Goddo

Goddo is a hard rock / metal related band from Ontario, Canada. They have released six studio albums and four live albums. Formed in 1975, they have been active on and off over the decades. Founder Greg Godovitz is responsible for the band's activity level.

Godovitz had previously played bass guitar in a band that included future Moxy vocalist, Buzz Sherman and Triumph drummer, Gil Moore. He then moved on to play in Fludd but eventually became frustrated with the direction that band was taking. He quit in 1975 and assembled a makeshift group, calling it Godo and they recorded a cover of The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie". The song started to get them some attention, Godovitz got hold of ex Brutus guitarist, Gino Scarpelli and ex Truck drummer Marty Morin. An extra D was added to the band's name as they toured first the Toronto bar circuit and then around Ontario, finally making it into central Canada and Stateside. Morin then left the band and was replaced by Doug Inglis.

In 1977, they released their eponymous debut album on Polydor. The studio performances were recorded with few overdubs, helping to capture the band's raw sound for which they would gain notoriety. A second album was recorded in '77 and released in '78. "If It's Lonely at the Top WHO CARES It's Lonely at the Bottom Too", more commonly shortened to "Who Cares", took a brasher and heavier approach with songs like "Oh Carole", "Cock On", "Drop Dead (That's Who)" and the single "Sweet Thing". Their hard-edged and heavy approach combined hard rock guitar with an almost punkish attitude. A year later, their third album, "An Act of Goddo" was released, featuring more rockers but also a ballad called "Chantel" and a full orchestration prelude on "Anacanapanacana". As a live act, the band was gaining momentum; however, Polydor didn't offer much support on a western Canadian tour and thus Godovitz told the label his thoughts. As no single had really hit the charts yet, the label chose to drop the band.

After contributing to a charity compilation album with an ode to Fludd's former vocalist who had died of cancer, the band secured a deal with Attic Records and the label acquired the rights to the first three albums. But before heading into the studio, Goddo rented the Roxy Theatre in Barrie, Ontario and spent two nights recording a double live album called "Lighve - Best Seat in the House", which was released in 1981. Their opening act for the first night was a young comedian named Jim Carrey. Booed offstage, he refused to return for the second night, turning down his $100 a night guarantee.

A year later, Goddo released their fourth studio effort, "Pretty Bad Boys" which became their most commercially successful album. They toured with Uriah Heep in the States but the relationship ran into a tough spot when one Uriah Heep band member sat in on a Goddo studio session and accidentally spilled a drink over the recording tape. Goddo were nominated for a Juno in 1983 for Best Rock Group but didn't win. Attic was running into financial troubles around this time and they dropped the band.

During the next few years, Goddo continued to tour around central Canada before unofficially breaking up. Then in 1990, BEI Records released "12 Gauge Goddo", resulting in a mini-reunion and some select dates around Ontario. Working together with Terry Brown, Goddo released a new album in 1992. "The King of Broken Hearts" stirred up some attention and the album was picked up by Mausoleum Records in Germany. The band was back at least temporarily and on TV and on tour. Greg Godovitz then spent the rest of the '90s working on other band projects, including Carpet Frogs, The Anger Brothers and The Greg Godovitz Orchestra. In 1999 he published a book called "Travels with My Amp" and signed with the Canadian indie label, Bullseye Records.

With the band's silver anniversary coming up, they returned to Barrie and recorded "Lighve - The Second Best Seat in the House" in 2001. This was followed by "Kings of the Stoned Age" in 2004, their sixth studio album, followed by a live DVD. Godovitz then became involved in a Beatles tribute album. Gino Scarpeli left the band for health reasons and Coney Hatch's lead guitarist Steve Shelski was added along with Brad Lovatt of the Anger Brothers on keyboards. The band continued local touring and a compilation "Under My Hat: Vol 1" was released in 2008.

In 2010, Scarpeli rejoined the group for Godovitz's 60th birthday. A live performance was filmed for DVD and recorded for CD release. "Pretty Bad Boys Return" was released for the band's 35th anniversary in 2013.

Albums

 * 1977 Goddo (Polydor)
 * 1978 If Indeed It's Lonely At The Top...WHO CARES...It's Lonely At The Bottom Too! (Fat Cat/Polydor)
 * 1979 An Act Of Goddo (Polydor)
 * 1980 Lighve: Best Seat In The House (Attic)
 * 1981 Pretty Bad Boys (Attic)
 * 1990 12 Gauge Goddo (Justin Entertainment)
 * 1992 King of Broken Hearts (Mausoleum Records)
 * 2003 Kings of The Stoned Age (Bullseye Records of Canada)
 * 2004 2nd Best Seat In The House - Lighve (Bullseye Records of Canada)
 * 2008 Under My Hat - Volume 1: Active Goddo (Bullseye Records of Canada)

Singles

 * 1975 "Louie Louie" (A & M) CAN #75
 * 1977 "Under My Hat" (Fat Cat/Polydor)
 * 1978 "There Goes My Baby" (Fat Cat/Polydor)
 * 1979 "Chantal" (Fat Cat/Polydor)
 * 1980 "Fortune In Men's Eyes" (El Mocambo)
 * 1981 "Pretty Bad Boy" (Attic Records) CAN #28
 * 1981 "If Tomorrow Never Comes" (Attic Records)
 * 1993 "Was It Something I Said" (Justin/MCA)
 * 2004 "Rock Star" (Bullseye Records of Canada)
 * 2004 "Such A Fool" (Bullseye Records of Canada)

Also, "So Walk On", "Sweet Thing", "Too Much Carousing" and "Tough Times/Cock On".