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Homestand ’22: Bill Henderson of Hall of Fame rock band Chilliwack

The Canadian Music Hall of Fame rock band Chilliwack, out of Vancouver, have established themselves as icons with their longevity and hits such as Fly at Night, My Girl, and Whatcha Gonna Do? Chilliwack will be in Moose Jaw on September 10 for Homestand '22.
Legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack - left to right, they are Ed Henderson, Jerry Adolphe, Bill Henderson, and Gord Maxwell
Legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack - left to right, they are Ed Henderson, Jerry Adolphe, Bill Henderson, and Gord Maxwell

The Canadian Music Hall of Fame rock band Chilliwack, out of Vancouver, have established themselves as icons with their longevity and hits such as Fly at Night, My Girl, and Whatcha Gonna Do?

Chilliwack will be in Moose Jaw on September 10 for the Homestand ’22 charity concert by River Street Promotions. The concert also features Matt Mays, JJ Voss, and Nice Horse. Tickets are on sale at SaskTix and can be easily found at riverstreetpromotions.com.

“I often wonder, what is the value of my work?” said Bill Henderson, 77, lead singer and guitarist of Chilliwack. “Here I am, I’m playing these songs and writing these songs, and you know, what is it? What good is it to anybody?

“And I realize, it’s a subtle kind of thing. It’s not like providing food, or the energy you need to keep your house warm. But it’s energy to keep your heart warm, it’s food for your soul, and we need that way more than we realize. So, that’s my job, and I’m in a perfect position to do it, because I love my audience.”

Chilliwack’s beginnings go back to 1961 when the C-FUN Classics were formed as Vancouver radio house band. Henderson joined in 1966 when the band became The Collectors — Vancouver’s first high-profile rock band.

The Collectors became Chilliwack in 1969 and released their debut self-titled album in 1970. Since then, they’ve gone through many lineup changes, and the band actually broke up in 1983.

Henderson became a solo artist and continued to work in and have an impact on the music scene, including six years as the musical director for the Canadian edition of Sesame Street. He served as the director of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and as president of the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC).

Henderson reformed Chilliwack in 1997. The band’s current lineup is Bill Henderson (lead and backing vocals, lead guitar), Jerry Adolphe (drums), Ed Henderson (backing vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), and Gord Maxwell (bass, backing vocals).

Henderson was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015. In 2019, Chilliwack was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

“When I go out on stage, the most important thing is that the people are happy and having a good time,” Henderson said. “I think happy people make better decisions.”

There’s plenty that’s wrong with the world, Henderson continued, and it is easy to get caught up on getting even or giving someone a hard time because you don’t agree with them. But if you’re trying to get someone to change, you have to treat them with respect, treat them well, and really be their friend.

“Our music is in aid of all of that, that’s what it’s about.”

Henderson doesn’t claim that music can replace therapy or medicine, but he does believe that music can have a visceral uplifting effect that can help people in their lives.

The pandemic has been “unbalancing,” Henderson said, because connecting with a live audience is what he loves to do. He’s always felt that without an audience, there isn’t a show.

“It’s fulfilling, it makes me feel like I’m in touch with the world and with people and all those good things, and when that’s taken away… I think you don’t necessarily realize what it’s doing to you to lose it, but it has a profound effect. I know a lot of people are feeling that.”

When asked about the topic of mental health and what it means to him to be performing as part of that cause, Henderson becomes emotional.

“It’s actually hard for me to talk about because it’s very upsetting. I feel myself start to fall apart,” he said. “I have grandkids who are 20, 19, and 15, and especially for the 19- and 20-year-olds, the last three years has been pretty rough.

“I’m all for whatever we can do to help sustain their mental health and give them a chance. Because it’s a hard time. When you’re that age, you really don’t know what the hell the world is all about. You just want to do well, and you want to try to make it happen. And you need everything, all your resources to be available to you, so mental health is super, super important.”

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