Dave Bidini
A restless creative force who soundtracked and chronicled Canadian culture from the hockey rink to the rock club.
Born 1963 (age 63)·Canadian musician and writer·Birthday: September 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dave Bidini emerged from the Toronto suburb of Etobicoke as a founding guitarist for the beloved and idiosyncratic rock band Rheostatics, a group whose eclectic sound became a kind of unofficial score for a certain Canadian sensibility. His career, however, exploded far beyond the stage. He became a prolific author, turning his sharp, observant eye to subjects like touring in remote Russia, the fading glory of small-town hockey, and the inner lives of musicians. His writing, featured in major magazines and newspapers, carried the same conversational wit and deep curiosity as his music. This cross-pollination of arts led to a unique distinction: Bidini stands as the only person to earn nominations for Canada's top awards in television (Gemini), film (Genie), and music (Juno), a testament to his multifaceted storytelling.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dave was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Founded the influential Canadian rock band Rheostatics, releasing over a dozen albums.
- Authored numerous books on music, sports, and travel, including 'The Best Game You Can Name' and 'Around the World in 57 1/2 Gigs'.
- Achieved the unique distinction of being nominated for a Gemini, a Genie, and a Juno Award.
- Wrote feature journalism and columns for publications like The National Post and The Globe and Mail.
Did You Know?
His band, Rheostatics, was the first to broadcast a concert live over the internet in Canada.
He played in a charity baseball game with members of the Tragically Hip and Rush's Geddy Lee.
He once toured across Canada playing shows in community centres and libraries for his 'Book Band' tour.
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