The universe loves bass. And yes, I do mean out there in the infinite vastness of space. Even though sound can’t travel through a vacuum, pressure waves can travel through the thin wisps of gas in interstellar and intergalactic space.

The biggest bass machine is a black hole somewhere in the centre of the Perseus Cluster of galaxies, 250 million light-years away. It’s pounding out a continuous B-flat thump 57 octaves below middle C.  (I swear that’s only slightly lower than the kid with the Honda Civic down the block who still has things cranked when he’s coming home at four on a Sunday morning. But I digress…)

If you want to get really nerdy about it, it takes 10 million years for one note to oscillate just once. We can’t hear that, of course, but we can pitch-shift it up using a process called “sonification,” which translates astronomical data into sound. By shifting the pitch up about 288 quadrillion times, we get this.

Back here on Earth, we know that for any song to rock, there’s gotta be bass: those notes that start at about 250 Hz and go down until the sound waves are so long that the human ear can’t detect them.

Sometimes, we don’t hear the bass in a song as much as we feel it, as large volumes of air hit our bodies. It hits the chest first, making our lungs vibrate inside our rib cages… then our heads, as our eardrums try to process it. We might even get a little bit dizzy. Tthen our stomachs start to move in sympathy with the low notes. Bass is what gives rock depth, heaviness, and power. Without it, songs would sound tinny and be perceived with far less of a physical sensation. And this is why rock needs bass players.

But bassists don’t always get the recognition they deserve. The attention goes to the singer, the flashy guitarist, or the flamboyant drummer. But without a bass player, you just can’t rock or groove.

Let’s go through some of the most important and creative bass players in the history of alt-rock.

Songs heard on this show;

• Joy Division, Transmission
• The Cure, Lullaby
• Red Hot Chili Peppers, Higher Ground
• Power Station, Get It On
• Stone Roses, She Bangs the drums
• REM, Orange Crush
• Faith No More, We Care a Lot
• Sonic Youth, Kool Thing
• Pixies, Gigantic

Here’s Eric Wilhite’s playlist for the show.
The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on these stations:

• 102.1 The Edge/Toronto – Sunday night at 7pm
• Q107/Toronto – Sunday night at 9pm
• Live 88-5/Ottawa – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 6pm
• 107.5 Dave-FM/Kitchener – Sunday nights at 11pm
• FM96/London – Sunday nights at 8pm
• Power 97/Winnipeg – Sunday nights at 10am and 10pm
• 107-3 The Edge/Calgary – Sundays at 10am and 10pm
• Sonic 102.9/Edmonton – Sunday at 8am and 8pm
• The Zone/Victoria – Sunday at 9am and 9pm
• The Fox/Vancouver – Sundays at 10am and 10pm
• The Goat Network/Interior BC
• WAPS/WKTL The Summit/Arkon, Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown – Mon-Fri at 9pm

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

If you’re any kind of musical artist, you need a logo. It’s part of your visual identity. But who was the first band to design their own logo?

This is something with a fuzzy history because musical artists have always used stylized fonts and looks for their names, going all the way back to at least the 1920s. But we do have to look at The Beatles. The logo with the “dropped-T” was designed by Ivor Arbiter in April 1963. He ran a drum shop called Drum City in Liverpool and sketched out the logo when Ringo came in to buy a new kit. A local sign painter named Eddie Stokes hand-drew the first logo on Ringo’s bass drum.

The first time anyone saw this new design was in May 1963. And because of what The Beatles became, they established the need for every band to have a logo.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A City of Toronto traffic agent is dead after being hit by a truck in East York Thursday morning.

Mayor Olivia Chow said in a statement the agent was on duty at the time of the collision, which happened near Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard.

Police said officers were called to the area at 9:02 a.m. Oct. 29 and that the victim was pronounced dead on scene.

The driver of the truck remained at the scene, police added.

Chow said she was “heartbroken” to learn the news.

“Traffic agents do some of the most demanding work in our city. They work in live traffic, in all weather conditions, to keep people moving and protect pedestrians, cyclists and drivers,” she said.

“Every shift, they help us get where we’re going safely. We are deeply thankful for that service, and this loss is a painful reminder of the risks they take on our behalf.”

An investigation is underway.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Winnipeg police are cautioning residents that a high-risk sex offender is expected to live in the city following his release from federal custody.

Douglas Wayne Bowman, 62, was convicted of uttering threats and two counts of sexual assault with a weapon, which occurred in two separate instances – one in 2010 and the other in 2013.

He is considered at a high risk of reoffending in a sexual manner against all females – especially women of a small stature who work in the sex trade, a community notification shared by the Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex Offender Unit said.

Bowman was released from federal custody Thursday. He was designated a dangerous offender in 2018 when he was sentenced to the equivalent of a 14-year sentence, minus credit for six years of pre-sentence custody.

The 62-year-old is described by police as being five feet six inches tall and  weighing 355 pounds. He has balding brown and grey hair and hazel eyes. He also has a scar on his right cheek and the middle of his forehead.

His prior convictions include rape, indecent assault, robbery, attempted break and enter with intent, break and enter and theft.

Bowman has participated in treatment programming but is still considered a high-risk offender, police said.

One of the conditions of his release, as dictated by the Parole Board of Canada, states that he will have to follow a treatment plan in the areas of sexual deviance, violence and emotions management, as well as participating in psychiatric treatments to address his identified cognitive needs. Those conditions also bar him from contacting victims or any girls under 18.

Bowman is also banned from communicating or being in the presence of sex workers. He will be subject to a 10-year long term supervision order and a lifetime weapons prohibition.

Winnipeg police said any vigilante activity towards the man will not be tolerated.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled an accident, and the investigation is now closed, South Carolina police announced Wednesday.

“Based on the Medical Examiner’s determination and the findings of the investigation, Hayden Panettiere’s death has been ruled accidental. The Greenville Police Department has concluded its investigation,” the department told Global News in a statement Thursday.

Panettiere, who was 36 when she died and known for her roles in the TV shows Nashville and Heroes, was found unresponsive in an apartment building in Greenville, S.C., on Aug. 16, shortly after police received a call for a reported cardiac arrest.

The conclusion of the police investigation comes about a month after the Greenville County Coroner’s Office determined that the actor died from the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs, and also ruled her manner of death an accident with no signs of trauma or foul play.

Her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the apartment block at the time of her death, police said in an incident report in which details of a conversation between the brothers and police were heavily redacted.

She and Hickerson were in a tumultuous relationship for years, with Hickerson facing allegations of physical abuse towards the late actor.

He was charged in 2020 with multiple counts of felony abuse, and pleaded no contest to two counts of injuring a spouse or partner and served a short time in jail as a result. He was sentenced to four years of probation and anger management and ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Panettiere was open about her mental health and had entered rehab on several occasions, including in the weeks before her death, her mother, Lesley Vogel, told NBC News in an exclusive interview. In it, she noted that she had never heard her daughter mention fentanyl.

The actor also spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Kaya with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. He has had full custody of the child since 2018.

In a her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was published in May, Panettiere wrote, “Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion, including sadness, resentment, and anger I felt because of it…

“I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be, and definitely not the mother I want to be. Trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime,” she continued.

Earlier this month, Klitschko was granted status to protect their daughter’s inheritance after filing an emergency petition in California, claiming that items belonging to Panettiere had been seized in a federal investigation and that valuables were missing after an unnamed, unauthorized individual accessed her residence in Los Angeles.

Klitschko’s filing also stated that before the Nashville star’s death, the former couple had hired security at her Los Angeles home because an unnamed person had accessed the property without authorization.

He and Kaya, 11, appeared in a California court via video call on Oct. 8. Only Kaya was visible on camera.

In an Instagram post paying tribute to Panettiere, Klitschko wrote, “Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”

“She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives,” he continued.

 

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Belleville, Ont., police officer who was injured in a shootout outside a synagogue last month has been released from hospital.

Belleville police said Thursday that Const. Jeff Smith is now recovering at home and continues to make “positive progress.”

Smith was stationed outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue during Yom Kippur celebrations on Sept. 20 when the shooting unfolded.

Police say Sean Ward, a 29-year-old man from Quinte West, shot at Smith. The officer was rushed to hospital in critical condition. Ward was also injured but died in hospital a day after the shooting.

“Constable Smith and his family remain incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the community and beyond over the past several weeks,” police said in a news release.

“Every well wish and message of encouragement has been sincerely appreciated.”

Smith suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his head and body, and his treatment has included multiple surgeries, Chief Murray Road has previously said.

Smith noticed Ward passing by earlier in the day but was not alarmed, police said during a Sept. 24 news conference. He was then “ambushed on a second pass.”

The first rounds hit Smith before he even exited his vehicle to return fire. It was less than three minutes before a second officer engaged in the situation. That officer, Const. Michael McCurdy, did not sustain any injuries.

Smith’s wife posted a message on Facebook on Sept. 23, thanking the community for the “outpouring of love and support.” She also extended her condolences to the Jewish community and the residents of Belleville.

Police said on Sept. 24 they had evidence the shooting was motivated by hate.

“The suspect had the means, the motive and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue,” Rodd said at the time.

About two dozen people were inside the synagogue at the time of the attack. No one inside was injured, police said.

Police showed a video recording from the area of the shooting in which the shooter appears to tell Smith, “You are going to die for the Jews.”

Rodd said that police have evidence that will corroborate the intent “in more detail,” but did not provide any specifics. He said there were materials in the shooter’s car that would be considered “combustible.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

The province’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, is also conducting its own investigation into the conduct of the officers, as is customary when an officer’s actions may have resulted in death, serious injury, or the discharge of a firearm.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The federal government has released the title and theme for its upcoming budget set to be tabled on Nov. 5, which the finance minister’s office says reflects a period of “profound change and uncertainty.”

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne posted on social media Thursday morning revealing the title “MASTERS OF OUR DESTINY: BUDGET 2026,” with the cover of the budget document, showing power lines suspended over a forested valley landscape.

https://x.com/fp_champagne/status/2115791717714518223?s=46

Champagne’s office also released a statement explaining the significance of the chosen theme and title.

It was inspired by the 1962 Quebec electoral campaign of then-premier Jean Lesage, where the slogan was “Maîtres chez Nous,” loosely translated to “Masters of Our Own House.”

The note from Champagne’s office says the slogan at the time was “a defining expression during a moment of profound change and uncertainty,” as the Lesage government was planning to build up hydroelectric resources and institutions that would support the economy.

“Today, Canada faces a moment of profound change. Trade relationships are redefined. Old alliances are being tested. The forces reshaping the world are challenging our economy, our sovereignty and our sense of who we are,” the note said.

“Through Budget 2026, we reinforce that we are masters of our destiny. That we build our economic strength. That we are there for Canadians. That we defend what makes us Canadians.”

It added: “That is the ambition at the heart of Budget 2026: Maîtres chez nous. Masters of our destiny.”

Ottawa’s latest budget comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney‘s government has been focused for over a year on rewiring Canada’s economy and trade relationships in order to reduce reliance on a more volatile United States.

U.S. tariffs and trade tensions continue to impact Canada’s economy and job market, while geopolitical conflicts lead to rising oil and gas prices and pose a risk that inflation could continue to rise as a result.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams has released a new single, taking aim at U.S. President Donald Trump and his executive order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.

The song, titled Lake Ontario, was released on Wednesday and will appear as a bonus track on the Kingston, Ont.-born singer’s upcoming album, How’s It Goin’, set to be released on Nov. 6.

In August, Trump signed an executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

“Empires and regimes, dictators and kings, they all come and go. Lake Ontario is forever. This is a song for all the sane people on both shores who know that the current madness will pass, and that Lake Ontario will always be Lake Ontario,” Adams said in a statement.

In the new song, the 66-year-old singer calls out “a baby tossing the toys from the pram” due to things not “going his way in Iran.”

“From glacial erosion – to Indigenous care / From European exploration – to industrial wear and tear / The ‘lake of shining waters’ is what the Iroquois called her /  It’s a First Nations name – not an executive order,” Adams begins the song.

Elsewhere in the song, Adams refers to the renaming of the lake as “another distraction” as “the Epstein files were getting traction.”

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department said in January that some of the documents in the Epstein files contain “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”

The Trump administration has faced backlash since the rollout of the files began in December, with critics accusing the department of hiding certain documents or over-redacting files.

“One day they’ll come out and we’ll say ‘there you go’ / And then we’ll all dive into Lake Ontario,” Adams sings. “After centuries of trade and war / People settled down on the banks and shores / All rivalries and conflicts – had all but ceased / But it just took one dude to break that peace.”

Adams’ music video for Lake Ontario showcases clips of the singer in a row boat on the water.

In June, the Summer of ’69 singer released another song taking aim at Trump, titled 51st State, in which he celebrated Canadian pride and “values that have shaped the country from coast to coast to coast.”

“I wanted to write something about Canada because Canada is home,” Adams said ahead of the release of the song on Canada Day. “There is more that binds us than divides us. This is a tribute to the pride and spirit of my fellow Canadians – the rest is just noise.”

“Let me give it to you straight / When you’re talking ’bout my home / You better show some respect / ‘Cause up here we take care of our own / So let me give you some advice, mister / You might have too much on your plate / Go on load us up with tariffs / But we’ll never be the 51st State,” Adams sings.

Trump has repeatedly said Canada should be the 51st U.S. state.

In May 2025, during a White House meeting on the future of the Canada-U.S. relationship, Prime Minister Mark Carney told Trump that Canada is “never for sale.”

The prime minister told reporters afterward that he asked Trump during their meeting to stop referring to Canada as the “51st state.”

More recently, Trump hit the campaign trail with Republican candidates across the U.S. ahead of the midterm elections and revived his rhetoric on wanting Canada to be the “51st state” of the United States.

“They’ll end up being the 51st state, because that’s the only way it works,” Trump told the crowd at a rally earlier this month.

“We don’t need them, but they need us,” Trump said, adding that Canada would be “doing something just like Greenland.”

—With files from Global News’ Uday Rana and The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said she is prepared to sit down with Stelco representatives on the basis that the laid off workers are “recalled immediately.”

In a letter dated Oct. 29 obtained by Global News and addressed to Stelco’s president, Paul Simon, Joly said she expects a “concrete and credible plan for re-engagement with these workers.”

Stelco began issuing layoff notices to about 500 employees at the beginning of October following an announcement of its plans to pull back on operations at its Hamilton plant.

The company has said the employees laid off in Hamilton will be offered jobs at their Lake Erie facility but the union representing Stelco workers told Global News only 40 jobs have been offered to the impacted employees.

In a letter sent last week, Joly warned Stelco that if they do not reverse the layoffs within 15 days, the federal government will start legal action against the company that could ultimately lead to the parent company Cleveland-Cliffs being forced to divest of the Canadian steel firm.

Cleveland-Cliffs has maintained its position that one of the reasons for the layoffs is the 50 per cent tariff on aluminum and steel imposed by the U.S., which the company’s leadership has publicly supported.

While arguing the company has not broken its agreement with the federal government, Cleveland-Cliffs has also argued they “should not be responsible for impacts of external factors beyond its control.”

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Joly said Cleveland-Cliffs and its CEO, Lourenco Goncalves, have actively supported the U.S. tariffs and must “face the consequences” they have on the Canadian market.

“ had undertaken the obligation not only to keep 100 per cent of the jobs, he had the obligation to advocate, to champion tariff-free access of Canadian steel to the U.S. He failed to do that,” she said.

Joly said she reviewed an interim compliance report that was provided by Stelco on Oct. 26 but said the report was “far from satisfactory.”

“It does not alter my belief that Stelco and Cleveland-Cliffs are not in compliance with their undertakings under the Investment Canada Act as set out in my October 22 section 39 demand,” she said in the most recent letter.

The industry minister said she expects Stelco and Cleveland-Cliffs to address her demands “fully and directly” and “provide the underlying data, documents and other evidence necessary to support their assertions.”

With files from Global News’ Mackenzie Gray.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Upgrading your sleep isn’t just a luxury—it’s an investment in your health and well-being. Mattress toppers have become the go-to solution for transforming any bed into a cloud of comfort. Think enhanced support, pressure relief, and temperature regulation. From Casper, to Silk & Snow and Canadian Down & Feather, these toppers will give you the ultimate sleep experience without the need for a whole new mattress. Whether you’re into down filled, hypoallergenic or cooling, there’s something for every sleeper (on any budget!). It’s the affordable way to get a whole new upgrade. Read on for the best mattress toppers and get ready to experience your best sleep yet.

 

Best overall

The Down Perfect Feather Bed combines the firm support of small white goose feathers with the soft luxury of a 550 loft down pillow top. Covered in breathable 100% cotton with elastic straps to secure it to your mattress, it adds plushness, insulation, and hypoallergenic luxury to any bed.[/product_listing]

 

Best organic

Sleep better and feel good with this organic mattress topper from Silk & Snow, made from breathable, organic latex that adds support and comfort to your bed. With two firmness options and a removable organic cotton cover, it’s an easy, eco-friendly way to make any mattress feel just right.[/product_listing]

 

Best medium-firm support

If your baby deserves a little extra luxury at nap time, the Vibe Bear Premium Pack and Play Mattress Topper offers a soft, breathable design and perfectly snug fit. Crafted with gentle, medium-firm support and whisper-quiet materials.[/product_listing]

 

Best value

The Bamboo Mattress Topper transforms any mattress into a cool, soft, and supportive sleep surface with its snow sown alternative fill and breathable bamboo cover. Designed with deep elastic pockets for a secure fit and easy machine washability, it keeps your bed comfortable, fresh, and perfectly in place.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Blackout Curtains for Bedroom – $18.82

Himalayan Glow White Salt Crystal Lamp – $55.99

Google Fitbit Charge 6 Advanced Health and Fitness Tracker – $139.95

 

Best cooling

The Smart Topper by Perfectly Snug takes temperature regulation to the next level, automatically adjusting heating and cooling to help keep you comfortable all night long. With customizable temperature settings and dual-zone controls for couples, it’s designed to help reduce night sweats and keep hot sleepers comfortable in every season.[/product_listing]

 

Best body contouring

If your mattress could use a little glow-up, the Casper Comfy Mattress Topper combines cooling and body-contouring memory foam for comfort that never overheats or sags. With a soft, removable quilted cover, it feels like a five-star hotel every night.[/product_listing]

 

Best memory foam

Sleep like a baby with this ultra comfy mattress topper that will help you get the deep sleep you’ve always wanted. Made from two inches of plush memory foam, this mattress topper is the perfect way to instantly upgrade any bed.[/product_listing]

 

Best dual-layer

This dual-layer topper combines 2 inches of cooling gel memory foam with a 1-inch quilted pillow top for customizable support and pressure relief. Its breathable construction keeps you cool while conforming to your body, promoting deeper, more restorative sleep.[/product_listing]

 

You may also like:

Amazon Echo Spot Smart Alarm Clock – $69.99

Cooling Pillows – $57.39

Noise-Reducing Earplugs For Sleep – $31.95

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.