.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - With their long hair, tattoos and wardrobe that draws heavily on leather and denim Veronica and Dave Johnny fit the image of rock musicians but don't have the lifestyle that's fabled to go along with it.

"I don't drink at all when I'm on the road," said Veronica.

Members of The Johnnys brought a mix of rock and roll, guitar tips and a healthy living message to Fort Simpson. Participants in one of the guitar workshops included, from left, back row, Wesley Hardisty, Veronica Johnny, Skyler Tanche, Curtis McTaggart and Thomas Roche, front row: Jordan Isaiah, Spencer Porter and Garrett Isaiah. - photo courtesy of Veronica Johnny

The couple, who are the core members of the band The Johnnys, refuted some common ideas about rock musicians during a series of youth workshops that were held as part of the Beavertail Jamboree in Fort Simpson from March 9 to 11.

There's a common perception that musicians, especially rock musicians, live a certain kind of a lifestyle, said Veronica. If you want to have a successful band and a long career you can't follow that path, she said.

"We take our job very seriously. Alcohol blows your focus," said Veronica.

The Johnnys shared a healthy living message interspersed with rock music during an assembly for the entire Thomas Simpson school student body on March 11. Veronica promotes water, exercise, rest and lots of vegetables as part of a healthy lifestyle.

"These four things I continuously repeat to the kids," she said.

Although the band plays loud music, Veronica also talks about how important hearing quality is to musicians and how to prevent hearing damage.

"I ask them to please turn down their iPods," she said.

"It's really easy to do long term damage that way."

For Veronica, 40, travelling and sharing these messages is part of a long awaited goal.

"Empowering the youth is my dream, she said.

Veronica was born and raised in Fort Smith and married Dave there. The couple now lives in Toronto. Veronica describes The Johnnys' music as "high energy rock and roll."

Veronica said that being a musician gives her a level of credibility with the youth that allows her to convey her message. Robert Byatt, the principal at Thomas Simpson school agrees.

The students connected with The Johnnys' message that you can't drink, do drugs and party all the time and be successful, particularly because of the novelty of having it come from a rock band, said Byatt.

It was a strong message that if you want success as a rock band you have to have a healthy life, he said.

Students often mirror lifestyles that they see in popular culture that aren't necessarily healthy, Byatt said.

In addition to the assembly, The Johnnys also held four guitar workshops in the village.

"It went really well," said Veronica.

"The kids here are fantastic."

Most of the participants already knew how to play the guitar and everyone came away with some new tips, she said.

"Learning their tunes was the best," said Wesley Hardisty, one of the participants.

"It came from a real live rock band."