The Damn Truth

The Canadian rockers undertake a headline tour of UK venues - probably fully clothed - in July.

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Led by singer/guitarist Lee-La Baum and guitarist Tom Shemer, The Damn Truth are self -confessed “rock’n’roll hippies”. La Baum and Shemer preview a busy period in the career of the decade-old band from Montreal, Canada.

Lee-La, you first met Tom while naked at a hippie festival not far from the Sea Of Galilee in Israel, and you’ve been together as a couple ever since. That’s quite an introduction.

Baum: I was in the middle of singing Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby Stills Nash & Young. I’ll never forget that moment when this gorgeous dude with a guitar on his back walked over, sat down and started playing. He didn’t say anything, we just kept jamming for hours, and then he introduced himself as Tom.

Why were you both naked?

Baum: [laughing] Because everybody else was!

You’re very proud to be rock’n’roll hippies. Is it difficult to maintain those values in rock music at the moment?