Ongoing History of New Music

The Ongoing History of New Music, episode: 938: 14 incredibly important Canadian punk bands

We’ve all heard the stories about where punk came from. Here’s the precis: The New York Dolls and a few other bands started playing gigs in a crappy area of New York City that attracted musicians, artists, and various degenerates looking for places with low rent. This leads to the opening of CBGB in 1973, which becomes the centre of a scene that gave home to bands like Television, Blondie, Talking Heads, and most importantly, The Ramones.

In July 1976, The Ramones fly to London to play a show at the Roundhouse attended by curious kids who then either continue with their nascent punk plans–that would include The Sex Pistols, The Clash, and a few others–and inspire others to form their own groups. And from there, punk spread across the world.

That’s the elevator pitch for punk’s origin story. What’s missing is Canada’s involvement. And believe me, The Great White North had a lot to say about punk in those early days. And I mean a lot.

Toronto was the third leg of a punk triangle that extend to New York and London. Ideas, trends, and music were constantly being exchanged. Meanwhile, out on the West Coast, there was a fierce Vancouver scene that worked largely along north-south routes into the US. And then across the country, there were pockets of punk that had their own spheres of influence.

This history needs to be told. And we’re going to do it by looking at the stories of 14 incredibly important Canadian punk bands from back in the day.

Songs heard on this show:

  • Teenage Head, Picture My Face
  • Viletones, Screamin’ Fist
  • The Diodes, Tired of Waking Up Tired
  • B-Girls, Fun at the Beach (Live)
  • Demics, New York City
  • The Curse, Shoeshine Boy
  • D.O.A., My Old Man’s a Bum
  • Dishrags, I Don’t Love You
  • Young Canadians, Hawaii
  • The Subhumans, Urban Guerilla
  • Pointed Sticks, The Marching Song
  • Forgotten Rebels, I’m in Love with the System
  • SNFU, She’s Not on the Menu
  • Propagandhi, I Vant U 2 Vant Me

Naturally, Eric Wilhite has a playlist for us.

The Ongoing History of New Music can be heard on the following stations:

We’re still looking for more affiliates in Calgary, Kamloops, Kelowna, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Windsor,  Montreal, Charlottetown, Moncton, Fredericton, and St John’s, and anywhere else with a transmitter. If you’re in any of those markets and you want the show, lemme know and I’ll see what I can do

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38040 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

4 thoughts on “The Ongoing History of New Music, episode: 938: 14 incredibly important Canadian punk bands

  • A punk list without mentioning the great nomeansno is just garbage. Just sayin…

    Reply
  • How about sparkmarker?

    Reply
  • As was mentioned, the fact that you don’t even mention NoMeansNo is just embarrassing, and shows how little you actually know-or care-about Canadian punk. Just garbage.

    Reply
  • Not entirely fair – this show seems to be about the earlier days of CanPunk…
    No Means No was incredibly influential and popular all over the place, but they didn’t really get going as an actual band until into 1981 I seem to recall…

    Reply

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