- I The Canadian Champion, Friday, March 10, 2006 - Bl Local man's song featured on The Fifth Estate Mandicý 'Razor Wire' inspired by ex-con By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF It was a joumney wtitbn a juurney Peter Mandic had already started down the road of songwnîting when be took a music train tour - called Roots on the Rails - in 2004 that promised to provide inspiration and advicc from fellow musicians. What Mandic didn't know was be was about 10 embark upon a great fniendsbip that would ultimately land one of bis songs a spot on national tel- evision. \Vednesday nighî, Mandic's song 'Razor Wire' was featured on CBC's The Fiftb Estate in an episode chronicling the life of the songs sub- jeci, Wayne Carlson - the man Mandic and bis wife, jilI, met on that long train journey Wednesday morning, as tbe Brookville resident geared up for a rare evening spent watcbing TV, bis excite- ment was evident. "After six years of songwriting, to tbink that my songs going to be on natiunal TV, it blows my mind,' Mandic said. "Someibing may-come of it, or it may not. l'm just tbrilled to be part of Wayne's story and provide the music. Our bearts are connected." Razor Wire will be one of the songs featured on Mandics tbird CD, whicb he expects to record in the summer. The friendsbip between Mandic and Carlson is one some people migbt have a hard time comprebending. Mandics motber did. "When I told my mont 1 met Wayne, she saîd, 'Why are you bis friend?"' L Her caution came about due to Carîson's noiorieiy as a prison Houdîni, bavîng broken out of 13 Nortb American jails. On thai train tour, be was prescntîng a worksbop about bis experiences in prison and talking about bis book, Breakfast witb tbe Devîl: The Story of a Professional Jatîbreaker. But bis reputaîton reflectsjusî a frac- tion of tbe man, Mandie said. "Hes gui sîrong morals and wouldn'i burt a fly" Sbortly afier, Mandic wrote a song called Carlson thai outlîned how the man ended up in jaîl and bis ensuîng escapes. He played a rougb version of tbe song for Carlson, wbu becaîne quite emotional at tbe însightful lyrics. Not long after tbaî, Mandic leamned thai bis friend was in jail once more for violating parole. In August, Mandic receîved a poem Carlson bad wnitten about bis girlfniend, witb an inquiry of whetber be could tumn it into a song. The pocîn expressed tbe pnisoners feel- ings about being denîed freedom and longing to get oui, back to the person wbo loves him. It was a task graîefully accepîed, made more cballenging by the faci Mandic normally wriies the melody and then the lyrics. To ibis day wben Mandic performis Razor Wîre for bis audiences, peuple are affecîed by it, be said. Mandie firsi pursued songwiiting in 1999 and began îaking courses ai Humber College. Héd played guitar since be was young, and it seemed the logical progression. "I found it was somethîng really fun esee TOOK on page B2 MUSIC MAN: A 2004 music train tour led ta a memorable meeting for local songwriter Peter Mandic. ARTS Ë1111111111111lw