Windwalker was a four-piece rock band from

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

who were active from 1990 to 1993.

History

Philippe Doebeli and Glenn D'Cruze founded Windwalker in Vancouver, B.C., having previously played together in various high school bands. They put out an ad in the

Georgia Straight ''The Georgia Straight'' is a free Canadian weekly news and entertainment newspaper published in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Overstory Media Group. Often known simply as ''The Straight'', it is delivered to newsboxes, post-secondary schools, ...

which was answered by vocalist Stuart Oijen and Anthony Hempell. Oijen had previously played in the band Silent Gathering with Keith Parry. In 1990, the band won Shindig, a Vancouver-area battle of the bands, which became one of the defining moments in the band's history. During the performance, Oijen carried a pig's head onto the stage and began hacking it with a machete, before tossing the head into the audience. Windwalker recorded a cover of Ministry's "Burning Inside", which was included on the seven inch vinyl record ''The Mint Is A Terrible Thing To Taste'', the first release for newly formed

Mint Records Mint Records is a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based independent record label founded in 1991, by friends and campus radio enthusiasts Randy Iwata and Bill Baker. Mint has put out over 150 releases, several of which have won Juno Awards. His ...

. The band recorded one album, ''Rainstick'' with Mint in 1991, and went on a tour organized by the label. Windwalker contributed songs to two more compilations: a cover of

Donovan Donovan Phillips Leitch (born 10 May 1946), known mononymously as Donovan, is a Scottish musician, songwriter and record producer. He emerged from the British folk scene in early 1965 and subsequently scored multiple international hit singles ...

's "The Fat Angel" on '' Island of Circles'' (

Nettwerk Nettwerk Music Group is an independent record label founded in 1984. The Vancouver-based company was created by principals Terry McBride and Mark Jowett as a record label to distribute recordings by the band Moev, but the label expanded in Ca ...

, 1991); and the original "Ghede" on ''Bovine Select Cuts'' (Bovine Prophets, 1992). The band also recorded an album called ''The Sandglass'' at First Music Studios before they broke up, but it remains unreleased. Windwalker disbanded in 1993. After Windwalker broke up Exu Nazares fronted The Technicians (of the Sacred) for five years and later led the band Les Barons, working with Circo Fantasma and Jeremy Gluck.

Personnel

*Stuart Oijen (now known as "Exu Nazares") - Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar *Philippe Doebeli - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals *Anthony Hempell - Bass and Backing Vocals *Glenn D'Cruze - Drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Windwalker Canadian rock music groups Musical groups from Vancouver Musical groups established in 1990 Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Mint Records artists 1990 establishments in British Columbia 1993 disestablishments in British Columbia