Features
Canada Prize Winner Is F**ked Up
Toronto punk band F**ked Up was named the recipient of the Polaris Music Prize. As the winner of the prestigious award, the Toronto group also receives $20,000 in the coin of the realm, which converts to approximately $19,000 U.S.
“That is insane,” said F**ked Up lead singer Damian Abraham while accepting the award at Toronto’s Masonic Temple Monday, according to CBC News.
“We got here today and we got frisked on our way in, and every time we went back, we got frisked again. … So I was like: ‘Aww, this is going to suck,’ being frisked so much and not coming away with anything. But then I got a free iPod, and I was like, ‘Yeah!’ But this is better than an iPod!”
Polaris prize recipients are chosen more for talent and critical acclaim than for CD sales, with music critics and industry execs helping to pick the winners.
F**ked Up certainly knows how to make an impression. Abraham weighs in at 300 pounds and has been known to perform while clad only in his underwear. The band’s album – The Chemistry Of Common Life – was well received by critics while fans made it a commercial success.
Other bands and artists considered for this year’s prize included singer/songwriter Joel Plaskett, Chad VanGaalen, hip-hop artist K’Naan, indie rockers Malajube and Toronto band Hey Rosetta.
Abraham said his band will use the prize money to hold a charity event to help raise awareness about aboriginal women missing in Canada.
“It’s a marginalized group,”Abraham said. “It’s a racialized crime, it’s ignored. So we’re putting out a benefit Christmas record with some really funny guests and we’re gonna pay for it.”
Click here to read the entire CBC News report.