Pilot Speed

Pilot Speed (formerly known as Pilate) was a Canadian rock band, who were active in the early 2000s.<ref name=krochak>Gerry Krochak, "Pilate strives for sincerity". Regina Leader-Post, October 23, 2003.</ref>

Based in Toronto, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and pianist Todd Clark, guitarist Chris Greenough, bassist Ruby Bumrah and drummer Bill Keeley.<ref>Julie Clinton, "Pilate coming to Moncton Oct.8". Times & Transcript, October 3, 2003.</ref> Clark was a graduate of the music program at the University of Western Ontario, while all of the other three members were alumni of OCAD University.<ref>Jan-Christian Sorensen, "Pilate open new windows of opportunity". North Shore News, February 13, 2004.</ref>

History

The band released their debut EP, For All That's Given, Wasted, independently in 2001 before signing to MapleMusic Recordings,<ref name=krochak/> which released their full-length debut album Caught by the Window in 2003.<ref>Wes Smiderle, "Record deal just one step on road to success". Ottawa Citizen, January 9, 2003.</ref> The album was most noted for the single "Into Your Hideout",<ref>Lynn Saxberg, "Pilate quietly soaring". Calgary Herald, July 8, 2004.</ref> which peaked at #3 on Canada's rock radio chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song's music video, directed by Maxime Giroux, won the MuchMusic Video Award for Best Independent Video at the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards,<ref>"Here are the winners of the 2004 MuchMusic Video Awards handed out Sunday night in Toronto". Canadian Press, June 20, 2004.</ref> and was a Juno Award nominee for Video of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2004.<ref>Aaron Wherry, "Furtado, McLachlan lead 2004 Juno nominations". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, February 12, 2004.</ref>

The band followed up in 2006 with the album Sell Control for Life's Speed.<ref>Catherine Whitnall, "Pilate back at it". Lindsay Daily Post, May 12, 2006.</ref> Just a few weeks after the album's Canadian release, the band opted to change their name to Pilot Speed after securing an American deal with Wind-up Records, due to the risk of being sued by other American bands named Pilate; they had briefly considered keeping the name Pilate in Canada while using a different name only in the United States, but ruled that option out.<ref>"Pilate changes name to avoid lawsuits with international release". Times & Transcript, June 29, 2006.</ref> The album was released in the United States under the title Into the West.<ref>Stephen Thomas Erlewine, "Pilot Speed: Into the West". AllMusic.</ref>

The band's third and final album, Wooden Bones, was released in 2009.<ref>Francois Marchand, "Pilot Speed lands smoothly with shorter tracks". Calgary Herald, July 18, 2009.</ref>

Discography

Albums

• Caught by the Window (2003)
• Sell Control for Life's Speed (2006)
• Wooden Bones (2009)

EPs

• For All That's Given, Wasted (2001)
• The Window (2003)

Singles

• "Into Your Hideout"
• "Alright"
• "Melt into the Walls"
• "Overrated"
• "The Volunteer"
• "Barely Listening"
• "Ambulance"
• "Put the Phone Down"

Other contributions

• Maybe This Christmas Tree (2004, Nettwerk) - "Fairytale of New York"
• Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest (2008, Hear Music) - "Knife-Gray Sea"