Seven Years of Blood - Characters in a symphonic metal band

[Flintlock Burnfur]

[[This is mostly done for me so I can keep track of all my toons, both in game and just mentioned, that are part of the symphonic metal band called Seven Years of Blood and the side band called Poets. At some point I'll also add discographies and pictures.]]

 

- Characters not in game -

 

Yves Manderville

Gender: Male

Age: 35

Born: Montreal, Quebec

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Haitian

Occupation: Composer, conductor for the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra, producer and pianist as well as vocals for Seven Years of Blood

Relatives: Jacqueline Manderville (twin sister)

 

Jacqueline Manderville

Gender: female

Age: 35

Born: Montreal, Quebec

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Haitian

Occupation: Operatic soloist for the Canadian Opera Company, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Seven Years of Blood

Relatives: Yves Manderville (twin brother)

 

Raven Running-Cloud

Gender: female

Age: 28

Born: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Dakota (member of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation)

Occupation: studio guitarist, bassist and backing vocals for Seven Years of Blood and Poets

Relatives: Maxwell Running-Cloud (father, professor of First Nation History - University of Saskatchewan, former superhero known as Hawk's Scream), Naomi Simonson (neé Running-Cloud, aunt, agent for CSIS Paranormal Division, former superhero known as Grey Kestrel)

 

- Characters in game -

 

Dominique Turgeon

Alias: Canadienne

Gender: female

Age: 34

Born: Laval, Quebec

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Metis (half European French, half Mohawk)

Occupation: studio guitarist, producer, lead guitarist of Seven Years of Blood and Poets

Relatives: Jean Pierre Turgeon (father, former superhero known as Canadien), Monique Turgeon (mother), Chloe Turgeon (sister), Michelle Villeneauve (wife)

 

Michelle Villeneauve

Alias: Acadia

Gender: female

Age: 34

Born: Quebec City, Quebec

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Jewish

Occupation: studio drummer, gymnastic coach, drummer for Seven Years of Blood and Poets

Relatives: Dominique Turgeon (wife)

 

Nikki Hargrove

Alias: Grey Hornet

Gender: Transwoman

Age: 32

Born: Windsor, Ontario

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/Scottish

Occupation: Professor of Theoretical Physics - Western University, systems engineer and creator of the Canad-ARMED system (Canadian ARMOURED RESCUE MEDICAL EMERGENCY DROID) for the STARS Air Ambulance program, manager/agent of Seven Years of Blood and Poets

Relatives: Richard Hargrove (father, former superhero known as Grey Hornet), Debra Regent (mother), Harold Jackson (father - married to Richard), Angela Hall (mother - married to Debra) (it's a long story, and people should ask Nikki about it sometime)

 

Marcus Cromwell

Gender: male

Age: 36

Born: Hamilton, Ontario

Nationality/Ethnicity: Canadian/African Canadian

Occupation: Math Professor McMaster University - Hamilton, Ontario, former running back for the Hamilton Tiger-cats, keyboardist and vocals for Seven Years of Blood and Poets

Edited July 20, 2020 by Flintlock Burnfur

[Patti]

Ti-cats!  Eat 'em raw!

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- The High School Years, a.k.a. Blanc Noir -

 

At the age of 15, Dominique Turgeon and her family moved to Montreal from Laval.  Dom was enrolled in a small high school in the west side of the city and soon became friends with Michelle Villeneauve and Yves and Jacqueline Manderville.  Jacqueline and Yves had both already made their mark in the school with their musical prowess; Jacqueline as a vocalist with the school's choir and Yves with the school's band as a pianist.  Michelle was also a member of the high school band as the drummer, and eventually Dominique joined as a guitarist.

 

It was shortly after the band's first performance that the four got together and decided to form a band of their own.  Calling themselves Blanc Noir, the band's initial sound was akin to Hootie and the Blowfish, Our Lady Peace and Green Day.

 

Spoiler

 

 

It was here that the four managed to cut their own debut self titled album and quickly gained attraction throughout Quebec.  The quartet would be heralded as the French Canadian Our Lady Peace, Moist and Watchmen.  Two albums would come out of this during their high school years; the self titled debut and Graduation.

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- The Able MacIntyre albums -

 

After graduating, the four decided to try cutting an album under a major record label before pursuing any form of post secondary education.  During this time, they met and were joined by Able MacIntyre, a guitarist, vocalist and also played the bagpipes.  This era of the band is little spoken by the other members, as Able would later be arrested for several murders, using the cover of the band's touring dates as a way to plan his dark side and using the after party's of the band's concerts to pick his vicitims.

 

Some history also came into play here, as Able was the son of Angus MacIntyre, a Scottish ex-pat who during the FLQ Crisis of 1970, joined the FLQ as an explosives expert.  Angus would be chased and fought against by Dominique's father Jean Pierre Turgeon (as Canadien) along with members of a vigilante group known to the media as The Heroic League.  During the 1980s, Angus escaped prison and kidnapped Dominique.  He was eventually chased down by the duo of the Mannequin (Donelda Stewart) and the Bowhunter (Lewis Morgan).

 

During the time Able was a member of the band, they released three albums, one of which shortly after Able was arrested.  They were titled Nova Scotia, Up Yer Arse and Merde. The band at this time was compared again to Green Day, but also with the Real Mckenzies and Captain Tractor which definitely came as an influence from Able.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- The Hiatus and Renaming -

 

After the trial and conviction of Able MacIntyre, the remaining members of the band began to pursue their own interests.  Jacqueline attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto to continue her singing career, while Yves enrolled at McMasters music department.  Dominique and Michelle both headed west, attending the University of Saskatchewan.

 

It was here that they met two people that would be the beginning of Seven Years of Blood.

 

Yves became friends with faculty member Marcus Cromwell, who he learned was a former Ti-cat running back for six years.  A hip injury ended his career and as he held a masters degree in mathematics, he took on a position at his old university.  Marcus was also well known at the clubs for his DJ and rapping ability.  The two began talking, and an idea formed in Yves mind.  That idea must have spread, because Dom and Michelle became friends with a 20 year old Raven Running-Cloud who had also just enrolled at the U of S.  Raven was a stunning bassist, only coupled by the fact she was 100% blind.  After Dom, Michelle and Raven met and began talking did the text messages start.

 

Michelle came up with the name, which has a more medical description (seven years is the total time put together that a woman goes through her menstrual cycles).  The focus of their music also changed, and for the first two albums they changed their sound completely from what they were as Blanc Noir.  This sound helped propel the newly formed group to gain recognition in Europe and Japan.

 

With albums called New Beginnings and Naked Truth (for which the album's cover was banned in the United States as all members are naked with instruments strategically placed) they were compared with Sevendust and even The KLF.

 

Spoiler

 

 

With Yves' more raw vocals and the addition of Marcus' quick rap beats, the band began to take form.  But it wouldn't be the end.

Edited July 9, 2020 by Flintlock Burnfur

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- The Marriage and the BLM Movement -

 

**********HEAVY LANGUAGE WARNING**********

 

Seven Years of Blood was becoming a household name across Canada and parts of the United States in the metal scene.  They became more and more harder edged in their concerts and became vocal and very loud in their politics.  During this time, Dominique Turgeon and Michelle Villeneauve, who were always very open about their relationship since high school, announced their marriage.  It was a joint Protestant/Jewish wedding that was a private ceremony only attended by family and friends.

 

Still, this, along with the addition of their manager who was an open transwoman (and a member of the costumed crime fighter community... if that's a thing), only added fuel to the fire of all the wrong people.  Seven Years of Blood began losing fan support in certain areas, but were surprisingly gaining support from such artists as Snoop Dogg, Beyonce and Melissa Ethridge.  The band members showed up to BLM protests, not to perform, but to show support and use the privilege of their fame as a shield for the protestors.  At this time, the band members were targeted by unknown sources who had connections to different white supremacist organizations.  Marcus Cromwell put it bluntly:

 

Quote

We could fuckin' care less about what some piece o' shit member of the Klan thinks of us.  Dude, there's three black people in this band, you think this shit doesn't affect us.  You want us to just act nice and sit at home and go 'tut tut, those people should be protesting peacefully.' Well Colin Kappernack already did that, and that pissed people off too. So as far as I'm concerned and the rest of the band is concerned, they can go fuck themselves.

 

The band found they were losing concert dates and being given cancellations for being "too political." But as Dominique Turgeon said:

 

Quote

Seriously, we're getting messages from places we've never toured in before.  You think we'd be welcome in the deep south in the States?  I don't fuckin' think so.

 

While this new kind of fame, or infamy, wasn't unexpected, the band pushed on.  A small restructuring after a year, and they released three more albums that held not only a harder edge, but also took advantage of Jacqueline's operatic style.  Both Raven and Dominique also took up new instruments with the cello and violin to add to the more operatic sound.  They were now being compared to the likes of Rammstein, Nightwish, Within Temptation, Arch Enemy and Epica.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Fittingly, the three albums release were almost all considered protest ablums with the majority of proceeds made sent to groups like BLM, NoDAPL and those in British Columbia protesting the TransCanada Pipeline.  They were in order Resist, BLM and You Hate My Anger. The last album was again banned in the United States for a time (even though digital copies were downloaded) as the album cover depicted a burning Confederate flag.

Edited July 9, 2020 by Flintlock Burnfur

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- Controversy, Another Hiatus, and Poets -

 

A band that has courted the edges of what would be polite society hasn't been without their share of controversy.

 

Two years after Dominique and Michelle were married, the pair were featured in one of the last print runs of Playboy in a full photo spread.  This was a much more tasteful follow up to a spread the two were involved in when they appeared in Maxim magazine.

 

Not every interview the group has been involved in was a gentleman's magazine.  Featured in smaller publications in Quebec, then spreading out across Canada before finally appearing in Kerrang!, Spin and Rolling Stone.  The band was even discussed in a TSN "Where Are They Now" featurette on Marcus Cromwell.  From interviews with the Village Voice to Out magazine, the band members seemed extremely open not only about their individual lifestyle but also their political leaning.

 

Shortly after the release of You Hate My Anger, Yves and Jacqueline both announced a small split from the band.  Not with any disagreements, but to pursue their own dreams.  Yves was given the opportunity to conduct the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra after Seven Years of Blood performed Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium with the aforementioned orchestra.  Jacqueline was fortunate to join the Canadian Opera Company as the major soloist for a season.  As the twins went to chase their dreams, however, they did not forget the band.  Stating that this would give them a much needed break physically and mentally as they had been touring non-stop for two years.

 

The four remaining members also decided it might not be a bad idea to slow things down a bit.  And almost in tribute to the at the time recent passing of Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, the band Poets was created.

 

With a greater leaning on an alt rock style, the band's first album was simply entitled A Series of Covers, as the album was almost like a test for them.  Performing songs from Tom Cochrane to the Tragically Hip to the Northern Pikes, Poets seemed far more mellow than Seven Years of Blood.  Many critics wondered if Poets would go the same way as Blanc Noir and later Seven Years of Blood.  But the second album, while still holding that political voice that they even had in the first album of covers, still held that same slow vibe as the previous.

 

Anyone, however, who thought that the four were getting soft were very, very wrong.

 

After the Poets released two albums, Seven Years of Blood came back with a vengeance.  Releasing a four disc set with over eight hours of music entitled We're Not Going Anywhere, the band proved they really weren't going anywhere.  The small hiatus and the side project of Poets allowed them all to refocus and refresh themselves after touring for such a lengthy period of time.  The band is currently on tour promoting the album.

[Flintlock Burnfur]

[[With a description of the history of the band along with the band members, probably a good idea to identify those characters that are in game.  Please note, Marcus has been moved to the in game portion above.]]

 

Dominique Turgeon

In Game Name: Canadienne

Level 50 Incarnate

Scrapper

Street Justice/Willpower (Super Speed, Concealment, Weapon Mastery)

 

Michelle Villeneauve

In Game Name: Acadia

Level 22

Brute

Martial Arts/Willpower (Leaping)

 

Nikki Hargrove

In Game Name: Grey Hornet

Level 30

Sentinel

Beam Rifle/Energy (Flight, Fighting)

 

Marcus Cromwell

In Game Name: Hand of Vengeance

Level 14

Brute

Dark/Dark (Force of Will)

Edited December 21, 2020 by Flintlock Burnfur

[Flintlock Burnfur]

The History of Seven Years of Blood

 

- International Women's Day and Girls With Guitars -

 

In December of 2019, Kerrang! published an interview with the women of Seven Years of Blood, focusing on Dominique, Jacqueline and Raven, but also including snippets with Michelle.  The titled interview was dubbed "Girls With Guitars."  For Dominique, the title felt like a slap in the face, and in January of 2020 she remarked on it.

 

Quote

"I mean, we're in our mid 30's.  Raven's the youngest at 28.  We haven't been girls for nearly 20 years."

The feeling was shared by the other the women in the band, and after discussions behind closed doors, Jacqueline decided on a way to answer.

 

On March 8, 2020, International Women's Day, Jacqueline, Dominique, Michelle and Raven announced that the four of them would be forming a third band with just the women of Seven Years of Blood.  Calling themselves Secord, after Laura Secord who is a heroic figure in Canadian history during the War of 1812. They released their debut album to high acclaim.  With Jacqueline and Dominique sharing vocal duties, their music was still harder edge, but more akin to Veruca Salt, Hole, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Bif Naked.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

The debut album received as much reaction as it was reactionary.  With alt-right groups decrying the album and the formation of the band itself, Michelle joked that the reviews from the alt-right were some of the best promotions they could ever get.

 

Quote

"Without realizing it, these fucking idiots helped us get a platinum record on our debut. Thanks for havin' you head up you asses, douchebags."

 

Even the album title was a reactionary one.  But "Make Your Own F**kin' Sandwich" ended up on the top ten of several charts. Jacqueline stated in a press release that sales of the album would go to support several women's groups throughout Canada and the United States as well as backing groups such as NoDAPL and BLM.  Jacqueline's reasoning was simple enough.

 

Quote

"We do pretty well with Seven Years of Blood.  I'm the primary soprano vocalist for the Canadian Opera Society, an' Dom, Michelle an' Raven have Poets as a side gig.  We can afford to give away proceeds from any albums we release as Secord."

 

During October, November and early December of 2020, as Seven Years of Blood finished their fifth album title "Red Side, Blue Side" in studio, the four women began preparations for Secord's second album.  Titled "Keep The Apron," the album would drop in March of 2021.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Flintlock Burnfur]

- Theme Songs -

 

Dominique Turgeon/Canadienne

 

Spoiler

 

 

Michelle Villeneauve/Acadia

 

Spoiler

 

 

Marcus Cromwell/Hand of Vengeance

 

Spoiler

 

 

Nikki Hargrove/Grey Hornet

 

Spoiler