Coney Hatch is a Canadian hard rock band who released three albums in the 1980s and released their album Four in 2013 and a live double album on vinyl, Postcard From Germany in 2023. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the band consisted of vocalist and bassist Andy Curran, guitarist Steve Shelski and drummer Dave 'Thumper' Ketchum and later brought vocalist and guitarist Carl Dixon. The band was known for its loud live shows. In 2023, the band played Sweden Rock Festival to positive reviews. The band tours on a limited basis with three original members. Sean Kelly joined the lineup in 2014 replacing Steve Shelski.
History Coney Hatch formed in 1981,"Coney Hatch". and began performing and developing original material. The band was named after the Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum (1851–1993) in London.
The band's first album was produced by Kim Mitchell of Max Webster and released in 1982."'It's a miracle I survived and lived long enough to get to the hospital'". Soo Today, September 30, 2016; Donna Hopper Ketchum left the band in 1983, and was replaced by Barry Connors, who formerly drummed with the band Toronto.
In 1983, Coney Hatch opened for Iron Maiden at forty concerts on their World Piece Tour."33 Years Ago: Iron Maiden Release ‘Piece of Mind’". Loudwire, By Jon Wiederhorn May 16, 2016.
The band performed at the Hollywood Palladium in 1985 with Rough Cutt and Accept.
In April 2008, Carl Dixon was very seriously injured in a car accident in Australia, leaving him with traumatic brain injury and extensive titanium implants and a glass eye. On August 5, 2010, the original Coney Hatch line up including the injured Carl Dixon played a reunion show at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. It was the first performance from the original line up since 1993. Two days later they played in Hamilton, Ontario, at The Festival of Friends. They were the second to last act on the main stage. The final act of the night was Gord Downie.
A further live date was scheduled for the Firefest rock festival in Nottingham, England, on October 23, 2011. Coney Hatch performed at the Rock n' Roar weekend event in August 2013, in Spanish, Ontario."Come Rock ‘n’ Roar Spanish 2013 what a bash" . Kevin McSheffrey and Jessica Brousseau, The Elliot Lake Standard, August 21, 2013 Coney Hatch again featured at Firefest, Nottingham in October 2014. In 2018, Coney Hatch announced an eight dates tour from October to December, with Sean Kelly on lead guitar in place of Steve Shelski. Coney Hatch toured to packed venues with Steve Harris's British Lion in Ontario and Quebec. and went on to favourable reviews playing H.E.A.T. Festival Ludwigsburg, Germany. Sweden Rock Festival and Hamburg Summer Festival in 2023.
In November 2023, Coney Hatch performed at Firefest Festival (10 Years After) in the UK at Manchester Academy on October 11–13, 2024. The band preceded headline act Heavy Pettin on the Friday night.
Andy Curran also released a solo album and two hit singles, was nominated for two Juno Awards and awarded one for "Most Promising Vocalist" in 1991.
Membership Current members are: Andy Curran Dave Ketchum Sean Kelly
Former members: Carl Dixon Paul Van Remortel Eddy Godlewski Paul Marangoni Phil Naro Barry Connors Steve Shelski Kevin James LaBrie
Discography Albums Coney Hatch (1982), released internationally by Mercury-PolyGram Records and Casablanca Records (Japan) Outa Hand (1983) Friction (1985) Best of Three (1992) Four (2013)"Publishing Briefs: Raleigh Signs Elvis Presley Deal, Imagem and Cutcraft, Downtown to Represent Edizioni Curci". Billboard, 3/3/2016 by Ed Christman Live at the El Mocambo (2021) Postcard from Germany (Live) (2023)
Singles 1982: "Devil's Deck" [music video] 1982: "Hey Operator" (No. 19 Canada) 1982: "Monkey Bars" 1983: "Don't Say Make Me" 1983: "First Time for Everything" [music video] 1983: "Shake It" [music video] 1985: "Fantasy" [music video] 1985: "Girl from Last Night's Dream" 1985: "She's Gone" 1985: "This Ain't Love"
References
External links (Official band site) CanConRox entry Barry Connors