DlSicORDER 7A guide to CITR fm 102 , Disorder 4uly19«4, Why Isn't live minutes of my time" is how Art radio ignored them, as did the big record Bergmann describes "Hawaii," the under­ companies. As with any other underground" ground hit he wrote while in the Young act in the mass-media world of North America, Canadians. Those five minutes have hounded they reached a point where they had to break him since. Like the time in 1983 when Bergmann into the mainstream or break up. was onstage with Los Popularos at UBC: some "It was time for a change," is Bergmann's rabid drunk, recognizing Art from the YCs, reply to queries about the split. "Besides, we spent an hour howling at the top of his lungs, weren't big enough. I like to work in a band, a "Young Canadians ... fuckin' Hawaii .. play situation where there's a lot of creative argu­ fuckin' Hawaii ... leschogo to fuckin' Hawaii-i" ment going on. Maybe that's my problem. But "It bothers me," says Bergmann, "because I the Young Canadians were just too small for us think I've written a lot better songs than that. to rub off on each other.'' Not just that, but that EP sold about 5,000 He got the band he wanted soon after, copies, and I never saw a cent of it. The guy who forming what was unfortunately described as owned Quintessence must have ... no, I better "Vancouver's first punk super-group:" Los not say that. I don't need a lawsuit." Popularos. It would be easy to accuse Bergmann of being The band first emerged as a "fuck band" on ungrateful for past success, but he has a point: the Bud Luxford compilation and featured Gord he has written better songs, and none have Nicholl and Tony Bardach (ex-Pointed Sticks), received the attention given "Hawaii." After Buck Cherry (ex-Modernettes), Zippy Pinhead seven years and four records with three different (ex-Dils), and Bill Shirt (ex-Active Dog), along bands, he's in the unenviable position of being, with Bergmann. Originally dubbed Los Radicos as one wit put it, "a semi-legendary folk hero of Popularos, the band played for the hell of it, the Vancouver alternative music scene.'' more often than not for free. Roughly translated, that means that while The "Radicos" was dropped when the band there may be a loyal audience who will look became a serious project. Burdened by inflated forward to hearing the songs he's recorded with expectations, the band almost didn't survive his new band Poisoned, there are a great many their first tour. Cherry left, and the band laid low more people out there who will, at least for now, long enough to shed the ludicrous "super­ continue to say, "Oh, yeah ... Art Bergmann ... group" tag and coalesce into a pretty decent pop wasn't he the guy? ... yeah, let's go to fuckin' This band. Los Pops managed to put out a moderately Hawai-i-i-" interesting single and an EP, Born F.ree , which, It shouldn't happen that way, and maybe it although spoiled by muddy production, show­ won't. The songs Bergmann's recorded with cased Bergmann, Shirt and Nicholl as talented Poisoned are as good as anything that has come and capable tunesmiths. out of Vancouver: sophisticated, well-crafted "Like all great bands, we were really awful songs that still have a raw edge. Bergmann's sometimes," says Bergmann of Los Popularos. voice cuts through with emotion and intensity, a "In the end we broke up because we couldn't mixture of sincerity and cynicism. The tapes Man record anymore. We'd signed a three year have a lot of people saying that this could be the contract with these people, and after Born Free big break for Art Bergmann, the one that brings didn't make them a million bucks, they decided him to a big audience. that they wouldn't give us any more money to Bergmann is more cautious. "Could be, could record, but they wouldn't release us from our be; right now, we're still underground. I mean, I contract. And you can only play live without a always think that a new band is going to be the record for so long before you end up banging one that makes it. You might say I never let my your head against the wall. So we wrote them dreams die." a letters, which got no answers. Finally, we just Looking back on his career, it's easy to decided to call it quits. But I still get together understand the guarded optimism. Great things with Bill and Gord to write the occasional pop have been predicted for Art Bergmann, and not tune about sex, death and religion." without basis. But in the end, something always Which brings us, and Art, to the present, and seems to go wrong, and the prophecy and the Poisoned. Bergmann is back up front, singing potential remain unfulfilled. his own songs, supported by a band made up of The Shmorgs were the first Bergmann-led Ted Rich, Fred Hamilton and Taylor Nelson- band to make it to vinyl, with a record released Star? Little (all of whom most recently appeared with on their own Stray label in early 1978. Psychic Healers) and Murray Anderchak. He's "That was a bunch of guys from White Rock recorded 10 songs for a demo tape (three of and Surrey. We started out as a really basic which can be heard on CITR) and is planning to three-chord rock 'n roll and went on from there play around Vancouver as a prelude to taking as I learned to write songs. We went through a another grab at the gold (maybe brass?) ring. bunch of different lineups, and I ended up doing There are a lot of people pulling for all the writing for the band, which was a real Bergmann, a lot Of people saying that Poisoned burden. And then we were stupid enough to put is 'the one. Anticipation is in the air, inflating out a record.'' The LP, simply entitled Shmorgs, expectations once again. We'll have to wait and is an uneven, but nonetheless interesting, see if Poisoned can avoid the pitfalls Berg­ record that, despite Bergmann's disclaimer, is CD Gets mann's other bands have encountered. Berg­ well worth looking for. Considering how the mann seems to be taking it pretty much in album sold, however, the Bergmann basement stride. might be a good place to start your search. "I don't know. I just want to get back to After the Shmorgs, Bergmann went on to form playing live and then do some recording in a the K-Tels with Jim Bescott and Barry Taylor. 24-track; then we'll see what happens. It's tough K-Tel International was not amused: the people POISONED to get back to being the focus of a band, singing who brought you Veg-A-Matic and Myron and so on. It's a lot easier just staying in the Florens' Greatest Hits threatened legal action, back playing guitar and doing backups. But and the band was renamed the Young Cana­ yeah, we'll see what happens ..." dians. And, if it happens, maybe Art Bergmann can It was with the Young Canadians that leave that particular five minutes of his time Bergmann came closest to success. The band behind and say once and for all - "Fuck released two excellent EPs (including that "five Hawaii." minutes of my time" that continues to plague -CD Bergmann), toured with the Boomtown Rats, and collected impressive notices and fans across Poisoned will be appearing July 20th with the North America. Actionauts aboard the good ship ' 'Hollyburn'' in Yet for all their apparent success, the Young yet another Boating with Bud extravaganza. Canadians remained an underground band; [You owe me one, Luxford. ] Discorder July 1984 Discorder July 1984 oK-HftAfc c/o CITR Radio 6138 S.U.B. Blvd. Vancouver, B.C. V6T 2A5 Dear Airhead, Who is this Sukhvinder Johal, hater of all he does not understand? In his interview, Dear Airhead, turned editorial, with Linton First of all, I'd like to Kwesi Johnson, I was disgust­ dedicate the entire playlist ed to read his needless views show to a dear friend (whom on Rastafari. Does Sukhvinder I'll call Mr. E), because at the really believe that the Rasta- present time he can't p!ck it influenced reggae does not up on his receiver, and he just make political statements? doesn't know what he's mis­ sing. I was also shocked to be called naive and myopic by Secondly, after reading someone who does not know Tom Harrison's many reviews Rasta or the beneficial effects and listening to his silly pu­ the Rastafarian lifestyle has bescent voice on "Sound­ had on countless non-Rastas. proof" ... I think you should Rastafari is not only the fol­ continue your ''Sneer of the lowing of an Ethiopian king, Month" episodes and throw but a complex and caring his pitiful face in it. For lifestyle. "Occupation," you can fill in "Superficial Suckwinder" and Please, in the future, stick for "Likes," "Only his own to the facts, and if you feel it taste in music." and know it, only then say it, because such prejudice is I've got to hand it to that really the root of the world's Jason Grant fellow. Before troubles. reading the write-up in the Sun, I had no idea he was so young, yet he's brilliant, very Now look here Praises, ol' literate, and dedicated to chap, it'd be all too easy for I & CITR.