Sound of Music comes to Hamilton - Teenage Head
Often referred to as Canada's answer to The Ramones, Hamilton Weston High school buddies Frank Kerr and Gord Lewis formed the group in 1975 with bassist Steve Mahon and Nick Stipinitz on drums. They took their name from a Flaming Groovies song title and quickly gained a loyal following on the Ontario club circuit for their unbridled raw energy, highlighted by Lewis' mainacal fret-work and frontman Venom's antics and natural on-stage charisma.
With Kerrr and Mahon now going by the personas Frankie Venom and Steve Marshall, they released a self-produced, self-titled debut on Interglobe Music in '78. But a practically non-existant budget for production or marketing, when added to a label on the rocks equalled disaster. The label closed it's doors just as the band was beginning to make headway on local college and radio stations with "Top Down" and "Picture My Face". Nonetheless, the band's frantic live shows had caught the attention of execs at Attic Records and they were signed to a deal in 1979. A bigger label meant a bigger budge, and Stacy Heydon was brought in to produce their first project with Attic. Most noteable for his work with David Bowie, he managed to polish the rough edges on the group's sound without compromising the rawness which stood them apart from the mainstream. Released in the spring of 1980, FRANTIC CITY and featuring a very young Daniel Lanois in the studio, it produced two singles and would turn out to be their most successful lp. On the backs of "Let's Shake" and "Something On My Mind", the record went gold, selling 50,000 copies and became the soundtrack to beer-swilling teenagers across the country.
Teenage Head Jigidi Puzzle