-Joel Baskin (drums), Ben Roberts (Guitar) and Farron Sharp (Vocals, Guitar) form a "Rock Trio". These three grade eight Greenbank Middle School students planned to play some songs at the Talent Show in June.
June 2000:
-With many arguments over what to play, the bass-less trio played Dammit, and Adam’s Song by Blink 182.
July 2000:
-Most of the month was spent jamming in Joel’s basement, this is also where the infamous "Basement Tapes" were recorded. This tape consists of rare demos and jams, only one copy exists and if you would like to hear it…ask Drummer Joel Baskin "Umm…. They’re all somewhere in my basement".
August 2000:
-The Trio got another member when Tyler Fry joined the trio to play bass. The quartet lined up a gig at the "Ottawa Ex" Talent Show. They tried to write an original entitled "Needlework", but it was not finished in time for the gig. Instead they played Master of Puppets by Metallica. The band played around with many names such as Stance, Overkill, Overdrive, Isolate and Farron’s favorite; Porn Rain. For this gig only as an inside joke they were entitled "Depths of Aggression".
October 2000:
-Due to personal and Musical Differences Tyler Fry and the nameless trio parted ways. From here on it was downhill, Farron, Ben and Joel were growing farther apart with no end in sight. Luckily, Ben and Joel were able to pull things together for one last try.
November 2000:
-November 12, 2000 marks a milestone for the yet unamed trio. They auditioned for the “City of Nepean Student Showcase”, they played Master of Puppets, For Whom The Bell Tolls (both Met tunes) and Dammit by Blink 182. Unfortunately the band did not make it, because they didn’t have a bassist? Or was it because they just weren’t good? Nobody knows for sure, but this brought the band to a crossroads. This event opened up their eyes, that they had to get serious. This would be a point to look back on a year down the road, at least for Ben and Joel that is…
-Over discussions about getting “more serious” Farron Sharp decided to leave the “trio”. To this day Joel, Ben and Farron are all still very good friends and have fun reminiscing over those “basement days”. It looked as if even the “trio” was no more? What were Ben and Joel to do?
December 2000:
-After some intense discussions Ben and Joel decided to stick together. They spent the next few months jamming trying to improve their playing abilities to attract new members to the band.
February 2001:
-Ben and Joel had some people try out for the band, but nobody seemed to have what they needed. Ben and Joel decided to start writing songs, to show people trying out what they would sound like. These writing sessions included the creations of Justified Hate (later re-written when Joel lost the lyrics, and now entitled "The Worst Things In Life Are Free), and the basic arrangements for The Deceiver (which was also re-written when Ben lost the lyrics).
March 2001:
-Joel decided to ask fellow Merivale High School Stage Band member Mike Barber to try-out for the bass position. It was an instant fit, and Mike was in the band. They worked on getting tighter while still looking for a guitarist and/or vocalist.
May 2001:
-When Ben first suggested to Joel that they should invite Chi Fang for a try-out Joel would utter the same words many others would over the next few months "Chi? He doesn’t play guitar!". Of course, Chi came over and silenced Joel and continues to silence all his critics.
-The "band" was complete, or was it? Chi was a phenomenal guitarist; thus the band decided he would take over the coveted lead guitarist position that was previously held by Ben. But, what would Ben do? Let’s just say Ben wasn’t the greatest singer, but he didn’t want to be left behind. The only Solution? Ben would become the singer! Ben started taking singing lessons to improve his singing abilities.
-The Band added two more songs to its repertoire: Empty Promises & Lost Memories.
June 2001:
-In Early June the band decided on the a name is inspired by many things, Ben and Joel thought the name had to be a color, it had to have attitude, but not scare people away, it had to be the ultimate band name for a hard-rock group. They decided on "Crimson" which has stuck to this very day.
-On June 10, 2001 the band played a 45-minute set at the Gloucester Fair. The stage was not adequate, and…. Well let’s just say it was a standstill affair. The set (in no particular order) consisted of: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Master Of Puppets, Welcome To The Jungle, Creeping Death, Paranoid, and the debut of four originals: Empty Promises, Lost Memories, The Deceiver and The Worst Things In Life Are Free. This show did not go to well, on stage and off. Nobody watched the band, and they were very jittery for their first performance. This gig influenced some changes in the originals and also motivated Crimson to tighten up and improve their stage presence.
Summer 2001:
-Crimson spent the summer jamming and writing new songs, one of the firsts written which was to become a Crimson regular was the epic song about a tragic breakup entitled "Tears of Red". Also written during this period; was a song about a loved one moving far away which was entitled Bye Bye, For Tomorrow.
August 2001:
-On August 16, 2001 Crimson headlined the Amateur Talent-Fest at the Ottawa Ex! There set consisted of The Deceiver, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Master of Puppets, The Worst Things In Life Are Free, Paranoid, Lost Memories, Mr.Crowley, Tears Of Red, Empty Promises and Crazy Train. Crimson played a well-received gig, and had improved greatly since the Gloucester gig. They were asked back the next night to play during Alterna-fest.
-Unfortunately the Alterna-Fest gig on August 17, 2001 didn’t go as well as the first night. Well, it was going fine…UNTIL IT STARTED POURING RAIN! The band had to quickly pack-up and head to the trailer backstage, all except for Joel would had to stand out in the rain for twenty-five minutes holding a tarp over his Seven Piece Tama Superstar Drumset!
-Later in the month Chi, Ben, Joel and Mike started growing farther apart. Mike had some other priorities such as his job, and his cello. This caused difficulty for the band when they wanted to jam or write.
-In Writing Sessions in late August the songs The Powers That Be, a song about not controlling your own destiny & Hope Is Enough a song about never letting the candle that is hope burn out were written.
September 2001:
-Mike was missing more practices than he was attending and it was obvious that Crimson was just avoiding the inevitable but they knew they had to keep Mike a little bit longer for some upcoming gigs, of course nothing ever goes as planned!
-One night after Ben and Chi were trying to make a "slow melodic song" Joel was inspired and wrote the lyrics to one of Crimson’s most epic songs, "Back In December". The story of a guy remembering the relationship that once was, and that he should never again take love for granted.
-By the end of the month The Powers That Be & Back In December were completed. The band also decided never again to play the "song" that was Lost Memories.
October 2001:
-The band decided that after Java Jam, and/or possibly Student Showcase Mike Barber would be out of the band.
-In Early October the Band Auditioned for Merivale High School’s 3rd Annual Java Jam. They played the Ozzy Classic “Crazy Train”, sadly this would be Crimson’s last gig with Mike Barber. As the door shut behind Mike as he left the auditions Ben, Joel and Chi, Crimson’s three remaining members realized it was time to move on.
-Crimson made Java Jam, and asked Mike Tarp of Syndicate to join Crimson for a temporary, possibly permanent basis.
-Crimson played Java Jam on October 16, 2001 in front of 175 Merivale Students. The set consisted of a Hope Is Enough Jam, Empty Promises and Back In December. Mike learned these three songs in only one week! Other than some problems with Joel’s bass pedal the show went very well and was received very well.
-It is leaked that Crimson will be making a full-length album with a yet un-named former Universal Recording Artist overseeing the Production of the album.
-Some J.S. Woodsworth High School students saw Crimson at the Merivale Coffee House and asked their student council to book Crimson.
-On October 18, 2001 Crimson played at the J.S. Woodsworth Coffee House, they repeated the same set as at Merivale.
-On October 24, 2001 Crimson auditioned for the City of Ottawa’s 20th Annual Student Showcase Jam. They’re set consisted of the Hope Is Enough Jam, Empty Promises, Back In December and Tears Of Red. They were also interviewed by CKDJ 96.9FM and reached a demo deal with Superstar Records.
-On October 26, 2001 the first-ever Crimson radio interview was played on the CKDJ “rock-talk” program entitled “The Edge”.
-On October 30, 2001 it was announced that Crimson had made the Showcase! Of course Joel and Ben were thrilled, this was a year in the making. Crimson was the youngest band to make the event, and also the youngest to receive a demo deal.
-Crimson writes a new song, Alone In My Thoughts.
November 2001:
-On November 3, 2001 Crimson went to Pebble Studios for their first photo shoot.
-Crimson headed into the Superstar Records Recording Facility on November 11, 2001 to record a one-song demo. The song they recorded was "Tears of Red". This demo has not yet been released, a new cut will be heard on the debut album.
-On November 16, 2001 Crimson opened up the 20th Annual Student Showcase Jam. The set consisted of Crazy Train, Empty Promises, Back in December and Tears of Red.
December-March 2002:
-The band jammed and continued writing songs for the debut album.
-Your Storm & Mastermind were finished.
-Fraser MacEvoy and Ryan Arnone filled in on bass position during this time.
-Final Recording Arrangements were made for the EP, this was a very exciting time for the band.
April-June 2002:
-Ben was forced to leave the band due to unforeseen circumstances.
-To thank Ben for all his efforts with Crimson, they booked two shows on the same night.Both on April 19, one at S.R.B. and one at J.S.W. Fraser filled in on base, for unknown reasons the second of the the two shows was never played. At these shows they debut three new songs that will probably make every Crimson set: Your Storm, Mastermind & Bye Bye, For Tomorrow. They also played Crazy Train, and Joel debut his drum solo to rave reviews.
-In May, Chi and Joel went into Web Studios with Mike Seguin of Distortion Studios and former Universal Recording Artist and current Producer Andy Gowan to begin recording Crimson's debut EP.
-Due to exams and lack of time to jam, Crimson had to cancel 6 shows in June. This was a blow to the band but only made them more determined to finish up the album.
-Former Syndicate & Crimson bassist(temp position) Mike Tarp has re-joined the band as a full-time bassist. Crimson tried many bassists over the previous months but just couldn't find the right fit.
-Recording continues for the album, shows are started to be booked for album promotion.
-The singer/guitarist position was still not finalized.
Summer 2002:
-The recording process comes to a grinding halt.
-Crimson debut a new line-up of Alex Fok(Vocals),Mike Tarp(Bass),Ryan Arnone(Guitar),Chi Fang(Guitar) & Joel(Drums).
-The line-up gels off stage, but not on. This line-up only lasts two shows, an Alpha Camp Benefit at Greenfields, and at the Ex.
-Crimson gets some tv media exposure on The New Ro, and Rogers. Unfortunately an acoustic version of Bye Bye, For Tomorrow is cancelled after weather conditions caused Rogers to stop recording.
-Crimson release a Limited Edition Live CD from the Ex entitled "Live @ Lansdown".
-Eventually the 3 new members of this line-up part for various reasons.
-Chi and Joel take on the giant task of re-building the band, yet again. With a headlining show at Ottawa MusicFest only a few weeks away.
Fall 2002:
-Crimson meets Dan Mollema, a screeching vocalist. It is a match made in heaven.
-Crimson play the Ottawa MusicFest show, although the set could've went smoother it still went well. To this day, the joke goes that this is the only show Crimson went through 2 singers. For an encore, audience member Phil Campbell death-growell'd the Metallica hit Master of Puppets.
-This was the last appearance with Ryan and Mike.
-Crimson finally find a guitarist that compliments Chi, Timmy B joins the band.
-Crimson is still on the hunt for a bassist, as they've "never really had one".
Winter 2003:
-The band decides to take a headlining slot at Java Jam 03' to test out some new material. Other than some sound problems it goes great, Monument is debut and Crimson record their first VCD.
-The band makes intital plans to start recording at the beginning of March.
