{{Short description|Canadian drummer, drum machine programmer and songwriter}} {{Use British English|date=December 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist | image = 090430--warren cann.jpg | birth_name = Warren Reginald Cann | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1950|5|20}} | birth_place = [[Victoria, British Columbia]] | genre = New wave | instrument = Drums | past_member_of = [[Ultravox]] }}
'''Warren Reginald Cann''' (born 20 May 1950)<ref>[http://www.ultravox.org.uk/ImageFolio43_files/media/Fanzines/Extreme_Voice/EV16-issue-web.pdf] Personal File : Warren Cann : April 1997<br />''Date of birth: 20 May 1950''<br />''Place of birth: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada''</ref> is a Canadian [[drummer]] and songwriter. He was a founding member of the British [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Ultravox]].
==Early life== Born in [[Victoria, British Columbia]], Canada as the son of two British immigrants, he became interested in electronics while he was at school.<ref name="ultravox.org.uk">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ultravox.org.uk/ImageFolio31_files/media/Gigography/Helden/Helden-prog.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 June 2009 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125192611/http://www.ultravox.org.uk/ImageFolio31_files/media/Gigography/Helden/Helden-prog.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After playing in bands in Vancouver, including Python, he and a Python bandmate moved to Britain in 1972,<ref name="ultravox.org.uk"/> where they found a more creative environment. Cann established himself in London, where he formed his first band, along with [[Huw Lloyd-Langton]], future [[Hawkwind]] member, on guitar and Rob Rawlinson, later in Overnight Angels, on bass.
==Ultravox and other contemporary works== {{Main|Ultravox}} Shortly thereafter, Cann contacted [[John Foxx]], who invited Cann to join his fledgling band [[Tiger Lily (UK band)|Tiger Lily]] with bassist [[Chris Cross]] and guitarist [[Stevie Shears]]. The band recorded the sole single "Ain't Misbehavin'", which was released in 1975 and used as a main theme to the namesake softcore porno film.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} In 1976, Tiger Lily changed its name to Ultravox!, and later in 1978 to Ultravox.
Cann played on the first albums released by Island Records, ''[[Ultravox! (album)|Ultravox!]]'' (1977), ''[[Ha! Ha! Ha!]]'' (both 1977) and ''[[Systems of Romance]]'' (1978). After a tour of the United States and Canada, the band fragmented because of the departure of vocalist John Foxx and guitarist Robin Simon. Ultravox replaced them with singer/guitarist [[Midge Ure]] in the summer of 1979.
The Ure-led Ultravox signed to Chrysalis in 1980 and went on to have commercial success worldwide. Cann, having a role as a songwriter along with Currie,{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} contributed lyrics to two thirds of the first Ure-led album ''[[Vienna (album)|Vienna]]'',{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} sang backing vocals, and co-lead and lead on some Ultravox songs: "Mr. X" (1980), "Paths and Angles" (1981), "We Came to Dance" (1982) and "Break Your Back" (1983).
He remained active outside the band during Ultravox's success. In 1982, he played acoustic and electronic percussion for [[Zaine Griff]] (on the album ''Figvres'') and [[Peter Godwin]] (on the single "Images of Heaven"). He and [[Hans Zimmer]] were a part of the backing band for a [[New Romantic]] singer named Ronny on her London show at The Dominion. Ronny also participated in the [[Helden (band)|Helden]] project, formed by Cann and Zimmer that year, which merged electronic, orchestral and classical influences. Helden were the first music project to play The London Planetarium in March 1983. They released a single, "Holding On" in 1983 and recorded an album called ''Spies'' which featured many guests (Zaine Griff, Eddie Maelov from [[Eddie & Sunshine]], [[Brian Robertson (guitarist)|Brian Robertson]] from [[Thin Lizzy]] and more).{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} It remains unreleased.
In September 1984, Cann and Zimmer performed as guests (on drums and keyboards, respectively) at a concert by the Spanish band [[Mecano]]. Two songs from that show were released in 1985 on the LP ''En Concierto''. Also in 1985, Cann produced a single for the eccentric singer [[Duffo]], "Gonna Send the Boys Around", and took part in the Doctor Who charity single "[[Doctor in Distress (song)|Doctor in Distress]]".
Cann was ousted from the band in 1986, after disagreements arose with other band members who started to consider him a problem for the progress of the band. Cann wanted a fully programmed percussion sound while the others preferred a "back-to-basics" approach.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} In his autobiography, Midge Ure later commented that in retrospect he considered the firing unjust, unwarranted, and a result of misplaced tensions,<ref>''If I Was... The Autobiography'', by Midge Ure, Virgin Books</ref> describing Cann's dismissal as "cutting the band's jugular vein".
Following his departure from Ultravox, Cann recorded a solo [[demo (music)|demo]] which was turned down by [[Chrysalis Records]]. He did session work for other artists, including ''[[7000 Danses]]'' by [[Indochine (band)|Indochine]], appeared on several television shows with [[Kim Wilde]] and produced demos for aspiring bands.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} He joined a band called the Sons of Valentino, and then played guitar and keyboards with the Huw Lloyd-Langton Group. He later moved to [[Los Angeles]] to pursue a future in film scoring.<ref>[http://www.electricityclub.co.uk/warren-cann-ultravox-interview/ Warren Cann Interview] The Electricity Club</ref> Cann made the music to ''Deadly Currency'' (1998),<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=20 June 1999|title=Deadly Currency|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173760/?ref_=nm_flmg_com_1|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref> as well as writing for music technology magazines such as ''[[Sound on Sound]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Cann rejoined Ultravox over two decades later in 2008, which reunited the classic lineup last seen at [[Live Aid]] in 1985. In April 2009, the band toured on the Return to Eden tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultravox.org.uk/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/evnews/20081106200935/ |title=Ultravox.org.uk – News |website=Ultravox.org.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225215018/http://www.ultravox.org.uk/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/evnews/20081106200935/ |archive-date=25 December 2008 |access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref> In May 2012, the first studio album in 28 years by this lineup was released, titled ''[[Brilliant (album)|Brilliant]]''.
After the Brilliant Tour, Cann retired to stay with his family.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
==Technical innovations== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=May 2024}} Cann and his technicians were among the first to modify commercially available rhythm units or [[drum machine]]s, so they could alter and override the preset manufacturer programs. This is notable on "[[Hiroshima Mon Amour]]", from the [[album]] ''[[Ha!-Ha!-Ha!]]''. When Ultravox were recording ''[[Vienna (album)|Vienna]]'', Cann's electronic ventures would become part of the Ultravox sound. The acquisition of a [[Roland CR-78]] proved something of a headache for Cann, as he saw great sonic potential in it, but it had limited pattern programmability. In the process of adding some practical customisations to the CR-78, Cann became somewhat ''persona non grata'' at the [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] headquarters in the UK.
The initial reaction to the usage of drum machines led to bewilderment among the audience, who wondered what Cann was doing during some songs. Among claims that he was doing nothing, he decided to equip his drum machines with clear [[acrylic glass|perspex]] cases instead of wood panels, and mount a variety of [[Light-emitting diode|LED]]s inside them as a feature Cann himself described as "absolutely useless, but very impressive looking on a darkened stage; now it would be obvious I was actually doing something."<ref>{{cite web | title=Warren Cann/Ultravox interview | url=http://www.discog.info/ultravox-interview.html }}</ref>
In addition to his drum machine work, Cann designed several modifications for bass player [[Chris Cross]]' [[Minimoog]], among them a primitive sequencer (built by Roy Gwinn) made from a series of toggle switches to add [[syncopation]] to the synthesiser's ability to create a stream of eighth notes, and a proprietary triggering system that allowed Cann and Cross to synchronise the Minimoog with Cann's drum machines, a feat performed almost three years before [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]] was officially introduced in 1983. According to Midge Ure's autobiography, when the Minimoog broke down on tour, Ultravox borrowed one from [[the Cars]], but it did not help as it lacked the proprietary modifications.
==Legacy== Speaking in 1986, [[Rush (band)|Rush]] drummer [[Neil Peart]] named Cann as one of the drummers who had influenced and inspired him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://andrewolson.com/Neil_Peart/drums/influences/1980s.htm|title=Neil Peart's 1980s influences|website=Andrewolson.com|access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Ultravox}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cann, Warren}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian rock drummers]] [[Category:Canadian male drummers]] [[Category:Canadian people of British descent]] [[Category:Canadian expatriates in England]] [[Category:Ultravox members]]