Seventh Fire

Formed in 1985 Ottawa, as Art and Soul, this band also performed as Thom E. Hawke and the Pineneedles in 1988 and became Seventh Fire in 1989.

Principal founder Allen Deleary fused powwow with Frank Zappa and Motown influences, rap, reggae, rock and theatrical elemnets. He applied satirical lyrics with searing insight to historical and political realities.

Seventh Fire’s initial recordings turned heads, burned ears and helped set them apart from their contemporaries. The term diverse may describe one aspect of their performances, but eclectic captures the nature of their collective musical attitude.

They backed numerous spoken-word artists, including Toronto dub poet Lillian Allen, and appeared onstage with the German band Dissidenten. Four years after Seventh Fire disbanded around 1996, founder Allen Deleary labored to jump-start the band, but with little success.

In 2002, guitarist Peter DiGangi revived some of their older tracks and created newer versions inspired by current events.