Subhumans (Canadian band)

Subhumans
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1978 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Headquarters	Vancouver, Canada
Products	Punk rock music, albums, singles, EPs

Subhumans originated as a Canadian punk rock ensemble established in 1978 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The founding lineup featured members identified by their punk monikers: "Useless" (Gerry Hannah), "Dimwit" (Ken Montgomery), "Wimpy" (Brian Roy Goble), and "Normal" (Mike Graham).

History

Shortly after releasing their initial 7" record, Dimwit departed to join the Pointed Sticks, with Koichi Imagawa stepping in as the new drummer.

In 1981, Hannah exited the band to engage with an underground activist collective known as Direct Action (also referred to as the Vancouver 5 or Squamish 5). This group, comprising ecologists and feminists, orchestrated several operations including the 1982 bombing of the Litton Industries facility in Ontario, which manufactured guidance systems for cruise missiles. Although Hannah was not directly involved in the Litton bombing, he endorsed it and participated in other activities such as planning a Brinks truck heist. He was arrested alongside other members in January 1983, subsequently pleading guilty and receiving a decade-long sentence, of which he served five years. During his imprisonment, Hannah contributed to the punk fanzine Maximum RocknRoll, maintaining his connection to the scene. Later, filmmaker Glen Sanford created a documentary about him titled Useless.

Following Hannah’s departure, Subhumans reassembled with Ron Allan on bass. After Imagawa left, Dimwit briefly returned before Randy Bowman took over drum duties. This lineup—Wimpy Roy, Mike Graham, Ron Allan, and Randy Bowman—recorded No Wishes, No Prayers under Black Flag’s SST Records label.

The band dissolved in April 1982. Subsequently, Goble joined D.O.A., contributing bass and vocals alongside Dimwit. Allan and Graham formed Shanghai Dog; Bowman became part of The Enigmas and later The Scramblers with Allan. The influence of Subhumans is evident through covers by groups such as D.O.A., NoMeansNo, MDC, Overkill, Jingo de Lunch, and Vancouver-based Cub.

A short-lived reunion occurred in 1995 featuring Hannah and Goble with Jon Williams (guitar) and David "Salty" MacAnulty (drums), culminating in the 1996 release of Pissed Off … With Good Reason, a collection of vinyl-exclusive tracks, unreleased material, live recordings, and demos.

In 2005, Subhumans regrouped with Gerry Hannah on bass, Jon Card on drums, Wimpy Roy handling vocals, and Mike Graham on guitar. They signed with Alternative Tentacles and G7 Welcoming Committee Records, releasing New Dark Age Parade in 2006. This was followed by Death Was Too Kind in 2008, a compilation of their early singles and EPs. In 2010, due to legal complications preventing a reissue of their 1980 album Incorrect Thoughts, they re-recorded it under the title Same Thoughts, Different Day, including previously unreleased bonus tracks from that period.

Although no official disbandment was declared, performances after the 2010 album marked their concluding live appearances. Lead vocalist Brian Goble passed away from a heart attack on December 7, 2014, aged 57.

The Subhumans were featured in the 2010 documentary Bloodied but Unbowed, directed by Susanne Tabata.

Singles, 7"s, EPs

7" single: "Death to the Sickoids" / "Oh Canaduh" (1978)
The Subhumans EP released by Quintessence Records (1979)
7" single: "Firing Squad" / "No Productivity" on Quintessence Records (1980)
Demo/EP Limited Edition released as an EP in 2005

Albums

Incorrect Thoughts LP issued through Friends Records (1980)
No Wishes, No Prayers LP distributed by SST Records (1983)
New Dark Age Parade LP co-released by Alternative Tentacles and G7 Welcoming Committee Records (2006)
Same Thoughts, Different Day available on CD and LP via Alternative Tentacles (2010)

Anthologies

Compilation Pissed Off... with Good Reason on CD and cassette from Essential Noise (1996)
Anthology Death Was Too Kind offered on CD and LP by Alternative Tentacles (2008)

Compilations

"Death to the Sickoids" and "Urban Guerilla" featured on Vancouver Complication (1979)
"Out of Line" and "Behind The Smile" included in Vancouver Independence, Friends Records release (1980)
"Slave to My Dick" appeared on Let Them Eat Jellybeans! compilation by Alternative Tentacles (1981)
"No Productivity" featured in Killed By Death #4, Redrum Records compilation (1989)
"Slave to My Dick" included in Last Call: Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988, Zulu Records (1991)
"Firing Squad" appeared on Faster & Louder: Hardcore Punk, Vol. 2, Rhino Entertainment release (1993)

Covered by

Overkill performed a cover of "Fuck You" on their !!!Fuck You!!! EP (1987)
DOA recorded versions of "No Productivity" for the Murder LP (1990), and "Behind the Smile" for the Terminal City Ricochet soundtrack (1990)
Frank Frink Five produced a polka rendition of "Slave to My Dick" for the Van-Cover compilation (1986)
MDC covered "The Big Picture" on their Smoke Signals album (1986)
NoMeansNo released a cover of "Oh Canaduh!" as a single in 1991
Leamers interpreted "Oh Canaduh!" on their Magic, Yo! EP (2012)

External links