Editing Kim Mitchell

{{short description|Canadian musician (born 1952)}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name                  = Kim Mitchell
| image                 = Kim Mitchell publicity image.jpg
| caption               = 
| background            = solo_singer 
| birth_date            = {{Birth date and age|1952|7|10}}
| birth_place           = 
| alias                 = 
| occupation            = Musician, songwriter
| genre                 = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[hard rock]], [[progressive rock]]
| instrument            = Guitar, vocals
| label                 = [[Anthem Records|Anthem]], [[Alert Records|Alert]]
| associated_acts       = [[Max Webster]]
| years_active          = 1973–present
| website               =
{{URL|kimmitchell.ca}}
}}

'''Joseph Kim Mitchell''' (born July 10, 1952) is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band [[Max Webster]] before going on to a solo career. His 1984 single, "[[Go for Soda]]", was his only charted song on the US ''Billboard'' [[Hot 100]], reaching number 86.<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/305879/kim-mitchell/chart?f=379|title=Billboard > Artists / Kim Mitchell > Chart History > The Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref> Several other singles such as "[[Patio Lanterns]]", "Rock and Roll Duty", and "Rockland Wonderland", reached the top 20 in Canada.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

==Early life==
Mitchell attended [[St. Clair Secondary School]] in [[Sarnia]], [[Ontario]]. During the 1970s, Mitchell began playing with local bands in Sarnia. After going through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and "Zooom" headed for [[Toronto]], Ontario. Zooom eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling to the Greek islands.

==Career==
===1972–2003===
On his return to Canada, he formed the band [[Max Webster]] with fellow Sarnia native [[Pye Dubois]]. Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster in 1982,<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=297}}</ref> with session work and a succession of solo albums.

A new sound was tested on the club circuit and recorded on his 1982 self-titled mini-album.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Songs such as "Chain of Events" featured Mitchell's lead vocal and guitar and Dubois' suburban storytelling, anchored by the visceral drum/bass combination of Paul DeLong and Robert Sinclair Wilson. Peter Fredette added a vocal and guitar counterpoint.

In early 1985, the song "[[Go for Soda]]" from the ''[[Akimbo Alogo]]'' album became an international hit and remains his best known song outside of his native Canada.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> His most successful Canadian album was the follow-up, 1986's ''[[Shakin' Like a Human Being]]'',<ref name="LarkinHR"/> featuring the hits "Alana Loves Me", "Easy to Tame", and the biggest hit of his career, "[[Patio Lanterns]]". His 1989 album, ''[[Rockland (Kim Mitchell album)|Rockland]]'', achieved critical acclaim and was the highest placing chart album of his career.<ref name="LarkinHR"/>

In 1992, Mitchell played guitar on the track "Brave and Crazy" from [[Tom Cochrane]]'s album ''[[Mad Mad World]]''. In that same year he also made a cameo appearance (as himself) on the third-season finale of the Canadian sketch program ''[[The Kids in the Hall (TV series)|The Kids in the Hall]]''.  In 1995, Mitchell participated in the Kumbaya Festival to raise money for AIDS research.<ref name=howell>[https://www.proquest.com/docview/437352743 "Kumbaya disc needs more odd couplings"]. ''Toronto Star'' - Toronto, Ont. By Peter Howell and Geoff Chapman Sep 2, 1995 Page: L.8</ref>

===2004–present===
Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming an afternoon [[drivetime]] host on Toronto [[classic rock]] radio station Q107 ([[CILQ-FM]]) from April 2004 until August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/kim-mitchell-becomes-dj-1.478784|title=Kim Mitchell becomes DJ|publisher=CBC News|date=July 27, 2004|access-date=2017-11-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://q107.com/shows/|title=Q107 Toronto &#124; Shows|website=Q107.com|access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref>

On November 15, 2004, Mitchell was awarded the National Achievement Award by [[SOCAN]] at the 2004 SOCAN Awards in Toronto.<ref>[http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2004-socan-awards "2004 SOCAN Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007065403/http://www.socan.ca/about/awards/2004-socan-awards |date=October 7, 2016 }}. SOCAN website</ref>

In 2006, Mitchell provided a guitar solo on the song "Wind It Up" from the [[Barenaked Ladies]]' album ''[[Barenaked Ladies Are Me]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/barenaked-ladies-are-me-mw0002080127/credits|title=Barenaked Ladies Are Me - Barenaked Ladies &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Barenaked-Ladies-Barenaked-Ladies-Are-Me/release/946083|title=Barenaked Ladies – Barenaked Ladies Are Me (2006, Digipak, CD)|access-date=July 19, 2021|website=Discogs.com}}</ref>

Mitchell opened for [[Def Leppard]] at the Molson Amphitheatre in [[Toronto]] on July 16, 2007. His eighth studio album, ''Ain't Life Amazing'', was released on July 17, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/2146996-kim-mitchell-s-back-in-his-groove/|title=Kim Mitchell's back in his groove|work=Hamilton Spectator|date=August 2, 2007|access-date=2017-11-10|archive-date=November 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110171524/https://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/2146996-kim-mitchell-s-back-in-his-groove/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Mitchell has been on the same live bill with many acts over the course of his solo career including [[Sammy Hagar]], [[Def Leppard]], [[Aerosmith]], and [[Van Halen]].

In January 2016, Mitchell suffered a heart attack, for which he underwent emergency surgery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/01/13/rocker-kim-mitchell-recovering-after-heart-attack.html |title=Rocker Kim Mitchell recovering after heart attack |work=[[Toronto Star]] |agency=[[The Canadian Press]] |date=2015-01-13 |access-date=2016-01-15}}</ref>

On May 21, 2020, Mitchell was inducted into the [[Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame]], although due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]] the honour was not formally presented to him until 2021.<ref>Nick Krewen, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2021/07/21/kim-mitchell-says-songwriters-hall-of-fame-honour-caught-him-by-surprise.html "Kim Mitchell says Songwriters Hall of Fame honour caught him by surprise"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', July 21, 2021.</ref>

On October 2, 2021, Mitchell performed a sold-out show at the "Sarnia OktBorderFest" in Point Edward, Ontario, followed by the Barenaked Ladies. It is estimated that over 6,000 people were in attendance over the two-night event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theobserver.ca/news/local-news/oktborderfest-concerts-attracted-large-crowds-to-point-edward|title = 'Oktborderfest' concerts attracted large crowds to Point Edward}}</ref>

==Discography==
[[Image:Kim Mitchell Fergus 2008.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Mitchell at the Fergus Truck Show, 2008]]
{{See also|Max Webster#Discography}}

===Albums===
====Studio albums====
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Album
! colspan="2"  | Peak chart positions
! colspan="1"  | Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref name="auto2">Peak positions for Kim Mitchell's albums in Canada: 
*For "Kim Mitchell" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6189a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 37, No. 19, December 25, 1982|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Akimbo Alogo" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8532&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 41, No. 2, September 15, 1984|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Shakin' Like A Human Being" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0712&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 44, No. 21, August 16, 1986|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Rockland" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6410&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 50, No. 16, August 14, 1989|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "I Am A Wild Party" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1279&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 52, No. 11, July 28, 1990|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Aural Fixations" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2122&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 55, No. 19, May 09 1992|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Itch" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2556&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 60, No. 3, August 08 1994|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02}}
*For "Greatest Hits" {{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7768&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs – Volume 61, No. 26, July 31, 1995|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=2011-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024064908/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7768&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|archive-date=October 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|  [[Billboard 200|US]]
! width="90" | [[Music Canada|CAN]]<br><ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=Kim%20Mitchell&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|title=Gold Platinum Database: Kim Mitchell|publisher=[[Canadian Recording Industry Association]]|access-date=2011-09-02|archive-date=June 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607122915/http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=&ica=False&sa=Kim%20Mitchell&sl=&smt=0&sat=-1&ssb=Artist|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|1984
|''[[Akimbo Alogo]]''
| align="center" | 23
| align="center" | 106
| align="center" |Platinum
|-
|1986
|''[[Shakin' Like a Human Being]]''
| align="center" | 6
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |3× Platinum
|-
|1989
|''[[Rockland (Kim Mitchell album)|Rockland]]''
| align="center" | 4
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |2× Platinum
|-
|1992
|''[[Aural Fixations]]''
| align="center" | 17
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |Gold 
|-
|1994
|''[[Itch (Kim Mitchell album)|Itch]]''
| align="center" | 55
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | 
|-
|1999
|''[[Kimosabe (album)|Kimosabe]]''
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
|2007
|''[[Ain't Life Amazing]]''
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
|2020
|'' [[The Big Fantasize (Kim Mitchell album)|The Big Fantasize]] ''
| align="center" | —
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|-
|}

====Extended plays====
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="1" | Chart position
|- style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="90" | [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]
|-
|1982
|''[[Kim Mitchell (album)|Kim Mitchell]]''
| align="center" |38
|-
|}

====Live albums====
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="1" | Chart positions
! colspan="1" | Certifications
|- style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="90" | [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]
! width="90" | [[Music Canada|CAN]]<br><ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|1990
|''[[I Am a Wild Party (Live)|I Am a Wild Party]]''
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |Platinum 
|-
|}

====Compilation albums====
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="1" | Chart positions
! colspan="1" | Certifications
|- style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="90" | [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref name="auto2"/>
! width="90" | [[Music Canada|CAN]]<br><ref name="auto1"/>
|-
|1995
|''[[Greatest Hits (Kim Mitchell album)|Greatest Hits]]''
| align="center" | 31
| align="center" |Platinum
|-
|2005
|''[[Fill Your Head with Rock (Kim Mitchell album)|Fill Your Head with Rock]]''
| align="center" | —
| align="center" |
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="4" | Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" | Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[RPM Magazine|CAN]] 
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[RPM Magazine|CAN<br>Content<br>(Cancon)]] 
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="auto"/>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[[Mainstream Rock Tracks chart|US<br>Rock]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/305879/kim-mitchell/chart?f=376|title=Billboard > Artists / Kim Mitchell > Chart History > Mainstream Rock Tracks|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=2016-04-12}}</ref>
|-
| 1982
|align="left" valign="top"|"Miss Demeanor"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| ''Kim Mitchell''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1984
|align="left"| "Lager & Ale"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="3"| ''Akimbo Alogo''

|-
|align="left" valign="top"|"[[Go for Soda]]"
| 22
| 1
| 86
| 12
|-
|align="left"| "All We Are"
| 79
| 10
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1986
|align="left"| "[[Patio Lanterns]]"
| 12
| 1
| —
| 36
| rowspan="4"| ''Shakin' Like a Human Being''
|-
|align="left"|"Alana Loves Me"
| 31
| 4
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1987
|align="left"| "Easy to Tame"
| 32
| 2
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "In Your Arms"
| 97
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1989
|align="left"| "Rock 'n' Roll Duty"
| 7
| 1
| —
| —
| rowspan="4"| ''Rockland''
|-
|align="left"| "Rockland Wonderland"
| 10
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1990
|align="left"| "Expedition Sailor"
| 20
| —
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "Lost Lovers Found"
| 78
| —
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "All We Are" <small>(Live)</small>
| 73
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="2"| ''I Am a Wild Party''
|-
|align="left"| "I Am a Wild Party" <small>(Live)</small>
| 43
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1992
|align="left"| "Find the Will"
| 28
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="5"| ''Aural Fixations''
|-
|align="left"| "[[America (Kim Mitchell song)|America]]"
| 3
| —
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "World's Such a Wonder"
| —
| 8
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "Pure as Gold"
| 21
| —
| —
| —
|-
| 1993
|align="left"| "Some Folks"
| 16
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1994
|align="left"| "Acrimony"
| 40
| 2
| —
| —
| rowspan="4"| ''Itch''
|-
|align="left"| "Wonder Where and Why"
| 63
| 8
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "Lemon Wedge"
| —
| 1
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1995
|align="left"| "The U.S. of Ache"
| 78
| —
| —
| —
|-
|align="left"| "Rainbow"
| 21
| —
| —
| —
| rowspan="2"| ''Greatest Hits''
|-
|align="left"| "No More Walking Away"
| 35
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2020
|align="left"| "Wishes"
|
|
|
|
| rowspan="2"|''The Big Fantasize''
|-
|align="left"| "2Up 2B Down"
|
|
|
|
|-
|}

====Guest singles====
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Artist
! Album
|- 
| 2006
| "Young at Heart" 
| [[Charlie Major]]
| ''[[Shadows and Light (Charlie Major album)|Shadows and Light]]''
|}

==Juno Awards==
Mitchell has been awarded several [[Juno Award]]s for his work:
*1983 – Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year
*1987 – Album of the Year: ''Shakin' Like A Human Being''
*1990 – Male Vocalist of the Year

==Television appearances==
*Mitchell  made a cameo appearance on the show ''[[Twitch City]]''.
*In 2005, Mitchell played a taxi driver on the sixth episode of the third season of ''[[Puppets Who Kill]]'', titled "Buttons and the Paternity Suit".
*On the sixth episode of the seventh season of the Canadian sitcom ''[[Trailer Park Boys]]'', Ricky ([[Robb Wells]]) plays one of Mitchell's songs, "Go For Soda", on [[8-track tape|8 track]], while exclaiming "Bubbles, while you rock a piss, I'll rock some Mitchell."<ref>Trailer Park Boys – Season 7 – [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=695985683821845359 "We Can't Call People Without Wings Angels – So We Call Them Friends"]</ref>
*Mitchell appeared in a skit on the Canadian show ''[[The Kids in the Hall (TV series)|The Kids in the Hall]]'', teaching senior citizens how to tune the electric guitar.
*"Go For a Soda" was in Season 2, Episode 5:Buddies, on ''[[Miami Vice]]''

== Family ==
Kim Mitchell has two sons, Josh and Jesse. Jesse works for his father as a drum tech and road manager.

== In popular culture ==
He was the subject of the [[Rush (band)|Rush]] song, "[[I Think I'm Going Bald]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rush.com/albums/caress-of-steel/|title=Caress of Steel |website=Rush.com|access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Max Webster]]
* [[Canadian rock]]
* [[Music of Canada]]
* [[Juno Award]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|1=http://www.kimmitchell.ca}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115064105/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Mitchell_Kim/2000/02/27/747806.html Kim Mitchell – The lovelorn troubadour]}}
* [http://www.canadianbands.com/Kim%20Mitchell.html Kim Mitchell Music Summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201035116/http://www.canadianbands.com/Kim%20Mitchell.html |date=December 1, 2005 }}
* [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kim-mitchell "Kim Mitchell" ] ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''
* {{IMDb name|nm1844423}}

{{Kim Mitchell|state=autocollapse}}{{Max Webster|state=autocollapse}}
{{Juno Award for Album of the Year (1980-1999)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Kim}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Anthem Records artists]]
[[Category:Canadian rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Canadian rock singers]]
[[Category:Canadian male singers]]
[[Category:Canadian record producers]]
[[Category:Canadian radio hosts]]
[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Album of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Canadian lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Max Webster members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Sarnia]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Artist of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Canadian male guitarists]]
[[Category:Bronze Records artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters]]