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In 1977, the music charts were dominated by the arena rock of Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and disco, but the kids took it upon themselves to start their own revolution.
Television, Patti Smith and The Ramones were making waves in New York City, the Sex Pistols and the Clash were igniting London and the Viletones and the Diodes rocked Toronto. But Hamilton would also be there at ground zero. Back then, Hamiltonians looking for new music would have to join Toronto’s ranks so it wasn’t long before Teenage Head and the Forgotten Rebels were also changing music with their own punk rock.
While there has recently been a lot more attention brought to the music of that nascent punk era, the lifestyles lead and the very nature of the music meant longevity would be less than likely for any punk band. Enter the summer of 2011 and 34 years later, some bands are reuniting but many have faded into the annals of history.
The Forgotten Rebels however – currently featuring veterans Jeff Campbell (guitar), Shawn Maher (bass) and Dan Casale (drums) and founding member and frontman/vocalist Mickey Desadist – are alive and well and remain as much of a draw as ever. The Forgotten Rebels’ new live recording offers a testament to the longevity of this punk band and the music they’ve created, aptly titled Last Ones Standing.
“Well, how many punk bands are left from that time?” rhetorically asks Desadist on the title of the new disc being officially released this weekend.
“We’ve got two new Forgotten Rebels songs on the new disc,” offers Desadist. “We’ve got 12 written, we’ve just to practice and fine tune them until we get them perfect. We’ll release a new album one of these years but it won’t be a five year wait.
“It’s hard to capture anything in the studio with us,” admits Desadist. “This is a live album, it’s got a couple of new songs and it’s got 18 songs all together on it. We recorded a few shows but the best one is the one that’s there. Finally, it’s done and it’s good. I think it’s the best punk album ever released.”
Mixed and mastered by Dee Cernile and Neil McDonald, Last Ones Standing could be the best sounding recording for the Rebels.
Documenting the Forgotten Rebels’ February 2, 2008 gig at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, fans get almost a complete Rebels set to take home – a greatest hits setlist that underscores Desadist’s abilities for satire and social commentary as much as for the band’s musical power and precision. Throw in a couple of love songs – from a Rebels perspective at least – and some of the stage banter and you have a solid memento of a Rebels gig.
Desadist’s between song jokes, topical observations and blatant paparazzi–posing is a hallmark of the Rebels show and his at times off–colour humour always adds levity to shows.
“And a lot of immaturity,” Desadist assures. “The Rebels live show is somewhere between anger and silliness and between silliness and a party. This album is live, it’s real. It’s about having a great time and that’s what counts. And the CD, I think it’s a great cover – it’s me with my shirt off. To tell you the truth, it’s really warm up there. When I get up on stage and take my shirt off, I’m not just doing it for the girls.”
“[Dee] did a great job,” adds Desadist. “He’s a great guy and the guitar player from Sven Gali. He was always a Rebels fan and I was always a Sven Gali fan. He always knew how to make a guitar band sound like a guitar band.”
Rarely do I get a CD that I can’t wait to tear off the cellophane and wait with baited breath to hear what comes out of the speakers as I did with this new Forgotten Rebels CD and I’m not afraid of letting one of the guys who offered inspiration for my own youthful foray as a punk to know my excitement.
“The last time that happened with me was when I got the Mott The Hoople reunion CD from England,” interjects Desadist. “That was last year. That and the time I got the Lady Gaga CD.”
We laugh and I ask perhaps the magic that makes the Forgotten Rebels – and what has made them last so long – rests somewhere between Mickey’s disparate influences.
“Yah,” laughs Desadist. “Somewhere between the Stooges and Lady Gaga and Mott The Hoople. But she probably just wants to steal my clothes.”
Notably fashionable in his own inimitable style, Desadist has only gotten better with age. While sex, drugs and rock and roll and time may have claimed many of his contemporaries, Desadist has seemingly become a little healthier in more current years, and unafraid to bare his leaner frame for fans.
The Forgotten Rebels remain as entertaining as they are important and influential – with some music fans offering one of Hamilton’s newest venues named in honour of the band – but with a new disc in hand and an all–original new album pending, Desadist and crew might not necessarily contemplate their own legacy in the rock canon. The Forgotten Rebels do what they do – they still hold true to their youthful ideals and in style – and most importantly, with no foreseeable end in sight. So come to the show and experience one of punk’s pioneers.
“It’s not easy being this great, you know? The hardest thing is you have to live up to your own reputation, live up to yourself,” notes Desadist. “Having the club name – it’s very good and it’s a good club, too. It’s named This Ain’t Hollywood after the third Rebels album.
It’s a tribute, I guess. But it’s not just about me. It’s the guys that were always the Rebels, in and out of the band.
“Yah, we’re going to get up and play, same as always,” adds Desadist on the CD release show. “It’s going to be a good night. Tell the people to show up and we’ll have a good time. Our greatest achievement is still being around after all of this time and still having fans. We
haven’t bored people enough to just stop showing up.”
The Forgotten Rebels play this Saturday July 9 at This Ain’t Hollywood
with Eamon McGrath opening. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. V
THE FORGOTTEN REBELS
w/Eamon McGrath, the Steeltown Spoilers.
Saturday, July 9. 9pm.
@ This Ain’t Hollywood.
345 James St. N., Hamilton.
In–store meet & greet.
Saturday, July 9, 2 – 4pm
@ Dr. Disc.
20 Wilson. St., Hamilton.
forgottenrebels.com
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