Ontario Power Generation Are No More

By Mathew Kumar

That’s right! Ontario Power Generation, that ever-so-lovable corporation owned by the Government of Ontario (responsible, according to their Wikipedia page, for 70% of Ontario’s electricity) are being forced to change their name by Prince, after he noticed that “Ontario Power Generation” (founded in 1999) is suspiciously close to the name of his backing band, the New Power Generation Or! We’re lying, and it’s in fact Ontario Power Generation, the local band (unrelated to Prince or the Government of Ontario) that has been required to change its name on request of Ontario Power Generation (the corporation). Crikey, our attempts at comedy subterfuge have just made this post far more complicated than it needs to be.
“You would’ve thought that it wouldn’t be that difficult to tell the difference between a large operator of nuclear power plants and a small indie-rock band, but I suppose someone over in a boardroom somewhere in 700 University decided that three guys with guitars might do something that could get someone angry over their power bill or something,” said bassist and singer Al Mousseau in a statement.
The band has chosen to heed the company’s request and change their name, and are temporarily monikered “ex-OPG” as a result. It’s a half-decent name, really.
We really like ex-OPG, as we saw them play quite possibly the best medley of Street Fighter II tunes we’ve ever heard (and we’ve heard our fair share) a few years ago, and a fondness for them has remained ever since. It’s up there, but if you require something even dorkier than that, they also did some Star Trek music at “The First Quinquennial Trekzac FestiCon,” whatever on earth that is.
The band will be playing (with a new name, we assume) at The Reverb (651 Queen Street West) on February 21st.