Bruce Dickinson offered the band a record deal after watching them perform at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto .
He published his first poetry and prose collection alongside the album and under the same title . [ 9 ] The backing musicians , credited as the Goddamned Band , consisted of indie rock band the Dinner Is Ruined , Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers and singer-songwriter Julie Doiron . [ 10 ] [ 11 ] He released his second solo album , Battle of the Nudes , in 2003 before returning to the studio with the Tragically Hip .
Gord Downie