Nash the Slash

Nash the Slash is a Canadian progressive rock, classical, and alternative musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments. He was a member of the band FM in the 1970s, before launching a solo career in 1978, producing an audiovisial collaboration with artist Robert Vanderhorst which continues to this day.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Progressive rock - Classical - Alternative - Electric violin - Mandolin - Harmonica - Keyboards - Glockenspiel - FM - 1970s - 1978 - Robert Vanderhorst

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He has always performed, with surgical bandages covering his face, under the alias Nash the Slash. His true identity is a carefully protected secret, and has been the subject of much speculation. The Canadian Encyclopedia lists his real name as Jeff Plewman, but Nash has never officially confirmed or denied this. In a 1981 interview with the UK magazine Smash Hits, Nash's response to a question about his real name was "Nashville Thebodiah Slasher".

Related Topics:
The Canadian Encyclopedia - 1981 - Smash Hits

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Some fans continue to believe that Nash could be Ben Mink, who replaced him as FM's violinist in 1978. In the UK it was thought that he was Billy Currie of Ultravox fame.

Related Topics:
Ben Mink - 1978 - UK - Billy Currie - Ultravox

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Nash has been creating his unique concept of sound and vision for nearly thirty years. His first live presentation of music to film was a performance to Luis Buñuel's surreal silent film Un chien andalou at the Roxy Theatre in Toronto.

Related Topics:
Luis Buñuel - Un chien andalou - Toronto

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Nash's persona was born of silent film. The name comes from a killer butler encountered by Laurel and Hardy in their first film Do Detectives Think? (1927). Nash the musician has gone on to create the music scores for the Canadian films Roadkill and Highway 61, both directed by Bruce McDonald. His other movie score and soundtrack work has included The Kidnapping of the President (1980), Blood & Donuts (1995), and Black Pearls (1989).

Related Topics:
Laurel and Hardy - Do Detectives Think? - 1927 - Roadkill - Highway 61 - Bruce McDonald - 1980 - 1995 - 1989

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Nash was invited by Gary Numan to tour the UK as his support act in 1980-81, and also toured Europe with The Tubes. He was signed to Richard Branson's Dindisc (Virgin) label and released the album Children of the Night in the UK and Europe 1980.

Related Topics:
UK - 1980 - 81 - The Tubes - Richard Branson

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Nash's music is a complex blend of new wave, new age and punk rock, using electric mandolins, violins, drums machines and an arsenal of effects and sonic devices. He has written, played and produced almost all of the material on his solo albums by himself, although he has also worked with producers Daniel Lanois and Bill Nelson.

Related Topics:
New wave - New age - Punk rock - Daniel Lanois - Bill Nelson

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Nash has also regrouped with different incarnations of FM from 1984 to 1989, and briefly in 1994.

Related Topics:
1984 - 1989 - 1994

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