The Free Press - Bios

Alex Oliveira - Drums and Vocals
Alex Oliveira has toured North America with The Kids in the Hall and is a former member of the Canadian Comedy Award winning comedy troupe, The Gentleman Callers. As well as performing on stage as a singer, comedian, musician and drummer, Alex also does his share of show business work behind the scenes having worked on such notable presentations as The 2005 Much Music Video Awards and The 2004 Genie Awards to name a few. During his time on the road he learned the rules of proper bus etiquette, when not to criticize the dental work of strangers and how to pick out a decent single malt.

Len Ottesen - Guitars and Vocals
Len Ottesen is the true rock-star in the group. Eschewing all things corporate and fake, Len would be perfectly happy to live in his car, playing guitar for anyone who'd listen. A true artist, he never balked at the idea to share writing credits, and therefore any potential income from songs, equally with the rest of the band, even though he and JD do the lion's share of the writing. Although he won't go so far as to call another musician a "sell-out" he has placed a lifetime ban on TFP appearing in GAP commercials, no matter how much they offer. Len is in charge of the band's social conscience.

James Dallas Smith - Vocals and Guitars
James Dallas Smith is only called that by his mother and his agent. Everyone else calls him J.D. His nieces and nephews call him "Uncle J" as a sign of respect. Few others offer such honourifics. He has a love of cheese pizza, Pepsi and Roots clothing (~wink wink sponsors). When not rocking with the band or acting in stage plays (he's been nominated for a Dora in Toronto and a Les Masques in Montreal), J.D. can be seen every weeknight carrying out his day-job as one of those fancy television actors on the groundbreaking OMNI-TV original series METROPIA. His character, "Garth" shares J.D.'s First-Nations heritage as well as his love of music. Garth's philandering is not in step with J.D.'s real persona. At least that's what he tells his girlfriend.

Michael "Mick" Torbay - Bass and Vocals
Mick Torbay has no conscience, social or otherwise. A multi-instrumentalist by nature, Mick was drafted into the band to play keyboards. But when the original Bass player left the band to pursue a career in Rocket Science, (really) Mick was forced, quite rudely, into the newly vacated bass position. Being the polar-opposite of Len, Mick is perfectly happy to perform for corporate puppet-masters, singing for two years for Paramount Canada's Wonderland in their Rock and Roll show. In his continuing goal of having no musical integrity whatsoever, Mick also writes many of the jingles that can be heard on the radio in Toronto, K-W and across northern Ontario. He is also a sought after backing vocalist and has recorded with the likes of Beverly Mahood, and Stacy Lee.