As someone who loves the show Flashpoint and even Durham County, to a lesser degree, my favorite character in both is Hugh Dillon. He has that raw feel that he brings to us every episode which makes you want more. He is also one of those types of guys that we all knew of when we were in high school. Most critics feel that his musical past has help him develop into the actor that he is today.
He grew up in Kingston Ontario and had a classmate named Gord Downie from the band Tragically Hip. At the age of 17 they both had been bitten by the rock and roll bug. I recall in some article somewhere that he talked about a night when he and Gord were at this local Kingston watering hole called the Prince George. In the men’s bathroom they came across this 70 something blues musician smoking pot from a weird corn cob pipe. This made him think about his musical future.
Later on he was the lead singer in the popular band called The Headstones which started in 1987. It was definitely not one of those wedding type of bands. They were loud, obnoxious and were not that accommodating to their fellow members in the industry that they loved.
They first started playing at a place called Blue Moon Saloon on Bloor St. West in Toronto. What a great place to see a band. My buddies the Big Kahuna had their first start there! Then The Headstones got their big break at Sneaky Dee’s right down the street at it’s original location. Over it lifespan the band enjoyed nationwide radio-play and had a Juno Award nomination. They finally broke up in 2003.
The most popular commercial song they covered was called Tweeter and the Monkey Man(1993), from The Traveling Wilburys (1988).
Later on in his life he would be battling a part of the music world’s dark under belly. The one that no one whats to be exposed to … heavy drug use! His addiction to cocaine, followed by heroin, introduced him to the rough and tough side of life. Fortunately for him he found the right path and came back to us in one piece! He says it took him running up against that stone wall and back again that led him and the character that he portrays on TV, with the essence of actor that he came to be.
Hugh Dillon’s newest band is called The Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir. It seems a lot tamer then his earlier ventures with his old bandmates but you can notice him maturing as a singer. I really like their tune called The Gods have spoken His new sound, dare I say, sounds safer? It’s amazing how things can become quite tame when a cop walks into the room!
Keep on Jammin’
