Shadowy Man Don Pyle previews new memoir Rough Description out May 26

Toronto-based drummer/photographer Don Pyle shares tales from the tour van and beyond in Rough Description due May 26th.

Here's the scoop from Don Pyle...

"At last, cover art for my new book Rough Description: Love Letters and Ghost Stories from a Life in Music is here! The cover was designed by Dave Gee with front cover photo by Heather Cameron and back cover by me. Presale from my website for Canada/Europe/Mexico is available through this link. Same page has link to publisher ECW Press site to pre-order in US or anywhere else. Eek! Book out May 26/26. Rough Description was supported by grants from Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council."

ROUGH DESCRIPTION 

LOVE LETTERS AND GHOST STORIES FROM A LIFE IN MUSIC

Published May 26, 2026 by ECW Press. $24.99. Pre-sale live now.

Rough Description: Love Letters and Ghost Stories from a Life in Music is Don Pyle’s tantalizing memoir, recalling first bands, the absurdity and incredible rewards of touring, and reflections on groups and situations he’s been in, most prominently as drummer and co-founder of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. He recounts friend and work relationships with musician Dallas Good, venerable producer/engineer Steve Albini, comedy troupe Kids In The Hall, whose series and theme music his group created, and more.

He describes experiences attending hair school, his evolving relationship with his mother, how the Ramones affected his young teen brain, a life-changing car accident, and other situations from a creative life lived fully, with a bit of dish. Hear how a punk rock penpal lead to a career in showbiz, and how to put out the same record over and over again.

To order from ECW press, or another retailer outside of Canada, go here. Please click SHOP LOCAL tab on ECW site to order from your favourite bookstore. 

Please note that due to unwieldy tariffs, I do not ship to the US.

R.I.P. Toronto audio engineer Peter J. Moore, 1956-2023

Sadly, Grammy & Juno-winning audio engineer Peter J. Moore has passed away at 67. He's being remembered Nov. 25.

That time Phono-Comb w/Dallas Good & Reid Diamond played the Tarragon Theatre

In 1996, Phono-Comb was Reid Diamond & Don Pyle from Shadowy Men, Dallas Good and Fifth Column's Bev Breckenridge.  

Long Branch record release @ The Baby G, June 1

Members of Chicken Milk, Shadowy Men and the Good Family are behind Long Branch's Found The Setting Sun album. 

Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet w/ The Sadies @ Lee's Palace, Friday & Saturday

T.O. photographer Rick McGinnis posted some fantastic early shots of both groups on his blog today.  

To coincide with Record Store Day (Saturday, April 16), Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet are releasing a sumptuous box set in collaboration with Yep Roc Records. OH, I GUESS WE WERE A FUCKING SURF BAND AFTER ALL... gathers the original three Shadowy Men albums, newly remastered in deluxe gatefold sleeves, with expanded artwork, essays by band associates and a chihuahua. New compilation, entitled SOFT POLISHED SEPARATES gathers stray singles, soundtrack cuts, early cassettes, BBC John Peel Sessions, their CBC Brave New Waves session, and highlights from the band's LP with B-52s vocalist Fred Schneider. All of this is stuffed into a snazzy box rivalling the original cast recording of Jesus Christ Superstar in thickness and strictly limited to 750 copies. Here's a snazzy teaser clip...