Demics, Cedar Lounge

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Our friend Dave O'Halloran (aka What Wave Dave on CHRW) has been sharing on Facebook, with our grateful permission, photos that we had taken of various bands back in the 1980's. Today, April 20, 2024, Dave writes in The Cedar Lounge - Blue Boot group:

"Here's some more excellent Reg Quinton pics from the Cedar Lounge. This time it's the Demics w/original guitarist Rob Brent. Circa 1979/80.

May 1/2024 marks 42 years ago the Cedar closed it's doors for the final time."

Markii Burnaway comments: "Thanks Dave and Reg for promo-ing the Demics ..I believe the Demics should be more nationally even internationally known like Teenage Head, DOA etc. They tend to be little London's best kept secret."

Fred Young says, "Remember the bass player, Ian Staines, from my time at Saunders Secondary" and Kelly Mulvey adds, "I was forever running into Ian in Toronto, he'd always ask 'how is every little thing with you'".

Rob Minderman adds: "Saw them there in 1979, 1980. They put us (Second Thoughts) up in their Toronto house on Baldwin St when we played at The Headspace - Larry's Hideaway in 1980."

There is some good evidence that people were having a heck of a time. The dance floor looks packed and sweaty. And it always was for the Demics. We really loved this band: vocalist Keith Whittaker, guitarist Rob Brent, bassist Iain Atkinson-Staines and drummer James Weatherstone (see Wikipedia). Their EP, "Talk's Cheap" came out in 1979 and the Cedar Lounge was their home. There were PhD. colleagues at school who were keen on the punk movement, others disparaged the 3 chord structure. I loved the attitude, and Keith had it in spades. Keith Whittaker died of cancer in 1996.

I've posted many of these pictures before on Facebook and in this blog. The photos here seem to be all available light, hence the yellow cast. There were some stage lights, but nothing fancy. At the time I recall having a 135mm F2 Soligor lens. I suspect I did not have a good flash at the time.

— 2024/12/21 I have moved this post in my blog to the approximate date of the event. Arbitrarily picked a date in 1980 (BK).

XTC/Fingerprintz

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February 3, 1980 I saw the English band XTC at Guelph University, War Memorial Hall with my brother Paul who, at the time, was at university there. They were supported by Fingerprintz who were touring with them at the time. Both were pop tinged post punk (aka "new wave") bands who I really liked.

XTC went on to become more of a studio band and, to my mind, became a little too arty. At the time I saw them they had a good catalogue of hits from their first 3 albums -- "Making Plans for Nigel", from Drums & Wires, was a big hit at the time. To explore more of their music see their YouTube Channel.

Fingerprintz folded shortly after their 1981 album "Beat Noir". At the time they were show casing "The Very Dab". Both are great albums.  To explore more of their music see their YouTube Channel.

These photos are from slides taken at the time and scanned during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020/21.

Infidels

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Our friend Dave O'Halloran (aka What Wave Dave on CHRW) has been sharing on Facebook, with our grateful permission, photos that we had taken of various bands back in the 1980's. This morning (August 5, 2024) Dave writes in 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario group:

"More Reg Quinton pics, this time it's The Infidels circa 1981 at the Cedar Lounge.

Here's some info from guitarist/singer Dan McGrath: "That's me in the striped shirt. Andrew Glen on drums, Scott Woods at the far end and Phil Hogan playing bass. We were called the Infidels and we're about 17 at the time. We generally would open for the Zellots. We played here a couple times, the Knights of Columbus Hall and Polish Hall on Ann St. that summer. Phil was the lead singer, I only sang lead on Modern Lovers "Roadrunner" which I'm guessing we are playing in this pic. Would love to see more pics if there are any."

 
[I have only] found these 2 pics."

Bill McGrath commented, "I remember Phil, the lead singer, wearing a Val Halen t-shirt that he later printed "SUCKS" under the logo."

Clearly these images are from the Cedar Lounge and I do think it must have been a Zellots gig — the big round ball on top of the amplifier at stage left twigs with me. Dan McGrath shared a poster of a Zellots/Infidels November 1980 gig at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Colborne St. that I've added to the album. I recall an underage event there (which later became Pete Denomme's venue). The underage folk were violently ill (I assume too much alcohol) and the washroom was a sea of vomit. I suspect it was this gig in the 1980 poster.

Dan shared several posters and I have added them to the album as well.

I would never have been able to figure out the band, or band members. It's really great that Dave can post some pictures and ask, "Anyone have any idea who this band its?  Cedar Lounge circa 1981 Reg Quinton photo."

Many thanks to Dave for sorting through these old photos. There's an occasional gem to be found but always some fond memories to be shared. Thanks again!

— 2024/12/20 I have moved this post to the approximate time of the event.

Stoves, Polish Hall

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Our friend Dave O'Halloran (aka What Wave Dave on CHRW) has been sharing on Facebook, with our grateful permission, photos that we had taken of various bands back in the 1980's. Today, June 21, 2024, Dave writes in 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario group:

"Here's some more Reg Quinton photos. This time it's The Stoves at the Polish Hall on Ann St, London ON, 11/2/1979.

 
This was at least a 4 band Halloween event, with; Demics, NFG, Regulators and Stoves all playing. I've posted pics of NFG and Regulators from that night, now it's time for The Stoves. The band consisted of; Greg Moore (drums), Paul Scriven (guitar, vocals), Rick Washbrook (guitar, vocals) and Scony Action (bass)."

It is great that Dave has been able to firmly date these to Nov 2, 1979; that would have been a Halloween Bash. These have been shared before; see Polish Hall entry of 2015 in this blog.

These photos are definitely pre-Kate and very early in my photographic life. At the time I was a Ph.D. student in Philosophy and taught some introductory courses in Computer Science. There's a picture of my friend Sandy in this collection. Sandy was the administrative secretary in Computer Science and a good friend of ours. We haven't seen her in a very long time; although we did bump into her one time when we were on holidays at a resort in Cuba.

Again, these are pretty rough photos — B/W push processed, grainy, dusty, dirty and out of focus. But there's an occasional gem and they are a record of the event. Many thanks to Dave for his work organizing photos and figuring out the location and event.

— 2024/12/20 I have moved this post to reflect the date of the event.

NFG, Polish Hall

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We're still in Australia but the London Punk music archivist has been busy with old band photos. Our friend Dave O'Halloran (aka What Wave Dave on CHRW) has been sharing on Facebook, with our grateful permission, photos that we had taken of various bands back in the 1980's. Today, June 8, 2024, Dave writes in 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario group:

"Some more Reg Quinton photos. This time it's NFG at what looks like the Polish Hall, Ann St, London ON circa 1979. There were a number of shows at the Polish Hall in the late 70's/early 80's.

At this point in time, the band consisted of; Simon Lewis (guitars/song writing), Larry Gifford guitar, Rob Gliddon bass, Peter Lambert drums and Scott Bentley vocals."

I believe that most of these pictures are from the Polish Hall on November 2, 1979 (Markii Burnaway) before I met Kate. These would have been taken without a flash and are B/W push processed for low light. There are some very poor quality photos there, some are out of focus, etc., but there are quite a few gems.  Usually I'd prune an album down to just the few photos I'm especially proud of. Dave is more encyclopedic in his choice of photos to share. But for an historical record here it is, warts and all.

There are some photos in this collection where I'm pretty sure they're from a Cedar Lounge gig and not the Polish Hall. Scott is in a cowboy outfit, there's a Marilyn poster behind the band (the Polish Hall has drapes behind the band). Some of those photos appear on the back of their EP. See NFG at Cedar Lounge post of 2015 in this blog. Admittedly that collection is a mash up of a couple of gigs. I suspect the close up of Peter on drums is actually from the Cedar Lounge gig and not the Polish Hall as I wouldn't have had that angle to shoot from at the Polish Hall but would at the Cedar Lounge.

These have been shared before; see the NFG, Polish Hall entry of 2015 in this blog and the NFG at Cedar Lounge post mentioned above.

Many thanks to Dave for his work organizing these old photos and figuring out the location and time for many of these. My 15 minutes of fame should be over soon ....

— 2024/12/20 I have moved this post to reflect the time of the event.

Regulators, Polish Hall

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We're only just back from Australia and the London Punk music archivist has been busy with old band photos. Our friend Dave O'Halloran (aka What Wave Dave on CHRW) has been sharing on Facebook, with our grateful permission, photos that we had taken of various bands back in the 1980's. Today, June 17, 2024, Dave writes in 1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario group:

"Here's some more Reg Quinton pics. This time it's from the Polish Hall on Ann St and it's the Regulators in action.

The Regulators consisted of; Jeff Morritt on vocals, Debbie Horowitz on keys, Jay Henderson on drums and Dave Lightfoot on bass. They only released one single in their brief existence but appeared on 3 compilations later; Animals Fight Back, Canada's Pissed Volume 2 and Slippery's Club Hits."

I believe these pictures are from 1979, perhaps early 1980 — definitely before I met Kate. These would have been taken without a flash and are B/W push processed for low light. I believe this was the only time I ever saw this band; I suspect this was an event with the Stoves. There are some very poor quality photos there, some are out of focus, etc., but there are quite a few gems. Jeff Morritt had a Lou Reed vibe that caught my attention and Debbie Horowitz ... well of course. Usually I'd prune an album down to just the few photos I'm especially proud of. Dave is more encyclopedic in his choice of photos to share. But for an historical record here it is, warts and all.

These have been shared before; see Polish Hall entry of 2015 in this blog.

Many thanks to Dave for his work organizing photos and figuring out the location and time for many of these. My 15 minutes should be over soon ....

— 2024/12/20 I have moved this post to reflect the date of the event.

Demics

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I found these old color negatives of Keith Whittaker performing with the Demics and did not have them in my existing collection of digitized Demics photos. The folder says this is 1979; I suspect the venue is the Cedar Lounge in London, Ontario but I'm not sure when. They're not great quality photos, nor do I have any firm memories of this event. But I suppose it must have been then. They were a great London band that are credited with founding the punk movement in London. Keith was a 110% performer — he threw himself into it. I got to see them a few times in and around town.

At that time I was a dilettante grad student who should have been working on his thesis.

This note prepared and these photos scanned during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown of 2021. I've arbitrarily filed this as October 1, 1979 BK (before Kate).