................. PUNKS
&
PROVOCATEURS .................. Photography & text copyright Linda Dawn Hammond 1976/2008. 1970s, 80s, 90s Punk, alt, hardcore & gay music ... Club scenes in Montreal, Toronto, NYC & Europe.
.... PERDU? LOST?
Complete LIST of CONTENTS & LINKS to BANDS: REBELREBELLE.com/blogindex.html
INFO (at) REBELREBELLE.com
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TORONTO The Siboney, Toronto, 1990s Jaz Coleman of KILLING JOKE (More photos on the Indyfoto site- KILLING JOKE )
Franz Treichler of YOUNG GODS, Toronto, 1990s NOTE: The photo in the Foufounes exhibit is full frame- this version has been cropped. (More photos on the Indyfoto site- YOUNG GODS)
Christian and Karl of ICHOR opened for TEST DEPT. at Industry, Toronto, 1996 (More photos on the Indyfoto site- ICHOR)
Mary Mary of GAY BIKERS ON ACID on left. He's an amazing linguist- he picked up on my long-lost British accent (we left England when I was 6), asking me to continue speaking- then not only identified Kent, but specifically Bromley, where I'd lived! Amazing! All this while a girl was trying her best to distract him in the corner! She eventually succeeded.
I have some hilarious live shots of SHLONK, which I will add when this show is over and have more time to dig into this blog exhibit! Al riding a tricycle, naked (naturally) and covered in blood from rolling on a broken beer bottle... too bad it was shot in B&W!
Politically, much was going on in 1990. SEXGARAGE for example, which began for me when I attempted to shoot "voguing" at a gay bash (in the party sense of the word) and it turned literal. We instead got caught up in a vicious police riot and beating (but there are photos of the initial party as well on the SEXGARAGE site!). Link to PHOTOS: The SNITCHES were one of my favourite local Montreal bands in 80s/ 90s . They took over the infamous SEXGARAGE loft space (site of the 1990 homophobic police attack- see link for details) ) on La Gauchetiere and Beaver Hall Hill, and threw many ecstatic late night parties, which we all miss. The SNITCHES eventually refined or redefined their sound, got signed (though maybe not in that order)... I wish them well! Though it was more fun before. They reminded me of an early Talking Heads- very quirky and hard to pin.
The OKA crisis, an armed Mohawk uprising in Quebec, occurred the same year. Speaking of rebels! Those photos are at
LOST? Go to the PUNKS & PROVOCATEURS BLOG INDEX . List of BANDS and SUBJECTS on this site BY NAME with DIRECT LINKS. The RAMONES, played the Rialto movie theatre on Parc in '91. I was standing precariously on the front row flip seats, trying not to get smashed by flying bodies. A sweetheart in front of me in the mosh pit consciously blocked them so I could continue to get shots! Thanks, guy!! Johnny, Joey and C.J. Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone C.J.Ramone
LOST? Go to the PUNKS & PROVOCATEURS BLOG INDEX . List of BANDS and SUBJECTS on this site BY NAME with DIRECT LINKS. In 1990 I took a course at McGill entitled, "Masochism and Popular Culture", taught by Brian Massumi. It introduced me to materials and ideas which inspired my "Personal Needs" exhibit. One such book was "Modern Primitives", a Research publication.
I also met Pierre (who later started Black Sun" piercing . Pierre is also in my THREE PART BODYSERIES and SCHATTENSPIEL TAROT("PAN" and "LOVERS" cards) . ) We collaborated on some zines he produced- Torn Scrotum", and other projects. Barely out of his teens, Pierre introduced the "straight" (as opposed to "gay") Montreal community to his version of the S&M scene- not to say it didn't exist before him, but just not in the same way! Definitely not as pretty before his arrival, with an entourage of black PVC clad, spiked, pierced, branded tattooed and gorgeous young punks! (You are getting an insight into my personal perspective on "pretty", here. ) It certainly beat (ahem) the traditional view of cellulite stuffed into Marks and Sparks, with the odd nipple clamp for emphasis. Though that has its photographic appeal too, I must admit. I read somewhere of a mythic, hidden archive of Diane Arbus' photographic foray into the New York S&M scene of the '70s. I can imagine what subjects she would have pursued, Marks and Sparks gals among them. I photographed a few events and have always wondered how or where to show them. It is somewhat problematic. People obviously agreed to be photographed and some were in public spaces, nevertheless... I've included a few in the show as it marks an important transition in the punk movement. Punks formerly incorporated S&M gear in their style of dress, but more "tongue in cheek" rather than... well, "tongue in cheek". Anyway. Extreme piercings, tribal tattoos all became part of the scene , which I documented to a large degree in my studio series, "Three Part Bodyseries". The photos were of people in my milieu- inspired by the things going on in the bars, homes and private affairs of people I knew. Some of the events are documented here. I personally saw a connection between the Aids crisis- the growing fear and taboo involving blood, and an overt reaction in the punk community to it. Rejection/ denial/ confrontation/ provocation, which culminated in "Modern Primitives" blood rituals such as public piercings, needle play and so forth. Assimilate the fear. It's an idea.
I started doing photos for COUPE BIZZARRE back when it was a tiny place on Duluth owned by Betty Bizzarre. She then sold it to JIMI IMIJ and Robert. Under their capable hands it evolved into the fabulous Coupe we know today, with locations in Montreal and Toronto. My friend Charles Kenny worked there for several years. These are 2 of my earliest hair shots for Jimi- Willhelm Bengt became a close friend. He was visiting from Berlin. Jimi and I "discovered' him in Lizard, a gay bar on St.Denis (where Cargo used to be!) and convinced him to participate in this photo! It wasn't difficult- Will was always game for just about anything! He played a motorbike Jesus for me in a CBC interview on my "PERSONAL NEEDS" series, and we made a film together (which was stolen, due to resurface on the internet some day if either of us ever become famous!) The setting is my old apartment at 3816 St.Laurent... if a building can be a muse, this was it. Haunted too! It broke my heart to leave it.
AMERICAN DEVICES show, 1990. Pub on St.Laurent (can't remember its name) Punks at DEVICES show, Montreal 1990
AMERICAN DEVICES have been around since punk began! They have played more " very last" shows than I can recall! But this particular one in a loft on St.Laurent 1993 was really their long-time drummer's Karl's last, as he moved to San Francisco later that year. Original member Rob Labelle (guitar/vocals, on left) is still at it, along with the talented Rick Trembles (guitar/ vocals, far right on photo), who is also a cartoonist of note-oriety! Check out his immensely entertaining website, SNUBDOM.com!
Ian Stephens, 1990 Susan Lamond and JP under the corvette! JP, Sheila and Susan Darrel, Erick, Martial and Patrick. Martial is also in my Three Part Bodyseries. Gros Michel, beloved of the Foufounes, with Ava Rave Darrel Ecklund Darrel, Tomas and Josephine Sberna Skid and company Kiisti and company!
Linda Dawn Hammond,MFA, AKA Dawn One, is a photographer and journalist. As a teenager in 1976, she began covering music events for various magazines. During the late 70s she became involved in punk, documenting an insider's perspective of the music, political and social scenes in Montreal, Toronto, NYC, the UK and Europe, included in this blog as photographs and commentary. Linda Dawn Hammond continues to work as a photojournalist, specializing in music, cinema, art and politics. As a fine arts photographer, she has exhibited in galleries in North America and the UK, and published widely.
