Labels Quintessence Records Origin Vancouver, Canada (1979) Albums No Escape, Hawaii | Active until 1980 Members Art Bergmann Genres Punk rock, Garage rock | |
 | ||
Years active 1979 (1979)–1980 (1980) Similar Pointed Sticks, Subhumans, DOA, The Modernettes, U‑J3RK5 | ||
Young Canadians (originally The K-Tels) were a Canadian punk rock band formed in Vancouver in 1978 and active for just under two years. The YC's were influenced not only by the other punk bands in town at that time such as D.O.A. and the Pointed Sticks, but also by the Dolls, the Stooges, and 1960s garage rock. Although the band only recorded two EPs and a single before breaking up, their single "Hawaii" is one of the classic Canadian punk anthems.
Contents
Historically significant (at least to the Vancouver scene), The K-Tels were the first punk band to play the Smilin' Buddha. They also supported the Boomtown Rats on a tour across Canada.
Just before the release of Hawaii, they were forced to change their name when threatened with legal action by the K-Tel corporation.
The band's leader and songwriter was Art Bergmann, who went on to become one of the key figures in Canadian alternative rock in the 1980s and 1990s.
Their two EPs and single, plus unreleased live tracks, were re-released in 1995 on the album No Escape, with liner notes written by Buck Cherry. Joyride on the Western Front, a live album documenting a 1980 concert at Mabuhay Gardens, was released in 2001.
Founding member and bassist Jim Bescott died in an accident in Vancouver on August 31, 2005 at the age of 52.
Discography
Songs
Automan2005
I Hate Music1979
Data Redux2005