Infidels

Infidels were a Canadian funk-rock band in the 1990s.

The band formed in 1990 when Molly Johnson reunited with Norman Orenstein, her partner in the short-lived 1980s band Alta Moda.^[1] They added Washington Savage, Jeff Jones and Owen Tennyson to the lineup, and released a self-titled album in 1991 on IRS Records.

Although the band's sound was not significantly different than that of Alta Moda, who had suffered from sounding "too black" for Canadian radio, Canadian rappers such as Maestro Fresh Wes and black rock bands such as Living Colour had subsequently proven that Canadian radio could support black musicians, and so the Infidels benefitted from better timing. The album spawned two hit singles, the rock radio hit "100 Watt Bulb" and the pop smash "Celebrate".^[1]

Following the album's tour, the band took a break as Johnson established the Kumbaya Festival.

They turned in another album in 1995, but were faced with label difficulties. The label wanted them to change their name, due to the existence of an American band with the same name, but Johnson and Orenstein resisted since they were already too well-associated with that name in Canada.^[1] As well, the label was going through financial difficulties at the time.

As a result, Johnson decided to dissolve the band, and the 1995 album has never been released.

Johnson now performs as a jazz singer.

References