Artificial Joy Club, at first known as Sal's Birdland, was a
Canadianalternative rock band active in the 1990s.[1] The group recorded three albums under various names and had one hit single.[2][3]
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.[4][5]
In 1995, the group signed an international deal with
Discovery Records',[6] which re-worked So Very Happy with production assistance from
Michael James and released the album Nude Photos Inside.[7]
The label rejected their planned follow-up,[8] and the band signed to
Interscope Records,[8] changing their name to Artificial Joy Club at the same time.[1][9] Goyette, Dupont and Lamarche had previously used the name Artificial Joy Club for a short-lived side project with Ottawa singer Doug Wilson.[10]
In 1997, they released the album Melt, and the maxi-single Sick And Beautiful.[11][12][13] The song "Sick and Beautiful" was a No. 17 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks hit;[14][1][15] it also climbed to No. 11 on the
Radio and Records Alternative chart.[16] It hit #35 in Canada on the RPM Top 100. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Homegrown.[17]
The band then went on a full North American festival tour.[18] It included opening the mainstage at
Buzzfest '97,[19] and appearing on the second stage bill at
Lollapalooza.[20]
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.[21][22] 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