Malhavoc

     Malhavoc was originally supposed to headline the Union Theatre in Sept of 1990 with Overthrow opening.  There was some scheduling problems and they had to drop off that bill.  Overthrow ended up headling with Domestic Violence from Ajax / Pickering opening up.

     I was determined to still make the Malhavoc thing happen.

     A Halloween show was planned for 1990, late October.

Deadbolt; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Opening the Malhavoc show in Peterborough was an industrial group from Lindsay called Deadbolt.  They had introduced themselves to me at one of Elizabeth 'Libs' Humfries 'Boys & Girls' shows earlier that year.  I wish my memory could recall who was in the band.

1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Libs Elliot [Crawl / Child]

     "...Deadbolt were Kyle Sim; Jason Budd and Brayden Campbell [pictured] (I think that's all the members)..."     

     The one thing I sort of remember is that Deadbolt had a porno playing on the screen behind them when they performed.  Or perhaps it was another long forgotten opening act that was never listed on the flyer.  

     Libs Elliot [Crawl / Child]

     "...I don't remember if there was porn playing in the background...  It doesn't sound like something they'd [Deadbolt] do, but I could be wrong..."

     Kyle Sim [Deadbolt]

     "...Ha, ha yeah we thought we could be edgy and that's all we had!..."

     The porno video seemed to be some sort of mash up of Traci Lords footage.  For those who don't know:  Traci Lords was the number one porn star in the world until it was exposed that she was a minor during the filming of all but the very last of her many films.  I was working the door that night and was barely paying much attention to what was going on.

     I didn't get much of a chance to see the sex video or the opening band as I had just stepped outside the Union Theatre to deal with the local Peterborough police who had just shown up.

     It seemed these monthly metal and punk shows of mine were becoming somewhat of a nuisance for the local business in the area.  The police had come by and were harassing me hard that night.  It seems that they had been receiving complaints that the parking lot was full of smashed glass from beer bottles every time bands would play in the space.  The conversation went something like this...

     Police: "...There are empty beer bottles all over the parking lot, and we can charge you for that..."

     Me: "...I think they might have been here when we all arrived...  If you look you will see that there is absolutely no alcohol inside the space or on The Union property so I don't think they would have come from us..."

     Police: "...Well, if it wasn't for your event the bottles wouldn't be here in the parking lot..."

     Me: "...No!  If it wasn't for the liquor & beer store selling to underage kids those bottles wouldn't be here.  Go down to the L.C.B.O. and fucking charge them..."

     The argument between me and the cops went on for quite some time.  Once they realized that the event was alcohol free and they couldn't lay any charges they then switched the topic.  Basically the cops told me that if I wanted to do any further events in Peterborough without any more police harassment that I would have to hire them as off-duty security.  I remember thinking that it felt like some sort of extortion thing that they were trying out on me.  I told them that they wouldn't see a fucking penny from me.  I called them out on the corruption of their goals to obtain revenue.  Our voices were getting louder and louder as the conversation started to get somewhat uncomfortable and confrontational.

     It was at this point that some of the latecomers to the show started to stand around us.  "...The cops are here, the cops are here..."  I could hear people just inside the door yell out.  A crowd of people ended up coming outside and surrounded the cops as we were verbally sparring.  Some people were tripping on acid and were giggling and making jokes.  They started saying things like, "...Why don't we just take their guns and kill them!..."  and "...Yeah, Yeah.  Let's fucking do that..."  The one cop had a radio on his shoulder and quickly called in for some back-up.  A couple of vans and a bunch of cruisers showed up.  It was getting heated very fast.

     The police told me that I had to shut down the event.  I stood my ground with them and said "...No fuckin' way that is going to happen..."  Truth was I didn't have the heart to tell the guys in Malhavoc that there would be no show.  "...If you want to shut it down then you go inside and you grab the microphone and you shut it down..."

     I basically stated my case that we were just a bunch of young folks trying to have some fun in a dead city with nothing ever to do.  I told them that at this moment they know exactly where all the kids are.  "...Let 'em just listen to the bands and then go home all tired and sweaty from slam dancing.  Or go in and shut it down and that crowd will be all pissed off and spread out all over town..."

     The police ended up going in the space, looked around a bit then left.  The cops would often come by my shows and threaten but they never, ever shut them down.  They knew if they did, that they would just have a bunch of kids throwing crap at them!  And a pissed off crowd in the parking lot.  There were always noise complaints.  Hell if I had a show and someone didn't complain then I felt I wasn't doing my job.  It was always too loud and that's the way we liked it.  After a short time the police would leave.  The show always went on...

     Inside the space Deadbolt had just finished showing the Traci Lords porno.  It ended just as the cops had walked in.  I remember Malhavoc was being helped out by Toronto area punk promoter Jill Heath.  Jill was managing tours.  At the time I believe she was also helping Henry Rollins formerly of Black Flag with some dates.  I remember Jill coming up to me and saying, "...Tony, you are so damn lucky.  Do you know what the charge  would have been for that..."  At first I didn't really comprehend what she was talking about.  It didn't take long before it hit me.  I quickly imagined the very large biker guy in the prison cell next to me.  "...Hey, what are you in for?..."  My nervous response:  "...Oh nothing really..., just showing some child pornography to some underage kids..."  For some reason I don't think that whole situation would have gone over all that well.  Jill was correct.  I was very lucky.

     Kyle Sim [Deadbolt]

     "...I totally remember the cops showing up and I thought it was because of the video and was a bit worried.  But I think they were there just because of a noise complaint or whatever..."

     For a few weeks after the Malhavoc show legal artist contracts were discussed at Union collective meetings.  In the end Ian McLachlan and I had a good talk about the whole situation and how charges could have been laid.  Many of the punks and metalheads at the time didn't know it, but behind the scenes at the Union there were many older, more established artists that were helping to keep the space alive.  Ian McLachlan being one of the those prominent figures in the arts and culture of Peterborough.  I remember Ian strongly opposing the idea of contracts saying, "...don't worry about it, at the end of the day it's my name on the lease..."  He seemed pretty cool about the whole situation.  I think he secretly liked that this new generation of artists were out causing some shit in town.

     I'm pretty sure it was Dianna DiNoble who booked the second act Masochistic Religion.  Her and I were working on this show together as we were dating at the time.  I think the date of the 26th was chosen as it was somewhat close to Dianna's birthday?  She was a big help with the logistics to making this event such a huge success.  She and Kristan Mackintosh even took Malhavoc down to Trent Radio that night and took over my 'Mellow Hour' radio show while I was busy at the Union.  Might have even done the radio show for some time after that if I recall correctly.

     Kristan Mackintosh

     "...that whole night at the radio station was just awesome to me.  I felt cooler than I was, just tagging along..."

Malhavoc - Trent Radio; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Dianna DiNoble

     "...They [Masochistic Religion] are still my favourite band ever.  I saw their last show in '99 (?).  Mitch moved to Montreal.  I see Martine [Mathews] around Toronto sometimes..."

Masochistic Religion; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

Masochistic Religion; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

Masochistic Religion; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

Masochistic Religion; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Masochistic Religion was more of a goth group than industrial or metal.  Over the years the band has had many members with the only consistent member being its founder, Mitchell D. Krol.  In the early 1990s Krol "...was doing a lot of drugs, getting heavily into the S&M scene and spending a lot of time with... friend Malissa X...  this concept of Masochistic Religion, a sort of dark S&M theatre done to music.  All the lyrics were about sex, death, religion, pleasure and pain, and the show was heavy, real and probably illegal..."

          Gregory Snutch Knowles

          "...Masochist Religion was a killer show.  I still have their cassette I bought from that show..."

           Candice Mitchell Krol [Masochistic Religion]

     "...that was a fun night, our truck died and at the last minute I got my Dad to drive us lol.  It was hilarious, my dad is cool, but it was funny to see my dad's reaction to seeing kids stage dive lol..."

1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

 

     At the time of this show Masochistic Religion was shopping around a demo for their later 'Sonic Revolution Evolve' CD.  It contained an amazing slow goth version of Neil Young's heroin inspired 'Needle & The Damage Done'.  I loved that song and would give it lots of airplay on the radio show.

     Mitchell D. Krol later moved to Montreal.  Now known as Candace Kroll.  "...Candi is an interdisciplinary trans feminine artist.  Her work combines performance, music, photography and spoken word with experimental film and video..." [artist bio]

     The early 1990s was an exciting time for experimental and industrial metal crossover in Canada.  Malhavoc was one of the acts leading that charge.  Malhavoc is the brainchild of James Cavalluzo (aka: Jimi LaMort) with various other musicians added for recording and touring.  In its early incarnation the music had an extreme death metal sound similar to the avantgarde work of Celtic Frost.  As the years went on James included more industrial; ambient and electronics to the music.  It was always exciting to see how far the label of heavy metal was going to be pushed by him.

     Malhavoc began perfectly blending heavy metal with the noise and influences of groups like Throbbing Gristle as well as adding their controversial topics to the metal scene.  It was a trip that I thoroughly enjoyed.

     Much of this world was explored in-depth by Malhavoc.

     "...Cavalluzzo and co. first drew attention to themselves because of their penchant for shocking on stage antics, whereupon band members and associated guests would infamously indulge in everything from theatrical displays of S&M and nudity, to role-playing violence and real self-mutilation..." [ Eduardo Rivadavia].

     To this day James Cavalluzzo is a dark electronic, cyber punk, musical genius.  Spending countless hours in his studio surrounded by computers and other electronic music equipment that I'll never understand in ten lifetimes.  A vast collection of horror and music CD's surrounding for inspiration.  Hopefully this post pandemic world will bring about great things in the Malhavoc universe..

Malhavoc - James Cavalluzzo; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Patricia Jones

     "...I remember standing beside the sound guy for this concert watching Malhavoc.  I must have looked young and innocent, because the guy leaned over to me and said 'Just to let you know, he's gonna cut himself'.  I smiled and said that I had already seen him do it at the concert in Lindsay.  After he cut himself, I leaned over and said 'He didn't bleed nearly as much as he did the last time I saw them..."

     Marty Mosh

     "...Me, I got covered in blood from James carving the pentagram into his chest.  Epic night at the Union..."

Malhavoc - James Cavalluzzo; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Jimi LaMort [Malhavoc]

     "...that show was the first day we got those crazy ugly nautical shorts and shirts made.  Trying to make a fashion statement with designer matching shirts and shorts.  I never liked the way they turned out and that's why we made the joke about nautical wear..."

Malhavoc - James Cavalluzzo; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Christopher Park

     "...I ended up getting really mad at James for dicing himself that night.  I was really self righteous towards him.  I told him that some idiot is probably gonna go home and do it in front of their parents or at school.  ...and then he said, 'I'm not responsible for Idiots!  People can take the symbolism for what it's meant to be or go and be stupid'.  Which I thought was kinda smart, and made me feel like a heel.  I ended up working with James at the head office of HMV for 3 years, and doing a bunch of shows with Malhavoc and Thrive [me] and D.H.I. [Death and Horror Inc.]

Malhavoc - James Cavalluzzo; 1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Jimi LaMort [Malhavoc]

     "...I just remember really enjoying the show because when we started we went out of our way to play all ages shows.  It was very important to us.  Especially when we started playing we couldn't get shows because we were under age..."

     This Malhavoc show at the Union Theatre in Peterborough I would say would have to be the climax to the bands that I had been booking into that space.  This influential act formed in the mid 80s, and have released four full length albums and two EP's.  Every album released for the most part changed in style.  What better soundtrack to that plateau of chaos at the Union Theatre than the band's 1990 debut 'The Release'.

     I don't recall who the other bandmates were playing that night.  The album did have Dave Kiner; Rob Wright and Steve Jelliman credited.  At the time of this show James would have also been working on the 1991 Punishments EP that collected several songs left over from the album as well as some remix tracks.

     It was a crazy night that I don't think has been topped yet in this town.  Illegal porn screenings; LSD induced death threats to cops and to top it off Malhavoc completely obliterating the eyes and ears of anyone who happened to wander into that world for the first time.  James carving a bleeding pentagram into his chest, while never before heard metal industrial beats infected our minds like a Romero film.  The place was hot, steamy and overcrowded.  Illegal fire regulations... kind of packed.

1990/10/26; Credit: Dianna DiNoble

     Unfortunately I spent a good majority of the evening watching the door and missed much of Malhavoc's set that night.  I was turning so many people away that a large party in the parking lot was also beginning to take place outside the venue.  I prayed the cops didn't return.  There was utter insane confusion going on both inside and out.

     Jimi LaMort [Malhavoc]

     "...I also have a rare recollection of the chaos before we went on stage and people thinking the cops were going to shut it down..."

     There was so much money in the cashbox I was getting nervous that someone was going to rob us, so I started just shoving money in all my pockets.  Later when I went to pay Jill Heath I had almost forgotten that I had done that.  For a moment it looked like I was trying to rip them off as I was embarrassingly finding another ten dollar bill.  Then another.  Not sure if she believed me but that was never my intention.

     Never once did I ever make money off a show.  Half of the money always went to paying for the space and then Bud's Music or Ian Osborn for the sound equipment.  Whatever was left after that always went to the headlining band.

     Ian Osborn

     "...I did sound for Malhavoc at the Union once.  Guess it might be this show.  I had Laura Sturm and Alexis Gordon working with me..."

     There was so much behind the scenes stuff that went into putting together these shows that people never realized.  Most nights I would be breaking up fights, or arguing with people at the door.  The Union also had a 'Pay What You Can' policy that I refused to honor.  Them:  "...But I only have two dollars, and the sign says I can pay what I want..."  Me: "...Then I guess you shouldn't have bought that mickey of rum in your pocket..."  Begrudgingly I would let them in and then a few minutes later a long time regular would show up and I would have to turn them away.  They would be pissed off at me for weeks after.

     Flicked cigarette butts in the urinal, clogging it all up... or that time someone puked in the washroom.  I was cleaning that up until the early hours of the morning then going to work elsewhere the next day.

     Would I do it all over again?...  Fuckin' right I would.  Best years of my life...

 

Club 1-2-3

Club 1-2-3 Is Now Open; Credit: Tara Yellowley-Paul 

     College friends Mark Stone and Peter Faller came up with the idea of opening an alcohol free all ages nightspot in Peterborough.

     Peter Faller

     "...The club was three of the best years of my life with a lot of amazing memories.  Thank you all for remembering..."

     Peter Faller's father owned a building at 184 Brock Street that would make for a perfect location.  Directly across from the old Food City grocery store [later Frescho].  Previous to Club 1-2-3 the space was known as Rusland's / Orange Hall.  "...they used to do dances there and then started doing [live] shows..." [Richard Hanes].  Some of the first hard rock and metal concerts that I ever saw took place in that old Rusland's Hall.  This however would be something new, different and exciting.

     Mark Stone and Peter Faller opened Club 1-2-3 in the early fall of 1986.  With a very large dance floor; smoke machine; good lighting and a powerful sound system, this was exciting news throughout the local Peterborough school system.  Previous to this venture Mark was a CHEX - CFMP radio operator and live on-air weekend DJ from 1982 to 1985.  Roger Pierce was brought in as the club's main DJ.  His musical playlist was basically 'Alternative' and 'Dance' music modeled after CFNY's new artist free-form / personal choice type radio which at the time was hitting it's peak in popularity.  Brian Guest, Dave Pitts and Jeff Preston also DJ'd there as well.  James Doweny served Coffee, Sara sodas and other virgin drinks at the concession.  Mark and Peter ran the space for two years, then Peter's sister Suzie Faller took it over and ran it for the final couple of years until it closed.

Roger Pierce, Club 123 DJ; Credit Tammy Tennant  

     

     Mark Stone

     "...Club 1-2-3 was on Brock Street in Peterborough and ran for four years...  The club was my idea during College and my fest friend Peter Faller and his Dad owned the building and put up the money for the club.  Peter and I ran it for two years - then Peter's sisters Suzie Faller ran it for the final two years.  Roger Pierce was the DJ.  James Downey was a bartender [soft drinks]...  Club 1-2-3 had the largest dance floor of all the clubs in Peterborough for a while.  So many kids grew up there.  The city purchased the building from Hans Faller then demolished it and made the land into a parking lot..."

     Dianne Harte-Maxwell

     "...I-2-3 was supposed to be a multi-layered building.  Kids on the bottom.  Dining on the main floor and a swanky adult night club on the top..."

Club 1-2-3 Floor #1, circa 1987; Credit: Mark Stone

Corinna Abrams

     "...I loved how the dance floor had a counter around it where you could place your drinks and watch them as you dance.  That place was always so much fun.  I remember Tammy [Tennant] and Aurele [Gill] walking in with their huge mohawks hand in hand..."

Club 1-2-3 Live #1, circa 1987; Credit: Mark Stone

Christina Wilson

     "...the excitement of going there.  Getting all decked out and then making the drive with Christine [Jaros] or whoever else was driving.  I was a year younger than the rest of the Cobourg crowd so I wasn't old enough to drive.  I loved the music, the ability to dance however I wished.  Meeting all of the Peterborough freaks.  …I learned to ska dance there..."

Thomass Cisco Wheeler - The Ziggy Effect; Credit: Darcy Scott Clark 

Debbi Lowden

     "...walking in for the first time and seeing Thomas Cisco doing his thing on the dance floor..."

     Club 1-2-3 reveler Tammy Tennant wrote about the space in her high school newspaper shortly after it opened.

     "...The admission to the Club is three dollars plus fifty cents for coat check.  It may sound like a lot for a cover charge but it is well worth it because it has the best lighting set-up in Peterborough, they play good music, and it has the largest dance floor.

'Club 1-2-3 A Sucess'; Credit: Tammy Tennant

     If you are planning on going to Club 1-2-3 you should be over 14 and under 18.  There is no alcohol served, and you won't be admitted if you are drunk or on drugs.  Also you are not supposed to wear track pants or jeans unless they are of the dressier kind.

     They play music for everyone and try to fulfill most requests.  An example of some of the music they play is Skinny Puppy, Divine, Dead or Alive, Run DMC, The Cure etc.

     If you want to visit this club, go on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night between 7:00 pm and 3:00 am and plan to have a good time!..."

     Trevor H. Gulliver

     "...I wrote this poem [entitled 'When we were strange and beautiful'] for the creative writing section of my final high school English exam while coming down off of acid.  I was thinking of all the beautiful people at Club 123 when I wrote it.

I remember often laughing when you and I were poor

I remember being dusty and sleeping on your floor.

I remember being hungry and scratching at your door.

Do you remember eating pizza left (by whom?) the night before.

I used to make art from garbage; I don't do that anymore..."

     Janice Quade

     "...a place that felt liberating, exciting and free …free to be myself  …free to express myself through clothing, hair, music and dance without fear of being harshly judged.  It felt like a safe place to be around like minded people, all of us just stumbling through our teen years and finding our way..." 

Janice Quade; circa 1986; Credit: Janice Quade

     Tom Jenson

     "...I have such fond memories of that club, such a great alternative for kids who didn't want to drink alcohol but still wanted to go out and have a great time..."

Club 1-2-3 Floor #2, circa 1987; Credit: Mark Stone

     

     Marc Novoselec

     "...Club 123 was truly one of a kind, a nightclub for kids and every kind of kid went there, punks, metal heads, goths, country kids and the preppies.  Everyone had their music played and their hair sprayed!

     Even those who were 'of age' would come to 123 instead of the other popular places because there was a vibe, it was new, fun and for the most part very safe.

     A lot of us found new friends from other other schools, learned new dances and maybe had our first serious kiss there.

     The vintage of the building leant to it's cool vibe; we learned how to interact with other cliques and felt totally at home dancing with our eyes closed to DJ Roger's awesome mixes..."

Marc Novoselec - circa 1986; Credit: Janice Quade

     Tanya Dowdall

     "...It was an important gathering place and somewhat neutral territory for teens from all schools to meet rather than silo at a house party with others from their own school.  It was also a place that allowed us to focus on creative dressing up and dancing rather than sitting around drinking (which many probably did BEFORE going there but at least it was kind of chaperoned by bouncers!).  It was a place of sharing and advertising a certain kind of culture - music, fashion, dancing, and connection.  I have many fun and fond memories..."

     Club 1-2-3 tried it's best to create a safe, drug and alcohol free hangout that the Peterborough community would embrace.  In the beginning they were squeaky clean and even had a dress code and mandatory coat check.  They would keep a close eye on both alcohol and drug use.  The coats were checked thoroughly before entering, and anyone giving the slightest appearance of having consumed alcohol wasn't allowed in.  Once inside the club party goers were not allowed back outside unless they paid the entrance fee again.

     Even with all the rules... within months of the space opening, problems with youth drinking in the parking lot and surrounding area would have to be dealt with.

     "...Peterborough police recently charged eight young offenders and adults with drinking in the lot.  They were responding to complaints last Friday and Saturday about noise and broken beer bottles.   ...Inspector George Loyst, of the Peterborough police said several complaints have been received since the club opened..."

     Matt Barraball

     "...$53.75, Anyone remember that number?..."

Peterborough Examiner clipping: Credit: Roger Pierce 

     "...Continued cooperation with the police, plus the approach of winter will likely put a stop to the problem, said [Mark] Stone.  However, he said he anticipates it resurfacing next summer.  …However, he said the club can do little to prevent drinking in the city owned parking lot because bouncers have no jurisdiction.  Stone said the club tries to discourage customers from drinking in cars by making sure they stay inside the building..."

     Sue Faller

     "...There were never any impaired people in the Club :)..." 

     "...A Food City supermarket spokesman said there were a few incidents of youths drinking in the parking lot shortly after the club opened, soon after they discovered the presence of a security guard the problem was quickly solved..."

     At that time, the staff basically frowned on us metalheads ever going near the property.  The few nights I was allowed to enter, it was always very slow, or I was in the accompaniment of one of their 'known' regulars.  It was always assumed by the staff that I was there to deal drugs.  Which I wasn't...

     Sherri Wilfong

     "...Drugs!!!  I remember the bouncer sold them!!!..."

     Always under a very watchful eye, I never really found the place to be that ground breaking and alternative.  Anyone who ever talked to me about the place, always made sure to mention how "hardcore punk" it was.

     It wasn't...

     Alternative Dance; Dance-rock; Gothic Rock; Post-Punk or Synthpop would be better descriptions of the music played at Club 1-2-3.

     "...Meanwhile 123 on Brock Street downtown is just beginning to fill at 10 p.m. as mostly black-clad teens pay their $4 admission.  Whoops of welcome and hugs great newcomers as friends from across the room spot them.

Unknown Newspaper Clipping; 'Club 123!!!'; Credit: Jenn Caley  

     Self-professed preps, 17-year old Julie Houlihan and friends, frankly admit to being materialistic 'trendsetters' sporting brand name clothes.  The larger portion of the 123 crowd are the punks, easily identified by the black garb and wild hair styles.

     Dancing in slower, more deliberate movement than teens at [Club] 404, preps and punks mingle easily.  'Everybody here talks to everybody.' the preps say adding that although the punk's clothes say they aren't going to conform, underneath they are like everybody else..."

     Aaron Michielsen

     "...I frequently laid down in the middle of the dance floor because I was so bored.  I was a freak so I was invited.  It was the only place at the time.  I appreciate that they tried.

     Whenever I did manage to get inside, all I ever heard them play was Depeche Mode; New Order; The Smiths or The Cure.  Although the occasional request for Dead Kennedys or the Sex Pistols would be filled the music mostly played at Club 1-2-3 was solar systems away from bands like: Minor Threat; Bad Brains; Black Flag or Circle Jerks.  I will admit that near the Club's end, after Roger Pierce left to DJ at Clovers Nightclub the playlist became more industrial, goth and experimental sounding.  Bands like Front 242 or Ministry would get played as record labels like Wax Trax! gained in popularity.

     The following playlist by Damian Norman would be a better representation of the music being pumped from the sound system at Club 1-2-3 most weekends.

     Damian Norman

     "...Memories of Club 123 Playlist: Alphaville 'Big in Japan'; Animotion 'Obsession'; B-52's 'Rock Lobster; Bangles 'Walk Like an Egyptian'; Bauhaus 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'; Berlin 'Sex'; Bow Wow Wow 'I Want Candy'; Bronski Beat 'Smalltown Boy'; Company B 'Fascinated'; The Cure 'Boys Don't Cry'; Cutting Crew 'I Just Died In Your Arms'; Dead or Alive 'You Spin Me Round'; Depeche Mode 'People Are People'; Divine 'You think you're a man'; English Beat 'Mirror In The Bathroom'; Jean Loves Jezebel 'Desire'; George Michael 'Faith'; Human League 'Human'; Killing Joke 'Love Like Blood'; Ministry 'Every Day Is Halloween'; Modern English 'I Melt With You'; New Order 'Blue Monday'; Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 'If You Leave'; Romeo Void 'Never Say Never'; Sigue Sigue Sputnik 'Love Missle F1-11'; Skinny Puppy 'Dig It'; Smiths 'How Soon Is Now'; Soft Cell 'Tainted Love'; Stacey Q 'Two Of Hearts'; Timex Social Club 'Rumours'; Tones On Tail 'Go!'; Trans-X 'Living on Video'; Yello 'Oh Yeah'..."

     As the original crowd from Club 1-2-3 grew in age and began to indulge in harder drugs I'm sure that just brought more problems and way too much liability for the owners.

     James Seaborn

     "...Most of mine [memories] are self incriminating or wrapped up in intimacy of the pursuit thereof  …club 123 was MY Club 54..."

     Debbi Lowden

     "...The night of the laser party when everyone except maybe five people were high on LSD..."

     Aaron Michielsen

     "...We were all experimental..."

     Christina Wilson

     "...Drinking and tokes in the parking lot.  Sometimes I'd go when I was staying with my dad but I'd have to lie to him about staying at Corrina Abrams for the night.  I'd usually crash at whoever was having a party after..."

     Unfortunately 1-2-3's future had been predetermined all too quickly from the start.  Although the music wasn't in line with my tastes, and the staff didn't seem to care too much for me, I did manage to make some lifelong friends at that place. 

     In 2007 the Administer of the Club 123 facebook group Jenn Caley along with Tammy Tennant together began to organize a reunion event.  The tradition has been periodically continuing ever since with out of town alumni travelling back to the patch to make appearances.  Sometimes held in local parks, other times in peoples basements or backyards.  The celebrations have continued into the evenings at local nightclubs such as the Trasheteria or the Red Dog.

 

One Step Beyond

     1988, February 05.  Groovy Aardvark - The Dumbs.

     I overheard Theresa LeClair talking to Sarah Lees Calnan in the hallway at Adam Scott high school about going to Ottawa for the weekend.  I half jokingly told them that I would join 'em.  Next thing I know it became a plan.

     Theresa Le Clair

     "...Julie Currie and Dean Findlay were with us as well..."

     I didn't have any intention of hanging out with them and intruding on their weekend of fun, I just needed a ride.  Going to a metal or punk show in the city would be my main goal.

     At the time in Ottawa there was an all ages club called 'One Step Beyond'  Located on the south side of Rideau Street, near Dalhousie that would open on Friday and Saturday nights.

     One Step Beyond began in September of 1986, as an all-ages alternative [ska] dance club with occasional live performances of 'high energy, non-downbeat music' on weekends.  As the space evolved it became an almost exclusively live venue with emphasis on young, local and Canadian underground and alternative bands.  The club quickly expanded their audience by delving into the world of punk and metal.  Sometimes grouping various genres on the same bill.  They would try to offer two or three out-of-town larger touring bands each month.

     Bands like: Accused; Beyond Possession; Broken Bones; Circle Jerks; Dayglo Abortions; Dead Milkmen; G.B.H.; No Means No; Rollins Band; S.N.F.U.; Sacrifice; Scream [DC]; The Swans; UK Subs and Whiplash all played in this space.

     This particular weekend a thrash metal band from Montreal called D.B.C. - Dead Brains Cells with Montreal hardcore band Capitali$t Alienation opening.  D.B.C. had recently released their debut LP the year previous on Combat Records.

     For some reason D.B.C. pulled out early on, leaving the bill as Capitali$t Alientation; Counter Attack and The Dumbs.  D.B.C. later played Roxanne's in Ottawa 1989, June 18.

     John William Maffett.

     "...I don't think that [D.B.C.] was ever locked.  The flyers had Capitali$t Alienation as the headliner, with The Dumbs and Counter Attack.  I'd never been aware of D.B.C. being slated to play until ...someone posted a monthly schedule in the group 'One Step Beyond Alumni'.  It looks like Jeff [Cohen] might have sent them the early version and never sent an update.  The [D.B.C.] posting is taken from the Club listings from The 'Ottawa Citizen'..."

     Myself..., I also don't ever remember D.B.C. being advertised.  Capitali$t Alienation was the band that I was hoping to see.  I had purchased the band's self-released, self-titled album the year previous at the Record Peddler in Toronto.  The cover artwork was done by Voi Vod's Michel Langevin, aka: Away.  The band's grinding sound was a favorite on my turntable.

Honest Injun, One Step Beyond, Ottawa

     Before heading to Ottawa, I had connected with a tape trader pal Steve 'Mop' Desrosiers' who hooked me up with another friend of his named Mike Moreira who hosted me for the evening.  It was the first time I was meeting them both.

John William Maffett

     "...He [Mike Moreira] used to record a lot of shows..."

     One Step Beyond was a great all ages space.  Their scene was very lucky to have had that.  Since I was from out of town and didn't know anyone, I mostly sat on the bleachers and took in the whole atmosphere.  I was a little bummed out that Capitali$t Alienation and Counter Attack ended up cancelling as well.

     John William Maffett

     "...Counter Attack pulled out a week or so before, due to them not being able to find a second guitarist in time [This would have been their first show with Terry.  If I remember correctly, Jeff Marier had joined by the time they played their next show in April, 1988]  Capitali$t Alienation pulled out right before the show, and Groovy Aardvark filled in..."

     Groovy Aardvark [formerly Schizophrenic Muff Divers] and The Dumbs replaced Capitali$t Alienation for the night.  Although disappointing, I did however really enjoy Groovy Aardvark.  They were a Longueuil band that seemed to be going in all direction at the same time.  Originally their sound seemed much like that of Portland's metalcore scene.  Their early demos were reminiscent of bands like Spazztic Blurr or Wehrmacht.

     Tyson Kingsbury

     "...Groovy Aardvark was something you played for me...  I think it was one evening when I was crashing at your place, and we watched 'Evil Dead'  ...I think the next day we went up to Toronto to go record shopping at the Record Peddler... bought a great Venom bootleg that day.  For whatever reason, Groovy Aardvark stuck with me..."

     As Groovy Aardvark evolved into the 1990s they added a more funk sound and although it likely limited their growth outside of Quebec, the band was not afraid to pay respect to their French language heritage.  I was surprised at how large the francophone community in Ottawa was.

     That night, after the show Micheal and I spent most of the evening dubbing demo cassettes from each other and watching horror films.  It was a bit awkward not knowing him all that well, however we seemed to connect and get along fine.  I did have a strange feeling that the parents didn't really want me staying in their home.  This was a pretty common experience for me back in those days.  Except this time it was all in French without the subtitles.

     The next day after the show I called the hotel where the girls were staying.  Turns out that they had left.  Holy Crap!!!  That was a stomach dropping feeling that I had for a short time that kind of freaked me out...   Somehow through broken English, the hotel staff managed to relay a message to me.  The others had decided to spend the night at some college party house.  I don't remember how I managed to find them, yet I did...  That evening's plan was for us all to head to Hull for the evening where we could drink at age eighteen.

     We ended up at a really fancy nightclub in an old Church called 'La Viva Disco'.  The place had once been named in Playboy magazine as being in the top ten bars in North America.  Years later the club abruptly closed down with rumors' of some shocking 'event' that witness had been seriously affected by for years to follow.

La Viva Disco, Hull Quebec.

     Of course that Saturday night back in 1988, the door man would let everyone in but myself.  As usual... due to my style of dress.  "...No denim or studded leather jackets..." I recall him saying.

     Not wanting to ruin the night for the girls and their friends, I took a cab back to the College house and crashed out on an old couch in their unfinished basement.  The only other thing I remember was that the College house basement was filled from floor to ceiling with stolen stop signs, mail boxes and newspaper stands.  They even had a very large McDonald's 'Golden Arch'.  If that house could talk, it must have had some wicked fraternity initiation stories.

     Theresa LeClair

     "...I remember that house very clearly.  The garage was filled floor to ceiling with empty beer bottles..."

 

Teenage Wasteland

     1989, June 24

     My friend Jeff B. and myself are underneath the Bathurst Street bridge at Fort Blvd trying to find a decent spot to take a piss.  We are surprised to find hundreds of homeless people have already claimed the location as their own village.  I continue to solidify my argument with Jeff.

     Only an hour or so earlier I had convinced him that the rock band 'The Who' was for old people.  He had to trust me on this one.  I've been there and done that already.  Yes... I agreed it would have been amazing to see Townshend perform the closing Woodstock solo in 69.  However, that was twenty years previous, and it was a different world now.  Somewhere in some shitty Toronto bar that night could be the next mega superstar band, and perhaps that would be the story I would write for my children in some dumb book years later.  I saw the artist "...so and so..." at the very beginning of their career...  Not the dying end...  It took me a while but I had Jeff sold.

     For some historical context on this strongly held belief of mine.  At the time an almost unknown band called Nirvana was set to play Canada for the first time ever on July 20, 1989 in some shitty small Toronto club.

     Earlier in the day while shopping at the Record Peddler I had grabbed us tickets for Verbal Assault; Uniform Choice and The Fearless Iranians From Hell.  That show at the Siboney Club in Kensington Market, of course I knew would never be "...THE..." concert to end all shows.  Still looking back at 'The Who's "...final..." concert in 1982, I knew I just couldn't relive that rock and roll bullshit all over again.

     Yet... we were still heading in the direction of the CNE.  Jeff's mother at the time worked at 'Peterborough This Week' and scored us some free tickets to see the show.  Since it was still early in the evening before the club on Augusta would open we both decided that we would experience the atmosphere of the crowds and give away the tickets so they wouldn't go to waste.

     "...Free tickets... Free Who tickets..." we yelled as we walked along Front Street near the Princess gates mingling through the crowd.  Made up of mostly old rockers admiring each other's very, very, very faded concert T-shirts from a time long before I was born.

     A few couples stopped to see if we had better seats than them.  It took three or four groups of people before we found someone that had really crappy seats.  They were a little apprehensive at first but they finally took our good tickets in trade for theirs.

     It was getting dark... I didn't want to miss Fearless Iranians opening.  I had picked up their 'Holy War' album the year previous.  I got a total kick out of their S.O.D. - Stormtroopers Of Death type of offensive satire.  Loved their song 'Iranian Hash'  It was time to go and head on up to The Siboney Club.

     Just as we were leaving and walking past the former Molson Brewery building at Lake Shore Boulevard and Fleet Street Jeff, myself and an unrelated stranger got jumped from behind by these two big ass dudes.  It took a moment or two to figure out just what the fuck was going on.  These huge football jock types were really rough and were using their best wrestling team moves to pin our arms behind our backs.  Then it finally came to me...

     Fucking undercover cops!!!

     They pulled us up off the ground and tossed us into some bushes out front the Molson factory.  They told us they had been watching us for the last hour and knew that we were selling drugs.  One cop began searching through my bag of records that I had purchased earlier in the day.  They told us to drop our pants down.  First thing the unknown stranger does is take his penis out of his pants, starts waving it around in front of the face of the cop kneeling down searching my bag.  He says to the cop...  "...You want me naked so you can blow me like the queers you are..."  Terrified, I look at one of the cops and say.  "...Ya... [long pause], …we're not with him...".  "...Pants off..." the cop repeats looking at me.  I remember putting both my arms in the air and saying these exact words loud enough so that anyone walking past on the sidewalk near the brewery could hear me.  "...If you want my clothes off, you're going to have to take them off yourself..."

M.E.A.T. - Issue #1

     The two cops both ignored my comment as a crowd that heard my strange words began to gather.  One of the cops pulled out a stack of free Toronto heavy metal magazines out of my bag called M.E.A.T. [Metal Entertainment Around Toronto].  Why do you have so many of the same magazines, did you steal them?  "...They're free..." I continued.  "...I'm taking them back to Peterborough to put in our local record store...".  At the time the first issue of the legendary magazine had been released only a month earlier and I thought it was a really cool idea that I wanted to promote in our neck of the woods.

     With my arms still in the air waiting for the officer to undress me, I must have given him way too much data for his pig mindset to comprehend.  Just as the two cops turned their attention away from me to Jeff, a bunch of kids on skateboards and bicycles came up to the two cops in the bushes and started pointing out people in the crowd.  "...Guy with yellow shirt and woman with Rolling Stones shirt, and that guy with AC/DC on the back of his jean jacket..."  then they took off again.  What the fuck...  Using young kids as rats in the crowd.  That was some next level crazy undercover shit that until that day I had no idea went on behind the scenes.  We had been wrongly accused by a couple of thirteen years old's on bikes looking to get some hero cookies from the cops.

     Turns out me and the guy waving his dick around were both free to go, except before they let us on our way they took all of our concert tickets and drew a slash / on them with a thick black marker.  Perhaps to indicate something to security at the gate.  Maybe for them to not let us in at all?  Even wrecked the Verbal Assault / Uniform Choice tickets so that they were illegible.  Both shows would be a wash out.  Didn't matter anyways, since Jeff had just been arrested for having the tiniest piece of hash in his front pocket.  Later he told me that he had forgotten that it was even there.

     Afterwards... I was kind of in a daze trying to process the whole event as I walked north.  Not really knowing what to do.  Doing my best to lose the stranger dude who still wanted to talk to me about waving his member in front of the cops.  I travelled back over the same Bathurst Street bridge wondering how many people realize that there is a very huge homeless encampment underneath.  To this day I wonder if it's still there?

     I was mad about being tackled to the ground for no reason.  Just because of the accusations of a couple of children who they themselves were probably trying to work off their own bullshit charges.

     Mad because the exact same thing had happened to me in June of the previous year when Toronto held the G7 summit.  That weekend the city vice squads were tasked with "...cleaning up the city streets...".  They basically do a coordinated crackdown on sex workers, the homeless, gays and lesbians, transgender people.  Oh ya and freaky looking long haired metalheads getting off the bus to see some anarchist punk show on the same weekend.  Again I got off very lucky but both the violations leave a very sore taste to this day.

     At these globalist meetings, organizations like the RCMP and CSIS justify increased security measures by pushing a bunch of "unsubstantiated truth" through so-called "experts" in the corporate media.  In doing so they pump up the fear among the public, as well as with the hotheads in the lower police ranks.  I think that year it was the Chinese 'Red Army' and the 'Irish Republican Army' were going to attack the summit or some such bullshit.  It's always the same script every time, often magically finding a car load of weapons in the days leading up to the summits.  I can't believe after all these years we are still falling for the same fear equals tyranny routine.

https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/tight-security-at-torontos-1988-g7-summit

     Anyways, I digress back to Jeff and our adventure.

     I had no tickets and no idea where the police would be taking him.  I figured the best thing to do would be to take the bus back to Peterborough, and look for his parents phone number to tell them the story if he hadn't yet been in contact with them.  So I headed up to the old Toronto Coach Terminal at 610 Bay Street to catch a ride home.

     Who should I see sitting inside by the front entrance smiling from ear to ear.  "...What they hell?..."  Before I could ask him more or continue on.

     Jeff couldn't wait to tell me how the adventure ended.  "...I kicked that fucker right in the balls and then made a run for it..."  We laughed all the way home just thinking about that one.  I still smile about it to this day...

Kreator / Coroner - 1989

 

Kreator / Coroner

     1989, September 03 - Kreator - Coroner - Infernal Majesty.

     Germany's Kreator came through Toronto in the fall of 1989 during their 'Extreme Aggression Tour'.  This was the second date on the North American tour only months after the album was released.

     I had seen them perform in August of the previous year at the Concert Hall show with Holy Terror.  Both bands opening for D.R.I. - Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.  The guys in Holy Terror were super cool and hooked me up with a backstage pass.  I recall even managing to set up an interview for a friend for the following show at Peabody's in Cleveland.

     While backstage at The Concert Hall show, in broken English I got a chance to chat with Kreator singer Mille Petrozza for a bit after their set.  I sort of really started liking what they were doing musically during that time period. 

     I don't recall much else from that show besides being asked to help keep the crowd off the stage during D.R.I.'s set.  I was really small back in those days, so I'm not sure why someone asked me.  D.R.I. shows are always pretty nuts so I guess any help was better than none.  I just happened to be there at the time.

     I was looking forward to checking out Kreator again, this time with the Swiss band Coroner opening.

     The Apocalypse Club was a tiny space.  Way too small to be hosting such a popular band.  The club had very low clearance with water pipes hanging on the ceiling used from the building above.  The bands performed on a not so high stage, so if you were at the back of the club you couldn't even see the artists.

     They did have some good sound that night, however I remember the place being way over crowed.  Likely illegal fire regulation kind of crowded.  To keep the insanity from the mosh pit away from the bands I think they had set up some sort of crowd control fencing in front of the stage.

Credit: Darah Hayes, 1980's Belleville promoter

     Kim Erskine

     "...I was just thinking about that show!  Tammy Tennant and I went to see Sons Of Ishmael and Guilt Parade in some small town [Belleville] the night before and then stayed in the basement of one of the band's parents' houses, then we somehow hitched a ride to Toronto the next day and met you there.  …You only had one ticket so don't think we ended up going in.  We hung around the club outside all night.  Some random guy gave us a joint that smelled like burning plastic and made us both sick.  WTF were we thinking?  We might have come back to Peterborough with you..." 

     I do recall some Peterborough friends hanging outside panhandling.  Maybe Dianne Hart-Maxwell was there as well?, as she and Tammy Tennant were always connected.  Total dick move on my part leaving the girls all outside.  Although... Kreator at the small Apocalypse Club, would have totally sold out and there wouldn't have been the slightest chance in hell I would be able to get tickets for anyone else to get in.

Infernal Majesty

     I don't remember much of Infernal Majesty playing that night.  They were a Toronto band that later moved out to British Columbia.  They seemed to be caught between the two worlds of heavy and thrash metal.  I remember some of my Cleaveland friends were huge fans of the 1987 'None Shall Defy' album and couldn't get enough of them.  Although I owned that album they seemed to pretty much pass right over my radar.  The September previous to this Apocalypse show, a girlfriend and myself had been invited to an after party at their practice spot.  Much of that night unfortunately was a drunken blur.

     Coroner was from Zurich Switzerland.  Originally Celtic Frost's road crew.  The band never really did that well, outside of Europe.  Very talented musicians, although I don't recall them being a stand out band that night.  A little progressive or avant-garde for my raw tastes.  Meh!  Similarities between their 'Masked Jackal' video and this tour date have been compared.  Their 1991 cover of the Beatles 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' is interesting and worth checking out.

     By the time Kreator hit the Apocalypse Club that night it was sweaty, hot and way overcrowded.  It didn't matter where you stood in the club, you were forever in the pit.  The more intense the music got the whole room just swayed back and forth like ocean waves crashing during a nasty storm.  The band was performing on a small raiser so I tried pushing my way up front to see them play.  That was a huge mistake...

     Ottawa Metal

     "...Kreator Extreme Aggression tour...  The inside of the Apocalypse club was one of the crowdest & sickest ever shows to be put on, too bad there is not footage, just memories.  Drew Masters was the promoter, thanks Drew..."

     Everyone was thrashing their heads to the speed of the music.  Long hair whipping in my face throughout.  People constantly use my head or shoulders as leverage on their travels as they crowd surf past overhead.  Crammed in so tight if my arms were at my side it felt like I was holding hands with the dude next to me.  If I put them in front of me I would get hit from behind and they would end up stuck to some guys sweat soaked back.  The pipes hanging from the ceiling were put to good use to help the denim clad metalheads pull themselves up on top of the audience.

     I was panicking...

     I got trapped in the crowd for Kreator's entire set.  If I tried to leave to get out of the mass of people I couldn't move in any direction.  I would just get pushed back to the spot that I originally stood.  I didn't like the feeling.  With the panic came an asthma attack.  I couldn't breathe...  I was doing my best trying to remain calm.  I kept telling myself that it will all be over soon.  Reassuring my mind that I've been in much bigger and larger pits than this.  If I were to die it would have to be a better band than Kreator.

     I just stood there in the mass, body limp all drenched in sweat letting the crowd and the tempo of the band decide my fate.  I was tossed and thrown around the audience like a rag doll.

     Thankfully Kreator's set that night was extremely short.  By the time they were ripping into 'Flag of Hate / Tormentor' I knew it was almost over...

     Afterwards...  As the club lights came up, and the steam of the heat, smell of shitty home grown weed and the stench of spilled beer poured out of the bar.  My crushing adventure and flash of death had been long forgotten.  I was chatting up similar minds and planning on doing it all over again in the days to follow.  It was all just another metal weekend in the late 80s...