An Early Scene - Part 2

 

An Early Scene Part 1

     Rusland's Hall [later became Club 1-2-3] was a popular dance spot that would have the occasional live hard rock show.  I was very young during those Rusland's days.  I wasn't old enough to get into Joker's Niteclub or couldn't drive to Toronto and go see metal / hardcore shows at Larry's Hideaway.  These local all age Peterborough events were my only access to live music.  At the time I really looked up to everyone in that scene like they were these huge rock stars, never realizing until much later everyone involved were all just young kids themselves.

Virgin Angel; Rusland's Hall, 1984/06/08; Credit: Richard Hanes

Virgin Angel

     By the mid 1980's a young band out of Kenner called Virgin Angel appeared on the local scene.  The band members included: Derrick Foley (bass); Kirk Berardi; Dale Kennedy (guitar) and Jamie Berardi.  Virgin Angel played at Rusland's Hall June, 1984.  That was the summer before I started high school.  They mostly did metal and hard rock covers.  Virgin Angel was a project that Dale Kennedy was working on while vocalist Rick Nisbett from his previous band Tyrant was off visiting England.

Kirk Berardi [Virgin Angel]

     "...Yeah, Sabbath, Priest, Van Halen and so on...  Too bad things didn't work out, I loved that band..."  Internet Post, 2014/06/24.

Dale Kennedy [Tryant / Virgin Angel]

     "...Virgin Angel was the first metal band in Peterborough, followed by Bloody Mary and Shylok..."  Correspondence, 2021/05/01.

Bloody Mary

     Bloody Mary was another young local metal band.  If you are old enough to remember watching Bloody Mary play 'The Battle of the Bands' at Crary Park in the summer of 1984, then you can say that you saw a pre- Kid Wikkid / Skid Row Sebastian Bierk perform one of his earliest shows.  Bloody Mary were: Jason Shibley [Jay Blake] (guitar); Chris Vander Schaaf (guitar); Mark McPhail (bass) and George Anagnostu (drums) with Sebastian Bierk on vocals.

Bloody Mary - 1984 'Battle of the Bands'; Credit: Derek Dodds

     Bloody Mary played 'The Battle of the Bands' at Crary Park in the summer of 1984 and won first place.  An audio recording of the band performing Great White 's 'Out of the Night' and Judas Priest 's 'Hell Bent For Leather' exist.  I believe either Dave Brown or Derek Dodds have the original copy.  A video and photographs of a performance at 'The Hastings Howl' are also rumored to exist.

Sebastian Bach [Bloody Mary / Kid Wikkid]

     "...The memories here [Peterborough, Ontario] are limitless.  Just drove into town past the stage in Crary Park where I won the battle of the bands with my band Bloody Mary..."  Internet Post, 2018/11/17.

George Anagnostou [Bloody Mary]

     "...the year we kicked Strobic Ass..."  Internet Post, 2014/10/10.

     Note: I should mention here that back in the late 1970s and early 1980s the tradition of 'The Battle of the Bands' seemed to be more prevalent than it is today.  Often something that local high school's would encourage and present in their gym or auditorium.

Strobic Axe, 1979 PCVS 'Battle Of The Bands'

     Rural music halls and pavilions like 'The Pines' in Bridgenorth or 'The Hastings Howl' [mentioned previously] arose out of the cottage tourist industry of the 1950s and 1960s.  One last family weekend dance before the Toronto folks would drive back to the city.  Over the years these dances had turned into drunken brawls with hard rock bands performing as background accompaniment.  At the end of their run the locations became perfect spots for younger metal bands to perform at.

Mark McPhail [Bloody Mary]

     "...[Jason Wilfrid] Shibley; [Chris] Vander Schaaft and I all went to Kenner and used to Jam in the little out buildings by the old race track on Lansdowne.  Jay Poser used to drum for a while, then Derek Dodds or Dave Brown introduced us to George 'The Greek' [Anagnostou] and Sebastian [Bierk].  We started rehearsing at the Music warehouse off Romaine.  A lot of bands were there like Streettalk, Blusing Brides I think.  We pulled together a set list for the Crary Park 'Battle of the Bands' because it was sponsored by Sebastian's Dad and Artspace..."  Correspondence, 2021/10/02.

Jay Poyser [Bloody Mary]

     "...Yes I do remember!  Hell bent!!  The loudness coming from Crary Park in those days was awesome..."  Internet Post, 2013/01/13

Bobby Marino [Tyrant]

     "...Sebastian even sounded great at that age too.  I remember the band somewhat, but I don't remember this gig..."  Internet Post, 2013/01/13

Doug Gardner

     "...I was there!..."  Internet Post, 2013/01/22

     The Peterborough bands during this period seem to somewhat overlap with each other so I hope I have things in the right order.  Rick Nisbett [Tyrant / Stryder] and Sebastian Bierk [Bloody Mary] would later both move to Toronto with dreams of becoming big rock stars.

Rick Nisbett [Tyrant / Stryder]

     "...I also seem to recall the last version of Tyrant had one or two members of Stryder in it.  I think we had Dean Bond (drums) and Derrick Foley (bass).  We never never played live and that's when I decided to call it quits and went to Europe.  I came back to Canada [from London] about 9 or 10 months later and that's when I was contacted by Sebastian and urged to move up to Toronto where he was..."  Correspondence, 2021/10/04.

     While in Toronto Rick Nisbet [Ricky Blade] and Dale [Dirty Dale] Kennedy [Tryant / Virgin Angel] would form a Toronto glam metal act called Daggers n Dolls together playing covers by bands like Faster Pussycat and Kiss.  Sebastian would perform in Herrenvolk / Kid Wikkid as mentioned in previous writings.

Rick Nisbett [Tyrant / Stryder]

     "...the [Daggers n Dolls] guitar player kept showing up without an amplifier so I fired him and called Dale [Kennedy]..."  Correspondence, 2021/09/26.

Sebastian Bierk [Kid Wikkid] with Dale Kenney [Virgin Angel / Daggers n Dolls]; Photo: Ron Boudreau; Credit: Harper Collins

Rick Nisbett [Tyrant / Stryder]

     "...Our days in Peterborough when we were 15, 16 and 17 were not a whole lot different than when we were in Toronto.  A lot of debauchery, heavy field parties and lots of girls.  Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Kiss were all part of the soundtrack of the mid 70s to mid 80s.  Heavy metal at it's best..."  Correspondence, 2021/09/26.

Lans Nahrgang [Ripper]

     "...I sang for Bloody Mary after Sebastian moved to Toronto and joined V05.  We jammed in my basement on Hillard Street..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/17.

Ripper

     I'm about 95 percent sure that I was at that previous June, 1984 Virgin Angel show.  I vaguely recall them playing some Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin songs.  One of the earliest metal shows that I can definitely remember seeing in Peterborough at Rusland's Hall was two local bands Ripper and Shylock.

     I knew Ripper 's vocalist Lans Nahrgang previously from my days at Lady Eaton public school in Omemee.  Lans was a few grades older than myself, however I can still remember that he would wear rectangular new wave glasses and rock out to Devo at recess.

     A new wave character called Johnny 'Slash' Ulasewicz [played by Merritt Butrick] on the 1982-83 'Square Pegs' television sit-com that was very popular at the time.

Ripper - June, 1985, Rusland's Hall; Credit: Lans Nahrgang

     There were a few different versions of Ripper.  The final one being: Las Nahrgang (vocals); Kevin Clark (bass); Rob McIlwain (guitar) and Matt McIlmoyle (drums).  I remember the band being mostly a metal cover band that totally loved Judas Priest.  Other members included: Jason Shibley [Bloody Mary]; Chris Vandershaft; Andy Koshowski [Shylok / I Mother Earth] and Paul Heath.

Ripper; Credit: Lans Nahrgang

Lans Nahrgang [Ripper]

     "...Andy Koshowski [Shylok] did a gig with Ripper.  I think only once..., Jason Shibley [Bloody Mary] and Paul Heath were the original guitar players for Ripper..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/17.

Ripper; Andrew Koshowski [I Mother Earth]; Credit: Lans Nahrgang

Mike Heffernan

     "...The singer in the band Ripper was like 6 foot 6, looked like Joey Ramone with elevator shoes..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/03.

Lans Nahrgang [Ripper / Mama's Worry]; Credit: Crestwood Yearbook

     I recall Ripper staying together for a while in the 1980s.  During my high school years I would go and see them play at the old Morrow Park Lounge 'The Teen Centre' on the corner of Park and Lansdowne.

Ripper; Morrow Park Lounge, Jan 1985: Credit: Lans Nahrgang

     In the early 1990s Ripper vocalist Lans Nahrgang and guitarist Rob McIlwain would go on form a band called Mama's Worry with John Miller on bass and another guy named Gord?

Shylok

     Seeing Shylok only the week previous open up for Sebastian's glam metal band Kid Wikkid had everyone in town very excited to do it all over again.  We were all addicted and just couldn't get enough live metal.

Shylok / Ripper; Ruslands, 1985/06/14: Credit: Stephen Mills

     Shylok were: Rob Syvret (vocals); Stephen Mills (bass) [later Death Militia]; Nolan Dewdney (guitar); Andrew Koshowski (guitar); Christian Koshowski (drums) [aka: Christian & Jagori Tanna [later I Mother Earth].

Al Pammett

     "...I do remember going to some concert with you downtown Peterborough at the Orange Hall [Rusland's] on Brock Street..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/04.

Stephen Mills [Shylok / Death Militia]

     "...Shylok was my second band ever, after Aggravated Assault.  [The first band] Aggravated Assault was me on bass; Paul McNaney - R.I.P. (vocals); Mark DeBoer (guitar) and I think Martin Pell on drums..."  Correspondence, 2022/06/09.

Marty Menard

     "...I was at that Shylok / Ripper show at Orange Hall..."  Correspondence, 2021/05/17.

Shylok - Stephen Mills (bass); Credit: Stephen Mills

Shylok - Stephen Mills (bass); Credit: Stephen Mills

Shylok - Stephen Mills (bass); Credit: Stephen Mills

Stepehn Mills [Shylok / Death Militia]

     "...Shylok only played two shows.  Two Saturdays in a row.  The first one was opening for Kid Wikkid at Artspace.  A week later we played that basement Orange Hall with Ripper opening.  I was so stoked, I ripped one of my bass strings off in the first song and had to use the Ripper bassist's bass for the rest of the show..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/27.

Shylok - Chris Koshowski (drums); Credit: Stephen Mills

Shylok - Stephen Mills (bass); Andrew Koshowski (guitar); Credit: Stephen Mills

Jim Godby

     "...Shylok was a good band.  I still see Andy and Chris [Koshowski] on occasion.  Chris played drums and Andy lead guitar in Shylok..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/07.

     I had gone to other Rusland's shows previous to this night however this Shylok gig sticks out in my memories for being the one where so many people from all the different schools would meet for the first time.  This was a very well advertised event.  It seemed like everyone in town who like hard rock and heavy metal was there.

     In true music tradition the organizers made us wait outside for quite some time.  Us younger, newer kids on the scene were all impatiently wanting to get inside.  Screaming and yelling loudly we were trying to put on our best heavy metal pose for each other.  Inside we could hear the sound of the musicians warming up.  They were the generation who smoked hash listening to Kiss and Black Sabbath, while outside the hall we were the kids who spent weekends tripping on acid listening to Exodus and Slayer.  It was a crazy time as the doors opened and the two tribes merged.  I can still feel the energy of what evolved from that night.

Gary R. Hill [Oblivion]

     "...Front door got ripped off it's hinges.  ...the door was open and it got reefed on..."  Correspondence, 2021/04/06.

     It was at this Shylok / Ripper show where I would have first met Gary Hill.  A few months later I was introduced to his friend Mike Begin and I became the singer for their thrash metal band Oblivion.  Also standing outside waiting to get in was Robert Stanley [Sewage Shit].  At the time everyone called Gary 'Spaz' and Rob Stanley was introduced to me as just 'Morbid Shit'.  Rob and I would later go on to do one of the longest running shows on Trent Radio called 'The Mellow Contemporary Hour For Senior Citizens'.

Mike Begin and Gary Hill [Oblivion]; Robert Stanley; Credit: PCVS Yearbook, 1985-86

     For this event local metal head Ed Bos designed a wicked logo for Shylok and had made up a bunch of T-shirts.  High schools throughout town would be littered with them come the Monday after the show.  Ed Bos later went on to design the album cover for the trash metal release of the 1987 'Custom Killing' by the Guelph, Ontario band Razor.

Tom Ellis [wearing Ed Bos / Shylok T-shirt] ; Credit: Crestwood Yearbook

Scott Thompson [wearing Ed Bos / Shylok T-shirt]; Credit: Crestwood Yearbook

Tony Crosgrey [wearing Ed Bos / Shylok T-shirt]; Credit: Anthony Crosgrey

Razor artwork by Peterborough's Ed Bos

     Many thanks to everyone that helped brick together the bits and pieces of this history, and a big Cheers to all those that helped shape the Peterborough hard rock music scene before us younger folks came along.  You truly were inspirational and a hard act to follow.

 

Kid Gets Wikkid

     1985, June 8th. - Kid Wikkid / Shylock 

     I couldn't count how many times over the years I have heard: "...Oh you're from Peterborough, did you ever hang out with that guy from Skid Row ?..."

     The short answer is No!  However I'm not sure if it's at all possible to write about growing up a metalhead in Peterborough and NOT mention Sebastian Bierk.  So here it goes...

     Sebastian Bierk had left Peterborough sometime around 1983 / 1984.  Although I'm only a bit younger, this was before my time hanging out downtown.  By this time his dad had allowed him to go and move in with his aunt in Toronto while he lived out his dream of singing in a band.

     At a very young age, he auditioned for the older members of the Toronto band Herrenvolk and he got the gig.  Before he knew it, he would soon be playing Larry's Hideaway underage.  'The club owner couldn't tell how old he was because of all the makeup that he wore'.

Herrenvolk, Photo: Mike Zimmerman; Credit: Sabastian Bach, Twitter.

     Sebastian Bach [Herrenvolk / Kid Wikkid]

     "...I was six foot seven with my hair teased to the roof, and had on more makeup than Tammy Faye Baker.  So nobody was the wiser...".  - '18 And Life On Skid Row, Harper Collins'

     After seeing some Toronto graffiti signed by someone named 'Kid Wicked' while riding the subway, Sebastian thought it would be a cool name for a band.  The band decided to change the German sounding Herrenvolk name to Kid Wikkid.

     A paper headline later read '...Peterborough Kid Gets Wikkid...'.   Underneath was a second article, entitled: '...Sebastian's Heavy Metal Career Concerns Dad...'.

     Kid Wikkid recorded a very limited [pink colored?] demo with the tracks: 'Fire in Her Eyes'; 'Reckless and Free'; 'Lady Squeeze'; 'Money in a Hurry' and 'Take a Look at me'.  They would sell the cassette at the Record Peddler on Queen Street.  The song 'Take a Look at Me' was later included on the 'Maple Metal' compilation record released by Attic / Viper Records in 1985.  Other Canadian artists who appeared alongside them on the vinyl included: Apple Viper; Galleon; Harlott; Havoc; Jade; Titan; Tzar; Rue Morgue and Vigilants.

     Note: There was a  1990s band in the United States also called Kid Wikkid who are often confused for the Toronto act.

     For a short time, Kid Wikkid played around Ontario and Quebec in an old station wagon.  Sudbury; Brockville; St. Anselme; Sherbrooke etc.  By June of 1985 Sebastian Bierk would return back to Peterborough to showcase Kid Wikkid to Peterborough friends and family.  

     Kid Wikkid were: Sebastian Bach (Lead Vocals); Bill Sax (Guitars, Backing Vocals); Dave Aplin (Guitar) (1984-1985); Ande Rytch (Guitar) (1983); Kenny Fox (Bass) and Brian Williams (Drums).

     Al Perry

     "...My first [concert] in Peterborough was Shylock and Kid Wikkid at Artspace.  I recall the guitarist from Lee Aaron's 'Metal Queen' video was in Sebastian's band...".  Correspondence, 2021/10/06

Kid Wikkid; Photo: Mark Weiss; Credit: Harper Collins  

     Dave Aplin [Kid Wikkid / Lee Aaron]

     "...I think we played there over two nights and two different venues; Joker's the first night and Artspace the second night.  The gigs themselves are a big blur, but I think we went over pretty well, it was a kind of homecoming for Bas....".  Correspondence, 2022/06/06

     Jim Godby

     "...sitting on the floor against the back wall and being suitably drunk.  I overdid it that night unfortunately...".  Correspondence, 2021/05/04

     Dave Aplin [Kid Wikkid / Lee Aaron]

     "...Here is what I wrote in my datebook: 'Friday June 7th Joker's Great gig, we drank until we stopped.  Saturday June 8th - Artspace - Good gig, a bit trifle useless tho' Whatever that means...".  Correspondence, 2022/06/06

     Norma Haggart

     "...I was friends with Sebastian's sister [Heather].  We lied to her Mother and said we were going to see her brother play, but instead went downtown bought acid and tripped out all night.  We were laughing so hard at the thought of her brother thinking they were rock stars... who knew...".  Correspondence, 2021/03/29

     With connections through Steve Mills [later Death Militia] who played bass in the opening band Shylock, I remember getting inside Artspace [aka: Market Hall] a little early before the doors had opened up.

Shylock - Artspace, Peterborough, 1985/06/08
L-R: Rob Syvret (vocals); Andrew Koshowski (guitar); Stephen Mills (bass);
Christian Koshowski (drums); Nolan Dewdney (guitar); Credit: Stephen Mills

     Stephen Mills [Shylok / Death Militia]

     "...Bas and I had a mutual friend also from Peterborough, photographer Ron Boudreau, and I guess Bas enlisted Ron to find a good opening band for their show.  So Ron came and checked out my band Shylok at our rehearsal and that sealed the deal...

     "...We were a cover band, doing Iron Maiden; Metallica; Trouble etc... and we were pretty tight as we had been jamming for over a year...".  Correspondence, 2022/06/07\

 

Shylok - Nolan Dewdney (guitar), Artspace 1985/06/08; Credit: Stephen Mills

 

Shylok - Stephen Mills (bass), Artspace 1985/06/08; Credit: Stephen Mills

     I think this might have been the first time I was in Artspace [#3] when it was at the under the clock location.

     One of Canada's oldest artist-run art centers, it was founded by poet Dennis Tourbin and Sebastian Bach's father David Bierk.  His father was a local realist painter who helped open Artspace in 1974 in the old Boy Scouts office on the corner of Brock and Water Street.  In 1977 Artspace later moved upstairs at 188-190 Hunter Street West [above where the Necropolis Café and Union Theatre were later located] in the old 'Bellegham Building' before moving to Market Hall under the town clock.

     Note: Sebastian's Bierk's father later was commissioned by Atlantic Records to create and paint the cover art for Skid Row (1991) Slave to the Grind.  Many members of the Union Theatre in Peterborough posed for the photo that would be used as characters in the painting.

Union Theater posing for 'Slave To The Grind' album; Credit Kerri Niemi

     This new Artspace under the clock was very impressive.  The hall had recently gone through million dollar renovations turning the old Market place and 1970s gymnasium into a national performing arts center.

Artspace [#3] (1984 - 1994); Credit: kawarthanow.com

     I hadn't met Sebastian until the night of the Kid Wikkid show, and I had never heard any of his music.  He came over to say hello to mutual friend Ed Bos, and I was introduced.  I can't recall what we all chatted about, however I will never forget that the entire time Bas was talking he was spraying and teasing his hair upwards all while chatting to us.  This continued until the can was empty of all it's contents.  Ed began to make fun of his makeup, hairdo and his glam look...  I think he just ignored us both and said something along the lines of '...shit, I got to get another can of hairspray...'.  Another can!!!, What the fuck!!!, I thought to myself.

Kid Wikkid - Gasworks, Toronto - Circa 1985; Photo: Jim Prue?; Credit: UXB Press

     Kid Wikkid were a glam / hair metal band.  It was a style of music that evolved from bands like T.Rex; The New York Dolls and David Bowie.  The theatrics of bands like Alice Cooper and Kiss melted with that style and you later got groups like: Mötley Crüe; Ratt and Poison.

     When I finally heard Sebastian perform, I must admit that he could really belt out the high notes.  Not only could he sing, more importantly one could tell that he really enjoyed it.  I wasn't really a fan of Kid Wikkid 's music.  I did like his passion and I was happy to be there enjoying that.  Sebastian had this overbearing larger than life charisma.  Both on and off stage.  The band with all the scarfs; bandannas; leather pants; make-up and bracelets just seemed like the real deal.

Kid Wikkid - Circa 1985; Photo: Ron Boudreau; Credit: HarperCollins

     Robert Stanley ['Mellow Contemporary Hour For Seniors' / Trent Radio]

     "...I remember that night very clearly.  Someone handed Baz a joint and he was nervously looking around for his dad's friends to see if they saw him grab it...".  Correspondence, 2021/06/26

     After the Kid Wikkid show, I recall that there was a bit of an after party that I was invited to at 'Ordinary Studios'.  It was really late so we didn't stay long.  I did really like the energy of that place.  It was an artist-run group founded by Trent cultural studies professor Ian MacLachlan.  In was later very involved with The Union Theatre.  I recall meeting local artist Hartley for the first time at this event.  'Ordinary Studios' would do a lot of silkscreen posters for local cultural events as well as other artists and pranksters such as 'The Rhinoceros Party of Canada'.

     Kim Vose Jones

     "...Bands would often rent performance space [at Ordinary Studios] as well, so it had a multi-tiered income which supported the arts scene.  It was an amazing place to do art until it wasn't.  We used to have art performances there in the early days.  When it transitioned to a hang out space then it all kind of fell apart...".  Correspondence, 2021/05/20

     Ken McAuley

     "...The few bands were white reggae bands and a David Bowie cover act.  Couple of theatre groups used it for rehearsal space...".  Correspondence, 2021/06/14

     Kid Wikkid might have returned to Peterborough to play Jokers Nightclub one more time before later disbanding.  Sebastian would go on to join the Michigan band Madam X (1984 - 1986).

     After breaking loose from Madam X, Sebastian returned to Toronto for a short time and performed in a hair metal band called V05.  It wouldn't be long before our local Peterborough boy would make the right connections and shoot to heavy metal stardom in the late 80's as the lead singer for the band Skid Row.

     Nikki Sixx [Mötley Crüe]

     "...after we spoke for a bit he went on stage with his band V05.  You should have seen these guy's hair!  It was to the ceiling!  But the little fucker could sing his balls off.  He told me, You just watch, I'm gonna be a star someday...  I told him, Be careful what you wish for..."  - Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star - Simon & Schuster

     Sebastian Bach would again return to town in 1992, June 10th when his heavy metal band Skid Row performed at The Peterborough Memorial Centre with Pantera and the Killer Dwarfs opening up the show.

Skid Row - Peterborough Memorial Centre; 1992/06/10
Photo: Pat Marchen, The Peterborough Examiner
Credit: Peterborough Archives

     The only notable thing I remember about this show as that there was a minor 'controversy' that had occurred at the event.  Some members of the community were upset that Sebastian had tossed free condoms from the stage with underage members being in attendance.

     A big meeting was held afterwards at the local Library to discus the 'controversy'.  Tammy and myself attended.  It was a very boring day.  Sebastian sent a video from his home in New Jersey.

Photo: Pat Marchen, Peterborough Examiner; Credit: Jenn Caley

     "...Peterborough Public Library was packed last night with teenagers, willing to listen and give their side of the AIDS issue.  A video by ...Sebastian Bach was also shown..." - The Peterborough Examiner.

     Lots of young people came out in support of 'PARN - Peterborough Aids Resource Network' who had asked Sebastian if he would throw the condoms out into the audience.