Radio What Wave Playlist Dec 5 2013; Graphic Underground: London 1977-1990 Show
On this week’s broadcast, we did a special on the Graphic Underground: London 1977-1990 show as we had the curator of the museum exhibit, and author of the book, Brian Lambert on air as special guest.
Graphic Underground: London 1977-1990 was a McIntosh Gallery exhibit (curated by Brian Lambert) housed at the Forest City Gallery here in London from Oct to Dec 2012. The exhibit was the posters, zines and ephemera that was created here in London between 1977 and 1990, that accompanied the music scene happening here concurrently. Hundreds of posters, zines and other assorted artwork were dusted off and dug out of who knows where to be on display at the Forest City Gallery. Attendance records were set during the 6 week run of the exhibit.

Opening night at Forest City Gallery
Accompanying the exhibit is a museum type book, with the same name as the art show. The book is set to be released this weekend at APK, between the hours of 2 and 7PM as the author will be doing a book signing.. Well over 200 pages, this book is literally packed with hundreds of pictures of posters, zines and vintage pictures of some of the people involved in the scene.
And this edition of Radio WW is only music recorded in London between 1977 and 1990 with almost all of it being unreleased and never before broadcast on the radio or elsewhere.
- The Demics….New York City…recorded live in Toronto approx 1980. This is the song and the band that have put sleepy London Ontario on the map.
- The Demics….Oh Well…as above as NYC segued right into Oh Well.
- Uranus….5 Bucks….played live over the airwaves of CFNY in Toronto May 1980. Uranus are the starting point for punk/new wave bands in London as they were the first band to play at the Blue Boot (later called The Cedar Lounge, the only exclusive punk/new wave club in London and lasted from mid 1978 to May 1982) and opened the doors for others to play as it was proven that real rock’n’roll bands and their fans drink lots of beer, which make bar owners happy.
- Ralph Alfonso did a shout out here. Ralph was the doorman (and behind the scenes guy) at the first punk/new wave club in Canada, The Crash And Burn Club in Toronto Ontario. Ralph was/is the manager of The Diodes and along with Mike Neiderman, brought The Diodes to London for the very first punk/new wave show here, back in March 1977. Mike was the very first person to poster (and was subsequently fined by the police) for an event here in London as he was a printer and knew how to make a poster. He ended up printing many of the early posters used in London as well as most of the zines that came out of London. He also hosted The Demics first ever show at his loft and we consider him the grandfather of punk rock here in London Ontario.
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Ralph Alfonso, Mike Neiderman and Liz Worth (author of Treat Me Like Dirt) in London 2/14/10
- Nihilst Spasm Band….This is A Test. And it was a test when Nihilst Spasm Band played as they built their own instruments and played free form experimental music long before it became trendy. Starting in the early 60’s, NSB had a weekly residence at the York Hotel (later named Call The Office) and the band consisted of a group of artists, some of which are famous Canada wide. They are listed as influences to many of the noise bands from around the world, including Sonic Youth as a couple of members have worked with the band. And NSB are big in Japan too!! The children of NSB started to form their own art damaged bands in the late 70’s/early 80’s and some continue to this day.
- NFG…Bloodstains On The Carpet….recorded live somewhere in London, late 70’s. Non Functioning Gear, Not For Girls or more likely No Fucking Good (and here to prove it) as Keith Whittaker of The Demics would introduce this bunch of long haired cowboys. More aggression than finesse, the guitar player for this combo would write some hook laden songs that would follow the band as they became 63 Monroe in later years.
- Regulators….Sherry Share It…..recorded live at The Cedar Lounge in 1979. If Lou Reed had kids, this would be their band as the Velvet Underground and solo Reed sound emanate freely.
- The Stoves…So You Say….recorded live at The Cedar Lounge 1979. This band was miles ahead of the competition here in town, as they combined 3 part harmony into high energy songs. Covers of Hollies and Searchers tunes set the standard of finely crafted tunes.
- The Zellots….Sheik…1981 demo. They were one of the first to start a band in London, moved to Vancouver and reformed, then moved back to London with a new singer. This is the band that coulda and shoulda but luck wasn’t on their side. Full story is in Mongrel Zine 10 and 11.

The Zellots playing at a street festival, summer 1980
- Radio 4….Is God A Man…demo that I thought was recorded by Chris Richards (Generics) but Chris corrected me as it was a Peter Moore Silent Head Recording. Peter Moore (lived in London a short time while studying MIA at Fanshawe College and has since gone on to work for the big names) would bring a white Styrofoam head with wires coming out of the ears to gigs. It was easy to pick out the head sitting on a table in a crowded bar. Many recording were done by Peter Moore this way and culminated in the first London compilation, Domestic Animals. And back to Radio 4, they were often lumped into the Joy Division clone ranks but there was a lot more intensity and musicianship in this band that later became Sheep Look Up.
- Generics….Depresssion…1983 ghetto blaster demo. These kids came on the scene with a smart mouth attitude and proved themselves on their only record which is now on collectors lists worldwide.
- 63 Monroe…Completely Sweet…recorded live at The Cedar Lounge and aired on CHRW in 1980. I taped this from the radio (and many others, some cassettes still survive) and I remember from some of singer Scott’s comments that I was at this show. 63 Monroe evolved from NFG (see above), renamed themselves First Date for a short while, went back to 63 Monroe and they still play occasionally to this day. These guys took the glam rock route, wearing tons of makeup and their grandmother’s undergarments on stage.

Markii and Rooster looking completely sweet, Cedar Lounge 1982?
- The Hippies….He’s Frank….recorded live at Fryfogles1/16/84. Prior to The Cedar Lounge closing in May 1982, the bigger name bands started playing at Fryfogles (south side of Dundas St, where the Library is) due to the booking of Craig Deans and Dave Fellner who brought in many big names early on (The Stranglers, 999, John Cale, Simple Minds and more). The Hippies released one excellent single and recently reformed for the singers 50th birthday.
- The Terminals….Plastic World…from the We Killed Cassette. This band evolved from a late 70’s influenced sound to bring the newly evolving hardcore sound to London in 1981. They lasted many years and always put on a tight, energetic and fun show.
- Spiral Scratch…No Familiar Faces…recorded live at The Cedar Lounge in 1981 for the wedding of a couple of well known scene members. This wedding bash brought back former Londoner Marcy Saddy with her latest combo from NYC, Certain General for the first of several visits. Spiral Scratch evolved from The Sinners and stuck to an early 80’s UK punk sound and released one LP.
- Dead Rabbits….Waiting Around…recorded live at The Cedar Lounge 2/9/82. Proof that anyone can form a band and get up on stage and get a crowd up and dancing! Some members went on to the biker rock combo, The Flying Squad.
- Napalm Babys….Bullet…recorded live in Ottawa, 7/11/85. Another of the early bands to go in a hardcore direction, starting in 1981 and evolving with a different singer later on. Members of this band went on to Bassbag, Schmagpies and many others.
- Naplalm Babys…Gun Control….as above.
- UIC….Telephone….recorded live at Call The Office 3/16/85. Recorded by Wayne Fisher (Napalm Babys) on video and you may see some of this show on Youtube with your DJ up front dancing like a fool! UIC were from Exeter, just north of London where they could get those fine fine Detroit stations and that became a big influence on several people from that area. UIC formed in 1982 and lasted into the early 90’s after a move to Toronto. Not really punk, metal or garage, these guys were loved by many and had a Huge following, releasing a couple of LP’s and CD’s.

UIC, Shillelagh? Lucan Ontario 1984
And that’s a wrap as we’ve run outta time, but certainly not tunes as we’ll continue in this direction next week. Huge Thanx to Brian Lambert for taking the time to come on air and talk about the Graphic Underground: London 1977-1990 book. Anyone with even a passing interest in this, is well advised to pick up the book as it’s sure to be sold out.
Thanx for all the phone-ins, emails, facebook messages and Heys!!!!
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