Asexuals (band)
Encyclopedia
The Asexuals is a hardcore punk band from Beaconsfield
that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80s before evolving into an alternative band following the departure of singer John Kastner
, who went to form the Doughboys
and, later, All Systems Go!
.
quickly joined and became the singer.
After briefly using the names Commonwealth, Dead Dog, Johnny Jew and the Holocaust and VD Teens, they finally chose the name Asexuals because none of the band members had girlfriends at the time. Their music mixed elements of hardcore as well as more melodic punk rock à la The Nils
or Hüsker Dü.
The band played gigs in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto, opening for touring Canadian and American punk bands before releasing their first EP, Featuring: The Asexuals on Og Music
in 1984. The same year, the band contributed a song to the legendary Montreal punk compilation Primitive Air-Raid on Psyche Industry Records
, then released their first LP Be What You Want on First Strike Records in December 1984.
By the following year, Psyche Industry Records had received much positive feedback about the Asexuals' song, "Contra-rebels", (the opening track from the Primitive Air-Raid compilation), so they happily re-released the band's Be What You Want LP after First Strike Records refused to do so, having stopped answering the band's letters and phone calls. Also in 1985, Psyche Industry released the Asexuals' second LP, Contemporary World, which featured a hardcore treatment of Bob Dylan
's classic song, "The Times They Are A Changin'", and generally flirted with a more alternative rock sound. The band went on a two-month, 69-date tour across the U.S.A. and Canada to promote that album.
In 1987, Kastner clashed with the other members about the band's evolving musical direction, and was kicked out because he was taking too much space. Kastner went on to form the Doughboys
, while the Asexuals reconfigured themselves, with Collins and Freisen both playing electric guitar and sharing lead-vocal duties, and bringing in then-Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra
bassist Blake Cheetah (now better known as Bangkok-based writer Jim Algie) to take over bass guitar from Collins. They toured across North America relentlessly, opening for fellow Canadian punk bands like D.O.A.
. and SNFU
, as well as such American hardcore greats as Hüsker Dü, the Minutemen
, the Dicks
and Youth Brigade
.
In 1988, the band released their third full-length LP, Dish, on Cargo Records. Under the direction of Producer Steve Kravac, Dish was an artistic and sonic departure from their previous recordings, not only because of the noticeable absence of Kastner's distinctly sneering vocals; but with a more college-radio friendly sound. For the first time, the band departed from the standard arrangement of distorted electric guitars, bass, and drums. Indeed, the self-titled opening track featured acoustic guitars and horns. While this less brash sound alienated many long-time fans, the songs generally remained punchy and hard-rocking, and the band retained a tougher sound when performing live. They were on the verge of disbanding when a German promoter offered them to tour Europe. Cheetah quit the band after this tour and was replaced by Domenic Pompeio, with whom they recorded their fourth LP (also on CD, unlike previous recordings), Exile from Floontown. Released in 1991, the album went a long way towards restoring the band's original distorted electric guitar sound, while remaining melodic and college-radio friendly. In 1992, they released the Walt's Wish EP on Cargo.
Pompeio quit in 1993, being replaced by Yuri Mohacsi and that line-up released an EP, Love Goes Plaid on RPN-Records in Europe and Boss Tuneage
in America. In 1996, they recorded and released what would be their last studio album, Fitzjoy, on Hypnotic Records. They were supposed to tour supporting that album but instead disbanded. Friesen eventually moved to Austin
and started La Motta with Inland Empire's bass player Alfred Mueller and drummer Wal Rashidi in the beginning of the 2000s and released three albums and toured Europe and the U.S.A. In 2001, Boss Tuneage released Greater than Later, a compilation of many old Asexuals tracks spanning years 1984 to 1996 as well as some unreleased tracks.
The original line-up of the band, including Kastner (who lives in Los Angeles now) and Friesen (who lives in Texas), got back together to play a reunion show on October 1, 2010 in Montreal along with fellow Montreal punk bands the 222's
, and Hollerado
. The band reunited again in Toronto
the following March to play back-to-back shows at the Bovine Sex Club
.
Compilations
Beaconsfield, Quebec
Beaconsfield , 2006 Population 19,194) is a municipality on the Island of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shore of Lake Saint-Louis and is bordered on the west by Baie-D'Urfé, on the north by Kirkland and on the east by Pointe-Claire...
that was a mainstay of the Montreal punk scene in the '80s before evolving into an alternative band following the departure of singer John Kastner
John Kastner
John Kastner is a Canadian musician and composer born in Beaconsfield, Quebec. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys and alternative band All Systems Go!....
, who went to form the Doughboys
Doughboys (band)
Doughboys were a Canadian alternative rock band that were active in the late 1980s and early/mid 1990s. The band was renowned for its musical blend of punk and pop-style melodies.-Early Years:...
and, later, All Systems Go!
All Systems Go!
All Systems Go! is a Canadian punk rock group, and features members of Big Drill Car, Doughboys, the Asexuals and The Carnations. The band was formed after Frank Daly and Mark Arnold's previous band Big Drill Car broke up in 1995 and John Kastner's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys...
.
History
The Asexuals formed in 1983 when Sean Friesen, T.J. Collins and Paul Remington, all Beaconsfield High students, decided to start a punk band. Another Beaconsfield native, future actor Al Goulem, was in the band as second guitarist for a few months with Collins singing. Their friend John KastnerJohn Kastner
John Kastner is a Canadian musician and composer born in Beaconsfield, Quebec. He is well known as the singer for Montreal hardcore punk band the Asexuals as well as singer-guitarist for Montreal alternative band Doughboys and alternative band All Systems Go!....
quickly joined and became the singer.
After briefly using the names Commonwealth, Dead Dog, Johnny Jew and the Holocaust and VD Teens, they finally chose the name Asexuals because none of the band members had girlfriends at the time. Their music mixed elements of hardcore as well as more melodic punk rock à la The Nils
The Nils
The Nils was a Canadian power pop and punk rock band originating in Montreal, Quebec which produced several releases between 1978 and 1994.The band was founded in 1978 by then 12-year old Alex Soria with his brother Carlos Soria. The band never achieved widespread fame despite critical success and...
or Hüsker Dü.
The band played gigs in Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto, opening for touring Canadian and American punk bands before releasing their first EP, Featuring: The Asexuals on Og Music
Og Music
Og Music was a small but influential independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The label was established in 1983 by the band members of Deja Voodoo, Gerard van Herk and Tony Dewald. It ceased operations in 1990.-History:...
in 1984. The same year, the band contributed a song to the legendary Montreal punk compilation Primitive Air-Raid on Psyche Industry Records
Psyche Industry Records
Psyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, then released their first LP Be What You Want on First Strike Records in December 1984.
By the following year, Psyche Industry Records had received much positive feedback about the Asexuals' song, "Contra-rebels", (the opening track from the Primitive Air-Raid compilation), so they happily re-released the band's Be What You Want LP after First Strike Records refused to do so, having stopped answering the band's letters and phone calls. Also in 1985, Psyche Industry released the Asexuals' second LP, Contemporary World, which featured a hardcore treatment of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's classic song, "The Times They Are A Changin'", and generally flirted with a more alternative rock sound. The band went on a two-month, 69-date tour across the U.S.A. and Canada to promote that album.
In 1987, Kastner clashed with the other members about the band's evolving musical direction, and was kicked out because he was taking too much space. Kastner went on to form the Doughboys
Doughboys (band)
Doughboys were a Canadian alternative rock band that were active in the late 1980s and early/mid 1990s. The band was renowned for its musical blend of punk and pop-style melodies.-Early Years:...
, while the Asexuals reconfigured themselves, with Collins and Freisen both playing electric guitar and sharing lead-vocal duties, and bringing in then-Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra
Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra is a Canadian alternative rock band whose musical style blends elements of surf music, gospel music, rockabilly, garage, and punk. The band also experimented with jazz on their third album Don't Mind If I Do....
bassist Blake Cheetah (now better known as Bangkok-based writer Jim Algie) to take over bass guitar from Collins. They toured across North America relentlessly, opening for fellow Canadian punk bands like D.O.A.
D.O.A. (band)
D.O.A. is a hardcore punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are often referred to as the "founders" of hardcore punk, along with Black Flag, Bad Brains, Teen Idles, and Minor Threat. Their second album Hardcore '81 was thought by many to have been the first actual reference to...
. and SNFU
SNFU
SNFU is a Canadian punk rock band formed in 1981 in Edmonton, Alberta and later relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia. They have released nine full-length albums and are cited as a formative influence on the skate punk sub-genre....
, as well as such American hardcore greats as Hüsker Dü, the Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
, the Dicks
The Dicks
The Dicks are an American punk rock band from Austin, Texas, originally formed in 1980. They initially disbanded in 1986 before reforming in 2004...
and Youth Brigade
Youth Brigade (band)
Youth Brigade is a Southern California punk music trio formed in 1980 by brothers Mark Stern, Adam Stern, and Shawn Stern. The band subsequently founded BYO , which served both as their record label and as a statement of their attitude toward the young people involved in the punk subculture, which...
.
In 1988, the band released their third full-length LP, Dish, on Cargo Records. Under the direction of Producer Steve Kravac, Dish was an artistic and sonic departure from their previous recordings, not only because of the noticeable absence of Kastner's distinctly sneering vocals; but with a more college-radio friendly sound. For the first time, the band departed from the standard arrangement of distorted electric guitars, bass, and drums. Indeed, the self-titled opening track featured acoustic guitars and horns. While this less brash sound alienated many long-time fans, the songs generally remained punchy and hard-rocking, and the band retained a tougher sound when performing live. They were on the verge of disbanding when a German promoter offered them to tour Europe. Cheetah quit the band after this tour and was replaced by Domenic Pompeio, with whom they recorded their fourth LP (also on CD, unlike previous recordings), Exile from Floontown. Released in 1991, the album went a long way towards restoring the band's original distorted electric guitar sound, while remaining melodic and college-radio friendly. In 1992, they released the Walt's Wish EP on Cargo.
Pompeio quit in 1993, being replaced by Yuri Mohacsi and that line-up released an EP, Love Goes Plaid on RPN-Records in Europe and Boss Tuneage
Boss Tuneage
Boss Tuneage is an independent record label based in the UK started in 1990 by Aston Stephens. The label became dormant in 1995 before being started up again in 1999. Over 150 record releases took place before a second hiatus being taken in 2005...
in America. In 1996, they recorded and released what would be their last studio album, Fitzjoy, on Hypnotic Records. They were supposed to tour supporting that album but instead disbanded. Friesen eventually moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and started La Motta with Inland Empire's bass player Alfred Mueller and drummer Wal Rashidi in the beginning of the 2000s and released three albums and toured Europe and the U.S.A. In 2001, Boss Tuneage released Greater than Later, a compilation of many old Asexuals tracks spanning years 1984 to 1996 as well as some unreleased tracks.
The original line-up of the band, including Kastner (who lives in Los Angeles now) and Friesen (who lives in Texas), got back together to play a reunion show on October 1, 2010 in Montreal along with fellow Montreal punk bands the 222's
The 222s
The 222s are a Canadian punk band first active from 1977 to 1981. They are most famous for their 1978 single "I Love Suzan". They reformed in 2010.-History:...
, and Hollerado
Hollerado
Hollerado is a Juno Award nominated, Canadian, indie rock band formed in 2007, and originally from Manotick, Ontario, Canada.-History:Three of the four members of Hollerado grew up on the same street in Manotick, Ontario. Hollerado later recorded and periodically lived in Montreal, Quebec where...
. The band reunited again in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
the following March to play back-to-back shows at the Bovine Sex Club
Bovine Sex Club
The Bovine Sex Club is a bar on Toronto's Queen Street West strip. In operation since January 1991, the Bovine Sex Club has at various times found itself at the forefront of Toronto's rock, punk, alternative, and rockabilly music scenes.A haven for independent musicians and artists since day...
.
Controversy
The Asexuals were reviled in many punk fanzines, including Maximumrocknroll, in 1984 because of the song "Contra-Rebels" that was featured on Primitive Air-Raid and Be What You Want. The song was a little ambiguous in interpretation, using irony with the lyrics "Contra-rebels, trained by the CIA, Contra-rebels, will blow your Reds away". Tim Yohannon of MRR didn't get the irony at first, calling the band mouthpieces of the new right before apologizing a few months after.Members
- John "Filthy" Kastner- Vocals (1983–1987, 2010–Present)
- Sean "Head" Friesen - Guitar (1983–1997, 2010–Present)
- T.J. Collins (AKA T.J. Plenty) - Bass (1983–1987, 2010–Present), Vocals, Guitar (1987–1997)
- Paul "Wally" Remington - Drums (1983–1997, 2010–Present)
- Blake Cheetah - Bass (1987–1989)
- Dominic Pompeio - Bass (1989–1993)
- Yuri Mohacsi - Bass (1993–1997)
Discography
- Featuring: The Asexuals (Og MusicOg MusicOg Music was a small but influential independent record label based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The label was established in 1983 by the band members of Deja Voodoo, Gerard van Herk and Tony Dewald. It ceased operations in 1990.-History:...
, 1984) - Be What You Want (First Strike Records, 1984) (Psyche-IndustryPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1985) - Contemporary World (Psyche IndustryPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1985) - Dish (Cargo Records, 1988)
- Dish (new Version) (Cargo Records, 1988) (Split 7" with the band Change of Heart)
- Exile from Floontown (Cargo Records, 1991)
- Walt's Wish (Cargo Records, 1992)
- Love Goes Plaid (RPN-Records, 1993) (Boss Tuneage Records, 1993)
- Fitzjoy (Hypnotic Records, 1996)
- Greater than Later (Boss Tuneage Records, 2001)
Compilations
- Contra-Rebels on Primitive Air-Raid (Psyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry RecordsPsyche Industry Records was the leading alternative, punk and hardcore independent record label in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in the beginning of the 80's...
, 1984) - Left Behind on On Garde (EnGuard Records, 1989)