Born in Montreal, Canada, 1973
In '76 mum and I moved to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, in eastern Canada. My parents were divorced already and mum wanted to get away from everything. She liked to party and needed to dry out. She has since told me that if she and my dad didn't get divorced, one would have killed the other.
1979: mum and I moved to Toronto. Mum worked at the CBC as a secretary. I believe it's called administrative assistant these days. Her work was a two-minute walk from Church Street School. After school, I loved plonking away on the various typewriters that came and went in that office. Faxing and photocopying blew my mind. Getting vinyl promo copies of albums was awesome. I'll never forget Van Halen's, 1984.
1987: after mum met a guy from Northern Ireland and re-married, we moved to a town called Downpatrick, in County Down; I was expecting tanks on the streets. I must have experienced some culture shock; people in Northern Ireland then were pretty resilient and not fond of bullshit. I think only the tougher kids from Toronto would have fared better than I did on the council estate. At school I made some good friends which I still have today.
At 16, I began to teach myself guitar.
After technical college, I went to university, living in Belfast. Six months later, I dropped out. It would be another 18 years or so until I signed up for the Open University.
1992: I answered an ad in the paper; a band looking for a roadie; I didn't think how instrumental (pardon the pun) that job would be in guiding my path. I still work behind the curtain.
After a few world tours, I began to write more, at the request of fanzines or music mags. I think the NME wanted something. To me, literary style was quantum incognita idioticus — perhaps it meant more freedom as a writer, who knows. But I didn't care about getting any recognition as a writer, so I don't care to have my words resurface (if indeed they were ever published).
In 1999, I left Northern Ireland with my then girlfriend, now wife, Elaine. We moved to Montreal, hated it, and moved to Toronto in 2001. Our son Lars was born in 2002 and daughter Vala sprang from the ground in 2007.
2008: while deciding to move back to Northern Ireland, I got a job with the legendary Leonard Cohen. I'd never really heard of him before. Since working with Leonard, I have learned of his many achievements and am grateful to have worked with someone so accomplished, yet humble, generous, kind, and calm, unlike so many in the music industry. Unlike so many anywhere.
In July 2008, Elaine and the kids moved to Northern Ireland while I was on the road. We now live in Larne, a small-ish town on the Antrim coast. Larne has an ASDA and a ferry port. Yep.
2010: While on the road with Leonard Cohen, I signed up for the Open University - Art and its Histories (distinction, yo!) The History of Maths, Introduction to Shakespeare, Creative Writing, and Voices and texts. The academic essays helped to hone my analysis of uh, things, and the creative writing module ignited my smoldering determination to write fiction.
In '76 mum and I moved to Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, in eastern Canada. My parents were divorced already and mum wanted to get away from everything. She liked to party and needed to dry out. She has since told me that if she and my dad didn't get divorced, one would have killed the other.
1979: mum and I moved to Toronto. Mum worked at the CBC as a secretary. I believe it's called administrative assistant these days. Her work was a two-minute walk from Church Street School. After school, I loved plonking away on the various typewriters that came and went in that office. Faxing and photocopying blew my mind. Getting vinyl promo copies of albums was awesome. I'll never forget Van Halen's, 1984.
1987: after mum met a guy from Northern Ireland and re-married, we moved to a town called Downpatrick, in County Down; I was expecting tanks on the streets. I must have experienced some culture shock; people in Northern Ireland then were pretty resilient and not fond of bullshit. I think only the tougher kids from Toronto would have fared better than I did on the council estate. At school I made some good friends which I still have today.
At 16, I began to teach myself guitar.
After technical college, I went to university, living in Belfast. Six months later, I dropped out. It would be another 18 years or so until I signed up for the Open University.
1992: I answered an ad in the paper; a band looking for a roadie; I didn't think how instrumental (pardon the pun) that job would be in guiding my path. I still work behind the curtain.
After a few world tours, I began to write more, at the request of fanzines or music mags. I think the NME wanted something. To me, literary style was quantum incognita idioticus — perhaps it meant more freedom as a writer, who knows. But I didn't care about getting any recognition as a writer, so I don't care to have my words resurface (if indeed they were ever published).
In 1999, I left Northern Ireland with my then girlfriend, now wife, Elaine. We moved to Montreal, hated it, and moved to Toronto in 2001. Our son Lars was born in 2002 and daughter Vala sprang from the ground in 2007.
2008: while deciding to move back to Northern Ireland, I got a job with the legendary Leonard Cohen. I'd never really heard of him before. Since working with Leonard, I have learned of his many achievements and am grateful to have worked with someone so accomplished, yet humble, generous, kind, and calm, unlike so many in the music industry. Unlike so many anywhere.
In July 2008, Elaine and the kids moved to Northern Ireland while I was on the road. We now live in Larne, a small-ish town on the Antrim coast. Larne has an ASDA and a ferry port. Yep.
2010: While on the road with Leonard Cohen, I signed up for the Open University - Art and its Histories (distinction, yo!) The History of Maths, Introduction to Shakespeare, Creative Writing, and Voices and texts. The academic essays helped to hone my analysis of uh, things, and the creative writing module ignited my smoldering determination to write fiction.
2011: I took most of the year off, started a band, which lasted for a year. I lived mostly from savings accrued from the Leonard Cohen tour, but managed a few tours with Ash. When at home, I looked after the kids and discovered what it's like to be a stay-at-home dad. It's not rocket science, but it does take a certain discipline to limit the number of projects one can say yes to.
2012: Committed to writing a novel, The Coming of War, a fantasy story about conflict between island nations, where religion and monarchies play their parts in revolution. It's also time to go back on the road. Bloc Party will likely be my earner this year.
Here are a few things with me in them...
http://www.shurenotes.com/issue17/leif.html
http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/2644/leif-bodnarchuk
http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/leonard_cohen/special_features/12428
And of course, there's Short Story Factory
If you've come this far, I thank you. If you've set your computer to speak the text and you've fallen asleep, just remember, satan is your master and smoking is cool.
http://www.shurenotes.com/issue17/leif.html
http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/2644/leif-bodnarchuk
http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/leonard_cohen/special_features/12428
And of course, there's Short Story Factory
If you've come this far, I thank you. If you've set your computer to speak the text and you've fallen asleep, just remember, satan is your master and smoking is cool.
I "met" you several times during your Ash roadie job. Italy, UK, Ireland... I always remeber you as a funny guy (for what I can remember...!)
ReplyDeleteIt was nice reading your bio :)
cheers
Chiara
chiaweb.it