Jerry Mercer

Biography

Gerald Mercer (born April 27, 1939) is a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the rock groups Mashmakhan, April Wine as well as Offenbach.

Personal life

Mercer was born in Dominion of Newfoundland. Prior to becoming a full-time musician, Mercer worked both as a cattle farmer and as an IBM computer programmer.

Career

Mercer's start in the music industry was as a singer, but quickly moved to drums while still a teenager. He played several different styles in his early years, including Latin and jazz, Jerry Mercer was the drummer for Trevor Payne and The Soul Brothers in the early 1960s in Montreal. With the departure of Trevor Payne the group became known as The Triangle, who later changed their name to Mashmakhan upon obtaining a record deal in Toronto. Mercer's work can be heard on the band's most successful single "As the Years Go By". As part of Mashmakhan, Mercer played on the Festival Express tour and was interviewed for the 2003 documentary.
Following Mashmakhan's dissolution in the early 1970s, Mercer played for Roy Buchanan, and then The Wackers, before joining April Wine, who were in the process of changing their line-up following the departure of two founding members in 1973. His first public performance with the band was as an opening slot for T. Rex and Three Dog Night at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium. Shortly thereafter, he completed his first album with the band, Electric Jewels, which contained the hit "Weeping Widow". Mercer remained with the band consistently since joining, and played on all their subsequent albums and tours. In November 2008, he stated that he was retiring at the end of the year. He was replaced by Blair Mackay in January 2009. In May 2010, Mercer became the first Canadian to receive a Legends Award at the 10th annual Cape Breton International Drum Festival.
In his live shows, Mercer was known for lengthy drum solos (often during April Wine's cover of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man") which frequently include a strobe light show.
In addition to performing, Mercer was also involved in manufacturing drums with a company he co-founded with Bill Hibbs called Monolith Drums. Briefly assuming the brand name "Solstice Drums", now back to Monolith and about to celebrate 20 years of drum making. Mercer is no longer involved with Monolith Drums.
At the end of 1980, Mercer played briefly with Offenbach, a French-Canadian blues-rock outfit. He played on the band's 1980 album Offenbach Live à Montreux.

Le Triangle

Trio formed by Pierre Senecal on organ, Rayburn Blake on guitar and Jerry Mercer on drums who would later form Mashmakhan.

Single

1969 : 2 Miroirs/Les Montagnes Russes

April Wine

Studio albums

Electric Jewels (1973), Aquarius Records
Stand Back (1975), Aquarius Records
The Whole World's Goin' Crazy (1976), Aquarius Records
Forever for Now (1977), Aquarius Records
First Glance (1978), Aquarius Records
Harder ... Faster (1979), Aquarius Records
The Nature of the Beast (1981), Aquarius Records, Capitol Records
Power Play (1982), Aquarius Records, Capitol Records
Animal Grace (1984), Capitol Records
Walking Through Fire (1986), Aquarius Records, Capitol Records
Attitude (1993), Flood Ross Entertainment
Frigate (1994), Flood Ross Entertainment
Back to the Mansion (2001), Civilian Records
Roughly Speaking (2006), Universal Music Canada
Live albums

April Wine Live (1974), Aquarius Records
Live at the El Mocambo (1977), Aquarius Records
In Concert (1980), BBC Transcription Services
Live in London, on VHS (1981), Picture Music
Live From Central Park, split with Saga (1982), Telemedia Communications, TBS Syndications
Live From Central Park, split with Eddie Money (1982), Telemedia Communications
One For The Road (1985), Aquarius Records
From the Front Row ... Live! (2004), Silverline
Live in London (2009), Cherry Red Records
Compilation albums

Greatest Hits (1979), Aquarius Records
The Best of April Wine Rock Ballads (1981), Aquarius Records
King Biscuit Flower Hour, split with Michael Stanley Band (1981), DIR Broadcasting
King Biscuit Flower Hour, split with John Waite (1983), DIR Broadcasting
All the Rockers (1987), Aquarius Records
The Hits (1987), Aquarius Records
The First Decade (1989), Aquarius Records
Oowatanite (1990), Aquarius Records
Rock Ballads (1990), Aquarius Records
The April Wine Collection (1991), Aquarius Records
Champions of Rock (1996), Disky
Back to Back Hits split with Great White (1996), CEMA Special Markets
King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents...April Wine (1999), DIR Broadcasting
Rock Champions (2000), EMI
Classic Masters (2002), Capitol Records
Best of April Wine (2003), Aquarius Records
Greatest Hits Live 2003 (2003), Civilian Records
April Wine Rocks! (2006), Aquarius Records
Animal Grace / Walking Through Fire (2009), BGO Records
First Glance / Harder... Faster (2007), BGO Records
The Hard & Heavy Collection (2009), Micro Werks
The Best of April Wine Rock Ballads (2009), Aquarius Records
The Nature of the Beast / Power Play (2012), BGO Records (re-released 2020)
Classic Album Set (2016), Caroline Records

Collaborations

1972 : Shredder by The Wackers
1973 : Second Album by Roy Buchanan

Health

In 1997, Mercer was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but finished treatment for it the following year.