The 222s
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Pierre 'Al Cleann' Major, Jean 'Frisson' Brisson, Angel Calvo, Louie 'Louie Louis' Rondeau |
| Defunct | 1982 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunited in 2010 |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
| Products | Punk rock music |
The 222s were a pioneering Canadian punk group active from 1978 until 2018, widely acknowledged as among the earliest original punk bands in Canada and the very first to emerge from Montreal. Their most notable release is the 1979 single I Love Susan.
History
The band originated in 1977, founded by guitarist Pierre 'Al Cleann' Major, vocalist Jean 'Frisson' Brisson, bassist/drummer Angel Calvo, and drummer/keyboardist/singer Louie 'Louie Louis' Rondeau. They primarily performed at various Montreal venues, with a focus on high school shows.
Following Calvo's exit, Christian 'Chris O'Bell' Belleau joined as the bassist. During the production of their debut single, I Love Susan b/w The First Studio Bomb, Brisson departed, leading Rondeau to take over lead vocal duties. This single was released in late 1978 under manager François Doyon's Rebel Records label and is recognized as Quebec’s inaugural DIY punk record.
Soon after, the band welcomed 16-year-old Chris Barry, who brought along Joe Cerrato to succeed Belleau on bass.
In 1981, The 222s recorded a rendition of Michel Polnareff’s "La poupée qui fait non," which was issued as a 7-inch vinyl on Gamma Records and enjoyed significant radio exposure throughout Quebec.
The group embarked on extensive tours across Canada and the United States, including a notable appearance at New York’s Max's Kansas City. They also featured on the local community television program The Musi-Video show, produced by Marc Fontaine; these recordings have since been rediscovered online, sparking renewed interest in the band.
In 2006, Italian punk label Rave Up Records compiled The 222s’ material on the album She Wants Revenge. The following year, Montreal-based Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records released an anthology of their demos titled Montreal Punk '78-'81.
Post-Breakup
After disbanding, Pierre Major became part of Montreal’s The Dazzlers. Meanwhile, Louie Rondeau collaborated with former 222s assistant manager Marc Fontaine in 1982 to create the synthpop outfit Nudimension, which scored a top-10 Quebec hit with Amour Programmé and achieved dance chart success in Mexico through Peerless Records with Rendez-vous (La Coqueteando).
Chris Barry briefly formed the band Bram with Michael Bramon, recording demos before relocating to England. There he joined ex-Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and former Generation X guitarist James Stevenson in the group Hot Club, which later evolved into Johnny Hates Jazz. Barry also pursued a lead vocalist position with Southern Death Cult and nearly launched a supergroup featuring former members of The Police, The Clash, and The Pretenders, though this project was halted due to a partner’s passing. Subsequently, he worked on solo material alongside ex-Generation X drummer Mark Laff. After financial difficulties, CBS Records financed his return to Montreal.
In 1984, Barry revived the 222s with Major and Cerrato. They added drummer André Gagné and guitarist Richard Paul, rebranding themselves as '39 Steps.' This incarnation released three albums and appeared in Woody Allen’s film Hannah and Her Sisters, performing their track "Slip into the Crowd" at CBGB.
Barry later relocated to New York City to join Pillbox (NYC), then returned to Montreal where he formed Acrylic. Although they recorded an album, it remained unreleased due to their label’s bankruptcy. He then established The Throbbing Purple alongside Dawson, Michel "Wax" Cyr, and ex-Subhumans drummer David "Salty" Macanulty. In 2006, they issued the "Let it Writhe" CD through Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records.
Eventually, Barry transitioned into journalism while Major and Brisson pursued careers in technology. Rondeau founded a post-production studio.
2010 Reunion
The members Belleau, Barry, Major, and Rondeau reunited in 2010, delivering performances at various festivals across Ontario and Quebec.
Singles
- "I Love Suzan"/"The First Studio Bomb" (1979), Rebel Records
- "La poupée qui fait non"/"La poupée qui fait non" (1981), Gamma Records
Compilations
- She Wants Revenge (2006), Rave Up Records
- Montreal Punk '78-'81 (2007), Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records