A walk through my Montreal garage bands: the It Group, the Virgins, and Steve & the New Beats, 1964 -1967 by Gus Appignanesi
My name is Gus but went by the name George in garage band era. I started as a drummer playing in a number of garage bands in the east end of Montreal. Unfortunately, the people I met and played with was all with first names. We never thought that we would need last names or photos to find each other years later. We truly lived in the moment.
As a drummer I played in at least two bands; The Ancient and The Morticians. Please don’t laugh; bands had a variety of names. I played with a bass player called Perry and a guitarist singer by the name of Yehor. Downtown the street from us was a great garage band called Little Michael and the Archangels. Their drummer was Called Leddy and his younger brother was Michael. The last band, with the same line up, was called The It Group (managed my girlfriend at the time – Donna). At the same time bands that became more popular were sprouting all around us. There was; The Monks (later called the Exit 4), Bartholomew +3, The Haunted, The Rabble, J.B. and the Playboys and a number of great French bands (The Sinners, Les Classels, Les 409 to mention just a few).
In 1966, I bought and electric Fender Rhodes piano and started to play in bands that were actually getting real paying jobs. The Virgins was a really great rock and R&B band in which we had two drummers (Steve and Peter), guitarist (Dario), two lead singers (???) and me (aka George) playing piano with bass boost (similar to The Doors with no bass player). I then played with another dance R&B band that had changed their image from a rock band called Les Horribles to Steve and the New Beats. Steve was lead singer, Mario on bass, me (aka George) on piano, Serge on lead guitar and a drummer (???). We played every city and town throughout Quebec from 1966-1967.
Expo 1967 actually killed a lot of the local bands, since everyone was coming to Expo to hear a variety of international bands. I believe so called garage bands were coming to an end. Musicians and the equipment changed drastically over the years. People actually rented studios to practice in and recordings became more popular. Bands moved out of their local garages and moved into the larger arena of music. I miss those guys. Hopefully one of them may read this and contact me. Regardless, I hope this short history will be beneficial to anyone out there from that great era. Rock on!
Gus (aka George) Appignanesi
My good friend and fine musician Gus Appignanesi. We met in our teen years and guess what, we still get together to this day and although we’ve put that rock stuff behind us we have a great time jamming on jazz standard tunes. No more 96 tears for us but we still enjoy each others’ company and we meet every chance we have. Love the guy!
Hi bob somehow I found my way to this site and your name appeared. I went by the name of randy and played rhythm guitar with you and bob stahlbrand on bass. Funny your name came up after I reconnected with your old neighbor Richard Johnson the cavemen who I played with in the beat boys
It would be interesting to hear from you bob my e mail is Morrisf2000-one@ yahoo.ca
Randy Rhythm a.k.a Morris
Why should anyone laugh? Those are good band names. I hope you are able to reconnect with people you knew , back then. Sophistication always kills it for Garage bands…..Even some of the Garage bands that had hits in the 60’s , like The Count Five or the Music Machine, were recording on 8 or 10 tracks , virtually unheard of , at the time ,but in the name of experimentation , not compromising their sound. It’s great to have good gear , but , don’t let your gear matter more than your sound.
I remember “the sidetrack” did a song:
I’d rather drink cold coffee in the morning than spend another night with you, I’d rather sleep outside in a rainstorm than spend another night in your bed.
Old Penelope on Stanley street. 1964-1965
I remember listening to them at the old Penelope..
I have bee googling those lyrics for 30 ? Years until today !!!!!
This site makes my heart sing
Morris – you mentioned playing in the best boys. Did you ever play with Donny Iveson or Kevin Franklin?
I moved to Montreal in ‘64 and attended Dunton HS. I remember well The Rabble and the Haunted and one of my classmates, Eddy ?, was the drummer for The Monks. I have an autographed photo of the four of them in their robes … great times. I don’t know if the Monks ever cut any vinyl but would love to know. Another Montreal great, Penny Lang … what can I say? Penny, The Haunted and The Rabble are in my playlist. Penny had a harmonica player who I swear never touched the ground … he was phenomenal. Miss those days but just like then, we have to keep looking and listening … it’s out there before the marketing clowns do their best to homogenize it. Garage Bands … great music, great memories. Thanks … and Montreal, I will love you forever.
Bonjour Ed,
Hope you are well. I’m trying to find out about Bud Swan (The Sound Box). Lived in B.C last I heard. Did you know him. I would so much appreciate hearing from you.
Merci beaucoup!
I went to school with Rene Boileau who as the bass player in the Monks/Exit 4. I had 3 or 4 45’s by them going back to the late 60’s. In fact I still have 2 of them. I sold one about 5 years ago to a guy for $75
Rene used to play with a sixties group around Mtl. in the late 70″s. In fact I hired to play a gig for me at Victoria Hall back then.
Rick St Jean is still around also.
The Monks did record…not sure if they still called the Monks or when they changed their name to the Exit 4 and dropped the robes
Hi There,
With those who were playing in and around Montreal 1966, I am trying to find booking agent Veronique Major (1448A Mountain Street at time). She was my father’s booking agent. He died in 1971 after playing at a venue and driving home. His professional name was Wayne Tender but, real name was Wayne Latendresse. I am hoping to find someone who can help. Look in Facebook under his professional name to see pics etc.
The 60s were a great time and it seemed that every Tom, Dick, & Harry was in a garage band hoping to get somewhere (or at least to attract the girls LOL!). The band I was in were called Psycho and we played where ever we could find a gig. Back then it was often school dances or clubs up north in Morin Heights, or St. Saveur. Worst part was playing in places that said you needed to audition or compete with another band to get regular gigs. Those turned out to be “freebies” that we never got paid for. Our band was based in Ste. Dorothee, Laval and broke up in 1970. We all moved on to careers and new lives as it were. I had started out as the bass player, but later became the lead guitarist.
Now I play lead guitar with a band in Cornwall Ontario, (Loose Leaf–not the best band name but they had it before I joined them LOL!). We play a variety of styles but mostly older songs. It’s a bit like reliving the past and helps keep my brain sharp LOL!
Does anyone recall a band called The Raving Mad?
who was the band from Montreal in the 60’s that had a hit record called “never say die”?
Any info and photos of Gino Vannelli’s early bands in Montreal, please?
The Cobras, The Jacksonville 5, Marble Glass, Gino Vannelli Good Friends.
Thanks folks
I am trying to recall a lot of the Montreal bands I heard back in the day. I recall seeing quite a few..
The Five – Didn’t know where they came from.
Clockwork – They were fun
Soma – might have been an East Coast band
Mic
Cheeque
Mashmakhan
The Rabble
The Wackers
The Dudes
The Haunted
The Rabble
April Wine
The Attic Dust
The Monks and Sweet Lauraine
I was in Bacchus
Any others to add?
Others come to mind such as
Mohagany Rush
Freedom North
Riverson
Not all correct about the bands from Montreal and their influences, how do I know? I was in one of them called The Creatures check out my FB page, and my blog in order to get things right.
Best
Morr