Jack Pedler Celebration of Life @ Hamilton's Corktown Pub, Sunday

Join Jack's musician pals in a celebration of life event at the Corktown Pub (175 Young St. E, Hamilton) starting at 2 pm 

JACK PEDLER MEMORIAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE

On December 23 the Hamilton music community was saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Pedler. For almost 60 years Jack was at the heart of that community. Acclaimed for his peerless musicianship, his sense of humour and his loyal friendships he will be sorely missed by friends and fans alike. Over his long career he was a driving rhythmic force behind too many bands and recording sessions to list here, among them Teenage Head, Buxton Castle, Ray Materick, Dave Rave, the Rockets and many more, not to mention the popularity and originality of his own solo recordings. 

Today, Sunday (February 15), a musical celebration of Jack’s life will be held at The Corktown Pub (175 Young St) in Hamilton. The event gets underway at 2 PM. Reservations are not required and there will be no admission charge. However voluntary donations can be made at the door to the Bob Pedler Fund, a benevolent fund administered by the Hamilton Musicians’ Guild that helps local musicians who are unable to work due to medical reasons by providing cash grants. The fund is named for Jack’s father, himself a legendary Hamilton musician. This event will provide the opportunity for all of Jack Pedler’s family and friends to come together to play music and exchange stories and memories.

R.I.P. drummer Jack Pedler, 1953-2025

Sadly, Jack Pedler – who played with Teenage Head, Dave Rave Conspiracy, Buxton-Kastle & others – has died. He'll be greatly missed.

Jack's friends are getting together for a celebration of life event at the Corktown (175 Young St) in Hamilton on Feb. 15 – info here.

Kire Paputts new film "Junkie Run" screens @ Hamilton Film Fest, Sunday

"Junkie Run" – feat. the music of Teenage Head & Chris Houston – premieres at Hamilton's Playhouse Cinema on Sunday at 1 pm.

Kire Paputts' micro-budget Steeltown epic Junkie Run – being called "The most 'Hamilton' film you'll ever see" – will be screening at the Playhouse Cinema (177 Sherman Ave. North) on Sunday (October 26) at 1 pm as part of the Hamilton Film Festival. Junkie Run was shot entirely in Hamilton with a cast of local talent. The cast and crew will participate in a Q&A after the screening.

Junkie Run is a dark comedy caper film centred around a community of misfits at a local dive bar. When the regulars get word that Foggy, a local junkie, is on the run with a bag full of money from a botched drug deal, they each scheme, backstab and claw at one another to be the first person to find Foggy and take the money.

Says filmmaker Kire Paputts "About half the roles in Junkie Run were written for specific people. Many of these actors I’ve worked with in the past. For some it’s our first collaboration. I’ve spent years building a roster of characters. Consisting of friends, family, and muses. And I’m constantly adding to my Rolodex. Always looking for new talent. The idea of building a community is very much inspired by John Waters Dreamlanders and the trailer park community of Giuseppe Andrews films. I’ve slowly been gravitating towards that idea for the last 10+ years."

The soundtrack and a soundtrack featuring songs by Teenage Head and Chris Houston. Sez Chris "Some of the movie was shot in my house... Mickey Skin did a scene in my bed which she thought was going to collapse!"

"Junkie Run is packed with music," continues Paputts. "Both original score and licensed recordings. All original songs were written and produced by Devon Goldgerg. Performed by Morricone Youth. Our third collaboration.  We ended up licensing 16 songs. This allowed me to showcase some of my favourite local artists, either from the Hammer or Toronto. Working on The Last Pogo Jumps Again with Colin Brunton was a great education in Southern Ontario punk/new wave.

"When it came time to find songs for Junkie Run I had a pretty good selection of artists to pick from. We didn’t have a lot of money so I’m grateful to all the artists who helped us out: Teenage Head, The Ugly, Chris Houston, John Borra, Handsome Ned, Jelly ToofLy, Chris Haight, Screamin’ Sam, Man Crush, Dildoniks, ACR, Kimbo Red Splizz and Wayne Larabee (The East End Sensation).

"I really wanted to get an early Forgotten Rebels song in the film but the individual who controls the master recordings wasn’t very helpful. I also had a particular song for the opening credits, but it was gonna cost me as much as all the other songs combined. But I’m thankful. I stumbled across another song which works a million times better. Sometimes the universe does that.

"A special thank you to John Borra for producing and wrangling some great musicians for “Last Man In The Bar.” A song that was written by John Hamlton and my father in the 70’s, but was never properly recorded until now.  Maybe we’ll release a soundtrack in the new year. Until then you’ll be able to toe tap along to these great artists at the upcoming Junkie Run screening."

Advance tickets are $12 available right here. Watch a snippet here.

The first 20 people who show up for the Junkie Run screening at the Playhouse get a swank t-shirt like Liz Worth is wearing. 

R.I.P. Blondie drummer Clem Burke, 1954-2025

Sadly, Clem Burke – longtime Blondie drummer who played with Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, Empty Hearts and others has passed away after a battle with cancer. 

LINKS
Rolling Stone Clem Burke, Blondie drummer dead at 70

Happy Birthday Dave Bingham, harp-honkin' frontman of the Ugly Ducklings

Here's Dave Bingham reprising two Ugly Ducklings' classics with The Screwed featuring guitarist Gord Lewis of Teenage Head.

Happy Birthday Roy Loney!

Remembering Roy Loney of the Flamin' Groovies and Phantom Movers with some performances and A-Bones collaborations.

Teenage Head band memorabilia on display at Hamilton's Beckett Fine Art

Teenage Head's exhibit at Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton opens September 5th and runs through September 23rd 

As part of gallery owner Tom Beckett's Love Hamilton! celebration of the Steel City art and music,  Hamilton's Beckett Fine Art will be showing rarely seen Teenage Head photos, posters, art work and related memorabilia from the band's own private collection. Hopefully we'll finally get to see those platform shoes that Steve Mahon was making in wood shop while attending Westdale Secondary School. My original pencil sketch of Teenage Head frontman Frankie Venom for the cover of the University of Waterloo student newspaper Imprint from 1980 probably won't be part of the exhibition but you can see it below. Beckett Fine Art (196 Locke St. S, Hamilton) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. The exhibit is free. For more information, check out the Beckett Fine Art site right here. 

It's been 43 years since Teenage Head rocked Heatwave back in 1980... get a copy of their performance on vinyl right here. 

Happy 75th Birthday Cyril Jordan!

Celebrating the 75th birthday of the Flamin' Groovies' Cyril Jordan with his 2009 meeting with Teenage Head's Gord Lewis.  

Punk Photography, Poster & Flyer Exhibit @ Innis College Atrium, Sunday

Emissions presents a rare display of vintage punk photos, posters and flyers with music by Night Chill on Sunday from 7pm-9pm. 

Early Toronto and Canadian Punk Photography, Poster and Flyer Exhibition

Innis College Atrium (2 Sussex Ave - main floor)

In tribute to the early developing punk music scene of Toronto and across Canada from 1976 into the 1980s, Emission Record Shop is proud to present this exhibition of hundreds of original photographic prints, posters, and more. 

On display will be original show posters, flyers, record release promos, stickers and more rarely seen specimens with a Canadian focus. Bands covered include Teenage Head, Demics, Diodes, Forgotten Rebels, Arson, Platinum Blonde, The Government, The Rage, SNFU, DOA, NoMeansNo, The Curse, B-Girls, Viletones, The Ugly, Direct Action, Sudden Impact, Down Syndrome, Pointed Sticks, Youth Youth Youth, Young Lions, Da Slyme, and many, many more. Also included are original posters for early Canadian appearances by American bands like Black Flag, B-52s, Dead Kennedys, Toxic Reasons and more. Almost all of these original pieces will be for sale.

Featuring the Misfits 1977 photographs by Paul Till:

The Misfits trekked from New Jersey to Toronto for their 7th ever show and only their 4th show with a guitar player. It was the first time they played outside of the NJ and NY area. Luckily, professional photographer Paul Till – best known for shooting the cover art for Bob Dylan's Blood On The Tracks album from 1972 – was there to capture the event. 

Recently retired, Paul's lengthy career covered photographing a ton of live music for NOW Magazine including many of Toronto's earliest punk shows. His original prints of photos taken during The Misfits show at Toronto's Shock Theatre on December 22, 1977 and others will be on display and for sale.

Live music will be provided by Hamilton's ghoulish theremin-loving band, Night Chill! Tickets are $10 available here. Check out a couple of creepy Night Chill clips below. 

R.I.P. Canadian record man Al Mair, co-founder of Attic Records

Sadly, legendary Canadian record man Al Mair, co-founder of Attic Records, has passed away. He'll be greatly missed.  

Rob Sweeney shares his tribute to Teenage Head's Gordie Lewis

Crummy Stuff guitarist Rob Sweeney recently cut "The Rocker" for Gordie Lewis and shared it via Bandcamp.

You can temporarily download a digital copy of Rob Sweeney's instrumental "The Rocker (for Gordie)" for free right here. 

That time Keith Whittaker sang "New York City" with Teenage Head

Back in 1993, Keith Whittaker sang his Demics classic "New York City" with Gordie Lewis and crew at The Horseshoe in T.O.

Happy Birthday Peter Zaremba!

Raising a glass to Count Zaremba with a Fleshtones performance in Hamilton featuring Teenage Head's late great Gordie Lewis.

R.I.P. Gord Lewis of Teenage Head

Sadly, Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis was found dead Sunday in his Hamilton apartment, the apparent victim of a homicide. 

LINKS

Toronto Star Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis found dead

CBC News Teenage Head's Gord Lewis found dead in Hamilton apartment, guitarist's son charged with murder

Hamilton Spectator Hamilton's Gord Lewis of Teenage Head remembered for music that defined lives

CBC Radio Hamilton promoter Lou Molinaro remembers Gord Lewis

That time Teenage Head played Winnipeg in 1981

Here's Frankie Venom and crew rockin' Winnipeg's Norlander Hotel in 1981 along with some other rare live audio. 

Before They Were Famous: Teenage Head's Frankie Venom

 

Here's a yearbook photo of Frankie Venom back when he was known as Frank Kerr at Hamilton's Westdale Secondary School. 

Q107's Bob Mackowycz reviews Teenage Head show in June 1978

Here's Bob's discussion of Teenage Head's Horseshoe gig with Suicide & Destroy All Monsters broadcast on Q107 June 2, 1978. 

Happy Birthday Frankie Venom!

Remembering the late great Frankie Venom with Douglas Arrowsmith's film Picture My Face: The Story Of Teenage Head. 

Merry Christmas 1975 from Teenage Head!

Back in 1975, Teenage Head played a Christmas dance at Hamilton Collegiate Institute. Check the pics! 

Here's the scoop from Steve Mahon...

Going back 45 years to the year 1975 for our big "second" gig in the Hammer and fortunately someone had a camera this time.  Nick's playing Frankie's beautiful Silver Sparkle Ludwig kit, which he would soon trade in for some Traynor P.A. equipment, now that he was our lead singer. Gord's playing his Gibson SG, with a couple of spares on hand as well as a Wah Wah pedal which he would never use.  We got the scarves on the mike stand from Aerosmith and the toy guns from the Dolls. I believe we saved Raw Power as our last song, which is a little tough to dance to, but we didn't care, we we're living the dream.

Teenage Head's "Picture My Face" doc airs tonight on TVO

The 1980 performance of Hamilton's Teenage Head at Heatwave will be in TVO's Picture My Face doc November 3 at 9 pm.  

Here's the scoop from Teenage Head...

"We always knew there was a film crew shooting the Heatwave Festival, but what happened to the footage? Apparently the majority of the bands declined to be filmed, or never agreed to participate in a movie about the festival, so the film they did have sat in a warehouse collecting dust. Our good friend Mr. Zero from the Kings had acquired all those film canisters several years ago, as Teenage Head and The Kings were the only bands left on film. That film ended up in the hands of FELTFILM director Douglas Arrowsmith, who has just wrapped up production on our upcoming feature documentary appropriatley titled "Picture My Face". Along with Doug McClement's pristine audio capture, the results are stunning. In fact that's how the documentary starts, which will air later this fall on TVO's Original Series with tons of never before seen footage. It only took 40 years, but from what we've seen it was worth the wait." 

Watch the trailer for Picture My Face followed by an interview with Teenage Head bassist Steve Mahon on the Daily Derringer podcast and The New Music's coverage of Heatwave below. 

Watch J.D. Roberts' coverage of Heatwave for The New Music in 1980