Errol Rouselle

1952 – 1974

Errol Rousselle was a guitarist who was a founding member of the rock band Metagenesis.

Metagenesis was a rock quartet formed in Arnprior or Renfrew in 1970 or 1971 and active until the late 1980s. Entries on Facebook refer to Metagenesis playing for Friday night dances at the Renfrew Recreation Centre. It also played at high schools and other venues, such as Butson’s Valley Hotel in Renfrew in December 1973.

Metagenesis was advertised in the papers as playing at the Green Door room at L’Auberge de la Chaudière (“the Chaud”) in Hull from December 10 to 14, 1974. On his way home after the final set of the job, Rousselle was killed in a car accident.

Local 180’s newsletter wrote that “the younger members of the rock set were shocked at this untimely passing” and that Rousselle “was an excellent performer on the guitar with Metagenesis, a very promising group from his hometown of Renfrew.”

Metagenesis regrouped and began to perform again, with engagements in 1975 including the White House Hotel in Renfrew, the Russell Hotel in Smiths Falls, and the Beacon Arms Hotel in Ottawa. The personnel of Metagenesis changed over the years and performed until the late 1980s. It issued a mini-LP of six songs on Pame Records in 1983.

Media

• In Search of the Chaud (video by Paul Weber)

• Heavy Metal Rarities Forum (entry on Metagenesis)

Kevin James