DOVES at Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East), Monday (June 1), 9 pm. $26.50. 416-870-8000.
At the moment, Doves have every reason to celebrate, but a painful anniversary is preoccupying the Manchester Brit-rock trio.
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Kingdom Of Rust (Heavenly), their electronic-tinged fourth disc, is selling well and garnering positive reviews. But May 15 marks 10 years since their good friend and early supporter Rob Gretton – former manager for Joy Division and New Order and co-founder of the iconic Haçienda nightclub – passed away.
“The man was basically a philanthropist,” remembers bassist Jimi Goodwin. “He bankrolled us and gave us a second chance as Doves. Without him, I don’t know where we’d be.”
Best known for their 2002 indie anthem There Goes The Fear, Doves started out as a dance band called Sub Sub back in the Madchester/acid house days of the early 90s.
“Back then, we were 18 and had no other ambition than getting our track played at the Haçienda,” Goodwin laughs.
Later, Gretton guided the band out of major-label rejection and gave the reinvented rockers a home on his Rob’s Records label, co-run by Factory Records’ Tony Wilson.
“After 15 years of ups and downs, what keeps us going is determination. We have that in spades.”
Interview Clip
Doves bassist Jimi Goodwin tells us more about his band’s relationship with the late Rob Gretton (Joy Division and New Order’s iconic manager) and what it was like seeing his friend portrayed in big-screen films about the Manchester scene.
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