Obituaries: Montreal Rock Photographer Susan Moss, Classic Albums Live Founder Craig Martin

Susan Moss, a local legend on the Montreal scene as a rock concert photographer, died on Sept. 4, at the age of 58 after being informed a month ago that she had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

In an extensive obituary, The Montreal Gazette reported that ''Moss sought medical assistance in dying. The recorded music of Montreal singer-songwriter Patrick Watson was played in the room.''

''We interviewed Moss in her home, with this profile of her set to publish on Saturday. Though she didn’t live to see it in print, Moss was touched by the waves of love she received in her final days. 'I’m really at peace because I didn’t think I was going to live old,' said the spunky redhead, with trademark aplomb. 'Other people are like, ‘I want to live to 100.’ Why? That sounds awful. Retirement didn’t seem that fun to me.'"

The Gazette termed Moss ''a workhorse who shot thousands of shows over the decades. She was a longtime staff photographer for Montreal’s leading concert promoter Evenko, shooting most of their club gigs at mid-sized venues as well as big Bell Centre shows and festivals.'' She was a regular fixture in the pit at Montreal fests such as Osheaga, POP Montreal, Heavy Montreal, Cult MTL and more.

Moss' work has appeared in such publications as Billboard, NME, Rolling Stone, Q, Spin, Exclaim! and Stereogum, and other clients included such record labels as Justin Time, Stomp Records and Lisbon Lux Records. She also designed album covers for the likes of The Planet Smashers, David Usher, The Nils, Annabelle Chvostek, Dallas Good and Richard Reed Parry and more.

She got her start in the '90s, shooting shows for Montreal’s alt-weeklies while paying the rent by working as a waitress at popular Montreal rock bars Bifteck and Station 10.

Nick Farkas, Evenko’s senior vice-president of booking, concerts and events, told The Gazette that “I think the impact of Susan's work is going to be with us forever. She took iconic photos of every artist imaginable. She’s an integral part of the whole music scene in the last 25 years. She’s part of the fabric of what we do. She was the constant — ‘There’s Susan, going to get some great shots.’ It’s indescribable how much she will be missed.”

Moss donated her extensive photography archives to ARCMTL, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Montreal’s cultural heritage, where they will be held and made available for future use and consultation. Louis Rastelli of ARCMTL estimates there are 200,000 photos in that collection. “What we have so far are the first 15 years of pre-digital camera stuff. Probably the saddest thing is not having the time to sit with Susan and go through them,'' he says.

POP Montreal is reportedly planning an exhibition devoted to Moss and her work, during the festival at the end of September. “Susan was such a big part of the community and the local scene,” POP Montreal co-founder Dan Seligman told The Gazette. “Her photos speak for themselves; they’re great. But I think more of her personality. She’s very funny and charming, very down to earth. She has a cynical sense of humour. She lived rock ’n’ roll.”

News of Moss' passing elicited many affectionate tributes from Montreal music industry types plus music festivals, publications and artists who used her work. Here is a selection of those:

Noted Montreal ska-punk band The Planet Smashers (on Facebook): ''Dear Susan, we can’t imagine the Montreal music scene without you. Your incredible works, your inspiring spirit, your warming wonderful smile, we will miss you so very much.

''Thank you for working with our band over the years. You shaped the look for many of our album designs and layouts, Life of the Party album shoot being one of our favourites! What a great memory. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We will always remember. Xoxoxo.''

Music label executive turned Montreal art gallery owner Ralph Alfonso (also an accomplished rock photographer), on Facebook: ''RIP Susan Moss. I am saddened, as is everyone in the Montreal music community, to hear that Susan Moss has passed. Her rock photography was next level and her work as official Evenko concert photographer is unequalled.

''I was privileged to have been photographed by Susan way back in 2O17 at the amazing ‘77 punk Fest here. It is one of my favourite photos. When it comes to cancer, we are all on borrowed time. God bless and safe journey, Susan. Too young. Too soon.''

To Billboard Canada, Alfonso stated that ''The genius of Susan Moss is she was able to capture an artist’s live moment at the exact perfect time, creating iconic where others create ordinary.''

Kathryn McCaughey, lead singer and bass player in Montreal punk band NOBRO, on Facebook: ''Mourning the loss of a dear friend Susan Moss today. I was lucky enough to be pulled into her orbit and have some of her light shine on me. She was the only person who ever told me that I became the person she always thought I could be. Sitting on her couch a couple weeks ago, I told her how much those words meant to me.

''When I started playing music in Montreal, I felt so out of place and intimidated, but when Susan was there behind her camera, she made me feel so safe and reassured on stage. I will be eternally grateful for all the moments we shared together... even last ones, though they were painful she still made me laugh through all the tears.

''Susan like me was just a girl with a dream. She was brave and tough enough to forge her own path in this life and now it’s hard to imagine a Montreal without her. We live in a world where everything feels more and more artificial and homogenous. But Susan was real and Susan stood out. She truly was a one of a kind and we should all be brave enough to be a little more like her. Her legend lives on. I love you Susan and your memory is etched deep within my soul.''

Sam Roberts Band posted this tribute on Facebook: ''We lost a Montreal legend yesterday. Susan Moss was a staple in the Montreal music community and her passing leaves a massive hole that will never ever be filled. Over the past four decades, whether she was serving up shots, gabbing about punk rock, or capturing the elusive magic of a concert with her beautiful photography, she was always real… funny… and the coolest of the cool. If you know Susan you know Montreal. She was in it, deep in it. We love her and will miss her dearly.''

Time Out Montreal (on Facebook): ''Susan Moss captured Montreal’s music scene for decades, from Prince and Foo Fighters to local artists, festivals and beloved venues.'' The publication ran a feature entitled Susan Moss: 10 photos that capture Montreal through her legendary lens.

Top Montreal rock radio station CHOM97.7, on Facebook: ''We're heartbroken to learn that legendary Montreal music photographer Susan Moss has passed away. From bands to concerts to exhibits, Susan was an endless supporter of local music and a mentor to countless photographers. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the Montreal music scene.''

Patrick Watson, to The Gazette: '“Susan is a staple of the city,. Every time I would do a show, I would see Susan at the end and we would have a laugh and a cigarette. She’s very rock ‘n’ roll, part of the older generation before Montreal got all fancy. She’s gritty, very punk rock but elegant. She’s part of everything that embodies this city, part of the city history.”

You can view her photography on her website.

A celebration of Moss’s life is being planned at Bifteck. A date has not yet been set. Inquiries about the event can be sent to susanmosstribute@gmail.com

Craig Ray Martin, a Toronto music industry entrepreneur and musician who founded the highly successful Classic Albums Live series, died on Aug. 23, at age 64, of cancer.

An obituary in The Globe and Mail described Martin as ''a dogged champion of the electric sounds of his youth. In 2003, Martin founded Classic Albums Live, a Toronto-based Canadian success story that now employs approximately 100 musicians to perform entire classic-rock albums, cut by cut and note for note, in venues across North America (particularly Florida) and some in Britain.

''On any given night, Classic Albums Live might present Supertramp’s Breakfast in America at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, Led Zeppelin II at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fla., and a Stones album somewhere else. Mr. Martin conceived the concerts as rock ’n’ roll recitals, not theatrical tribute presentations. 'No cheesy costumes, no bad impersonations,' as he explained it. 'Just the purity of the music. That’s all you need.'"

The Globe & Mail also reported that ''Mr. Martin spent time with a celebrity tribute-act company, imitating Mick Jagger and others in glossy productions. He saw a future in presenting albums live, but without the Vegas-style glam and shenanigans. His vision was specific and unyielding.''

The paper observed that Martin was a very hands-on team leader. ''He was involved in every area of the organization he ran as a family business, whether handling the sound checks and hiring musicians or playing rhythm guitar for the Creedence Clearwater Revival shows and singing Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run album.

Educated at Wexford Collegiate Institute (now known as Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts) in Scarborough, Craig Martin fell in love with the classic rock sounds of the '70s, and he would later translate this passion into a lucrative commercial venture.

At the top of his hit parade were the Rolling Stones, and Martin first made a mark as the frontman of a Stones cover band, the Midnight Ramblers. He launched Classic Albums Live in 2003 at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre, with a concert duplication of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. This led to a monthly series there, and as Martin's concept proved its validity and gained popularity, he moved into soft-seater venues, both in Canada and onto the U.S..

Classic rock from the '60s and '70s has dominated the CAL repertoire, with albums by the likes of the Beatles, Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, Bob Marley and Billy Joel being amongst their most performed. The company has expanded its range by performing the later works of Madonna: The Immaculate Collection, Van Halen’s 1984 and U2’s Achtung Baby.

Classic Albums Live is noted for the high-quality of the cast of Canadian musicians and vocalists it employs. Those currently listed on its website include Mia Sheard, Ryan Granville Martin, Frank Koren, Maya Killtron, Laura C. Bates, Jessica Stuart, Talia Schlanger, Jeff Heisholt and Ian Goodtimes.

Prestigious Toronto concert venue Massey Hall has regularly hosted the Classic Albums Live show. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, “Jesse Kumagai, president and CEO of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, stated that ''Their attention to detail and level of musicianship is impressive, and a big part of what distinguishes them. If the recording had three guitars all playing the same part, you’ll see three guitarists on stage. No shortcuts are taken.”

In a Facebook tribute to Martin, Massey and Roy Thomson Hall posted that ''We are deeply saddened by the passing of Craig Martin, founder of Classic Albums Live. Since 2003, Craig shared his passion for music with audiences across North America, creating unforgettable live experiences and bringing iconic albums to life on stage.

''A valued partner and friend of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, Craig helped create countless memorable moments for our audiences over the years. His love of music and lasting impact on the live performance community will not be forgotten. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Classic Albums Live team.

The Classic Albums Live organisation announced Martin's passing in a social media post. They observed that ''Classic Albums Live was created in 2003 by Craig, and thanks to his bold personality & unwavering passion, it has grown into a renowned live music experience that continues to thrill loyal & mighty audiences today.

''He was immensely proud of his family & friends and made no secret of his belief in them. In turn, we all believed in Craig and shared in his incredible pursuit of connecting people through the music that we all love. He was a true original, a born leader, and an undeniable force of energy. His vision of bringing people together through iconic sounds will live on in the hands of his family & the musicians he loved. We vow to honour Craig with years of great performances to come.''

On Aug. 28, Classic Albums Live dedicated its Led Zeppelin IV-themed show at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre to Martin, and on Sept. 11, at the Massey Hall presentation of The Dark Side of the Moon, the musical cast paid tribute to their leader with renditions of some of his personal favourites.

An accomplished painter, Martin also entered the world of theatre in 2016, when he wrote, directed and produced GIG, a musical that probed the music industry’s grittier side. It was mounted at Toronto’s Panasonic Theatre for a seven-show run. and it reflected in part Martin's own experiences in showbiz.

He told the Toronto Star at the time that ''I’ve played the Hells Angels’ clubhouse in Sherbrooke, Quebec; I’ve played maximum security prisons. I’ve talked my way out of some very difficult border situations. I’ve walked offstage mid-show. I’ve blown record deals. I’ve turned down a reality TV show. I’ve loaded pinball machines into the van in lieu of payment.”

Amongst the many people saluting Martin on social media was Toronto vocalist and Jazz.FM91 radio host (Gumbo Kitchen) Ronnie Littlejohn. He has performed on the road in Classic Albums Live, including taking the Van Morrison role in their production of The Band's The Last Waltz. On Facebook, he posted this tribute: ''I have no words. This seems impossible to me.Craig Martin impacted SO many lives. I met Craig back in 1989 when he renewed my faith in rock & roll. This dude is responsible for some of my favorite life moments. I’m not alone in saying that. My heart goes out to his family, friends and all the incredible people of Classic Albums Live.''

International

David Fair, an American musician and artist best known as co-founder of the cult favourite art-rock band Half Japanese, died on Aug. 29, at the age of 74, of cancer.

Fair’s passing was shared by Thick Syrup Records and filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig, a longtime friend who directed the 1993 documentary Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King.

David Fair co-founded the influential DIY band with his brother Jad Fair. Consequence of Sound reported that ''David and Jad Fair started making music together after their family moved from Michigan to Uniontown, Maryland, in the mid-’70s, eventually turning their home recording sessions into Half Japanese.

''Neither brother had much interest in the conventional. They traded instruments, ignored traditional tunings and song structures, and built their earliest recordings around the belief that raw sound and flowing imagination mattered more than the 'right' way to play.''

''Fair helped shape Half Japanese's radically untrained, anything-goes approach to rock and later distilled that philosophy in a cult essay, How to Play Guitar.'' It argued that anyone could master the instrument in a single day by ignoring traditional chords and following raw intuition.

The Half Japanese ethos did not bring significant commercial success, but over five decades, the band released more than 20 albums of lo-fi noise, raw rock, and creative sound experiments.

One of their biggest fans was Kurt Cobain, who invited them to open for Nirvana during their 1993 In Utero tour. Cobain was famously spotted wearing a Half Japanese T-shirt.

David Fair also earned acclaim as a visual artist, creating bright acrylic paintings and paper-cutting works. In 2015, a short documentary entitled David Fair Is the King premiered, and it explored his life as an accomplished visual artist, filmmaker, and creator.

Of note: David Fair's brother Jad collaborated with Dallas Good of The Sadies and members of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet in the group Phono-Comb. As Jad Fair & Phono-Comb, they released a 7-inch single, ''In A Haunted House,'' in 1995, followed by a full-length album, Monsters, Lullabies...and the Occasional Flying Saucer, in 1996.