Going going … Whatcha gonna do when veteran rock band Chilliwack is gone? By: Eva Wasney Posted: 3:54 PM CDT Friday, Aug. 15, 2025

Chilliwack is soon to be gone, gone, gone.

After more than five decades on the road, the Vancouver rock band is saying a fond farewell to fans this year during its final cross-country tour, which includes a local performance at Sunday’s Burt Block Party.

“We have this relationship with our audience and I feel like they’re friends, so I want to say goodbye,” founder, frontman and guitarist Bill Henderson says over a video call from his home on Salt Spring Island, B.C.

Chilliwack evolved from the Collectors — Henderson’s previous psychedelic rock project — and released 12 albums between 1970 and ‘84, resulting in many Canadian hits and moments of cross-border recognition.

Despite hiatuses and personnel changes, the group has continued touring since the mid-’90s and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2019.

Chilliwack’s current and longest-running lineup includes Henderson’s brother Ed on guitar, Jerry Adolphe on drums and, more recently, Gord Maxwell on bass.

Taking the stage with his bandmates is what Henderson is going to miss most about retirement.

“This particular unit has worked together for about 30 years and all we’ve done is play live. We go back and forth across the country and we’ve got our shit together; it’s so cool,” he says.

“We cover for each other and we look around and laugh if something went a little funny, and then we get down to business and rock our faces off.”

Henderson, 80, isn’t coy about why he’s stepping away from the spotlight.

“Old age is the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like Mars: you don’t know what it’s like until you get there. I’m clearing the decks so I can allow something to emerge that’s appropriate to my age,” he says, adding there have been times he’s walked up to the mic in recent years only to lose his train of thought.

“When your mind starts to do these things, you have to make room for it.”

He’s looking forward to spending more time at home with his wife and continuing to play music and write songs for personal enjoyment.

“I’m still going to play my guitar every day and sing and I know the songs will come and I don’t know what I’ll do with it, we’ll see,” he says.

Henderson’s career has been a long and varied one. In 1983, he and bandmate Brian MacLeod won the Juno Award for Producer of the Year for their work on Chilliwack’s 10th album, Opus X. He served as the musical director for Sesame Street Canada during the early ‘90s and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.

Henderson was also made a member of the Order of Canada for his longtime advocacy work as president of SOCAN and other artist rights organizations amid foundational industry changes, such as the rise of file sharing platform Napster.

“It’s always been a tough fight to try and get enough income for musicians so they can survive,” says Henderson, who describes the work of musicians as an invaluable public service.

“We help people feel good, and when you feel good, I think you make better decisions. So I think music plays a very important role in society.”

Attendees at tomorrow’s Block Party can expect a feel-good setlist focused on tried and true Chilliwack hits, from Whatcha Gonna Do to Fly at Night to Lonesome Mary to My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone).

“And we do a jam tune called 17th Summer that’s nine minutes long, depending on the night, and we just let it rip,” Henderson adds.

Chilliwack’s Farewell to Friends Tour kicked off in Calgary in March and is scheduled through November with more dates to be announced.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com