Napalm Baby's

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Here's more of my old photos researched with the help of liked minded fans in the 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario Facebook group during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21.

The Napalm Baby's were a hardcore/punk band of young men from the Byron suburb of London. The photo album at left (click on the image) is from a gig at the Embassy Hotel in East London sometime in 1982 or so. The Napalm Babies played that night with a similar Toronto band called "Youth, Youth, Youth". I believe this was  October 18, 1982 with D.O.A. as the headlining act — but, no promises, I didn't file things away with notes.

At that time the Napalm Baby's were: Dave Newsome (vox), Dan Husband (gtr), Rob Johnston (gtr), Bruce Fisher (bass), and Wayne Fisher (drums). The band formed in 1981 and evolved into "Condo Christ" around 1986. What Wave #24 (Dave O'Hallaran's fanzine) documents the changing band members over the years.

Dave Newsome, in the photo, was really intense. I had a fish-eye Sigma 16mm lens and got up close for the picture. He was replaced by Jamie Conyers sometime around 1985.

On Facebook Jade Mitchell recalls: "Fun fact. I dated Dave Newsome when I was 18, I worked at A&M records in Westmount mall, he came in wearing a cowboy hat and plaid shirt, he was shopping for some Country music, I suggested he buy the Tubes album, the rest might be history. 😉 Oh, our first date was Texas chain saw massacre at the Mustang. hahahaha...". I loved the Tubes, "White Punks on Dope" from "What Do You Want from Live" (1978) was a drunken tune we philosphers would yell from the roof of my apartment at the Lord Dufferin. Daniel Rudbal recalls the line ".. Mom and Dad live in Hollywood, hang my self when I get enough rope.." and I tell the younger folk that "I was a punk before you were" (another great tune from that album).

Larry Brandt (of Dead Rabbits and Flying Squad) described the band as "5 Byron Boogs". That had me stumped, I know about Byron but had never heard of "boogs". He explained that "Boog was a nickname for the mischievous and wayward youths of Byron that ended up harassing cops, exploring sewer tunnels and playing in rock n roll and punk bands. Not sure who started that name."

You can find some of their music on Bandcamp — try this link for music from the "Boot to the Head" CD and from the "Animals Fight Back" C90. See also the very brief entry on Discogs. And search around on Youtube — there are some Fryfogle's videos.

Finally, this note composed during May, 2021 with the help of fans found on Facebook. Photos were taken at the time, scanned around 2012 and only recently shared.

D.O.A. Embassy Tavern

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More D.O.A. pictures from long ago. These are from BW negatives I've recently found and scanned (March 2021). They were in a folder dated 1983 but  research with fellow fans on Facebook tells me the event was Monday, October 18, 1982 (see D.O.A. tour dates). 

The show was at the Embassy Tavern and would have been the first time Kate and I ever saw them. There's a post by the stage that makes me think it was the Embassy and comments by friends on the Facebook group 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario confirm that. We saw D.O.A. several times over the years; however, this lineup is how I've always identified as "the band" even though there's been a changing cast of characters over the years. I recognize Joe Keithley (of course), Dave Gregg (second guitar), Wimpy Roy (bass) and Dimwit on the drums. 

Some searching on Google tells me they were fronted by Youth, Youth and The Napalm Babies but I can't confirm that. I do recall the seeing the Napalm Babies a few times.

They played loud fast and furious. Joey glistens with sweat in the photos and there's a picture where he clears his nose onto the stage. They were more than a little intimidating and seemed to be giants among men. If you remember the gig, tell us more.

On Facebook Marty Spacil recalls "It would have been Oct 18, 1982. I went to Toronto to set it up on Friday and the promoter wanted $10 for the cover; I talked to the band and we said $4 for a Monday so people would come. I just had Saturday and Sunday to put up flyers around town and still it wasn't super packed." 

Chris Richards confirms the date: "Yes, this is the one Oct. 18/'82. I can tell by the clothes they're wearing because I took a few photos the same night." Many thanks to both for sharing their memories.

Daniel Rudbal tells us that between 1985-2016 that he, with October Crisis and/or the Black Donnellys, fronted for D.O.A several times in London.

Kate and I were married in 1980. On a honeymoon visit to Vancouver I picked up "Something Better Change" which was one of D.O.A.'s very first albums. I don't know if I had heard the band before buying the album. Back in the day you'd often buy music on spec — "Hmm, this looks interesting". And it was interesting! The cover, especially the back cover, appealed to me. Songs like "New Age", "The Prisoner" and "World War 3" still ring out. 

The photos in this album are from my BW negatives found during the COVID-19 Pandemic in March of 2021. These have never been printed, scanned or shared before. They're contrasty, grainy and far from perfect but the memories are still vivid. 

Jerry Jeff Walker, el Macombo

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Although a great fan since the mid '70's I had the pleasure of seeing Jerry Jeff Walker only a couple of times. Both times were in Toronto, both on account of the women in my life who knew I was a fan. Once at the Horshoe Tavern during the "Man Must Carry On" era (mid '70's, a really crazy exciting time) and a second time at the el Macombo in '82 with my wife Kate who has been the excitement in my life for more than 40 years!

I've recently scanned the slides from the el Macombo show and have shared them with fans on Facebook.

As I didn't recognize the bandmates he has with him in this photo album (definitely not the Gonzos) I asked for help on the The Jerry Jeff Walker Gonzos Facebook group. 

Jeff Martin replied "That's the Bandito Band with Bobby Rambo - Guitar, Ron Cobb - Bass, Steady Freddy Krc - Drums, Reese Wynans - Keys, and Leo Leblanc - Pedal Steel". He added that "If there were horns it was Tomas Ramirez." I noted there are two guitars in the photos and wondered who the second person was. Mike Dunham says, "Other guitar player/steel is Michael Hardwick". Many thanks to both for filling that information in for me.

Freddie Krc (who really ought to know -- he was there in the band) also replied: "I was playing the Horseshoe Tavern show. That was the Bandito Band. Dave Perkins, Bobby Rambo, Reese Wynans, Leo LeBlanc, Tomas Ramirez, Ron Cobb and me. I wasn’t there in 1982. Michael Clark was the drummer from 1980-1982. I was back in the band 1983-85."

I recall that Kate and I were only recently married (August 2, 1980) and at the time we lived in our first home (Bruce & Teresa) in London. We would have rented a car to drive to Toronto for the show as we didn't own a car. It was worth the drive. 

We recall that there was some problem at the border with the band.  Bow Raps confirms our recollections and added: "I was there at the good ol’ el Macombo. There was to be 2 shows that afternoon, evening, if I recall. But he was there early enough but the band was held up at the border. Man, what a scene outside when some fella was tossed out on his ass. Just because of of the holdup. Fantastic show. We went up stairs outside his dressing room and he autographed my hat. The highlight of the evening was when he played Backsliders Wine." For me the highlight of the evening was "Layin' My Life on the Line" -- a song about touring, singing and making a commitment to your audience. It's a tune with some melancholy to it, it pulls at your heart strings.

P.s. After posting the above it came to me that we had also seen Jerry Jeff at the Ray Wylie Hubbard 70th birthday bash at the Paramount Theatre in Austin November 12, 2016 where he came on stage to sing a few tunes with his old friend who authored "Red Neck Mothers" made famous on the "Viva Terlingua!" album recorded live in the Luckenbach dance hall back in the days of the Gonzo band.

For more information on Jerry Jeff Walker see this excellent article, Mr Record Man: Jerry Jeff Walker, from Lone Star Music Magazine and explore the Jerry Jeff Walker Topic on Youtube. Within this blog there are several entries on topic as well. He was, and remains, a big influence on our lives.

This note composed '22/11/23, slides scanned at that time.