Jim Cummins - 27 July 2024 & circa 80s on right

I marvel at my longevity and the longevity of the people I have photographed years ago. The evidence of that happened today when I went to an art show and concert in the house of Jim Cummins known by many of us as I,Braineater. In the early 80s he had a band called The Braineaters.

His new band (The Braineaters) with Dave Bose on bass and Mike Ferns on drums was solid and tight and especially as they played in a very small room.

Because of my rapidly receding memory I could recognize quite a few people but I had to ask for their names.

My memory of the wonderful scene that the punks and the alternative bands of Vancouver, that lasted from around 1980 until the mid-90s, made me a bit sad that all those people are mostly gone.

Jim Cummins, is one very big exception. As far as I can tell he has never really held a job. His house was full of all kinds of art and t-shirts and other very nice paraphernalia. My friend Ian MacGuffie who was there told me, “Alex he makes money as an artist.”

I was curious enough to ask him where the name Braineater came from. He told me, “I wanted to call the band Mon Suxx, but Buck Cherry (he of the Modernettes known to some as John Armstrong) but insisted on Braineater."

 He further explained that I,Braineater is himself.