Roots. Passion. Thorns
Burnt Rose was a Hamilton band that spent three decades playing Southern Ontario. Founded by Debi Ferguson and John McCullough, who met in 1989, the two became a band within months — and within years, inseparable, bound by a shared passion for making music.
John McCullough left the stage August 18, 2024
The BURNT ROSE Banner was raised one last time
at his celebration of life.
R.I.P. Johnny - forever an inspiration!
Create Your Own Playlist
Browse our discography, hit + on any track, and build a personal setlist you can play right here.
This site is home to nearly 50 original songs recorded across the years — some never heard until now.
Except for Piece of the Part - Nothing here has been mastered - some not even finished mixing. So they are in Demo stage - will I get further with them ? Not sure, so anyway, here they are. Still have 10 or 20 more to add so come back in a while to see what I've scraped up!
This is a record of our amazingly fun journey!
All songs except * where noted © McCullough/Ferguson | BRMusic
Discography
Grant Studio Recordings
1990-1996
- 1 Fishin fo' Bass
- 2 Derailed Train
- 3 Burnt Rose
- 4 Runnin'
- 5 Easy Street
- 6 Why Can't People Stay Married
Piece of the Part
2001
- 1 Noddagin
- 2 Burnt Rose
- 3 You're the One
- 4 Derailed Train
- 5 Somehow (Love Survives)
- 6 Clown Prince
- 7 Runnin'
- 8 Chez Nirvana
- 9 Favourite Colours
- 10 Seems to Me
- 11 Piece of the Part
10 Things You Can Do Without a Drummer
2007
- 1 End of the World
- 2 Jack, Rachel & Lady Luck
- 3 Nose to the Stone
- 4 Lionel Plum
- 5 Same Ol Story
- 6 Kaylee Time
- 7 Queen of My Heart
- 8 Pull Them Suckers Down
- 9 Six Pack
- 10 Watcha Doin'
Phunkin’ Igits
- 1 Partial to the Purse
- 2 Lonely Guy Song
- 3 One of a Bunch
- 4 Meaningless Prayer
- 5 She Gets Me
- 6 I'm Waiting
Odds & Ends
2008
- 1 Duelling Harps
- 2 Once it's Gone
- 3 Instant Karma
- 4 Wang Fountain Blues
- 5 Rotten Shitty Blues
- 6 Youth 'n Asia
Wait, There’s More
2006
- 1 Mad Desire
- 2 Singin' the Blues
- 3 Calm the Storm
- 4 When All is Said and Done
- 5 Auction Block
- 6 Whisperin' Water
- 7 Where's the Love
- 8 You're the One
Cover Me
2015
- 1 Till I Kissed Ya
- 2 Boy from NYC
- 3 If Not 4 You
- 4 Apeman
- 5 Wishin I was Fishin
- 6 Every River
- 7 Torn
- 8 Long Monday
- 9 Price of Love
About
For over three decades, Burnt Rose was a fixture of Hamilton and southern Ontario's live music scene — playing upwards of 100 shows a year, covers mostly, with originals woven in wherever they'd fit. They resisted every attempt to be categorized. Their influences ran from John Prine to Jethro Tull and everything in between and on either side — too wide, too restless, too genuinely curious to settle into any one sound. That eclecticism wasn't a limitation. It was exactly who they were.
But songwriting was always the real love. Through every incarnation of the band, through every genre they wandered into and back out of, writing and arranging was where John and Debi lived most fully. Honoured and humbled with the friendship of Phil Kott (RIP 2011) who could make anyone sound good!
John McCullough passed away in August 2024. He is missed immensely — and still very much present.
This site is home to nearly 50 original songs recorded across the years — some never heard until now. It is a testament to what two people, with the help of their friends, can do when they just keep showing up, keep playing, and keep writing.
Welcome to Burnt Rose.
Faces of Burnt Rose
The Faces of BURNT ROSE
Still looking through old photos to show all the players over the years.
