Jellyfishbabies

Jellyfish babies
OriginHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1986 (1986)–1993
Past membersScott Kendall
Peter Arsenault
Dave Schellenberg
Colleen Britton
Mike Belitsky

Jellyfishbabies were an alternative rock band in Canada, active from 1986 to 1993. Although the band never attained mainstream success, they were one of the major influences on the "Halifax Pop Explosion" scene of the early 1990s.[1]

Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the band consisted of vocalist Scott Kendall, guitarist Peter Arsenault, bassist Dave Schellenberg and drummer Colleen Britton. The original lineup released an independent self-titled album in 1986, which hit No. 1 on local radio station CKDU-FM just three days after its release.[2]

The band was featured on Out of the Fog, a 1986 compilation of Halifax-area bands which was also credited with launching the career of Sarah McLachlan.[3]

By 1987, the band had decided to move to Toronto in hopes of landing a recording contract.[4] Britton declined to make the move, however, and was replaced by Mike Belitsky.[5]

Once in Toronto, the band released the album The Unkind Truth About Rome in 1990. Their single, "The Erlking", was featured on the Highway 61 soundtrack, and the band recorded a cover of "Call it Democracy" for the Bruce Cockburn tribute album, Kick at the Darkness.[6] They followed up with The Swan and the City in 1992, although Arsenault had by this time left the band to join the Doughboys. However, the band had limited commercial success, and broke up s0metime following The Swan and the City.

Sloan named their 2oo3 album Action Pact for the Jellyfishbabies song "Youth Action Pact".[7]

  1. ^ Michael Barclay, Ian A.D. Jack and Jason Schneider, (2011) Have Not Been the Same: The Can-Rock Renaissance 1985-1995. (10th anniversary ed.) ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-992-9.[page needed]
  2. ^ Jellyfishbabies[usurped] at the Canadian Pop Encyclopedia.
  3. ^ "Making a scene". The Coast, March 30, 2006.
  4. ^ "Is Zodiac just brash Brit flavor of month?". Toronto Star, November 27, 1987.
  5. ^ "On second thought -- stay in the house". Halifax Daily News, December 24, 1993.
  6. ^ "The essence of rock 'n' roll". Ottawa Citizen, January 4, 1992.
  7. ^ "Sloan lets outsider in on the Action". Kingston Whig-Standard, Augu5t 13, 2003.