Tom Wilson on Bob Lanois: The Complete Bob Lanois Documentary Interviews

My name is Dave Conlon, I’m a Canadian photographer and filmmaker and my passion is discovering and exploring abandoned buildings. I run the website freaktography.com.

In the fall of 2021, I learned of a seemingly abandoned cabin in the woods in Waterdown Ontario and after finding out that it and its owner are a major part of local and Canadian music history, I decided to dig deeper and get the whole story.

This story inspired me to shoot and produce my first full length feature documentary film and to tell the story of Bob Lanois, what led him to move into this small remote cabin, and the amazing music, art and creativity that came from it.

Robert Jacques Lanois, known to most as Bob Lanois was born in Gatineau, Quebec on April 4th 1948. His parents were Jill and Guy Lanois.

Bob was the eldest of 4 siblings, Daniel, Ronald and Jocelyne

In 1961, when their parents' marriage ended, Bob, Daniel, Ronald and Jocelyne moved to Hamilton, Ontario with their mother. Bob being the oldest child at 13 years old took on a father role in the family, helping to provide by working jobs at local stores and delivering newspapers at night.

The Lanois Family settled in a family home on Robina Road in Ancaster, Ontario and that is where this story begins.

When I started the process of getting approvals and doing research for this documentary, Tom Wilson was instrumental in making it happen.

Tom swiftly responded to my random email and quickly got the idea in front of Daniel Lanois and Bob’s partner Margot. Having been close friends and collaborators for over 30 years, Tom has been a wealth of knowledge and great help to me in this process.

In 2005, Bob and Tom recorded “The Shack Recordings - Volume 1” a fantastic collection of songs performed by Tom and Bob, all recorded and produced by Bob.

Tom and I met at the shack to discuss the recording of that album and many other things.

About Bob Lanois: Snake Road

In Southern Ontario Canada, near the Niagara Escarpment is one of the most scenic roads in the area, Snake Road.

It was here, along Snake Road that Bob Lanois planted his roots in 1988. With his own hands and inventiveness, Bob designed and built his own cabin, “The Shack” as he called it.

Bob Lanois’ extraordinary life is told through stories, photos and video footage and interviews by some of Bob's closest friends and collaborators.

- Alan Cross
- Daniel Lanois
- Edgar Breau of Simply Saucer
- Bob Doidge of Grant Avenue Studio
- Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip
- Rachel Heart
- Tom Wilson
- John-Angus MacDonald & Jack Syperek of The Trews
- Glen Marshall
- And a musical tribute from Sweden by Stephen Sahlin of Big Is Less

From his upbringing as a young boy in Quebec to his family's move to Hamilton and then Ancaster Ontario, Bob Lanois had music in his life from the very beginning.

Starting with the creation of Master Sound Recordings with his brother Daniel in the basement of their mothers home, to the legendary Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton and then The Bunker and Mule Spinner at Hamilton’s Cotton Factory and his very own Shack Studio, Bob Lanois: Snake Road tells the story of a life well lived, by a man who was loved by so many.

Working on projects with everyone from Emmylou Harris to U2, The Tragically Hip and so many more, Bob Lanois always became a major part of the family of any given project that he was involved in.

In the Fall of 2021, Dave Conlon: Canadian Photographer, Film Maker and owner of the website Freaktography.com learned of a vacant cabin in the woods near Burlington, Ontario.

Upon learning that this cabin was owned and formerly lived in by Canadian artist, musician and sound engineer Bob Lanois, Dave decided to dig in and produce his first ever feature documentary film and to tell the story of Bob Lanois.

Bob Lanois: Snake Road Documentary
https://youtu.be/CfXIk35DERk

Accompanying web page where viewers can watch the complete interviews, read more information and see photos:
https://freaktography.com/bob-lanois-snake-road-documentary/

The Shack at Snake Road Video Tour
https://youtu.be/BVF4bXHd784

YouTube Playlist with the complete Bob Lanois Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K8UOyytf2k&list=PLNB4lq5eskhUEj2-vi2bAC72u57jyr6xq