Napalm Baby's

Click image for more photos  ....

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.