Battered Wives
| Company type | Punk rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 in Toronto, Canada |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums |
Battered Wives, alternatively known as The Wives, was a punk rock ensemble originating from Toronto, Canada, active during the late 1970s.
History
The band was initially assembled on Toronto's Queen Street West with members Toby Swann (guitar, vocals), Colin Fox (drums), and Robert Stewart (bass, vocals). Fox, who was American, was deported following drug-related charges, which led to the group's first dissolution. Subsequently, Swann reconstituted the band, bringing in Larry "Jasper" Klassen (bass, vocals), John Gibb (guitar), and Cleave Anderson (drums).
Their debut album in 1978, titled Battered Wives, included popular tracks such as "Daredevil," "Suicide," and "Uganda Stomp (Bomp Idi Bomp)", a satirical piece targeting Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Despite facing protests and criticism from women's advocacy groups regarding their name and visual presentation, the album achieved sales of 50,000 copies within Canada and was certified gold.
Following Anderson's departure due to the negative publicity surrounding the band, Patrick Mooney took over drumming duties. In 1979, under the shortened name 'The Wives', they released their second album Cigarettes, which featured the standout song "New Wave Robot". This release earned designer Rodney Bowes the Juno Award for Best Album Graphics in 1980. Although controversy continued over their branding during a 13-city tour supporting Elvis Costello and The Attractions, the tour concluded without any major incidents.
In 1978, Battered Wives organized a benefit event called "Rock Against Repression" aimed at supporting the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Ontario Libertarian Party.
The band's 1980 album Live On Mother's Day saw a return to their original name but encountered legal obstacles that restricted its distribution. Shortly after this release, the group disbanded.
After the breakup, Anderson became a member of Blue Rodeo, Swann embarked on a solo career releasing Lullabies in Razorland in 1981 which included a rendition of "Over the Rainbow", and Klassen remained active in Toronto’s music community until his passing in 2016.
Discography
- Battered Wives (1978), Bomb Records
- Cigarettes (1980), Bomb Records, Epic Records
- Live On Mother's Day (1980), Ready Records