Biography

Aspiring filmmaker Jamie "Bran Man" Di Salvio hadn't exactly planned on making a band. He was trying to make ends meet in his native Montreal, scoring various gigs directing videos and documentaries during the mid- to late '90s. But his teenage thrills of being a DJ and remixer also fell into the realm of production and by 1995, Di Salvio had formed Bran Van 3000. He gathered nearly 20 obscure music socialites, producers, singers, and hip-hop gurus from the Montreal area, who would eventually compose the attractive quirkiness of the band, and never looked back. Soul chanteuse Stephane Moreille joined singers Jayne Hill and Sara Johnston, alongside DJ E.P. Bergen, MC Steve "Liquid" Hawley, jazz drummer Rob Joanisse, guitarist Nick Hynes, bassist Gary McKenzie, and ex-Doughboys member John Kastner, for BV3's revolving rotation. They fused trip-hop with electronic ambience and indie-rock attitude for their 1998 debut Glee, and the single "Drinking in L.A." earned top spots on various college charts as well as props from Canada's MuchMusic. Rumors of a breakup swarmed throughout late 1999; it was also reported that Ric Ocasek was on board to produce Bran Van 3000's follow-up album. The new millennium gave new face though, as BV3 began working with Beastie Boy Mike D and Grand Royal for Discosis, which was scheduled for a mid-2001 release date. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi