Jolly Tambourine Man
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Defunct | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Demo tape, 7" single "Apple Strudel Man" |
Jolly Tambourine Man was an alternative rock ensemble from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, active between 1982 and 1984. They produced a demo tape and a 7" single, with their track "Apple Strudel Man" becoming one of the earliest independent videos broadcast on MuchMusic.
History
The formation of Jolly Tambourine Man began as a side venture of the punk group Blibber and the Rat Crushers while they searched for a permanent drummer, having decided to discontinue using their BOSS DR-55 drum machine. The primary members consisted of Blibber guitarist Stewart Black and Steve Rhodes, with additional contributions from musicians Warren Philips and Greg McKenzie. In 1983, they independently issued a cassette that included songs such as "Nazi Punks Go Bowling," "Apple Strudel Man," and "Movin' On Up." Their track "Dash for Cash," which paid tribute to Terry Fox, featured in the 1983 punk film Not Dead Yet.
Subsequently, Rhodes and Black collaborated with Ian Blurton and Mike Armstrong from Change of Heart along with Caroline Savage of Katwimmen to re-record "Apple Strudel Man." This version was released as a 7" single in 1984, accompanied by the B-side "Sweater in Sri Lanka." A video directed by Bill Davis was launched alongside MuchMusic’s debut broadcast and became part of its regular playlist; additionally, the single received airplay on Toronto’s alternative radio station CFNY-FM.
Following the release of the single, both Blibber and Jolly Tambourine Man paused activities due to personal circumstances and challenges in finding a stable drummer. Blibber and the Rat Crushers later resumed in 1990 with the demo titled Pope Music.