The Mods (band)
| Company type | Punk rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The Mods were a punk rock ensemble originating from Toronto, active between 1978 and 1980. The lineup included Greg Triner on vocals, Scott Marks handling guitar duties, Mark Dixon on bass, and David Quinton Steinberg playing drums. Drawing inspiration from The Jam, they set themselves apart by adopting suits and ties rather than conventional punk fashion, cultivating a polished and cohesive image.
Their live performances were frequent throughout Toronto, extending to tours across American cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit. In November 1979, The Mods served as the opening act for The Police during their inaugural Toronto show at the Danforth Music Hall. Additionally, they supported notable bands including The Specials, Squeeze, and Ultravox.
In 1978, the band independently issued the singles "Step Out Tonight" alongside "You Use Me". Despite having recorded a full album's worth of tracks, negotiations with a major record label did not materialize into a contract. After briefly adopting the name 'The News', the group dissolved in 1980. Drummer David Quinton subsequently contributed to Stiv Bators' solo project.
A comprehensive collection of their studio recordings and live performances was released in 1995 under the title Twenty 2 Months. The Mods have occasionally reunited for live shows, most recently appearing in November 2013 at Toronto’s The Rivoli venue.
Footage from a 1978 concert is featured in the 2013 documentary The Last Pogo Jumps Again, which also includes them on its soundtrack. In 2018, Ugly Pop Records issued Reactions, an album derived from a 1979 demo tape considered to represent their most genuine sound.
Discography
- "Step Out Tonight" (single, B-side: "You Use Me"), 1978, Independent
- Twenty 2 Months, 1995, Other People's Music
- Reactions, 2018, Ugly Pop Records
References
- Worth, Liz. Treat Me Like Dirt Bongo Beat, 2010
- Sutherland, Sam. Perfect Youth, The Birth Of Canadian Punk ECW Press, 2012
- B.George & Martha DeFoe. International Discography Of The New Wave 1982-1983 edition Omnibus Press, 1983