When Bif Naked hits the Coquitlam stage Saturday night, send her some love.
Not only has the iconic Vancouver rocker not played in the Tri-Cities in more than two decades but, after being down in the dumps for a few years, she’s finally come to a place of healing.
And she thanks her new husband for getting her there.
“Snake,” as she calls him — “or, if you ask his mother, it’s Steven” — is Steve Allen, a guitarist she married last summer.
Their union is “so much fun. I had no idea relationships were supposed to be healthy.”
Allen is her third husband, having previously been hitched to a drummer (for six months) and, from 2007 to ‘11, to former Vancouver Sun sports reporter Ian Walker.
It was during her second marriage that she encountered her first health scare: Breast cancer, which was followed by a lumpectomy and chemotherapy.
“Breast cancer, for me, was very easy because all I knew how to do was work,” she told The Tri-City News last Friday. “I worked in between treatments. I made a record while in treatment. I didn’t know what else to do with myself.”
Two years later, in 2012, after her marriage crumbled, Health Scare Number 2 came knocking.
Her kidneys failed.
Then, she had heart surgery.
“It was a tremendous time in my life,” she said, reflecting. “Cancer was definitely not a crisis for me because I was surrounded by fantastic women who were all going through the treatment at the same time as me. We wore our pink track suits preparing for Run for a Cure. It was like a sorority and it was wonderful.
“But this was different. I had to stare mortality down.”
Today, Bif Naked, 46, said she can’t complain about her health, has no regrets (other than not wearing enough sunscreen or cleaning her car more), is confident about the future and… did we mention Steve?
She gushes about him some more.
“Meeting my husband, Steve, a boy from Cranbrook, he really allowed me to find my freedom, in being myself for the first time,” she said, adding, “I think that I’m finally having fun. I think, for a long time, I was very transfixed with what I felt was perception. You can get caught up in that — working very hard and having these accomplishments — but it wasn’t until my 40s that I really relaxed into myself and be carefree.”
The enlightenment has spurred creativity, too.
Currently, Bif Naked is writing two books and making a new LP, due out this fall.
And the Tri-Cities will get to listen to a few of her new tracks when they debut at the Kaleidoscope Festival.
She is hyped about headlining the event and, for the past two weeks, has been using social media to send happy wishes about her Aug. 12 show.
She promises a very LOUD, LOUD, LOUD concert — backed by Snake, Chiko Misomali on drums and Coquitlam’s own Dave Martone on bass — that will start with an early song in her career (like My Bike) and end with a crowd pleaser: either I Love Myself Today, Lucky or Spaceman.
“It’s an honour to be invited to this festival,” she said. “It’s going to be very exciting and we can’t wait to come out.”
ABOUT THE FEST
The free arts festival is on Aug. 12 from 2 to 10 p.m. at Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza and includes live music, dancers, artists, an artisans fair, kids activities, craft beer and truck food. Be sure to check out the Engage Stage where V’Ni Dansi’s Louis Riel Métis Dancers will kick off the performances at 3 p.m. followed by The Red Ball Show and Workshop with Dianna David, The Big Topp Show and The Paperboys. Kaleidoscope is the city’s second annual event, having launched it last year for the Coquitlam 125 anniversary. The fest is sponsored in part by The Tri-City News.
GETTING THERE
Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza (1299 Pinetree Way) is a five-minute walk east from the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station. On-street parking will be limited but spots will be open at Douglas College, city hall and the Pinetree park-and-ride. Visit coquitlam.ca/kaleidscope.
