Before record sales collapsed, everyone made most of their money from selling music. The idea of licensing your music for a commercial was considered the height of selling out. Today, though, this is considered to be a normal and necessary way of surviving as a musician.
But someone had to be first, right? But who?
It’s generally accepted that the Velvet Underground was the first true alternative band. And fifteen years after Lou Reed left the band, he might have been the first even alt-rock artist to “sell out” by licensing a song to a TV commercial.
In 1985, he appeared in an ad for a Honda scooter with his song “Walk on the Wild Side” in the background. He took some stick for it—that sort of thing just wasn’t done back then—but he did help start the destruction of the stigma of using actual songs in TV commercials.
True or false: Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers was in a band with Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten. True.
It was 1983 and the Chili Peppers were still an unknown group, and things weren’t going well. Flea thought maybe it was time to leave. At the same time, it just so happened that Johnny’s post-Pistols band, Public Image Ltd., was in LA looking for a new bass player. Flea went to the audition, which consisted of just him and the drummer jamming onstage.
Out in the audience in the dark was Johnny, who was listening intently. Flea completely blew everyone away and was offered the job on the spot–which he accepted. All he had to do was come back in the morning and sign the contracts.
Flea went home but immediately had second thoughts. He and a buddy stayed up doing heroin all night–and at seven in the morning, Flea called Johnny and said, “No, thanks.” Probably a good move, huh? Turning down the job, I mean. Not the heroin part.
If you spend any time at record shows or in record shops—anyplace you can find used physical products—you may stumble across some interesting counterfeit records.
A counterfeit release looks exactly like the real thing but was manufactured illegally by someone who is not the artist’s record label. This sort of piracy has been capped at the knees by the spread of streaming services around the planet, which has affected the sales of all physical products, including illegal stuff.
There are high-quality counterfeit CDs and LPs still to be found, many of which come from China and Russia.
But this is hardly a new thing. Even back in the 60s and 70s, there was something some record collectors call “mafia records.” These looked almost exactly like what you could buy in the store but were clever counterfeits. This was how some members of the mob earned.
Today, record collectors must beware of these fakes because they’re obviously not worth as much as the real thing.
October 14, 1982. It had been a cool autumn Thursday in Toronto, with light showers that had lingered for hours. In the Rexdale neighbourhood near Pearson International Airport, almost all the 1,500 employees at the Litton Systems plant on Cityview Drive had gone home for the night. Only a few workers and security guards remained. Traffic was steady on Highway 27, which also ran in front of the plant.
Just before midnight, a stolen pickup van with British Columbia plates pulled up next to the main building. In the back were 550 pounds of dynamite.
Fuses were set, and boom! The explosion blew off the front wall of the two-storey building. No one was killed, but four night-shift employees and three cops were hurt. A few people in passing cars were also hit by the debris.
The damage was severe, with some estimates putting the bill at $50 million. The bombers fled under cover of the night.
We’d later learn that five people were involved, including the former bass player of a fierce Vancouver punk band.
This is episode 75 of Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry. And this time, it’s the story of Canada’s punk rock terrorist bombing.
This is Episode 74 of “Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry.” And this time, it’s the story of the mysterious death of Bobby Fuller.
In addition to the podcasts, you can hear Uncharted on these Corus radio stations (all times local):
Toronto: AM 640 (4-5 am)
London: 980 CFPL (4-5 am)
Vancouver: 730 CKNW (1-2 am)
Edmonton: 630 CHED (1-2 am)
Calgary: QR77 (770 AM) (1-2 am)
Winnipeg: 680 CJOB (1-2 am)
And don’t forget about my current national speaking tour that will feature a live Uncharted podcast presentation. Get your tickets here.
Here’s a trivia question. Name two films that feature an on-screen appearance by The Tragically Hip.
Remember the curling movie, Men with Brooms? The Hip shows up for about a second and a half as a curling team in the big bonspiel. If you blink, you’ll miss them. All right, but what about the second film?
Trick question. NO ONE has ever seen it.
Director Robert Altman shot a made-for-TV movie that acted as a pilot for a TV show. It was centered around a rich computer geek who really wanted to be a guitarist. At one point in the movie, he hires a group–the Tragically Hip–to play at a party. However, the movie was never released, and no one (outside those connected with the production) has ever seen it.
This classic style deserves a spot in your fall 2026 wardrobe.
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Fall’s most versatile shoe for fall 2026? The loafer. And we totally get the appeal. This wardrobe classic makes even a simple jeans-and-sweater combo feel put together. This season, it’s all about the details–from preppy tassels and easy slip-on mules to soft suede finishes. You’ll find plenty of inspiration at Simons, Little Burgundy, Quince and beyond. Ahead, five loafer trends worth slipping into, with a splurge and a save for each.
All in the tassels
A little embellishment goes a long way. Tassel loafers bring a touch of vintage charm to fall’s tailored staples, making them an easy match for pleated trousers, crisp button-downs and oversized blazers. Keep things classic with sleek black leather, or opt for a chunky sole for a little edge. The finishing touch? White socks peeking out beneath cropped denim.
The splurge:
The save:
Slip into something chic
Love the look of loafers but want something a little more relaxed? Enter: the loafer mule. The backless silhouette delivers all the stylishness of its traditional counterpart with the ease of a slip-on. Pair yours with ankle-skimming trousers and a soft knit on milder fall days–or let them peek out under long denim for a chic finish.
The splurge:
The save:
Suede persuasion
If there’s one texture that feels right at home in a fall wardrobe, it’s suede. Soft and understated, suede loafers bring a little richness to everyday outfits without feeling overly dressy. Chocolate, caramel and taupe pair beautifully with cream knitwear and dark denim, while black offers a sleek alternative. Add a cashmere coat and a structured bag, and you’re good to go.
Love a loafer with a little attitude? Platform styles give this polished staple a playful edge–and a welcome height boost. Pair yours with wide-leg denim and a fitted knit to balance the chunky silhouette, or lean into the preppy look with a pleated mini and opaque tights. Classic black keeps things versatile.
The splurge:
The save:
For animal lo(af)ers
Consider this your cue to take a walk on the wild side. From classic leopard spots to sleek snakeskin-inspired finishes, animal-print loafers bring personality to even the simplest fall outfits. Let them steal the spotlight with dark-wash denim and a neutral knit, or pair them with tailored black trousers for a playful take on office dressing.
Watch the online edition of Global News Hour at 6 BC.
We are learning that BC NDP Leader David Eby has benefitted from the province’s $10 dollar-a-day child care program, even as his government paused expansion earlier this year. On the campaign trail, Eby is pledging to protect public health care, while the political parties continue their mudslinging online. And residents in Victoria and Saanich will soon face a non-binding plebiscite question on merging their municipalities.
Watch ‘Global News at 6 BC’ for the latest news in British Columbia.
Members of Montreal's Indian diaspora held a demonstration Monday afternoon to stand in solidarity with "Cockroach" protesters, and to denounce security crackdowns. Many demonstrators are concerned for friends and loved ones over fear of a decline in democracy in India. Protests in Canada comes as trade relations are set to ramp up with India this week. Phil Carpenter reports.
A group of protesters gathered at Norman Bethune Square in Montreal Saturday to stand in support of the young people of India who are experiencing what activists call an “increase in the steady loss of democracy” leading to “unimaginable violence.”
The “Cockroach” youth movement has intensified in India since election authorities began revising voter lists last year, removing more than 130 million voters.
Protests have grown to include India’s opposition parties and its particpants are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission have denied allegations of manipulation, saying the move is needed to remove duplicate and ineligible names.
Larger protests began about a month ago related to repeated paper leaks, administrative errors and cheating scandals at the nation’s colleges.
Violence ensued over the weekend as thousands of protesters were detained in a police crackdown.
“In my opinion, they are creating a beginning stage of fascism. They are basically creating an atmosphere of fear. People cannot speak, people cannot protest, people cannot demand their justice,” Abid Khan told Global News at the solidarity protest in Montreal.
Back in May, India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant compared India’s youth to cockroaches saying they turn to social media to attack institutions without ever doing anything.
Now the nation’s youth are working to prove they are anything but, but the name stuck.
“A simple joke became a revolution,” Khan said.
The protest expanded past the Indian diaspora including people of all backgrounds.
Global News
Rundranil Raha told Global News he grew up in India around the time the BJP came to power in 2014.
He said he was taught that India was an inclusive country that accepted all people, but that ideology has been ripped to shreds.
He said India’s government is now “sowing the seeds of hatred that aims to divide the country.”
He said women, LGBTQ2 people and ethnic and religious minorities are carrying the brunt of the burden.
“If I am in India, I’m a male, I am a middle caste and I am Hindu so I wouldn’t have any problem if I kept my mouth shut,” Raha said. “If I am speaking out, I am afraid that I just might be the next target of this surveillance heavy rights stampeding regime.”
But Canada’s supporters of the movement are spanning further than just the Indian diaspora.
“As a Pakistani, I feel like it is my duty to also provide cross-solidarity because what happens in India does affect the rest of the region,” Zahra Haider told Global News.
Rahul Varma, another attendee of the Montreal protest, told Global News he fears what is happening in India is just one example of the rise of nationalism all across the world.
“It is not anymore a problem of a particular country,” he said.
But as solidarity is growing across Canada, the federal government is seeking to deepen its trade ties with India.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is in India this week as the two countries look to reach a free-trade agreement by the end of the year.
Varma said he is in support of Canada advancing its relationship with India, but only if human rights are at the forefront.
“The Canadian government has not made a significant statement against the Indian state to stop any of those activities,” he said.
Global News reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
– With files from Phil Carpenter, The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
Travellers are seen walking towards Canadian departures at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
Montreal’s public health authority has reported a new measles case.
The health authority announced a child with measles was in the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport late Friday and in the Sainte-Justine hospital early on Saturday while still contagious.
The health authority asks people who may have come in contact with the child to monitor themselves for symptoms and seek preventive treatment if they are not vaccinated.
The most recent measles outbreak in Quebec ended in August after 28 reported cases.
Federal measles data shows 1,121 cases have been reported in Canada this year as of Sept. 26.
In November 2025, Canada officially lost its measles-free status, which it had held since 1998.
The Pan American Health Organization revoked the status after it confirmed the same strain of the virus had been transmitted in Canada for over a year.
Measles is an extremely contagious disease and can lead to serious complications, like blindness, encephalitis, pneumonia and even death in some cases.
The main symptoms are a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
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