Oldman On the Corner

7% Distortion was a Vancouver rock band formed in 1993 by musicians whose friendships went back to their school days. Guitarist John Ferreira recalled that he, vocalist Michel “Mike” Bisson and drummer Anton “Tony” Krajsek had been friends at David Thompson Secondary School in Vancouver. Eddie Krajsek, Tony’s cousin, completed the original group. After officially forming in 1993, the band began playing local bars around Vancouver.

The group recorded its first album, Oldman On The Corner, the following year. Released in 1994, the nine-song CD featured Bisson on vocals, Ferreira and Eddie Krajsek on guitars and bass, and Tony Krajsek on drums and percussion, with Eddie and Tony also contributing backing vocals. The album was recorded at Studio 80, produced by 7% Distortion and Dan Morrow, and engineered and mixed by Ben Carlos. Ferreira later recalled that the sessions used equipment from Vancouver’s legendary Mushroom Studios, equipment he remembered as having previously been used on recordings by Led Zeppelin, Heart, Trooper and Loverboy.

Ferreira left 7% Distortion after the first album, describing his departure simply as happening “in the usual rock fashion.” The band continued without him and returned in 1999 with a self-titled second album on Psychic Toejam Records. The 14-track CD included ‘Fantasy’, ‘Happy Song’, ‘Atonement’, ‘Rooftop’, ‘Well Travelled Road’ and ‘Supernatural Girl’, with the later lineup consisting of Mike Bisson, Eddie Krajsek and Tony Krajsek.

Eddie Krajsek continued making music after 7% Distortion and later became part of the Maple Ridge duo Rivertown. 7% Distortion was among the more notable bands he had previously played with.

-Robert Williston