John Woloschuk
As well as working as assistant engineer on ‘Fly By Night’ with Terry Brown, in the early seventies John was in a number of bands with ex-school friends Terry Draper and Dee Long. Notably, John took on lead vocals and piano in Klaatu, which took its name from the alien in ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’. Terry Brown was “fourth member”, but really acted more as producer than performer. He supported the band’s first album, ‘3:47 EST’, which was recorded over three years at Toronto Sound Studios, released in 1976. Terry was also involved on ‘Hope’ and ‘Sir Army Suit’, which were released over the two years that followed.
Klaatu deliberately set out to make a statement of anonymity, refusing to say who was in the band. This being the hype-ridden record industry however, the idea backfired somewhat when journalist Steve Smith speculated the band were the reformed Beatles. One of their songs, ‘Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft’ was covered by The Carpenters in 1977.
In 1981 Klaatu released ‘Magentalane’ and set off on its first and last tour. Keyboard player Gerald O’Brien was brought in, to be replaced in 1982 by Max Webster keyboardist Terry Watkinson. The band came to an end in 1984, as the band members went their separate ways: John went to train to be an accountant, qualifying in 1986.