Genres Punk | Active until 1980 | |
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Years active 1977 (1977)–1980 (1980) Labels ReadyHuge Records (domestic)Other Peoples Music (international) Members Keith Whittaker, Rob Brent, Steve Koch, Iain Atkinson-Staines, Jimmy Weatherstone Similar The Viletones, The Diodes, Teenage Head, Forgotten Rebels, Battered Wives | ||
The screwed play the demics song new york city
The screwed play the demics song new york city
Biography
Originally formed in London, Ontario in 1977, the band consisted of vocalist Keith Whittaker, guitarist Rob Brent, bassist Iain Atkinson-Staines and drummer J. D. Weatherstone. Through 1978, the band were rising stars in the Canadian punk scene. They recorded their debut EP in the fall of that year, and subsequently moved to Toronto to be closer to the centre of the punk scene. The EP's single, "New York City" released on Ready Records, was the band's breakthrough hit on CFNY in 1979.
Brent left the band and went on to form the post punk/new wave band, "Mettle" as guitarist and synth player. Brent was replaced by Steve Koch in the Demics. The band released a self-titled full-length album in 1980, but subsequently broke up due to internal tensions.
In 1996, a new CD compiling both of the band's original albums titled New York City was released domestically on Huge Records. Also that year, "New York City" was named the greatest Canadian song of all time in a reader poll by the music magazine Chart.
Vocalist Keith Whittaker died of cancer 16 July 1996. Bullseye Records of Canada released singer Keith Whittaker's final recordings on a twelve song CD called Drink To Me in August 2007.
Guitarist Rob Brent died of a heart condition 5 November 2014 at the age of 57.
Discography
Songs
New York CityTalk's Cheap · 1979
400 BlowsDemics · 1995
Talk's CheapTalk's Cheap · 1979