..A mild-mannered though gradually-horrified former East Vancouver recluse (horrified by the effects of US foreign policy since 9-11, and by the increasingly complex and dangerous politics around looming energy and environmental crises). Now a recluse in sunny Kitsilano, with partner and bicycle. A small-eco-and-small-psychic-footprint hopefully.

..A recording artist and occasional painter on leave. Also a persistent navel-gazer and malcontent.. making music and painting elevates this selfish process in an unexpected way. Grateful for a gift that can make one shine despite one's self(!)

 

Ninth-grade soundtrack:  Jesus Christ Superstar (I took part in a community youth theatre production, and for the first time in my life I actually had FRIENDS!). This play was pivotal in my 'finding my voice', and it followed me around for a long time. In my twenties, my foray into the Baha'i Faith furthered my passion for music and spirituality and flower-power.

My recent home-made CDs: "Sexing Up th' Case for War" and "Rogr Lee's Three-Day Album".. Music is its own reward, so I can withstand the fact that hardly anyone else has heard my stuff.

First gig:  A piano recital at age 9, where the teacher finally bargained with me that if I did ONE piece 'by the book', she'd let me spend the rest of the recital playing a medley of my own flouncy and painfully-earnest compositions.

First art show:  my water-colour sketches exhibited in my cousin's picture framing shop, while I played and sang some of my songs - I called the event "a songster and his paints".

Worst gig:  My Baha'i "art-rock" band at the Empress Tavern in South Porcupine, Ontario in 1990. On our second of three nights we were canned because, as the owner said, "the whole town was depressed"  ...they were obviously missing the point(!)

I'd rather nail your hand to the wall than hear another song by... anyone who hasn't clued into the fact that the world is a freaking mess and that to do nothing (and to sing about chicks, dicks and cars) is no longer freaking appropriate! Oops. You hit a nerve there, I think.

(pop) Music I'd take to a desert-island:  Bowie's Scary Monsters; Tchaikovski's 1812 Overture; Beatles' Abbey Road; Willie Nelson's Teatro; Emmy-Lou Harris' Wrecking Ball

Your dream categories on Jeopardy:  the astronomical "hidden" costs of cars, gasoline, a meat-laden or fast food diet (as the days unfold and people get sicker and fatter and the climate around the world goes increasingly haywire).

Most recent painting bought... Are you kidding?! I can't afford to buy art! I began painting so that I could somehow have some art in my home - inexpensively! I also work in picture framing. Bonus.

 

On that note, I'd LOVE for you to visit www.rogrlee.com, order my (brand new!) CDs, "Sexing Up th' Case for War", and "Rogr Lee's Three-Day Album", and enjoy what I've spent the last two years working on in response to world events, global warming and oily wars..

Peace and Love. Please.