2 X JUNO (Can. Grammy) Nominee and Canadian Black Music Guitarist of the Year.
'Wild T & the Spirit' have just released their new CD, "Fender Bender" on Germany's Jazzhaus Records. "Fender Bender" is now available in Canada & the USA via Cold Rawk Records.
The new album covers the whole spectrum with guitar ripping' blues rock, soulful melodies & psychedelic super jams. This is the album that everyone has been waiting for!
Wild T - guitar/ lead vocals
Guenther Kapelle - bass/vocals
Chris Lesso - drums
'Wild T & The Spirit' is a powerful blues-rock jam band based in Toronto, Canada. The band has released 5 CD's and is currently touring all over Canada and Europe. The band has built up a strong & loyal fan base of musicians and music loving fans over the years with it's powerful live show!
Jeff Healey said, "I followed him around like he was the Messiah...Tony has been my idol for years!"
Strong songwriting and musicianship has made 'Wild T & the Spirit' a very in demand act!
Originally, the band came together in 1990 with guitarist Tony 'Wild T' Springer, drummer Danny Bilan and bassist Nazem Lakay. The band was signed to Warner Music Canada and released 2 albums (Love Crazy 1991, Givin' Blood 1993). "Givin Blood" was nominated for best hard rock album at the 1994 JUNO (Canada's Grammy) awards. In 1993, 'Wild T & the Spirit' was also hand picked to perform on a 14 city tour across Canada opening for Bon Jovi on the "Keep The Faith Tour".
During this time, guitarist Springer was also asked to tour & record with David Bowie.
"A absolute delight to work with...a lyrical, lilting take on Hendrix" says David Bowie.
Springer appears on the CD "Back Tie, White Noise" and performed with Bowie in concert all over the US.
After the tour with David Bowie, Tony continued to tour Canada & US with his band. However, frustrated with the lack of effort by his record company at the time, Tony decided not to renew his contract. The band broke up, and that was that!
Tony then left for Chicago, USA where he continued gigging as a sideman with many great blues bands. For a short time, he also had a Chicago based version of 'Wild T & the Spirit' that toured throughout the mid-west & Texas. One of the highlights during this period, was opening up a string of concerts for "Deep Purple" in places like Detroit, Chicago & New York City.
But, like all great blues songs, there were a few disappointments in the "Windy City", so Tony returned to Toronto.
By late 2002, the band 'Wild T & the Spirit' was reformed by Springer and bassist Guenther Kapelle. (Kapelle had spent many years gigging and recording in the Los Angeles music scene and had toured all over Canada, USA and Europe with 'The Blazers' and other top acts).
With addition of drummer Brian Lass and veteran Toronto keyboardist Peter Nunn, the group recorded the CD "True Bliss", which was released in Canada, USA by Bullseye Records, and in Europe by Taxim Records in 2004.
"Wild T Springer is building a reputation for himself as the next premier guitarist to emerge from the Canadian music scene!" says Tom Richards of the Michigan Blues Society about the "True Bliss" CD.
The band then began a relentless tour schedule of Canada and Europe with drummer Andre Tellier and keyboardist Robert Angelow, playing in all sorts of venues and at some of the largest festivals. This kept the band touring throughout 2004 & 2005.
A compilation CD of the first two 'Wild T & the Spirit' albums called "I've Got The Rhythm" was released in 2005.
In August 2005, drummer Boris "The Russian Rocket" Andranov joined the band just in time for their 2 month, 7 country, European tour. This also included a stop at the BBC studios in London, England to perform live on "Paul Jones Blues Show" on BBC Radio 1.
But in March 2006, the band made a few changes by recruited powerhouse Toronto drummer Chris Lesso, and returned to the power trio format minus the keyboards. The band kept touring and ended up on some of sames tages with Jeff Healey, "Canned Heat", Roger Hodgson of "Supertramp", Mick Taylor of "The Rolling Stones" & Joe Bonamassa to name a few.
The line up of Springer, Kapelle and Lesso is the best yet, and have been receiving rave reviews from fans & press all over. The combination of blistering guitar blues-rock, stellar musicianship, soulful melodies and psychedelic super jams, have made their fans in North America and Europe go crazy for there live concerts!
WILD T & THE SPIRIT have performed concerts in CANADA, USA, ENGLAND, WALES, HOLLAND, BELGIUM, FRANCE, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA, DENMARK, NORWAY & FINLAND.
WILD T & THE SPIRIT have performed at these festivals since 2002:
BARRIE BLUES FESTIVAL - BARRIE, ON CANADA 2002-2007
WOODSTOCK EN BAUCE MUSIC FESTIVAL - ST. EPHREM, QC CANADA 2002
HARRIS PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL - LONDON, ON CANADA 2003
TYYKI BLUES FESTIVAL - FORSSA, FINLAND 2003
FESTIVAL BY THE SEA - SAINT JOHN, NB CANADA 2003
THE ORILLA BLUES FESTIVAL - ORILLA, ON CANADA 2004
BLOORCOURT VILLAGE HERITAGE FESTIVAL - TORONTO, ON CANADA 2004
WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL BLUES FESTIVAL - WINDSOR, ON CANADA 2004
HARELBEKE ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - HARELBEKE, BELGIUM 2004
MANITOBA SUMMERFEST - GRAND BEACH, MB CANADA 2004-2005
ROTHER BLUES FESTIVAL - ROTH, GERMANY 2005-2006
PEP 66 MUSIC FESTIVAL - PEPINSTER, BELGIUM 2005
OSHAWA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL - OSHAWA, ON CANADA 2005
1ST ANNUAL GUITAR FESTIVAL - BASEL, SWITZERLAND 2005
MUSIC IN THE PARK FESTIVAL - KAMLOOPS, BC CANADA 2006
NAKUSP MUSIC FESTIVAL - NAKUSP, BC CANADA 2006
THE CANAL BANK SHUFFLE BLUES FESTIVAL - THOROLD, ON CANADA 2007
BLUES ON THE FARM FESTIVAL - CHICHISTER, ENGLAND 2007
THE MARKHAM RIBFEST - MARKHAM, ON CANADA 2007
THE WINNIPEG BEACH BLUES FESTIVAL- WINNIPEG BEACH, MB CANADA 2007
GREAT CANADIAN GUITAR FESTIVAL - KINGSTON, ON CANADA 2007
THE MT. TREMBLAY FESTIVAL - MT. TREMBLAY, QC CANADA 2007
THE WINE FESTIVAL - ST. CATHERINES, ON CANADA 2007
THE CANAL BANKS SHUFFLE FALL BLUES FESTIVAL - THOROLD, ON CANADA 2007
MAXIMUM BLUES FESTIVAL - ST. OMER, QC CANADA 2008
THE BELL BORDER JAM FESTIVAL - S.S. MARIE, ON CANADA 2008
THE SUDBURY SUMMERFEST - SUDBURY, ON CANADA 2008
BLUESFESTIVAL KAMMGARN - KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY 2008
WILD T & THE SPIRIT are currently endorsed by MI AUDIO PEDALS, DEAN MARKLEY STRINGS, & SONOR DRUMS.
