Kim Mitchell
Quick Facts
Biography
Joseph Kim Mitchell (born July 10, 1952) is a Canadian musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to a solo career. His 1984 single, "Go For Soda", was his only charted song on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 86. Six other singles, "Patio Lanterns", "Rock and Roll Duty", "Rockland Wonderland", "Expedition Sailor", "America", and "Some Folks", reached the top 20 in Canada.
Early life
Mitchell attended St. Clair Secondary School in Sarnia. During the 1970s, Mitchell began playing with local bands in Sarnia. After going through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and "Zooom" headed for Toronto, Ontario. Zooom eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling to the Greek islands.
Career
On his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster with fellow Sarnia native Pye Dubois. Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster, with session work and a succession of solo albums.
A new sound was tested on the club circuit and recorded on his 1982 self-titled mini-album. Songs such as "Chain of Events" featured Mitchell's lead vocal and guitar and Dubois' suburban storytelling, anchored by the visceral drum/bass combination of Paul DeLong and Robert Sinclair Wilson. Peter Fredette added a vocal and guitar counterpoint.
In early 1985, the song "Go For Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and remains his best known song outside of his native Canada. His most successful Canadian album was the follow-up, 1986's Shakin' Like a Human Being, featuring the hits "Alana Loves Me", "Easy to Tame", and the biggest hit of his career, "Patio Lanterns".
In 1992, Mitchell played guitar on the track "Brave and Crazy" from Tom Cochrane's album Mad Mad World. In that same year he also made a cameo appearance (as himself) on the third season finale of the Canadian sketch program The Kids in the Hall.In 1995, Mitchell participated in the Kumbaya Festival to raise money for AIDS research.
2004 to present
Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming an afternoon drivetime host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107 (CILQ-FM) from 2004 until August 2015.
On November 15, 2004, Mitchell was awarded the National Achievement Award by SOCAN at the 2004 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.
In 2006, Mitchell provided a guitar solo on the song "Wind It Up" from the Barenaked Ladies' album Barenaked Ladies Are Me.
Mitchell opened for Def Leppard at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on July 16, 2007. His eighth studio album, Ain't Life Amazing, was released on July 17, 2007.
Mitchell has been on the same live bill with many acts over the course of his solo career including Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, and Van Halen.
In January 2016, Mitchell suffered a heart attack, for which he underwent emergency surgery.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | CAN | ||
| 1984 | Akimbo Alogo | 23 | 106 | Platinum |
| 1986 | Shakin' Like a Human Being | 6 | — | 3× Platinum |
| 1989 | Rockland | 4 | — | 2× Platinum |
| 1992 | Aural Fixations | 17 | — | Gold |
| 1994 | Itch | 55 | — | |
| 1999 | Kimosabe | — | — | |
| 2007 | Ain't Life Amazing | — | — | |
Extended plays
| Year | Title | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||
| 1982 | Kim Mitchell | 38 |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN | ||
| 1990 | I Am a Wild Party | — | Platinum |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN | ||
| 1995 | Greatest Hits | 31 | Platinum |
| 2005 | Fill Your Head with Rock | — |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | USRock | |||
| 1982 | "Miss Demeanor" | — | — | — | Kim Mitchell |
| 1984 | "Lager & Ale" | — | — | — | Akimbo Alogo |
| "Go for Soda" | 22 | 86 | 12 | ||
| "All We Are" | 79 | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Patio Lanterns" | 12 | — | 36 | Shakin' Like a Human Being |
| "Alana Loves Me" | 31 | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Easy to Tame" | 32 | — | — | |
| "In Your Arms" | 97 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Rock and Roll Duty" | 7 | — | — | Rockland |
| "Rockland Wonderland" | 10 | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Expedition Sailor" | 20 | — | — | |
| "Lost Lovers Found" | 78 | — | — | ||
| "All We Are" | 73 | — | — | I Am a Wild Party | |
| "I Am a Wild Party" | 43 | — | — | ||
| 1992 | "Find the Will" | 28 | — | — | Aural Fixations |
| "America" | 3 | — | — | ||
| "Pure as Gold" | 21 | — | — | ||
| 1993 | "Some Folks" | 16 | — | — | |
| 1994 | "Acrimony" | 40 | — | — | Itch |
| "Wonder Where and Why" | 63 | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "The U.S. of Ache" | 78 | — | — | |
| "Rainbow" | 21 | — | — | Greatest Hits | |
| "No More Walking Away" | 35 | — | — | ||
Guest singles
| Year | Title | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Young at Heart" | Charlie Major | Shadows and Light |
Juno Awards
Mitchell has been awarded several Juno Awards for his work:
- 1983 – Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1987 – Album of the Year: Shakin' Like A Human Being
- 1990 – Male Vocalist of the Year
Television appearances
- Mitchellmade a cameo appearance on the show Twitch City.
- In 2005, Mitchell played a taxi driver on the sixth episode of the third season of Puppets Who Kill, titled "Buttons and the Paternity Suit".
- On the sixth episode of the seventh season of the Canadian sitcom Trailer Park Boys, Ricky (Robb Wells) plays one of Mitchell's songs, "Go For Soda", on 8 track, while exclaiming "Bubbles, while you rock a piss, I'll rock some Mitchell."
- Mitchell appeared in a skit on the Canadian show The Kids in the Hall, teaching senior citizens how to tune the electric guitar.
- Mitchell does several voices on the PBS Kids animated TV series CyberChase, including the Poddleville Chief, Walter and various other characters.
- Go For a Soda is in Season 2 Episode 5:Buddies on Miami Vice
Family
Kim Mitchell has two sons, Josh and Jesse. Jesse works for his father as a drum tech and road manager.
