Robert Morfitt is a Canadian musician born in Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Morfitt's music career has been varied from being a booking agent for the UK Subs

UK Subs

The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...

, to composing, playing and performing in the band Econoline Crush

Econoline Crush

Econoline Crush is a band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada formed in 1992. Originally formed in Seattle, they eventually moved back to Vancouver...

, to the present day where his current focus is visual arts and filmmaking. He is the video director for Sahara Hotnights

Sahara Hotnights

Sahara Hotnights is a rock band from Robertsfors, Sweden. Their style incorporates elements of garage rock, power pop and punk. While in Australia, Josephine Forsman bet on a horse named Sahara Hotnights and used the name for the band.-History:...

, Hot Hot Heat

Hot Hot Heat

Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...

, The Organ

The Organ

The Organ was a Canadian indie pop band formed in 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia. They officially broke up on December 7, 2006, due to illness and personal conflicts in the band.-Early years:...

, Stink Mitt, and others.

Early career

Morfitt began his music career in 1990, when he booked a North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

n tour for British punk band the UK Subs

UK Subs

The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...

. This early experience prepared him for his next job, as a musician.

In 1992

1992 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....

 Morfitt joined Econoline Crush, an upcoming Vancouver band managed by ex-Queensrÿche

Queensrÿche

thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....

 managers Harris Music Group. In 1993

1993 in music

This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....

 the band signed a record deal with EMI

EMI

The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...

 Music Canada after playing only twenty-six live shows. They their first EP, "Purge

Purge

In history, religion, and political science, a purge is the removal of people who are considered undesirable by those in power from a government, from another organization, or from society as a whole. Purges can be peaceful or violent; many will end with the imprisonment or exile of those purged,...

," in 1994

1994 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....

, with Nickleback producer Dale Penner (Nickelback) at helm. After some management shuffles EC released their first full length LP, 1995

1995 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....

’s “Affliction

Affliction (album)

Affliction is the first official full-length album by the industrial alternative rock band Econoline Crush. It was released in Canada in 1996 by EMI, and in the United States by Nettwerk Records.-Track listing:# "Nowhere Now" – 4:18...

,” this time working with noted producer Rhys Fulber

Rhys Fulber

Nowell Rhys Fulber is a Canadian electronic musician and producer. He was a member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium along with Bill Leeb, and now records on his own under the name Conjure One.- Biography :...

, who had previously produced Front Line Assembly

Front Line Assembly

Front Line Assembly is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. Influenced by early Industrial acts such as Cabaret Voltaire, Portion Control, D.A.F., Test Dept, SPK, and Severed Heads, FLA has developed its own unique sound while combining...

, Delirium

Delirium

Delirium or acute confusional state is a common and severe neuropsychiatric syndrome with core features of acute onset and fluctuating course, attentional deficits and generalized severe disorganization of behavior...

, Conjure One

Conjure One

Conjure One is a Canadian electronic music project, headed by Rhys Fulber, better known as a member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium, as well as other musical groups alongside Bill Leeb.-History:...

 and Fear Factory

Fear Factory

Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...

. An extensive Canadian tour followed, and the “Purge” EP was nominated for a Juno Award

Juno Award

The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...

. That year also saw EC tour Europe three times, with the Young Gods, Die Krupps

Die Krupps

Die Krupps is a German industrial rock/EBM band, formed in 1980 by Jürgen Engler and Bernward Malaka in Düsseldorf.-History:Their initial sound throughout the 1980s combined synthesizers with metallic percussion...

, and Waltari

Waltari

Waltari is a band from Finland, known for its diversity and combination of music styles, frequently combining alternative metal, progressive metal, death metal, hard rock, heavy metal, hip hop, industrial, pop, punk, rap, symphonic metal, techno and thrash metal.Most of the band's music is written...

, culminating in an appearance at the POP KOMM Festival in Köln

KOLN

KOLN, digital channel 10, is the CBS affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates a satellite station, KGIN, on digital channel 11 in Grand Island. KGIN repeats all KOLN programming, but airs separate commercials...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 with Filter

Filter (band)

Filter is a rock group formed in 1993 in Cleveland by singer Richard Patrick and guitarist/programmer Brian Liesegang. Filter has released five studio albums, the most recent being The Trouble with Angels, which was released on August 17, 2010....

.

In 1996

1996 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...

 Econoline Crush signed with the well-known management group Bruce Allen

Bruce Allen

Bruce Allen is an American physicist and director of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hannover Germany and leader of the Einstein@Home project for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration...

 Talent, and recorded in Sound City

Sound City

Sound City is a British amplification company. Previously available in the 1960s the MARK 6 range was relaunched in 2007. Sound City amplifiers were British designed in the 1960s. The Sound City series was relaunched with the MARK 6 range, introduced by Arbiter in July 2007.Arbiter, owned by...

 studio. For these sessions, noted producer Sylvia Massy

Sylvia Massy

Sylvia Massy is an entrepreneur, record producer, and studio engineer in the United States. Massy is perhaps best recognized for her work on 1993's Undertow, the full-length double platinum-selling debut for Los Angeles rock band Tool.-History:...

-Shivy (Tool

Tool (band)

Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...

, System of a Down

System of a Down

System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...

, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...

 and Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...

), helped to create the band's 1997

1997 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...

 release, The Devil You Know. The commercial success and critical acclaim for this album launched EC on cross-Canadian tours with KISS

KISS (band)

Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...

, Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...

, Green Day

Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...

 and others, and the subsequent 1998

1998 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...

 American release of The Devil You Know on Restless Records

Restless Records

Restless Records was started in El Segundo, California in 1981 by Enigma Records and primarly released alternative, metal and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade Records and Mute Records...

 found them touring the U.S. and Canada extensively with KISS, Stabbing Westward

Stabbing Westward

Stabbing Westward was an American industrial rock and alternative rock band. They formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois and began recording in the 1990s. The band announced a dissolution in 2002.- Early years :...

, God Lives Underwater

God Lives Underwater

God Lives Underwater was an industrial rock band from rural Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania , formed in 1993 by band members David Reilly and Jeff Turzo. God Lives Underwater was originally signed to American Recordings after being discovered by Rick Rubin, who subsequently produced the band's first...

 and many others.

With a growing reputation and fanbase, EC's songs were featured on TV shows such as Melrose Place and Psi Factor, and on ESPN

ESPN

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....

, and elsewhere. The band also received their second Juno nomination for the TDYK album, and was asked to perform live at the televised Juno ceremony. Meanwhile EC received gold and platinum awards for sales of TDYK.

Solo career

In 1999

1999 in music

-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....

, Robert Morfitt parted ways with Econoline Crush. After taking a break from the strenuous touring and recording schedule he had experienced with EC, he joined Vancouver band Morning Maker. After signing with Ralph James

Ralph James

Ralph Torrez James was an American voice and character actor. Although he did a few voices for the Looney Tunes, James might be remembered best for performing the voice of Mr. Turtle in the classic commercials for Tootsie Pops which ran throughout the 1970s...

 of The Agency Group for North American bookings in 2001

2001 in music

See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....

, MM toured Canada with Default

Default (band)

Default is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. Since forming in 1999 they have released four albums, and have sold more than a million records...

 and Big Sugar

Big Sugar

Big Sugar is a Canadian blues-rock band, they were active from 1991 to 2004 and again since April 2010. The band has sold more than half a million albums in Canada.-History:...

, and continued to tour in 2002

2002 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...

 with Nickelback, Robin Black, and others.

That year also saw Morfitt begin to direct, shoot and edit music videos. His first videos are featured on the Robin Black

Robin Black

Robin Black is a Canadian glam rock band, originally known as Robin Black and the Intergalactic Rock Stars, formed in 1998. The band's lead singer also uses Robin Black as his stage name.-History:...

 DVD release “We Came, We Saw, We Came”. Although he was a relative novice at the time, two of Morfitt’s videos were selected to feature in the 1st annual Indie Music Video Festival (IMVF).

Encouraged by these initial successes and driven by his love of the art of video-making, Morfitt begin working in 2002 under the tutelage of Grammy-nominated, multiple MuchMusic

MuchMusic

MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

 Video Award winning director William Morrison

William Morrison (director)

William Morrison , is a Canadian born Juno Award-nominated music video director, documentary film director, and musician...

, who was at that time assembling Process Productions, a collective of upcoming directors and designers. That year another one of Morfitt’s videos was selected to showcase in the second annual IMVF.

In the following years, Morfitt shot a multitude of live footage from many bands, while continuing to make videos for those artists who worked with him. In 2004

2004 in music

See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....

 Morfitt’s video for Stink Mitt’s “Biker Shorts” went into light rotation on MuchMusic and received many accolades as part of the third annual IMVF, now touring throughout the globe in Canada, U.S. and Europe. Shortly after, yet another Morfitt video appeared on MuchMusic, for The Organ

The Organ

The Organ was a Canadian indie pop band formed in 2001 in Vancouver, British Columbia. They officially broke up on December 7, 2006, due to illness and personal conflicts in the band.-Early years:...

 song "Brother".

Morfitt’s accomplishments attracted offers of freelance camera work, and he took on the shooting of footage for Novus Television’s coverage of the Molson Indy

Molson Indy

Molson Indy can refer to any of the following races:*Grand Prix of Montreal, formerly the Molson Indy Montreal*Honda Indy Toronto, formerly the Molson Indy Toronto*Molson Indy Vancouver, discontinued in 2004...

, and joined Canadian industrial heroes Skinny Puppy

Skinny Puppy

Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....

 for a string of dates in U.S. and Canada as video and camera operator. Most recently, Morfitt has worked as DP-Camera on the series pilot Bandwagon, produced by AZZ Entertainment / Backburner Entertainment. In the summer of 2005

2005 in music

-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...

Morfitt made moved from Canada to the United States where he now resides as a permanent resident with his wife and daughter.