Brad Marchant

I got my first electric guitar when I was about 10. It was a Wal-Mart special, and it was just brutal. I upgraded when my mom heard me in a school Christmas show and said, “Okay, we’ve got to get you a better guitar.”

I played in a band in high school, which was a big deal. I didn’t look like this then; I looked like one of those guys off the album covers in the late ’60s. It gave you something to do as a teen. You do get into trouble in a band, but at least it’s controlled trouble.

About three or four years ago, some colleagues and I decided to put a cover band together to play for charity. We’re called Backbeat. Last November we played at the Commodore Ballroom as part of VanStock, a fund­raiser sponsored by the brokerage community to raise money for the Arthritis Society. The event raised over $100,000. It was an incredible experience to play at the Commodore; as our vocalist Stuart MacDougall says, it’s something to scratch off your list of things to do before you die.

Being out there has secondary benefits for the company, getting attention from brokers, but that’s not the reason we do it. It’s to raise money for charity while having a great time.

Music is just a total release; you’re focused on the songs and you don’t have any time to think about anything else. Would I give up my career to be a rock star? In a heartbeat! But I’m not that good a guitar player.