Toronto Punk Rock
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Toronto Punk Rock
The first punk rock bands in Canada emerged during the late 1970s, in the wake of the US bands Ramones, The New York Dolls, and Blondie, and the UK band Sex Pistols. The Viletones, the Diodes and the Demics were among the pioneers, together with the Skulls (featuring Joey who formed DOA and Wimpy (Brian Roy) who led the Subhumans) from Vancouver, and Hamilton's Teenage Head, whose records and live shows earned them the nickname "Canada's Ramones". Vibrant local punk scenes sprung up in Toronto and Vancouver and other Canadian cities. History Early Toronto punk bands included the Viletones, the Diodes, the Poles, the Ugly, Cardboard Brains, the Dents, the Mods, the Secrets, ARSON and the Scenics, and these were followed by the Demics, Crash Kills Five, Stark Naked and the Fleshtones and L'Étranger, plus Hamilton's Forgotten Rebels and Teenage Head. In Vancouver D.O.A. (band), D.O.A. and the Subhumans led a 1978-79-80 scene that included Pointed Sticks, Braineaters, Young Can ...
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Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Its southern and western border with the United States, stretching , is the world's longest binational land border. Canada's capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Indigenous peoples have continuously inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years. Beginning in the 16th century, British and French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast. As a consequence of various armed conflicts, France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces an ...
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The Subhumans (Canadian Band)
Subhumans were a Canadian punk rock band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1978.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 157 Known by pejorative, punk rock nicknames, original members were known simply as "Useless" ( Gerry Hannah), "Dimwit" (Ken Montgomery), "Wimpy" ( Brian Roy Goble) and "Normal" (Mike Graham). History Dimwit quit the band shortly after their first 7" was released to join the Pointed Sticks, and was replaced by Koichi Imagawa, also known as Jim Imagawa, on drums. In 1981, Hannah left the band and gradually became involved with a small group of underground activists calling themselves ''Direct Action''. In the alternative media they were referred to as the ''Vancouver 5'', but in the mainstream press they were dubbed the '' Squamish 5''. The group, composed of ecologists and feminists, were responsible for a number of actions, including the 14 October 1982 bombing of the Litton Industries plant in Ontario whic ...
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Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a Canadian hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 2001. The band consists of Damian Abraham (vocals), Mike Haliechuk (guitar, vocals), Josh Zucker (guitar), Sandy Miranda (bass), and Jonah Falco (drums, vocals). From 2007 to 2021, the band also included guitarist and vocalist Ben Cook. To date, the band has released five studio albums, alongside several EPs, singles, and companion releases. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for their second studio album, ''The Chemistry of Common Life''. History 2001–2007 The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001. The initial practicing lineup consisted of 10,000 Marbles (Mike Haliechuk, lead guitar), Concentration Camp (Josh Zucker, rhythm guitar, vocals), Mustard Gas (Sandy Miranda, bass guitar), and Chris Colohan (of Left For Dead/The Swarm fame, who was lead vocalist for Cursed). Just prior to recording their demo tape, vocal duties were taken over from Colohan by Pink Eyes (Damian A ...
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Hardcore '81
''Hardcore '81'' is an album by the Canadian hardcore punk band D.O.A. It is considered by some to be the first time that a certain style of punk rock was labeled ''hardcore''. In 2019, the album was named as the public vote winner of the Polaris Heritage Prize. Track listing *Some CD re-issues of Hardcore '81 include four bonus tracks from the EP ''Don't Turn Yer Back (On Desperate Times)'' Personnel * Joey "Shithead" Keithley - lead guitar, lead vocals *Dave Gregg - rhythm guitar, backing vocals *Randy Rampage - bass, backing vocals *Chuck Biscuits - drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ... Tracy Marks - acoustic piano on "Unknown" also engineered the album References Sudden Death Records albums 1981 albums D.O.A. (band) albums {{1980s-rock-a ...
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Canadian Hardcore Punk
Canadian hardcore punk originated in the early 1980s. It was harder, faster, and heavier than the Canadian punk rock that preceded it. Hardcore punk (usually referred to simply as hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A. may have helped to popularize the term with the title of their 1981 album, ''Hardcore '81''. Hardcore historian Steven Blush said that the term "hardcore" is also a reference to the sense of being "fed up" with the existing punk and new wave music. Blush also states that the term refers to "an extreme: the absolute most Punk."An article in ''Drowned in Sound'' argues that 1980s-era "hardcore is the true spirit of punk", because "after all the poseurs and fashionistas fucked off to the next trend of skinny pink ties with New Romantic haircuts, singing wimpy lyrics", the punk scene consisted only of people "completely dedicated to the ...
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Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is an urban plaza in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It forms the forecourt to Toronto City Hall, or ''New City Hall'', at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street, and is named for Nathan Phillips, mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962. The square was designed by the City Hall's architect Viljo Revell and landscape architect Richard Strong. It opened in 1965. The square is the site of concerts, art displays, a weekly farmers' market, the winter festival of lights, and other public events, including demonstrations. During the winter months, the reflecting pool is converted into an ice rink for ice skating. The square attracts an estimated 1.5 million visitors yearly. With an area of , it is Canada's largest city square. Nathan Phillips Square is used regularly for art exhibits, concerts, rallies and other ceremonies. Annual events include a New Year's Eve Party and the Cavalcade of Lights Festival lighting of the official Christmas tree. The annual ...
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The Scenics
The Scenics are a band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, active from 1976 to 1982, and from 2008 to the present. Their style incorporates punk rock, post-punk, and art punk. The Scenics appeared both in the 1979 Colin Brunton documentary film '' The Last Pogo'' and on the accompanying soundtrack album ''And Now Live from Toronto The Last Pogo'' with two tracks. In 1980 the band released a full-length album, ''Underneath the Door'' on the Bomb Records label. Finally, in 1981, they released a single "Karen" b/w "See Me Smile" on their own Scenic Route Records label. In 2008, The Scenics released a new album of 1977-1981 live material called ''How Does It Feel to Be Loved? The Scenics play the Velvet Underground''. The group reformed in early 2008 and has even played a few gigs to support the release including an appearance at the June 2008 NXNE Festival in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In October 2009, the band released another compilation from their recording vaults, "Sunshine World (St ...
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The Last Pogo
''The Last Pogo'' is a short film made by Colin Brunton in 1978. Shot in Toronto, at the Horseshoe Tavern, ''The Last Pogo'' concert on December 1 was billed as "the last punk rock concert" in Toronto—at least for that original wave of punkers circa 1977/1978. Named as ironic tribute to "The Last Waltz", the concert film of the final concert by The Band directed by Martin Scorsese. Featuring performances by The Scenics, The Cardboard Brains, The Secrets, The Mods, The Ugly, The Viletones and Teenage Head, the event also spawned a live recording called ''And Now Live From Toronto -- The Last Pogo''. Apart from the performances, the highlight of the film was probably the shots of the aftermath, because during the show, a bit of a riot occurred. Brunton's crew was ushered outside by police and firefighters, but the sound recordist stuck it out. The film itself was available only in bootleg copies and occasional airings until its release on DVD in 2008. The DVD was released as ...
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Nomeansno
Nomeansno (sometimes stylized as NoMeansNo or spelled No Means No) was a Canadian punk rock band formed in Victoria, British Columbia and later relocated to Vancouver. They issued 11 albums, including a collaborative album with Jello Biafra, as well as numerous EPs and singles. Critic Martin Popoff described their music as "the mightiest merger between the hateful aggression of punk and the discipline of heavy metal."Popoff, Martin: "The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal", page 316. CG Publishing, 1997 Nomeansno's distinct hardcore punk sound, complex instrumentation, and dark, "savagely intelligent" lyrics inspired subsequent musicians. They are often considered foundational in the punk jazz and post-hardcore movements, and have been cited as a formative influence on the math rock and emo genres. Formed in 1979 by brothers Rob and John Wright, the group began as a two-piece punk band influenced by jazz and progressive rock. They self-released their debut ''Mama'' LP in ...
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The Nils
The Nils are a Montreal punk rock band formed in 1978 by Alex Soria. The Nils first gained local notoriety upon the 1982 release of a five-song demo entitled ''Now''. Their self-titled debut album was released to critical acclaim in 1987, and earned praise from Rolling Stone and contemporary punk rock bands, including Hüsker Dü. The Nils disbanded and reformed on various occasions in the 1990s and early 2000s, until the death of Alex Soria in 2004. In 2010 Carlos Soria reformed the band, and in 2015 The Nils released ''Shadows and Ghosts'', their first album of new material in over 25 years. Early Days The Nils were formed in 1978 by Alex Soria, only 12 years old at the time, and his older brother Carlos Soria. Carlos had become curious about the Montreal punk rock scene, and after bringing home albums by the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Damned, the brothers decided to form their own punk band. The Nils' first release was a five-song demo cassette in 1982, entitled ...
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Dayglo Abortions
The Dayglo Abortions (sometimes abbreviated to DGA) are a Canadian hardcore punk and metal band from Victoria, British Columbia. Their lyrics reflect a genre-typical disregard for societal norms. The band was formed in 1979 and released their first album in 1981. The band has sold 500,000+ copies worldwide since their first release. The band's biography, ''Argh Fuck Kill: The Story of the Dayglo Abortions'', by the author Chris Walter, was published in 2010 by Gofuckyerself Press. Gymbo Jak, the lead singer from 1994 to 2007, also sang for the Toronto-based Maximum RNR. History Legal trouble The band is known for its graphic album covers. In 1988, a police officer in Nepean, Ontario, instigated a criminal investigation of the Dayglos after his daughter brought home a copy of ''Here Today, Guano Tomorrow''. Obscenity charges were laid against the Dayglo Abortion's record label, Fringe Product, (carried by Alternative Tentacles in the US and embroiling Dead Kennedys frontman Jello B ...
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SNFU
SNFU was a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in Edmonton in 1981, relocated to Vancouver in 1992, and disbanded in 2018. They released eight albums, two live records, and one compilation amid many lineup changes and several temporary breakups. Eccentric vocalist Ken Chinn (credited as Mr. Chi Pig) led the group, which included twin-brother guitarists Brent and Marc Belke for much of its career. With founding drummer Evan C. Jones and early bassist Jimmy Schmitz, SNFU built an international audience through dynamic melodic hardcore punk as evident on their debut, '' ...And No One Else Wanted to Play'' (1985).''Open Your Mouth and Say...Mr. Chi Pig''Film, Dir: Sean Patrick Shaul, 2010. They grew in popularity following the experimental ''If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish'' (1986) with bassist Dave Bacon and drummer Jon Card, and the aggressive '' Better Than a Stick in the Eye'' (1988) with bassist Curtis Creager and drummer Ted Simm. They disbanded in 1989, however, due to i ...
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