P.dot Rock
Long before I came along there was a hard rock, punk and metal scene connected to Peterborough, as I'm sure there will be one long after I'm gone. Hopefully this short history may spark a search for connections and a 'shout out' to those early Peterpatch days gone by. I'm hoping that this piece will evolve and grow. Any changes, additions, subtractions or suggestions are more than welcomed.
K!dz featuring Sean More (bass / vocals); Dave Praskey (guitar / vocals) and Joel Wasson (drums / vocals) [later Creative Zero] were doing that punk thing around town as early as 1978.
 |
| K!dz - L-R: Sean More; Joel Wasson; Dave Praskey; Credit: Joel Wasson |
 |
| K!dz - L-R: Joel Wasson (drums); Sean More (bass); Credit Joel Wasson |
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
“...Neil Snider was an early member of pre K!dz bands [SMAC and The Fabrics] before we settled on K!dz as a name…”
K!dz could pretty much be summed up in one sentence. ‘Sixteen, the Ramones are God and hey we too have learned those chords’. They played both original songs as well as Ramones covers. According to an early bio found online:
“...First punk rock band from Peterborough EVER, (fuck Strobic Axe, they we’re a metal band that discovered Teenage Head…”
 |
| K!dz - L-R: John Crown [Strobic Axe] (guitar) & Joel Wasson (drums); Credit: Joel Wasson |
Michael Bell [Strobic Axe]
“...The K!dz rocked!..."
K!dz were punk rock. They Wore ripped jeans, t-shirts and played fast and loud. The band played live once in Lindsay, once in Kingston and several times in a Peterborough basement. They also played live with other local bands: Illegal Aliens; Doxsee and Strobic Axe. Although the band didn’t last long past high school, a rare twelve song basement recording of the band is said to have survived. Songs include: UK Thump [covered in Joel Wasson’s later hardcore band Creative Zero]; Teenage Madonna; Dying Emotions; From Now On; Social Group; Highschool Girls; No Time To Lose.
 |
| Flyer: K!dz live at the PlayPen, August 1981; Credit: Joel Wasson |
Dave Praskey [K!dz]
“...We also played at Crestwood High School. That was a good gig. ...We set up our own show at The Masonic Temple. Strobic Axe and others were in the crowd. They liked our version of ‘Petrol’ by The Vibrators. We do indeed have those recordings…”
In the summer of 1981, members of K!dz rented the whole second floor above De Byes hobby shop on the corner of Simcoe and Water Street. It was a big wide open space named ‘The Playpen’. It lasted only that summer, but it was a place where the underage K!dz would hang out. They weren't supposed to drink but they did. A young Sebastian Bach [Skid Row] would go to shows there.
James Vandervoort [Doxsee / Creative Zero / Sudden Impact]
“...I went to this place called The Playpen. I had a [Campbellford] high-school band called Doxsee and we just did Teenage Head and Ramones covers and David Bowie and just whatever we could play. We hooked up with another Peterborough band at the time called Strobic Axe. ...they came and played our high school and I think we went to Peterborough and played with them once, and then I started meeting more Peterborough punks. I found out about this place called The Playpen, and I went to see this band called K!dz. They were killer. The K!dz kicked butt. That was a great band. The first time I saw this guy [Joel Wasson] drum, I was like, 'I wanna be in a band with this drummer'...”
Dave Praskey [K!dz]
"...Sean [More] built the stage at the playpen and I think the mic stands were broom handles drilled into the stage..."
Strobic Axe (1979 - 1981)
Strobic Axe formed in the halls of Adam Scott high school. Influenced by artists like the Sex Pistols; Rush and Teenage Head. Michael Bell (vocals); John Crown (drums); Rick Kemp (bass) and Alex Stangl (guitar). The band came out of their basement with a set of original songs peppered with just enough Cheap Trick and David Bowie to mesmerize a captive audience at an assembly in the school gymnasium.
Over their short three year existence the band managed to obtain a strong local cult following playing many bars and outdoor events. I think it would be fair to say that Strobic Axe was the first band ever to play at Crary Park in 1979 on the grass before the original first stage was built.
They did a couple of other early 1979 shows at Orange Hall [Rusland‘s] on Brock Street. One June 9th with opening band SMAC [later K!dz]
...and another October 25 with the opening band Aztec.
George Anagnostu [Bloody Mary]
"...I had a band prior to Bloody Mary with Earl Hope and Ed Pavey called Aztec. ...played with Strobic Axe as opening band..."
Strobic Axe also did a 1979 show at The Empress Ballroom. In the summer of 1980 they played the outdoor stage at Crary Park and again the same location the following year with Martin Gallop opening. Halloween of 1980 Strobic Axe played the Miss Diana hotel with a band called Blitz-krieg [later Salli T] opening.
Rick Nisbett [Tyrant]
“...I tried to get into Strobic Axe after they lost their lead singer Mike Bell.., Alex Stangl (guitar) put it in very nice words that I was just a little too young…”
The band had a practice space in an old movie theatre on King Street.
Michael Bell [Strobic Axe]
“...across from the [since demolished] bus terminal [King Street]. Was a closed cinema upstairs. We had many memorable shows up there with 100+ in attendance. It was the theatre that had ‘200 Motels’ (1971) on the marquee for years before we took it. Then it said `Strobic Axe live in concert’, until the guys from Street Talk smashed it…”
In February 1981, Strobic Axe, managed by Rob Franke, released a 11 song vinyl LP titled 'Hor Einmal Zu!' in 1981. Interestingly it was recorded at Thunderbird Studios on Rye Street, where my father Findlay Crosgrey was the sound engineer.
With the release of the album they toured out of town. Definitely did a gig at the Masonic Temple in Campbellford, May 1981. Again in Campbellford in October 1981. I think they even went as far as Nipigon, Ontario to play?
Michael Bell [Strobic Axe]
“...the Nipigon gig… was a summer tour that started… and ended in Thunder Bay… we were fired after the first night for being a punk band. Bar owner called the agent who then cancelled the rest of the dates. After saying goodbye to family and girlfriends for the summer, we returned three days later…”
Marty Menard
"...I remember loving Strobic Axe... ..I went ot John Crown's for drum lessons a couple of times...." Correspondence, 2022/06/12.
Michael Bell [Strobic Axe]
“...Strobic Axe also played Larry’s Hideaway. Our first and only Toronto appearance…”
October 9th, 1981 Strobic Axe opened for punk legends Teenage Head at a bar in town called the Backtrack. - Right where the Ministry of Natural resources building was later built. Teenage Head had earlier played the same bar on April 22 the same year.
Strobic Axe - Social Clone
As 1981 came to a close, the band played one last midnight dance in Hastings, Ontario to a packed pavilion. Drugs, underage drinking, unrestrained egos and manic-depressive illness were shutting down the dream, whatever it was. The Strobic Axe story was over. Or was it?
John Crown (drums) became a drum teacher, session musician and producer. Alex Stangl “...got a deal with Capitol Records and his band Bamboo released an LP…” entitled ‘Stop All Distractions’ (1985) He was later in bands The Nation and N.O.W. & The-N. Rick Kemp was in a variety of bar bands. Along with his bandmate Michael Bell he started ‘The Wire’ entertainment paper, then went to work for Metroland.
In the 90s, for a short time I would write articles for ‘The Wire’ music paper.
After Strobic Axe vocalist Michael Bell went on to form EyeEye with Andy Ryan and went on to win the Q107 homegrown contest. In the late 90s, Mike’s band NumberOneWorld did a bunch of recordings and opened for the Ramones at The Pines in Bridgenorth. You read that right, Ramones played in Bridgenorth, Ontario.
March 8 of 2014, Strobic Axe did a final goodbye reunion show. Michael Bell returned to the stage in 2017 with Bowie Lives: A Bowie Spectacular.
Street Talk (1979 - )
Street Talk was another rock band that also existed in Peterborough formed at Kenner Collegiate in the late 70s. Both bands played the 1979 ‘PCVS Battle Of The Bands’, February 1979. Strobic Axe came in second after Street Talk who it has been said that threatened to destroy the venue if they didn’t win.
Band members included: Chris Mayhew (vocals); Rob Alexander (guitar); Greg Linton (bass) and Don Loucks (drums). Later replaced by John Crown [Strobic Axe]. Andy Kulla was their manager and John Watts was their sound man. The band ended up recording a video for their song 'Always Chasing Rainbows' at the Miss Diana Ballroom.
"...we actually used Frank Soda and the Imps equipment for the video. It was at the Miss Diana Ballroom. I spent 10 decades plus off and on with Street Talk. One of my fav bands we were all left handed minus the original bass player Mr. Osbourne, but was replaced and the funniest thing our new bass player was left handed..." (Don Locks [Street Talk], 'Internet Post', 7 Aug, 2022).
Street Talk (1981) 'Chasin Rainbows'
Richard Hain
"...they [Street Talk] used to jam in the warehouse near my grandma’s. I was too young to see them live..."
Michael Bell [Strobic Axe]
“...They were our nemesis. They were hard drinkers and played AC/DC, Be-Bop Deluxe and Rolling Stones…”
Danger UXB (circa 1981 - )
 |
| Danger UXB; Credit: Trent's 50th at Peter Robinson College |
The founders of Danger UXB as they were first called, were Rob Wilkes (guitar, vocals) and Tim Wesbury (drums). Both had previously been involved with a band called Mad Shadows. A band which achieved quite a degree of success around Trent University. Musically, Mad Shadows as a group were torn between doing original songs and covers. Thankfully Rob and Tim ended up leaving in pursuit of their goal of original music and form Danger UXB. Recruiting Luc Prins on bass as their third member. At first Danger UXB displayed a heavy punk influence in their music. This was a result of their personal interest in the Clash and the social and political stances which the band's music represented.
 |
| Danger UXB; Credit: Trent's 50th at Peter Robinson College |
James Vandervoort [Doxsee / Creative Zero / Sudden Impact]
"...There was a band out at Peter Robinson College called Danger UXB, and I managed to get my high-school Doxsee band to open up for them in Peterborough, which to us was like Big Time, like we were really movin' and shakin' it then. Danger UXB covered some Clash songs but also Neil Young 'Four dead in Ohio' - they were sort of political. They had all kinds of anti-war and activist songs, some were originals, some were covers, and then we came up there and just slashed out the noise, but they were totally cool with it: they were thrilled to have us there, but we were more than thrilled to be able to play…”
 |
| Danger UXB; Credit: Trent's 50th at Peter Robinson College |
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
“...K!dz tripping on acid convinced Doxsee to let them borrow their instruments and play a set. As well the K!dz also did a show at Trent [The Commoner, demolished in 2006] up near the rowing club…”
Rob Wilkes [Danger UXB]
“...Ha, I was probably on shrooms! Maybe that’s why I don’t remember the gig so well…”
During the summer of 1981 the band Danger UXB began listening to a lot of reggae music and they realized that they wanted to drop the punk style and head in a more ska direction. It was sometime in 1982 they also dropped the 'Danger' and just became UXB. The band also added Jim Earls (guitar) and a second percussionist Bill Laing.
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
"...We're a Peterborough band, there's, like, two places to play every three years. You could play Art Space, and you could play Trent University. They had a place called Peter Robinson College , where they would put bands on. Art Space was a gallery, and Peter Robinson College was kind of the hip art college that wasn't out at the main Trent campus: it was downtown. The Polkaholics came [from Toronto] and played this Art Space and because, again, like-minded people into something a little different..."
Danger UXB played a reunion show at Trent University's 50th at Peter Robinson College in Aug of 2014.
Creative Zero (1981 - 1984)
Creative Zero (1981 - 1984). After local Peterborough band K!dz split up Joel Wasson (drums) started a band with Greg ‘Buck Fairbanks’ Charbonneau (bass) called Creative Zero. The original guitar player James Leadbedder was going to college in Peterborough, had black hair and looked punk rock so they asked him to join. They met a young Paul McNanny (vocals, lyrics) who was into punk rock poetry. He never sang before, but had all these poems about how fucked up and unjust the world was so they made him the singer.
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
“...I was hanging with Greg Charbonneau (aka Buck Fairbanks), who became our bass player. Paul McNanny was our singer. We were stuck for a band name: ‘Does anyone have anything?’ I’m at a creative zero’, said Greg, We laughed and said, ‘That's it!’ We got a show opening for The Polkaholics but needed a guitarist. We remembered a friend… from a band called Doxsee, who now lived in Toronto...”
Creative Zero as band practiced for a few months in a rented farmhouse and then went to compete in a Peterborough heavy metal ‘Battle of the Bands’
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
"...they were wearing spandex and big hair. Hair metal. It was not even hair metal, it was just bad '70's metal..."
Unfortunately, university ended and the first guitarist James Leadbedder got the hell out of Peterborough. He was replaced with James 'Vacuum’ Vandervoort (guitar) from the local Campbellford band called Doxsee.
James Vandervoort [Doxsee / Creative Zero / Sudden Impact]
“...Doxsee was a mere high school band, based out of Campbellford, Ontario and dreams that fermented in Bud Monaghan’s House of Guitar basement... We played Peterborough once- as we made friends with Trent U band called Danger UXB - was more into punk, then metal per se - but the metal side was a big thing for me - still is!…”
Joel Wasson [K!dz / Creative Zero]
“...I knew James 'Vacuum’ from Doxsee and he had moved to Toronto, because they were more tolerant of punk rock and being gay than say Cambellford was. He learned our whole set in one afternoon and played the show the next day. We all had to move to Toronto to follow our punk rock dreams…”
 |
| Creative Zero at The Turning Point, 192 Bloor St.; Credit: Steve Milo |
Creative Zero members Joel Wasson, Greg Charbonneau, and James Vandervoort began doing shows in Toronto quite a bit, and ended up moving to Toronto.
 |
| Articles of Faith, 1984 - Credit: Greg Charbonneau |
The band did well in Toronto opening for bands like D.O.A.; T.S.O.L.; 7 Seconds and Toxic Reasons. They also made connections and shared the bill with Toronto hardcore legends. BFG - Bunchofuckingoofs; Youth Youth Youth and Direct Action.
Creative Zero appeared in Ruth Taylor's hardcore punk documentary ‘Not Dead Yet’ (1983) with their song ‘Aggravated Assault’.
Not Dead Yet (1983) Ruth Taylor
 |
| Not Dead Yet Ad; Credit: Greg Charbonneau |
In 1984 Creative Zero recorded fifteen songs at Accusonic with Youth Youth Youth’s singer Brian Taylor.
James Vandervoort went on to join Sudden Impact and became a rave scene DJ in the 90s. Greg Charbonneau went on to play with Victoria band The Mags.
Wasson later ended up in bands such as: Big Daddy Cumbuckets; Fifth Column, and Snowdogs. As of this writing he is currently playing in The Discarded. A band he sings and plays guitar in with his two sons. The Discarded have released 4 albums and an EP to date and have opened for Teenage Head, 60’s garage pioneers The Sonics, Rusty and Lowest of the Low. They have toured extensively around southern Ontario with Peterborough as a regular stop. The band carries the torch of the original Ramones / K!dz sound in their music.
In October, 2018 Creative Zero played a reunion show at the Hard Luck Bar in Toronto and had a song included on a seven inch when the book ‘Tomorrow’s Too Late’ was released. Sadly minus singer Paul McNanney who passed away in a traffic accident in the early 1990s.
Dan English
“...I loved seeing Creative Zero and meeting them at the [reunion] show, after seeing graffiti on walls around Peterborough as a teen and never seeing them play live. The show was a great meeting of old punks really felt like a community of like minded people enjoying some of their favorite punk bands from the past…”
Creative Zero (2018) 'UK Thump' - Hard Luck Bar; Credit: Dan English
Illegal Aliens
Illegal Aliens with Chris Green; Mark Northey and Chris Bryen (drums) were an early punk band also doing shows around Peterborough in the early 80s. Mark's brother John Northey was also a member for a few years. They did a show with Creative Zero at the Peterborough labour Centre at 61 Princess Street. Mark Northey later played in the Snowdogs with Creative Zero's drummer Joel Wasson. Joel went on with John Northey and Chris Green to form a band called Amoeba Quiche.
 |
| Flyer: Illegal Aliens / Creative Zero; live at the Labour Centre, May 1984; Credit: Richard Hanes |
Dale Kennedy [Tyrant / Virgin Angel]
"...The first punk band [in Peterborough] was Illegal Aliens...”
 |
| John Northey; Illegal Aliens - Rusland's / Orange Hall, Credit: John Northey |
Richard Hanes
"[Illegal Aliens were] …Peterborough's Sex Pistols lol. Chris Green's dad owned the punk rock T-Shirt store JAC's...”
Illegal Aliens took part in a 1983 'Battle of the Bands' at St. Peter's auditorium, in hopes of winning two days of recording time at City Stage [Artspace] losing to Crystalline Shadow. Other bands that performed where Straight Edge and The Sea.
Dan Gerious [Arthur Newspaper, Trent University]
"...The Aliens play[ed] punk loud and hard - even well. Maybe even a little too well for a punk band. ...prompting the first serious dancing of the night… It was Peterborough punk-style - good, clean rebellious fun..."
In 2006 the members of Illegal Aliens got together for the first time since 1984 to jam in John Northey's basement.
 |
| Illegal Aliens reunion, circa 2006, Credit: John Northey |
John Northey
"...The other three Mark Northey; Chris Green and Chris Bryen had continued to play together (and in other bands) for years after..."
Tyrant (1981 - 1982)
 |
| Tyrant - Rick Nesbitt; Credit: Rick Nesbitt |
Tyrant was an early heavy metal band with Rick Nisbett (vocals); Bobby Marino (drums), Dale Kennedy (guitar) and John MacFarlane (bass). Their sound was very much like the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) bands from the late 1970s. Acts such as: Def Leppard; Tygers of Pan Tang; and Iron Maiden, mixed in with some originals. Tyrant was even doing covers of 'Filth Hounds of Hades' and 'That's What Dreams Are Made Of' by the very Motörhead sounding British band Tank. Long before anyone even had heard of that band.
Rick Nisbett [Tyrant]
"...People had no idea the songs weren’t ours and we didn’t tell them...”
With their slogan 'On the 7th day God created Tyrant', the band took part in an on air 'Battle of the Bands' promoted by Trent Radio with First Blood and The Aliens. The [Illegal?] Aliens did a song called 'Man of the Beast', and Tyrant recorded their track 'Castle Death'. Bassist John McFarlane later re-recorded the song in 2020.
Interestingly both the Illegal Aliens and Tyrant shared the same practice space, which they called the Pigpen. A shout out to the earlier K!dz practice space at the same location which was called the Playpen.
Jim Godby
"...I remember those days. I used to hang out at their rehearsal space..."
 |
| Tyrant - Rick Nisbett; Dale Kennedy; Credit: Rick Nisbett |
 |
| Tyrant - Dale Kennedy; Bobby Marino (drums); Credit: Rick Nesbitt |
 |
| Tyrant - Rick Nesbitt; Bobby Marino (drums); Credit: Rick Nesbitt |
John MacFarlane [Tyrant]
"...We had to drive out there [Trent Radio] and do the recording in their studio. They played all the songs from the entrants and I assume the response was via phone call after they played...”
Tyrant also played a memorable performance at PCVS Highschool where the band was using some pyrotechnics and vocalist Rick Nisbett stood over the can just as it went off.
John MacFarlane [Tyrant]
"...Rick [Nisbett] was in a cast as he had broken his leg... one of the pyro shots went up that leg fired by Ron Boudreau...”
Ian Kurz [Destroyer]
"...Dale Kennedy was on guitar, a bit of a local guitar hero at the time. I think that Rick [Nisbett] had broken his leg the day before the show, or something like that. Bob Marino was the drummer. Never knew the bass player. I seem to remember them playing Coney Hatch, Cars... I remember thinking they were good, and I was secretly jealous that I couldn't have an opportunity like that...”
In October of 1982 the band performed live at a bar called 'The King Arthur', at 452 George Street [Later Club BPM and Black Horse Pub]
Rick Nisbett [Tyrant]
"...That was such a great show, we played there more than once I believe. There was a Halloween show and a bunch of South end girls showed up dressed like the baseball furies from the movie 'The Warriors'. I got into a fight just before I went onstage with a guy... …he was calling my girlfriend a slut and somebody told me so on my way to the stage... I did a little detour and had a go at him. I think there were a few fights in there that night. The baseball furies showing up with bats created a little more electricity in the room. Coney Hatch …were also playing that night at Jokers. …people were leaving that venue to come see us...”
John MacFarlane [Tyrant]
"...Ya he, he, he, he, we scorched the ceiling in there. I made all the pyro shit and Ron [Boudreau] would hit them on a controller I built...”
Tyrant ended up pausing for a short time when singer Rick Nisbett headed off to London, England.
 |
| Stryder - Credit: Rick Nisbett |
Rick Nisbett [Tyrant]
"...Tyrant was a bit like a girlfriend, we would have fights and break up and then join or start other projects. For a while I was singing with the band called Stryder, they were a Kenner band with Dean Bond (drums); Derrick Folley (bass) and John Elliot (guitar). I don't think I ever played live with them but we practiced a lot! And then I got back with Dale Kennedy and Tyrant again...”
 |
| Stryder - L-R; Derrick Folley; Dean Bond (drums); Rick Nesbitt; John Elliot; Photo: Ingelbert Lievaart |
Tyrant bassist John MacFarlane moved to London, Ontario and joined a band called Indio. He toured with them for several years playing party and classic rock. Then he moved out to Winnipeg where he joined a punk metal band called Ex-La.
No comments:
Post a Comment