| birth_place = [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], Canada

| instrument = [[Electric mandolin]], [[electric violin]], [[Electronic keyboard|keyboards]], [[synthesizer]], [[glockenspiel]]

| years_active = 1975–2012<ref name="nashtheslash.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.nashtheslash.com/ |title=Nash the Slash's Gravesite: Latest News |work=nashtheslash.com |date= November 6, 2012-11-06|access-date=6 November 6, 2012}}</ref>

| website = [http://www.nashtheslash.com www.{{url|nashtheslash.com]}}

'''James Jeffrey''' "'''Jeff'''" '''Plewman'''<ref>{{cite book|last=Worth|first=Liz|title=Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond, 1977-1981|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3XBNtrQepcC&pg=PA8|year=2011|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77041-067-1|page=8}}</ref> (March 26, 1948 – May 10, 2014), better known by his stage name '''Nash the Slash''', was a Canadian musician. A [[multi-instrumentalist]], he was known primarily for playing the [[electric violin]] and [[Electric mandolin|mandolin]], as well as the [[harmonica]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[glockenspiel]], and other instruments (sometimes described as "devices" on album notes).{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975; founding the [[progressive rock]] band [[FM (Canadian band)|FM]] in 1976. Soon after releasing the band's first album, ''[[Black Noise (FM album)|Black Noise]]'', in 1977, he left the band; he resumed his solo career in 1978 (it was not until after Nash's departure that the album was widely promoted, eventually charting and receiving a [[Music recording sales certification|gold record]] award).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?fwp_gp_search=Black+Noise|title=Gold/Platinum - Music Canada|website=musiccanada.com|access-date=13 October 13, 2017}}</ref> He rejoined FM from 1983 to 1988, followed by a brief reunion from 1994 to 1996, all concurrent with his solo work.

Nash's music covers an eclectic range, varying from instrumental—mood-setting music, to rock and pop music with vocals. In addition to giving concert performances, he has composed and performed soundtrack music for silent films, presenting these works live in movie theatres to accompany screenings of the films. Another venue for his music iswas in performances to accompany the viewing of paintings by [[surrealism|surrealist]] painter [[Robert Vanderhorst]], an [[audiovisual]] collaboration,<ref name="twoartists">[http://www.twoartists.ca/ "Two Artists"]. twoartists.ca. Retrieved May 12, 2014.</ref> which took place in 1978 and again in 2004.

Nash was born in [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]]. He performed with [[Surgical tape|surgical bandages]] covering his face starting in 1979. "During a gig at The Edge in the late 1970s to raise awareness of the threat from the [[Three Mile Island accident|Three Mile Island disaster]], he walked on stage wearing bandages dipped in phosphorus paint and exclaimed: 'Look, this is what happens to you.' The bandages became his trademark."<ref name=canoe>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/N/Nash_The_Slash.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101031216/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/N/Nash_The_Slash.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 1, 2013|title=Nash The Slash|last=Canoe.com|website=canoe.ca|access-date=13 October 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name=Now1998/> Prior to 1979, Nash performed three times on [[TV Ontario]]'s ''Nightmusic Concert'', first as a solo artist (a live broadcast which was never re-aired), then with FM (Nash and Cameron Hawkins), and again as a solo artist. In all of these appearances Nash wore his typical black tuxedo, top hat, and dark sunglasses, but not his signature bandages. He was also photographed in this attire for a profile in the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', published April 28, 1978.<ref name="Star1978">{{citationcite news needed| title = Shadowy showman cuts an eerie album | first = Peter | last = Goddard | work = Toronto Star | date =October 2017April 28, 1978 | page = D3 | id = {{ProQuest|1372125188}} {{subscription required}}}}</ref>

In later years, he attempted to keep his true identity the subject of some speculation, although the ''Star'' profile of 1978 had already matter-of-factly revealed his real name.<ref>Goddard, Peter, name="Shadowy showman cuts an eerie albumStar1978", The Toronto Star, April 28, 1978, page D3.</ref> Nevertheless, in a 1981 interview with the UK magazine ''[[Smash Hits]]'', Nash was questioned about his real name, and replied with "Nashville Thebodiah Slasher".{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} As a result of his coyness about his name, some fans came to believe that the Nash persona was an alter-ego of [[Ben Mink]], who replaced him as FM's violinist in 1978. This is a common misconception, but he has been photographed onstage with Mink.<ref name=photo1>{{cite web|url=http://web.ncf.ca/fi142/images/fm_3_dia.jpg|title=Link to photo of Nash and Ben Mink|website=ncf.ca|access-date=13 October 13, 2017}}</ref>{{original research inline|date=July 2012}}

(The film character's name is actually "The Tipton Slasher"; nowhere on screen does "Nash the Slash" appear.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzcKFCK8MGk |url-status=dead|title=Do Detectives Think?|last=milkshakesmania|date=10 August 10, 2011|access-date=13 October 13, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref>

Images of Nash the Slash are featured in a variety of murals painted by artist Jungle Ling in Toronto. These images are located in the [[Leslieville]] district, next to a [[Toronto Dominion Bank|TD Bank]] at Queen St. East and Logan Avenue and below Queen St. East on Connaught Avenue, as part of a neighborhood beautification project conducted by the [[Toronto Transit Commission]].{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Nash's music is a complex blend of [[progressive rock]], [[New wave music|Newnew Wavewave]], [[New-age music|new age]], and [[punk rock]], using electric mandolins, violins, drumsdrum machines, and a variety of effects and sonic devices. He wrote, played, and produced most of the material on his solo albums by himself, though he also worked with producers [[Daniel Lanois]], [[Steve Hillage]], and [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]].{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Nash's first solo performance and live presentation of music to film occurred when he played his soundtrack to [[Luis Buñuel]]'s silent film ''[[An Andalusian Dog|Un chien andalou]]'' (1929) at The Original 99 Cent Roxy Theatre in [[Toronto]] on March 17, 1975.<ref name=dan>Dates from ''Dreams and Nightmares'' innersleeve notes.</ref>

He also composed music for other classic silent films including ''[[Nosferatu]]'' (1922) and ''[[The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari]]'' (1920). When performing soundtracks, Nash would appear on stage beside the screen (using his own projection screen when a full theatre screen is not available), the same format he usesused when performing concerts. He has also composed scores for modern Canadian films ''[[Roadkill (1989 film)|Roadkill]]'' (1990) and ''[[Highway 61 (film)|Highway 61]]'' (1991), both directed by [[Bruce McDonald (director)|Bruce McDonald]]. His other movie score and soundtrack work included the short film “"[[A Trip Around Lake Ontario]]'' (1985), [[The Kidnapping of the President]]'' (1980), ''Black Pearls'' (1989), and ''[[Blood and Donuts]]'' (1995).{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Nash had intended to restart his solo career in 1978 with a new album featuring all the music from his ''Nightmusic Concert'' TV special, plus his soundtrack for ''Un chien andalou'', but found the sound quality of a test pressing to be unsatisfactory, so he issued a four-song 12-inch EP titled ''Bedside Companion'' instead, on his own label, [[Cut-throat Records]], which he continued to operate for the rest of his life. A full album, ''Dreams and Nightmares'' with the rest of the Nightmusic material, the soundtrack, and a few new songs, appeared the following year. All music from these records was instrumental, and both are now available on one CD titled ''Blind Windows'' which also includes the 45 rpm EP playing at 33 rpm as the "Marsden versions", a joking reference to disc jockey [[David Marsden]] who mistakenly played the entire record at the wrong speed on radio when it was released.<ref>{{citationcite web needed|last1=Plewman |first1=James |title=Liner Notes from Bedside Companion |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8015243-Nash-The-Slash-Dreams-And-Nightmares-Including-Bedside-Companion |website=Discogs |access-date=OctoberApril 1, 20172024}}</ref>

[[File:Nash the Slash in 1981.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Nash the Slash performing at The Venue in [[London]] in 1981]]

Nash also played on three songs by Toronto group Drastic Measures for their self-titled album, including violins on their signature tune, a cover version of the children's song, "[[Teddy Bears' Picnic|The Teddy Bears' Picnic]]". Nash's label, Cut-throat Records, later issued a single by the group, the only other artist to appear on his label, although Nash was not involved in its recording. Nash's later soundtrack album for ''Highway 61'' includes tracks by Tony Malone, the lead singer for Drastic Measures.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Returning to [[Toronto]] in spring 1981, Nash released an instrumental "mini-album" ''Decomposing'' (1981), which purported to be playable at any speed, with song timings on the label quoting three lengths, depending on whether the record is played at 33, 45, or 78 rpmRPM. However, songs from this record also appeared on compilation albums and singles, where they always play as heard when ''Decomposing'' is played at 45 rpm. ThisThe remainsEP Nash'swas onlyreissued significanton releasevinyl, thatCD hasand yetdownload toin be2017 reissuedby onToronto label Artoffact Records, with the CD.{{citation needed|date=Octoberand 2017}}download containing the four songs as they sound at 45, 33 and 78 RPM, in that order.

In 1981, [[Iggy Pop]] name-checked Nash during the fade-out on the song [[Eggs on Plate]] singing “Hey"Hey Nash the Slash, why did you leave your sticker on the ceiling of my forty-two dollar and fifty cent motel suite?!”" A year later, Nash got a call from Iggy who invited him to be his opening act on tour.

While working on ''American Band-ages'' in 1983, he proposed to promote it with a double bill tour with his former band FM. But Ben Mink, Nash's replacement, had left the band that year; therefore, Nash rejoined the group, staying with them from 1983 to 1989 (followed by a reunion tour from 1994 to 1996), and retaining the idea of a double bill by performing solo as the opening act. With Nash, FM released further albums: ''[[Con-Test (FM album)|Con-Test]]'' (1985), ''[[Tonight (FM album)|Tonight]]'' (1987), and ''RetroActive'' (1995).{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

In 1985, Nash sued [[PepsiCo]] for using his likeness in commercials without permission;<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT43&lpg=PT43&dq=%22nash+the+slash%22+pepsi&sourcepg=bl&ots=mTe9c-hyE1&sig=8oplZR9r8ZWbXcUbSpXQEXqYJew&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3qpyU7qEDIy3yASbz4LoBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22nash%20the%20slash%22%20pepsi&f=falsePT43 Maple Briefs], in ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', page 65 (via [[Google Books]]); published July 13 July, 1985;. retrievedRetrieved May 13, 2014</ref> PepsiCo subsequently settled out of court, pulling the commercial from broadcast and paying Nash's legal fees.<ref>[http://www.basicj.garynuman.info/intrview/nash_the_slash_dean_mason_aug_2002.txt 2002 Interview with Nash The Slash, conducted by Dean Mason], at GaryNuman.info; published August 2002;. retrievedRetrieved May 13, 2014</ref>

During 1992-3 Nash the Slash collaborated with the electronic music artist [[Plexus]] to create a series of visually intense live shows called Psychedelitron. They performed Psychedelitron live between 1993–19951993 and 1995. In 1993, the show was performed only at Stratenger's in Toronto, Canada, every third Saturday of the month from March to October. The performed two sets, each a mix of Nash the Slash and [[Plexus]] songs. Later, in 1994 and 1995, they took the show to other venues, including the grand opening of the Toronto Public Library at 239 College Street to commemorate the inclusion of the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy in this library location.{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}

Psychedelitron utilizedused intense visuals, including a refinement of Nash's psychedelic projector lighting, strategically placed pin lights to increase the perception of the stage size, strobe lights, fog and indirect and silhouette lighting. The techniques used during Psychedelitron, and their subsequent refinement during the reign of the shows became an important visual aspect to Nash's later shows. Psychedelitron was also used as way to re-define Nash's shows both visually and musically.{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}

In 1998, Nash performed as part of Toronto's [[Pride Week (Toronto)|Pride Week]], publicly acknowledging that he was gay.<ref name=Now1998>{{cite web|url= http://www.nowtoronto.com/archive/view_issue.cfm?issue=2663&page=59&keywords=nash|title= Nash the Slash revels in hidden identity|first= Steven|last= Davey|work= nowtoronto.com|date= 1998-06-June 25, 1998|access-date= 1 May 1, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121022074043/http://www.nowtoronto.com/archive/view_issue.cfm?issue=2663&page=59&keywords=nash|archive-date= 22 October 22, 2012}}</ref>

Nash appeared as a character in several comic books by [[Matt Howarth]],<ref>[http://www.soniccuriosity.com/about.htm About], at Sonic Curiosity, by Matt Howarth; published 2002;. retrievedRetrieved May 13, 2014</ref> including issues #2–7 of ''[[Savage Henry (comics)|Savage Henry]]''. Nash also provided original music on a CD for Howarth's graphic novel ''The Simultaneous Man''.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

===Studio albums &and EPs===

Nash is also credited with 'original music by' in at least one episode of Cold Blood/True Crime Scene (Canadian TV series 2008-122008–12).

[[Category:20th-century Canadian rockLGBTQ singerspeople]]

[[Category:20th-century Canadian rockmale violinistssingers]]

[[Category:MusiciansCanadian fromrock Torontosingers]]

[[Category:20th-centurySingers Canadianfrom violinists and fiddlersToronto]]