Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - Stan Rogers

lighthead2toe · 06-05-2013, 02:54 PM

Can't believe how fast the time really goes.

A big highlight for me was the day Stan's album "Live at the Groaning Board" (The Groaning Board was a Toronto pub at the time) was being recorded.

A group of us fans went there early as the show was to start at noon as I recall. The bar was getting set to open at noon and I joined the line up for drinks and Stan joined in behind me in the line.

He was very humble as I remember and we just had a short conversation. Subsequently he autographed the album for me and I still have it in my collection.

Following his passing once things were settled there was a celebration of his life concert held in the Bathurst Theatre in Toronto as I recall.

Joe Lewis, a Toronto radio host from the Ryerson FM radio station CJRT was the MC for the evening and there were a host of guest appearances including Stan's brother Garnet. There was no fee to enter the concert hall but a donation box was available.
Despite the sadness it was a very joyous event.

From what I gathered from close sources, although unofficial, a washroom fan on the aircraft overheated and caught fire and Stan had opportunities to exit the plane but held back to let others go ahead of him.

He was a no nonsense guy though and didn't suffer fools lightly.

"Harris and the Mare" a song Stan wrote which is on the "Live from the Groaning Board" album has a line :

"I was a conscie in the war saying what the hell is this for,
but I had to see his blood to be a man"

It talks about a young intoxicated man (Cleary) who enters the pub where (Stan) and his (wife) were enjoying a quiet pint of stout and Cleary threatens to steal Stan's wife and a brawl ensues.

The song has a really great arrangement and is my favorite on the album. The guitar as I recall is in the "DADGAD" tuning.

Will always miss you Stan but it's good your music is living on.

06-05-2013, 02:54 PM	#2
lighthead2toe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada Posts: 920	Re: Stan Rogers - 30 years on Can't believe how fast the time really goes. A big highlight for me was the day Stan's album "Live at the Groaning Board" (The Groaning Board was a Toronto pub at the time) was being recorded. A group of us fans went there early as the show was to start at noon as I recall. The bar was getting set to open at noon and I joined the line up for drinks and Stan joined in behind me in the line. He was very humble as I remember and we just had a short conversation. Subsequently he autographed the album for me and I still have it in my collection. Following his passing once things were settled there was a celebration of his life concert held in the Bathurst Theatre in Toronto as I recall. Joe Lewis, a Toronto radio host from the Ryerson FM radio station CJRT was the MC for the evening and there were a host of guest appearances including Stan's brother Garnet. There was no fee to enter the concert hall but a donation box was available. Despite the sadness it was a very joyous event. From what I gathered from close sources, although unofficial, a washroom fan on the aircraft overheated and caught fire and Stan had opportunities to exit the plane but held back to let others go ahead of him. He was a no nonsense guy though and didn't suffer fools lightly. "Harris and the Mare" a song Stan wrote which is on the "Live from the Groaning Board" album has a line : "I was a conscie in the war saying what the hell is this for, but I had to see his blood to be a man" It talks about a young intoxicated man (Cleary) who enters the pub where (Stan) and his (wife) were enjoying a quiet pint of stout and Cleary threatens to steal Stan's wife and a brawl ensues. The song has a really great arrangement and is my favorite on the album. The guitar as I recall is in the "DADGAD" tuning. Will always miss you Stan but it's good your music is living on.