2:59

It’s funny how things fall out of the cultural conversation sometimes. Take the Demics for example. I was pretty much unaware of the band for years until they appeared as part of Jian Ghomeshi’s 50 Tracks feature on CBC Radio earlier this year. While it didn’t make the final list, the Demics’ single “New York City” was an early candidate. It, along with D.O.A.’s 1978 tune “Disco Sucks,” were cited during one of Jian’s guest appearances on George Stroumboulopoulos’ current affairs show The Hour as two of the greatest Canadian punk songs ever. How odd is it then that nearly every friend and colleague I queried knew virtually nothing of the Demics.
The band formed in 1978 in London, Ontario and released a 5 song EP titled Talks Cheap later that year. It included the aforementioned “New York City,” the band’s only real hit, which later reappeared on their self-titled 1980 full length for the Intercon Records label. After several personnel changes the band’s lineup settled with lead vocalist Keith Whittaker, bassist Ian Atkinson, drummer Jimmy Weatherstone and guitarist Steve Koch. Like many bands of that era, the Demics’ career was short lived (they split in 1981), but during that time they managed to share the stage with such notables as the Dead Boys and the Ramones.

The Demics - New York City (MP3)
The Demics - The 400 Blows (MP3)

The Demics’ self-titled full length was reissued last year via Linus Entertainment. The whole album is also available online via CHRW’s London Music Archive (who I thank for the song links). Demics lead vocalist Keith Whittaker sadly lost a battle with cancer in 1996.