Dance Macabre

Dance Macabre

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Some Classic Canadian Punk Bands



Rob Brent ~ Guitarist with London, Ontario (later Toronto) punk band The Demics. The Demics recorded the classic song "New York City" on their fist ep "Talk's Cheap" in 1979 which became a surprise hit in Canada. They later rerecorded it on a subsequent album in 1980 getting an American release and becoming a mid-size hit there as well. By that time Brent had left and been replaced by Steve Koch as the Demics moved from London to Toronto. Following the usual turmoil the band soon broke up without any more releases. The DEmics may have been a one-hit-wonder but it was quite a hit; "New York City" is one of the most beloved songs of the Canadian early punk era and was chosen as the greatest Canadian single of all time by Chart Magazine in 1996 as first "Talk's Cheap" and later a full album were released.

THE DEMICS ~ "TALK'S CHEAP" (full ep);


THE DEMICS ~ "NEW YORK CITY";


Brian Goble ~ Bassist with The Skulls, one of Vancouver's first punk bands. After they broke up singer Joey Shithead went on to form DOA while Goble became singer and singer with The Subhumans. He would later rejoin DOA in the 1990's ~ 57;
THE SUBHUMANS "FUCK YOU";


THE SUBHUMANS ~ "TWO BIT WHORE";


DOA ~ "WORLD WAR 3";


JEFF DEPEW ~ Drummer for London Ontario punk band 63 Monroe. A band of the early eighties who scored a minor hit with a goofy run through of the Herman's Hermits song "Henry VIII". That wasn't really an accurate taste of the band's sound which was a much heavier and louder New York Dolls type of Glam-Trash Punk. 63 Monroe put out a few albums locally throughout the 80's but never left London. Various members also had a side band named Osterberg, which as you might assume started out as a Stooges cover band before later turning to originals. I actually booked them a few times in the 2000's and they were a rock solid live band. 63 Monroe also did a session at CIUT a few years back. A version of 63 Monroe, including Depew, was playing as late as a couple of weeks ago when they did a benefit for a Christmas Toy Drive in London.

63 MONROE ~ "HENRY VIII";


63 MONROE ~ "GIVE 'EM UP";


Glen Kimberley ~ 50 ~ Drummer for Toronto rockabilly bands The Millwinders, The Tin Eddies, The Swingin' Blackjack

THE MILLWINDERS ~ "HIGH HEELED HOT ROD";


THE MILLWINDERS ~ "EACH DAY";


THE MILLWINDERS ~ "TOO LATE";


THE TIN EDDIES ~ "BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY";


Thursday 4 December 2014

Some more 1950's & 60's Figures Pass On



Ian McLagan, 69, English keyboardist with 1960's ultimate Mods; The Small Faces and later The Faces, later played with Chuck Berry, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Westerberg, Izzy Stradlin, Frank Black, Nikki Sudden, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Taylor Lucinda Williams and Billy Bragg ~ 69

THE SMALL FACES ~ "SHA-LA-LA-LA-LEE";


THE SMALL FACES ~ "HERE COME THE NICE";


THE SMALL FACES w/ PP ARNOLD ~ "TIN SOLDIER";


THE FACES ~ "MAYBE I'M AMAZED";


Alvin Stardust/Shane Fenton ~ British 1970's Glam Rocker best known for his over-the-top Gene Vincent look and hit's like "My Coo Ca Choo", the UK Singles Chart-topper "Jealous Mind", and "I Feel Like Buddy Holly". Previously known in the 1960's as Shane Fenton and The Fentones having hits with "I'm A Moody Guy" and "It's All Over Now" after the original Shane Fenton unexpectedly died. Stardust/Fenton's real name was Bernard Jewry ~ 72

SHANE FENTON & THE FENTONES w/ BILLY FURY ~ "MAGIC";


ALVIN STARDUST ~ "MY COO CA CHOO";


Cherry Wainer ~ South African/British Jazz & Rock keyboardist w/Lord Rockingham's XI and with husband drummer Don Storey as well as solo

LORD ROCKINGHAM'S XI ~ "HOOTS MON";


CHERRY WAINER ~ "TAKE FIVE" & "GOT MY MOJO WORKING";


CHERRY WAINER & DON STOREY ~ "PETER GUNN";


Dave Appell ~ Pianist and arranger for Cameo/Parkways records in the 1950's & 60's for Charlie Gracie, Dee Dee Sharp, The Orlons, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, The Dovells and John Zacherle as well as his one band The Applejacks, previously worked with swing bands including Jimmy Lunceford, Earl Fatha Hines, Benny Carter, later with Tony Orlando ~ 92

JIMMY LUNCEFORD ~


CHARLIE GRACIE ~ "BUTTERFLY";


CHARLIE GRACIE ~ "COOL BABY";


Rosetta Hightower ~ Singer with 1960's R&B vocal group The Orlons ("The Wah Watutsi") and backup group for Dee Dee Sharp ("Mashed Potato Time" and "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes") ~ 70

THE ORLONS ~ "WAH WATUTSI";


THE ORLONS ~ "SOUTH STREET";


DEE DEE SHARP ~ "MASHED POTATO TIME";


Jimmy Ruffin ~ R&B singer with Motown Records biggest hit was "What Becomes Of The broken Hearted" in 1967. Brother of Temptations singer David Ruffin and was briefly in The Temptations as well ~

JIMMY RUFFIN ~ "WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED";