“You know what time it is? It’s thrash time!” – Nick Walsh
1992 was all about a resurgence of Canadian Rock. Slik Toxik, Sven Gali, and Big House were all making waves. Lee Aaron and Killer Dwarfs had new music. But it was Slik Toxik who won Best Metal Video for “Helluvatime” (directed by Don Allan).
The award was presented by Brian Vollmer (Helix), Phil X (Triumph, now Bon Jovi) and Mike Levine (Triumph). Slik Toxik then performed…but my tape ran out! This is what I captured. Neal Busby is one helluva of a drummer!
I also have this cool CBC recording about Slik Toxik, featuring a fan from Thunder Bay, talking about Slik’s rise to fame. Broadcast March 15 2019.
I am pleased to present the best quality copy of this video available. It’s complete and in stereo!
You can read a review of the first Deadline mini-album (from which “Donna (Do You Wanna)” was the single) right here. From Sarnia Ontario, this quartet was primed for the big time but failed to launch. You can tell from this video that they spared no expense in looking and sounding like pros.
This video was recorded from MuchMusic’s Start Me Up program, in early 1993.
This tape, from November of 1992, contains a Guns N’ Roses concert called Live in Paris. You remember that one? With Soundgarden, Lenny Kravitz, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry? I set the VCR to record it in the middle of the night, so I captured all the commercials as well. First one: Tom Green and his old rap group, Organized Rhyme, selling pizza on late night TV!
The only other copy of this on Youtube is in black and white. Not sure why that would be, so here you go, Tom Green fans!
Teachers and counsellors used to tell us it was OK to listen to music when you’re studying, but don’t play things you like so much that you find it distracting. Nothing you love too much, nor anything you hate.
That was always a problem for me as a kid. I loved music! Then and now.
There were always a few albums that hadn’t clicked with me. In 1992 I was studying for exams, and I chose Mr. Bungle’s debut to do it. I was also working with the belief that listening to more complex music got your brain juices flowing even better. I had my method for studying, and I really don’t think music had much impact. I just remember choosing Mr. Bundgle for the reason that it was complex, and I didn’t get it.
When I was younger, in highschool, I remember listening to a lot of different things while studying. I had a vinyl phase in early 1988. I was 30 years ahead of the hipsters. My sister and I had discovered B-sides in the singles rack at the local Zellers store. Def Leppard’s “Ride Into the Sun” was playing in store, and my ears perked up. I knew it was Leppard, but I never heard that song before! Another single I purchased at that time was Triumph’s “Let The Light (Shine On Me)”. Rik Emmett played it a few weeks earlier live and acoustic on the Power Hour. The single got quite a few spins while I was doing my homework that winter.
For some reason, Iron Maiden’s Piece of Mind was also on the turntable a lot while studying that year. I may have purchased the record off Bob, because I am sure I got it from him. There were a couple songs I played repeatedly. One was “Still Life” and the other was “Sun and Steel”. At that age, Bob and I thought we could really sing like Bruce Dickinson if we worked hard enough at it. Those were two songs I was practising at the time!
Listening to music while studying seemed to work for me, but I will admit to one distraction.
Do you remember when Wayne’s World came out on home video? The first releases came with a free pair of Wayne’s World drum sticks. My sister bought the video and got the sticks. However, I would frequently steal them and claim that I needed them to study. It wasn’t untrue. A lot of the time, I would pound out a beat on the bed while I was memorising names, dates and events. However, other times I was just playing a solo. Probably most of the time!
One could argue that drumming on the bed eventually led to my degree.
Hey, the teachers and counsellors also told us to take breaks from studying. Sometimes mine were the length of a song…or several!
Gene Simmons and Bruce Kulick of  visited MuchMusic in May of ’92 for an interview, and to host the Power 30. There are some real moments of sincerity, such as when they are asked about Eric Carr. However the clips you are about to watch are also notable for showing how the Power 30 was a drop in quality from the Power Hour.
Unlike previous MuchMusic visits, this one was broadcast in separate segments. First is an interview by Teresa Roncon; the best part. Then there is a Power 30 co-hosting gig, and a smattering of interview outtakes from the Kiss Spotlight. All filmed the same day, but split apart since the Power 30 was too short.
I’ve recently given you two great Power Hour shows with guest hosts. Rik Emmett from Triumph was a fabulous co-host and also played music in addition to a substantial interview. Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. picked the tunes for his co-hosting gig, and the candid interview made it one of the best episodes of the entire run of the Power Hour.  Now, here is Kiss co-hosting the shorter Power 30, and there is very little substance. A bad joke by Gene that went too far and got censored is the only particularly notable moment. Well, that and Gene’s advice to “fat girls”. Bruce Kulick seems far more engaged, but it’s jokey and short compared to what the Power Hour used to do.
Stuff to look for:
Cool live footage from the Phoenix club in Toronto
Gene’s Canadian jokes, which Bruce eventually apologises for
Talking about the club tour and playing obscure songs
A brief clip from the famed Creatures-era limo interview with Jeanne Bekker
Another brief clip from a 1992 Peter Criss interview
I remember when the Kiss spotlight aired, my mom really liked when Gene compared Kiss to “electric church”. Yeah, my mom loved that….
This one required a bit of editing to make it cohesive; I hope you enjoy.
The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion was fresh on the racks, and the Black Crowes were hitting the charts for “round two”. With a plane to catch, Chris Robinson still had time to stop by the MuchMusic studios for a live chat with Natalie Richard. If you’ve never heard a French Canadian accent before, prepare to swoon.
Live phone calls are answered and Chris does his best to explain what The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion is all about.
“If somebody woulda told me what this business was like before I got into it, I still woulda done it.” — Blackie Lawless
The MuchMusic personality here is as yet unidentified (best guess is Angela Dohrmann; help anyone?), but that is definitely Blackie Lawless. The W.A.S.P. mainman (and only remaining member at this point) looks to be in England, judging by the red double decker busses behind. His new album, The Crimson Idol, was the reason.
The Crimson Idol is a concept album about the hazards of the music business, and Blackie offers his perspective. His beloved horses are discussed again. He also speaks of W.A.S.P.’s past as a shock rock group in an interesting way. Check it out.
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