# Coney Hatch

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 lead vocalist and guitarist Carl Dixon, vocalist and bassist Andy Curran, guitarist Steve Shelski and drummer Dave 'Thumper' Ketchum. 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, 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. 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.
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 23 October 2011. Coney Hatch performed at the Rock n' Roar weekend event in August, 2013 in Spanish, Ontario. 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 11th-13th October 2024. The band preceded headline act Heavy Pettin on the Friday night.

## Members' other activities

Dixon later played with April Wine and was lead singer of Guess Who for eight years in total, until his near-fatal car accident in 2008 in Australia. Coney Hatch bandmate, Curran spoke to Dixon via phone while Dixon was still in his coma. Curran told Dixon that he must survive because "Coney Hatch had more rocking to do". Dixon survived with multiple injuries and years in rehab. He tours full time as a musician in various incarnations: solo, duo (with Coney Hatch band mate Sean Kelly); with a five piece band and Coney Hatch. He has released seven solo albums. In 2016 he fulfilled his ambition post-accident returned to The Guess Who for two sold-out shows in the USA. In 2017 Dixon released his debut country album "Whole 'Nother Thing". Dixon's survival from the automobile accident saw him become an inspirational speaker. He is listed with Canada's National Speaker's Bureau. In 2015 his first book was published by Dundurn Press titled A Strange Way to Live, and includes, among other things, his experience playing as part of Coney Hatch. Dixon has written instrumentals for television series including Tornado Hunters (Netflix), his songs have featured on Degrassi High, Baywatch ("Taste of Love" co-written with Brett Walker) and The Saddle Club television series. Dixon is often referenced as one of Canada's stellar rock voices.
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:
* Carl Dixon
* Andy Curran
* Dave Ketchum
* Sean Kelly
Former members:
* 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)
* Live at the El Mocambo (2021)
* Postcard from Germany (Live) (2023)

### Singles

* 1982: "Devil's Deck" [music video]
* 1982: "Hey Operator" (#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"