and singing in school music festivals, Midland's Kevin LaBrie, 22, has landed the job of lead singer in one of Canada' s top rock groups. In the six years the band has been together, Toronto based Coney Hatch (named after an asylum in England) already have three albums in the record stores. The four member group (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals) has developed an international following in the United States, Germany, and Great Britain after their live performances opening for big name "heavy metal"' acts like Iron Maiden, Crocus, and Judas Priest. But LaBrie is quick to insist that "theavy metal" is not the Coney Hatch sound. --QOne of Canada's top groups---- You have to 'get up and move" when listening to this group's brand of all original, "aggressive rock" tunes, he says. In pursuit of a different, more commercial sound, the band took the businesslike ap- proach of auditioning for a new lead singer, earlier this year. After almost 50 applicants had been heard, LaBrie was invited to audition in November. The young Midlander was already known to several members of Coney Hatch for his two and a half years as lead vocalist with the popular Toronto bar band Trance. Prior to devoting himself to the Toronto music scene at age 18, LaBrie was busy completing Grade 12 at MSS, while drumming and singing for a local group called Exodox. Much of LaBrie's style was honed during these early performances at familiar spot like Midland's Civic Centre, the Athenian Hall, and the Port McNicoll Community Centre. While he began playing drums at age five, encouraged by a musical family with a father and brother active in barbershop singing, LaBrie also credits his elementary school music teacher. He remembers. Miss Montgrain staying behind with him after school at Monsignor Castex, for extra work on voice training. For his rock audition last month, LaBrie was required to perform four recent Coney Hatch tunes with the band, plus another song with music and lyrics of his own composition. Immediately after the audition, he was of- fered the job of singing up front with the band. Although musical talent was obviously a major consideration, LaBrie claims _per- sonality and ability to work closely with the entire group are equally important in decisions like this. Currently working towards a new album for Coney Hatch, and the likelihood of extensive touring after its a thrilled and confident LaBrie exclaims, "I couldn't ask for a better break towards success." The way Terry sees it... 10 best movies of 1985 cae DUPUIS Here is my list of what I consider to be the 10 best films I saw theatrically during 1985, with a few comments on each one. They are listed alphabetically. In analyzing my list, I noticed that three of them are science-fiction films, two are westerns, two are dramas based on real-life people, one is a suspense thriller, one is a fantasy film, and the tenth one is a boxing drama. 1) BACK TO THE FUTURE was the commercial hit of the year, and with good reason. It had so much to offer entertainment- wise. TV star Michael J. Fox made a successful leap to the big screen as a modern-day teenager who goes back to the 50's via a time-machine and meets his future parents. Christopher Lloyd offered great support as his eccentric inventor friend. 2) COCOON' was another top-notch science-fiction fantasy of the past summer. It was well-done and very entertaining, with a Spielberg type of feeling to it. Like E.T. it dealt with man making contact with ex- traterrestrials, except that in this case the aliens are helped by senior citizens rather than children. Cocoon is Ron Howard's best film to date, and it other summer ad- venture, The Goonies, which irritated me to no end. 5) MARIE was based 'on the experiences of Marie Ragghianti who served on the Tennessee Parole Board. The corruption which she uncovered in the Ten- nessee penal system. was reminiscent of another film, Brubaker. But this new film still has much to. offer, thanks in large part to Sissy Spacek's well- tuned performance. 6) MASK was another dramatic film of 1985 which was also based on the lives of some real- : life people. It related the story of a teenage boy who was afflicted with a condition which caused his face to give a distorted mask-like appearance. The film was quite moving, but not nearly as downbeat or depressing as The Elephant Man. Peter Bogdanovich gave it some welcome humour as well, and it is by far the best thing this film maker has done in years. 7) PALE RIDER saw Clint Eastwood return to the western range for the first time since The Outlaw Josey Wales almost a decade earlier. Some found it to be a slow-moving western, but I appreciated the mood and atmosphere of the film. Also the plot was allegorical, much like Eastwood's earlier High Plains Drifter. 8) SILVERADO more of a pleasing type of western. It had more action scenes than Pale Rider, and it was more of a traditional western. Writer director Lawrence Kasdan did a skillful job of combining many typical western plots, characters and situations into a har- monious entertainment. A cast of non-western actors did a first-rate job, including Kevin Kline and Scott Glenn. 9) ROCKY IV was criticized by some for too much flag-waving, but in it Sylvester Stallone demonstrated that he could come up with still another in- triguing variation to keep his "Rocky"' series going. I could say that the film's outcome was predictable, but I would still have to admit that I got caught up in the story nevertheless. 10) WITNESS marks the best screen work Harrison Ford has done outside of his Han Solo and Indiana Jones characters. He was very convincing as a big city police investigator who becomes entangled in the lives of an Amish woman and her son who has witnessed a brutal murder. Ford also becomes involved with their people and a totally different way of life. Witness was a first- rate thriller, and much more besides. was crowd- year! N N N N N That's my list for this I'm ___ looking forward to see what 1986 will have to offer in the way of worthwhile films. I'm wondering which 10 titles will end up on my list next year at this time. Until then, see you at the movies! --in-€anada---- On Dec. 10, in 1880, the contract to build the C.P.R. came before the 'House of Commons in Ottawa, and in 1949, the Supreme Court of Canada was made the final authority on judicial matters. On Dec. 12, in 1949, Mrs. Nancy Hodges was appointed Speaker of the British Columbia Legislature, the first woman Speaker in the British Commonwealth, Lawrence Seaway Authority was established. On Dec. 13, in 1804, Joseph Howe was born in Halifax, and in 1837, W.L. Mackenzie oc- cupied Navy Island above Niagara Falls and proclaimed a provisional governm- ent. On Dec. 14, in 1956, John G. Diefenbaker was elected leader of the and in 1951, the St. Conservative party. REFRESHER skills and information. PRENATALCLASSES _ Theseries will consist of Simcoe County three classes. Classes District Health Unit will be starting Refresher Prenatal Classes in Barrie in 1986. The classes will be starting in January and are in addition to the regular prenatal classes. Expectant parents who have previously attended prenatal classes will find that these classes provide an update and review of 2 474 = aa 5 > AMG MEY /, a LL lac == will include review of relaxation and breathing skills, an update on prenatal and childcare information, and parenting issues. These classes are open to all expectant parents in the Barrie area. For further in- formation call _ the Barrie Sub-Office of the Simcoe County District Health Unit at 737-4228. ( Md dé i " af 'ay Home grown rock 'n roll After playing drums and singing with local "basement bands,"' Midland's Kevin LaBrie, 22, took his musical talents to Toronto four years ago. The hard work paid off last month when he was invited to join the popular Canadian rock band Coney Hatch, as their new lead singer. Complete Dining Facilities Christmas, Weddings Social Functions for all occasions ORNS ale BS Ze hiewkek BO. Balm Beach Rd. Midland en po provided showcase roles for veteran actors Don Ameche and Hume Cronyn, among others. 3) D.A.R.Y.L. was LS i A, C Yd TAIL? BANQUET Z (Zl id lleddd ld id dldél dh il ihé il ll dd AZellini's another -- enormously scifi film, 'but this one Pareesici eae a 7a HALL COMING ATTRACTIONS somehow failed to Midland = Hwy. 93 register at the box- office. It was about a boy robot adopted by foster parents, and he has to try to adjust to living with human beings and their ways. This film was amusing, suspenseful and even touching at times. There were no big names in the cast, but it was well- acted. 4) LADYHAWKE was a romantic fantasy film set back in the middle ages. It was like a fairy tale come charmingly to life under Richard Donner's_ imaginative direction. I much preferred it to Dorner's Dec. 31 New Year's Party featuring SILHOUETTE -- Tickets $38. per couple (behind Johnson's Market) Openings available for all functions large or small Catering available Bp Call: 526-9864 days 526-9607 nights " (ZL AL id hdhd hd dhbahdthddlde hot oO 505 eGlamorous even without polish eHealthy-only tips eEasily re-tipped LAMMAMAMAALAALAA AA KS Call for an appointment today Tuesday, December 31, 1985, Page 15