Artificial Joy Club, at first known as Sal's Birdland, was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s."Crunchy Act Artificial Joy Club melts away doubters with 'Sick & Beautiful' single". Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 9, 1997. page 62. by Chuck Taylor The group recorded three albums under various names and had one hit single.
History The band formed in 1993 when Louise Reny and Leslie Howe, formerly of the pop group One to One, joined with guitarist Michael Goyette, bassist Tim Dupont and drummer Andrew Lamarche. Initially taking the name Sal's Birdland ('Sal' was Reny's stage name), the group released its debut album, So Very Happy, in 1994."Not quite banned, Sal's Birdland rocks on". Ottawa Citizen, December 22, 1994.
In 1995, the group signed an international deal with Discovery Records,"Colin Linden just a book of blues". Ottawa Citizen, June 22, 1995. which re-worked So Very Happy with production assistance from Michael James and released the album Nude Photos Inside.
The label rejected their planned follow-up,"Lippy litany of buzzwords is Sal's way". The Province, September 26, 1997. and the band signed to Interscope Records, changing their name to Artificial Joy Club at the same time.": One To One" . The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Jam Showbiz Goyette, Dupont and Lamarche had previously used the name Artificial Joy Club for a short-lived side project with Ottawa singer Doug Wilson."Big Smoke success smells sweet to Waltons". Ottawa Citizen, May 4, 1995.
In 1997, they released the album Melt, and the maxi-single Sick And Beautiful. The song "Sick and Beautiful" was a No. 17 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks hit; it also climbed to No. 11 on the Radio and Records Alternative chart. It hit #35 in Canada on the RPM Top 100. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Homegrown.
The band then went on a full North American festival tour. It included opening the mainstage at Buzzfest '97,"Houston (Buzzfest '97), Aug. 30, 1997". Houston Today, via Silver Chair. and appearing on the second stage bill at Lollapalooza."Lollapalooza's Recycled Hormones: Rebellion by the Numbers". The New York Times, by Jon Pareles, July 14, 1997
In 1998, Artificial Joy Club released the three-track EP Spaceman, which was three versions of their song of the same name. They also released a video. The band broke up in 1999.
Discography As Sal's Birdland So Very Happy (1994), Ghetto Records Nude Photos Inside (1995), Ghetto Records, Discovery Records
As Artificial Joy Club Melt (1997), Interscope Sick And Beautiful (1997), Interscope, Crunchy Records Spaceman (EP) (1998), Interscope
References
External links Artificial Joy Club