Q1. Is this site affiliated with theband Chilliwack?
A1. No -- this site is simply a tribute site to the band. Over time, questions have come in that Bill has graciously offered to answer. The FAQs below are from the "Ask Bill" segment previously on this site. The official site would be Bill Henderson's site at http://www.gonegonegone.com.
Q2. Was the story line on "Wanna Be a Star" pure fiction or a somewhat true life struggle with record companies?
A2. Bill Henderson: No its all real. As real as songs get anyway. Mythic real.
Q3. What is Bill Henderson's favorite Chilliwack album?
A3. Bill Henderson: Yep, it's too tough for me. Well, I think my favorite albums are probably "Dreams" and "Wanna Be a Star".
Q4. Bill, how do you feel about the MP3 format and its effect on the music business? How do you feel about Chilliwack's music being made available in this format?
A4. Well, I don't like working for free. It costs tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a great recording. Don't know where those recordings are going to come from if they don't earn any money. But I love having mp3 files on my mac. the flexibility is great.
Q3. Why aren't all the Chilliwack albums available on CD yet? Legal issues?
Bill Henderson: Yeah that's part of it. Many of the more successful albums were on independent labels that went out of business with individuals retaining ownership of the masters who aren't interested in doing much
with them. But I'm working on it. There is a live CD coming out that a lot of those tunes will be on. I plan on finishing it this summer. Same tunes, played with respect in live shows. The release will be announced on my web site www.gonegonegone.com so keep checking it. Jim will probably announce it [on this site] too.
Q5. Has all that CAPAC administrative duties had dulled Bill's voice or fingers?
A5. Bill Henderson: Nope.
Q6. Is Russ Turnkey currently on Drums?
Bill Henderson: No, his name is Jerry Adolphe. And yeah, he's great eh?
Q7. Who's currently on bass for Chilliwack?
A7. Bill Henderson: Doug Edwards. Wrote wildflower. Played with Hometown Band. Bin around for years.
Great musician.
Q8. I really enjoy UHF. Did I hear something about a live work?
A8. Bill Henderson: Yeah. That Millenium club gig was recorded too. Who knows it might make it in there. I checked it out last week. There was some good stuff.
Q9. Hey, why don't ya just record every gig?
A9. Bill Henderson: That's exactly what I'm doing.
Q10. This is a question I've been wondering for awhile. I've loved the song "My Girl" ever since I heard it, approx. 15 years ago, I am 27 now. Is "My Girl" based on a real/true event (autobiographical) or just something you wrote?
A10. Bill Henderson: A figment of my imagination.
Q11. Who were your own music heroes that helped shape your style?
A11. Bill Henderson:
1. A friend who had some amazing ideas and beliefs about music,
2. Notions that I'd heard attributed to John Cage, 3. Lennon McCartney and George Martin, 4. Cream's jams, 5. Notions my mother had planted in me about the power of truth, I tried to learn from everything heard.
Q12. Bill, I read somewhere you published a book in the early 80's. If so is it still available? If not you should , I think someone who's been in the business as long as you and seen and done what you have certainly deserves to be in print. It would make for fabulous reading.
A12. Bill Henderson: I didn't write a book. I think about it some times.
Q13. Why was "Rain-o" re-recorded from the first Chilliwack lp and put it on the "Dreams, Dreams, Dreams" lp?
A13. Bill Henderson: The record company loved the tune. We all thought it could be recorded much better than the first version. There's a fair amount of rhythmic inaccuracies and rough playing on it. We kinda thought
tighter might be better. What do you think?
Q14. Can we expect something new from Chilliwack (or just Bill Henderson) on CD in the next few years? Is there anything along the lines of demo's, outake versions or unreleased b-sides that could be compiled for a 'From The Vaults' CD?
A14. Bill Henderson: Yeah there's some stuff. I'm actually working on a live Chilliwack CD right now which I hope to have out [soon]. There's also a live solo CD in the works. New songs are being written. I'm making a slow left back into music.
Q15. Was a comprehensive compedium of Chilliwack music ever published?
A15. Bill Henderson No. "My Girl" and "I Believe" were released in Sheet music form. That's about it. I'd like to see sheet music out there though. Don't know how many people would want it. WEBMASTER: I've seen "Fly at Night" pop up in sheet music form on Ebay every now and then.
Q16. How did the name "Chilliwack" originate for the band? None of the members were from Chilliwack were they?
A16. Bill Henderson: Nope. Well, we started out with the band doing alot of music that had a vaguely first nations sound to it. Alot of tom rhythms, very little snare drum, chanting from the vocals etc. Someone suggested the name. The drummer actually. We liked the sound of it so we said yeah.
Q17. Bill, For the "Breakdown in Paradise" album - did the birds on the cover of the lp signify anything?
A17. Bill Henderson:Paradise? A fake one? Gaudy colours, painted on tin.
Q18. Bill - "I Believe" has got to be one of my favorite songs. If you don't mind me asking, what was your influence for the song?
A18. Bill Henderson: Well, really just a whole background of years of playing standards. I learned guitar and chords and the beginning of songwriting by playing "casuals". Gigs where you play with different guys every time out. Doing weddings, banquets.. all of that stuff. This was a long time ago. Early 60s. Latin music, bossa novas, cha cha cha, tangos, rhumba, as well as stuff like Misty, I only have eyes for you, Moon River.... poppy schmaltzy stuff, was what you had to be able to play. That's how I made a living. I believe has some of those poppy, Latin roots in it.
Q19. Were there plans for another Chilliwack album after "Look In, Look Out"?
A19. Bill Henderson: No.
Q20. Besides UHF and Chilliwack, are you involved in any other projects?
A20. Bill Henderson:Some solo dates. Some songwriter workshops.
Q21. Does any Chilliwack concert footage exist?
A21. Bill Henderson: There is a live video special that was made in the mid 80s. It contained
virtually an album's worth of music. Mostly the hits. Videos were also done for My Girl and Whatcha Gonna Do.
Q22. Has Bill worked with Claire Lawrence, Howie Vickers or Ross Turney since they parted ways?
A22. Bill Henderson: Claire and I have stayed in touch and do the odd thing together. We did a quasi "Collectors" reunion for the Vancouver Children's Hospital a few years back, that included Howie. Ross lives in LA and Glenn in Toronto and I don't have much contact with them now.
Q23. Which Chilliwack album was the most fun to make?
A23. Bill Henderson: Either Dreams Dreams Dreams or Wanna Be A Star. Both were extremely hard work but satisfying.