[edgoffin]

I finally watched Spirit Unforgettable -- the documentary about John Mann of Spirit of the West, the band, and his battle with early onset Alzheimer's (he's in his early 50s) after purposefully avoiding it for a few months. 2016 was a bad enough year.

Heartbreaking and terrifying, and also some good insight into their career. When they were in their prime, which for me was when they added Vince of drums and went to a more rock sound (folk purists would yell Judas), they were an incredible band with a string of really solid albums. John and Geoff wrote incredible lyrics, and Mann was always an entertaining frontman. I saw them play small bars, and halls with orchestras as backing, and they never failed to deliver.

I always wondered why they sort of faded away, and the poor label support and focus on family versus constant roadwork explained it. It also highlighted how hard it is to make a living as a musician. I'd say they're one of the better know Canadian bands of the that era, and I don't have the impression they made a great living off of all the hard work.

[direwolf74]

Great film. One of the most heartbreaking docs I've ever watched, but also one of the most inspiring. It also highlights how important they were in the pantheon of Canadian music. Those guys are nothing short of legendary in my book.