The Scenics
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1976 in Toronto, Canada |
| Founder | Andy Meyers, Ken Badger |
| Defunct | 1982 (initially) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2008 and active since |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Punk rock, post-punk, art punk music |
The Scenics is a Toronto-originated band that was active initially from 1976 to 1982 and resumed activity from 2008 onward, merging punk rock, post-punk, and art punk influences through the songwriting efforts of founders Andy Meyers and Ken Badger.
History 1976-1982
The band came together in July 1976 when Ken Badger answered an advertisement placed by Andy Meyers in a music store. Quickly establishing themselves as innovators within Toronto’s punk movement, their early sound drew inspiration from Television’s guitar style, Big Star’s melodic pop, Pere Ubu’s experimental approach, and the high energy of the Ramones.
Mike Cusheon played drums during their initial two performances before Mark French joined for studio demo sessions; French later became involved with the Canadian roots group Blue Rodeo. The trio laid down ten original compositions at Mushroom Sound, a four-track studio in Toronto, with five tracks eventually appearing on the 2016 LP In The Summer: Studio recordings 1977/78.
Initial Formation
Following these recordings, Brad Cooper was recruited as drummer through a music store notice and stayed with the group until 1980. The band dedicated themselves to rigorous rehearsals, often practicing four nights per week.
In the summer of 1977, Meyers handed a cassette tape to promoter Gary Topp at the New Yorker Theatre, which led to The Scenics securing a prominent opening performance for Talking Heads on September 16, 1977. They frequently played at local venues such as the Beverly Tavern and David's Discotheque.
After their appearance with Talking Heads, the band recorded six tracks featuring Cooper’s energetic drumming; three of these were included on In The Summer. Their live shows saw them sharing bills with influential acts like the Viletones, Simply Saucer, The Demics, The Government, and French punk group Téléphone.
In early 1978, they appeared on the cable TV program Mystery Train, performing live and participating in interviews. That summer they opened for The Troggs. Later in 1978, six songs were recorded at Kincke Sound’s eight-track studio; four of these were released on In The Summer.
The Last Pogo
December 1978 saw The Scenics perform at “The Last Pogo,” a two-night event marking the conclusion of promoters known as “The Garys” at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern. Colin Brunton filmed the first night, while both evenings were recorded by Bomb Records. Brunton’s 30-minute film “The Last Pogo”, which included seven bands such as The Scenics performing Badger’s “I Wanna Touch,” debuted in September 1979 during a concert featuring The Gang of Four and the Buzzcocks. A live album produced by Keith Elshaw was issued by Bomb Records in 1979, containing two tracks by The Scenics: “I Killed Marx” and “In The Summer”.
In March 1979, the band recorded their debut LP at Comfort Sound with Elshaw producing. This album featured ten original songs alongside two covers. Motivated by the expanded possibilities offered by eight-track recording technology, they added a second guitarist: Mike Young, who had previously performed with them during their early days, rejoined the lineup.
Subsequent Lineup Changes
In January 1980 Brad Cooper departed from the band; Mark Perkell—Meyers’ long-term collaborator—took over on drums. Mike Young transitioned to bass guitar while Badger and Meyers concentrated on playing guitar full-time.
Debut LP and 45 RPM Release
During the summer of 1980, the LP titled "Underneath the Door" was issued under Bomb Records. At that time, Young, the bassist dissatisfied with his role, left the group and was succeeded by Ken Fox, who would later become known for his work with Jason and the Scorchers and serve as a long-standing bassist for The Fleshtones. In September, The Scenics took part in the “Bomb Tour 80,” performing punk concerts at eight universities throughout southern Ontario—marking the initial punk gigs at many of these locations.
In October 1980, they laid down six tracks at Captain Audio studio; two of these—Meyers’ composition “Karen” and Badger’s “See Me Smile”—were issued as a 45 rpm single on their own "Scenic Route" label in early 1981. Unfortunately, most other recordings from this session have been lost. By this point, Ken and his wife had relocated three hours away from Toronto due to her teaching career. Despite continuing to write songs and perform in Toronto, London (Ontario), and Buffalo (New York), the band dissolved in autumn 1981 as Badger began focusing on family life. They briefly reunited in spring 1982 to open for Ken Fox's band, The Raving Mojos.
With Badger raising children north of Toronto and Meyers also married with a family, their communication became infrequent, particularly after Meyers moved to Canada's West Coast in 1988.
History: 2007 to Present
In 2007, Ken Badger forwarded approximately twelve Scenics cassette tapes featuring live and rehearsal recordings from the late 1970s to Meyers, who was then residing in British Columbia. (Ken had preserved around 300 hours of live performances and basement sessions.) After years without hearing their music, Meyers reviewed several tapes and found them impressive. This led to a phone reunion between Badger and Meyers. In 2008, The Scenics issued a CD compiling live material from 1977-1981 entitled How Does It Feel to Be Loved? The Scenics play the Velvet Underground. Released through Scratch and Sonic Unyon, it achieved a position within the top 30 on National Canadian Campus radio charts and appeared on “Year's Best” lists in publications such as the Village Voice and Detroit Metro Times. The band reassembled with Mark Perkell on drums and Mike Young handling bass duties, performing their first concert in 26 years at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern as an opening act for Carla Bozulich in April 2008. They also participated in NXNE festival shows that June. The NXNE film festival finale featured a double screening of The Last Pogo (its first showing since 1979) alongside the Scenics’ video for “Waiting for my Man,” directed by Quebec filmmaker Chet Lebeaux.
In September 2008, The Last Pogo documentary—which showcased Toronto bands including The Scenics, Viletones, Teenage Head, among others—was released on DVD via The Scenics’ own Dream Tower Records label. This DVD included a special feature presenting seven previously unreleased performances by The Scenics filmed during the 1978 “Mystery Train” sessions.
December 2008 saw The Scenics perform at the 30th anniversary celebration of Last Pogo held at the Horseshoe Tavern alongside multiple other bands; this event was captured on film by Colin Brunton. Additionally, they recorded fourteen tracks at #9 Studio.
In October 2009, they issued another archival collection titled Sunshine World (Studio Recordings 1977-78) on CD. Although distribution was somewhat limited, they supported its release with shows across Ontario and Quebec. The song “Do The Wait” was included on a protopunk-themed cover CD released by UK magazine UNCUT in May 2010 alongside artists such as New York Dolls, MC5, Flamin’ Groovies, and The Stooges.
Dead Man Walks Down Bayview
In 2012, recordings made in 2008 at #9 Studio were finalized and issued on LP under the title Dead Man Walks Down Bayview via DreamTower Records. This album comprises tracks composed over a span of two decades, including five songs regularly performed live during 1980-81. The band reunited for concerts across Southern Ontario and Quebec.
The following year, filmmakers Colin Brunton and Kire Papputts unveiled The Last Pogo Jumps Again, a comprehensive documentary exploring Toronto's punk scene. It features the Badgers’ track “O Boy” alongside interviews with Badger and Meyers.
In 2014, the CD Talking Songs was launched by Scattered Bodies, a collaboration between Andy Meyers, composer/vocalist Susheela Dawne, and poet Brian Brett. Supported by a Canada Council for the Arts grant, this project sets Brett's poetry to music incorporating samples from Scenics cassette recordings dating from 1976 to 1981. The album was produced at Meyers' Allowed Sound Studio, established in 1999.
In The Summer
Unhappy with the original sound of their 2009 CD Sunshine World, The Scenics partnered with BC producer Joby Baker—who had previously mixed Dead Man and mastered How Does It Feel—to remaster the recordings. In 2016, these refreshed tracks were released as the LP In The Summer: Studio Recordings 1977/78, distributed by Rave Out in Europe and DreamTower (through Light In The Attic) in North America.
The band regrouped in Toronto in July 2016 to mark this release with tours across Canada and the United States. Due to visa complications that canceled several US dates, they recorded seven songs at Baldwin Sound studio in Toronto instead. The postponed shows were rescheduled for the autumn. Performing as a trio revisiting their early sound, they toured cities including Buffalo, Beacon NY, New York City, Jersey City NJ, Boston, Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. Subsequently, Meyers embarked on a solo tour covering Seattle, Eugene, Ashland, and Portland.
In 2019, Meyers composed the soundtrack for the documentary Dosed.
March 2021 saw Meyers release Deeper Into the Forest, an album that pairs poet and publisher Diana Hayes’ spoken word performances with music featuring Susheela Dawne’s wordless vocals.
During spring 2022, Meyers issued Bones, a post-rock ambient record created in collaboration with Montreal-based pianist and trumpeter Simon Millerd.
In 2023, distribution rights for In The Summer were acquired by Supreme Echo Records in Canada and Revolver/Midheaven in the United States.
Members
Andy Meyers (guitar, bass, vocals, saxophone, keyboards, songwriter) Ken Badger (guitar, bass, vocals, songwriter) Mark Perkell (drums since 1980)
Former members
Mike Young Ken Fox Brad Cooper Mark French Mike Cusheon
Albums
Underneath the Door (LP 1980, Bomb/Rio Records) How Does It Feel to Be Loved? The Scenics Play the Velvet Underground (CD 2008, Dream Tower Records) Sunshine World - Studio Recordings 1977-78 (CD 2009, Dream Tower Records) Dead Man Walks Down Bayview (LP/CD/Digital 2012, Dream Tower Records) In The Summer - Studio Recordings 1977-78 (LP/CD/Digital 2016, Dream Tower Records and Rave Up Records)
Singles
Karen b/w See Me Smile (1981, Scenic Route Records)
Compilation Releases
And Now Live from Toronto The Last Pogo (LP, 1979, Bomb Records)
Andy Meyers' Albums
Talking Songs (Scattered Bodies, CD/Digital, 2014, Dream Tower Records) Deeper Into The Forest (Diana Hayes/Andy Meyers, CD/Digital, 2021, Dream Tower Records) Bones (Millerd Meyers, CD/Digital, 2022, Dream Tower Records)