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| From left: Marv Newland, Dave Gregg, Les Wiseman, Rick Staehling |
In the late 70s my two favourite Vancouver bands were Art Bergmann's the Young Canadians (originally called the K-Tels) and D.O.A. The Subhumans were a close third.
I liked the Young Canadians (a three piece band) because they were tight and minimal. Art Bergmann’s guitar did not need a second fiddle.
I liked D.O.A. because it was a loud two-guitar band that featured a jumping and awesome bass player, Randy Rampage and a drummer Chuck Buscuits who was loud and active. But the prize went to the second guitarist (Joey Shithead played guitar and was the lead vocalist and song composer) Dave Gregg. He played with an eternal smile on his face that felt to me like he was always surprised that he could play so well and get the sounds that he got from his guitar.
For my picture taking I always stood right next to Gregg (on stage left) by his monitor. Paradoxically for those who might not know, a very loud band is less so if you hover around the monitors. Here I felt protected and nobody was about to toss me around. Gregg was my guardian angel.
When D.O.A. lost Gregg my passion for the band diminished a tad. When Randy Rampage left the band a few years ago my passion disappeared.
If anything it all proclaims that the good times of our past (and mine) cannot really be repeated. We all move on.
I chanced on this negative in my darkroom today. The four men, Marv Newland, Dave Gregg, Les Wiseman and Rick Staehling (perhaps Marv Newland may be the exception) look like beer may have been in their thoughts the moment I took the picture. This is a rare picture of Vancouver Magazine art director who not much after this picture was taken decided that the hassle of going to a concert did not compensate with the idea of listening to a band live. It was better enjoyed by buying the record or the CD. I believe that the venue for the photograph is the Commodore Ballroom.