 |
What irks him is that the show's organizers have never once asked the stalwart Canadian band to perform during the ceremonies.
"We don't get no respect," says Osborne, doing his hammiest Rodney Dangerfield impression.
"It's frustrating because we have been doing this for so long ... and the Junos are really good exposure for a band. A lot of people watch it.
"I've presented awards, but for whatever reason, they've never asked us to play.
"We've always joked that the first Juno we're going to win is the Lifetime Achievement award."
The four-piece band -- which formed in Vancouver soon after Osborne graduated high school -- has been playing together for close to 20 years.
Its ninth and latest release, Casual Viewin', still retains 54-40's signature melodic guitar and philosophy-dusted lyrics.
But there seems to be, more than on any previous recordings, a natural flow that could only come from a band that has spent many years honing its skills.
The band's secret of longevity, says Osborne, is chemistry. And realizing they have a pretty cool job, comparatively speaking.
In the past year, 54-40 has traveled to Thailand, Morocco, Kenya, Hong Kong and Dubai (in 20 days, no less) and recently played a Canada Day show in the Grand Cayman Islands.
"In these countries, I realized how lucky we are to be doing what we're doing," Osborne says. "We're in the upper echelon of what we could be doing with our lives.
"We can't complain at all. We're reaping rewards all the time."
Some of those rewards came when, in 1995, South Carolina-based roots-rock band Hootie & the Blowfish recorded I Go Blind for the Friends soundtrack.
The song -- which was originally released on 54-40's 1986 self-titled album -- became one of Hootie & the Blowfish's signature singles.
Even though Osborne benefitted financially from the Hootie version, there is a drawback.
"Everyone thinks it's a Hootie & the Blowfish song now," says Osborne.
"I remember when we played with Hootie a few years ago, there was some question of who would play the song. One night we decided to play it and (Hootie's road manager) was freaking out.
"He was going to shut us down. He didn't know it was our song.
"We also had a kid come up to us after one or our shows and say, 'Hey, cool version of the Hootie song.' "
54-40 play tonight on the Coca-Cola Stage at the Stampede grounds.
The band has almost become a Stampede staple, having played the venue several times.
"I think the first time we played there it was very crowded," he recalls.
"There were lots of cops with guns and vests. Some were standing on the roofs surrounding the stage looking like snipers.
"It wasn't scary or anything. It was more like, 'Hello?'
"It seemed reactionary."