Tag: Steve Mahon

Teenage Head – Somethin’ On My Mind

Deke and Dave my Canadian friends both have mentioned them in their blogs. I like what I’ve heard from the band…I remember this band by the name Teenage Heads in the 1980s in America… but never heard much of their music then. They had some rock, punk, and power pop thrown in…what’s not to like about that?

They are from  Hamilton, Ontario in Hamilton Weston High school… friends Frankie (Venom) Kerr and Gordon Lewis formed the group in 1975 with bassist Steve Mahon and Nick Stipinitz on drums.

They took their name from a Flaming Groovies song title and album. They quickly gained a loyal following on the Ontario club circuit for their shows, highlighted by Lewis’ guitar work and front man Venom’s on stage presence.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 1979, and it was distributed by Epic Records Canada. A year later, the group signed to Attic Records and released this album Frantic City, the album that put them on the international radar. The hit singles, “Something On My Mind” and “Let’s Shake” helped propel the album to platinum sales (100,000) in Canada.

Somethin On My Mind peaked at #20 in Canada in 1980.

After a couple of years Teenage Head was finally recognized by M.C.A. Records for their international potential and signed to a U.S. deal… but  the deal came with conditions. The band was forced to change their name to “Teenage Heads” and that is the name I remember them by in the 80s.

***Updating this…the band has a new documentary out…Picture My Face***

Somethin’ On My Mind

If you go, ah well, you know I just won’t mind
‘Cause they say, a love like ours takes time
Have to say, uh, that there’s something on my mind
She’s a friend and I knew you wouldn’t mind

But if you, well, have to go
That’s OK
But if you decide to stay
Please don’t go
Please don’t go

If you stay, ah well, I won’t care anyway
If you’re bad, well it’s the last chance that you have
Can I say, uh, that a love is sometimes blind
Now I see, all the things that went behind

But if you decide to go
That’s OK
But if you, well, plan to stay
Please don’t go
No no no

But if you, well, plan to go
Please don’t go
But if you decide to stay
No no no
Please don’t go

You don’t have to please me
‘Cause baby, you know I’m easy
The last time that you went
You burned all the cards I sent

But if this time it’s for good
Uh, so it’s understood
So, if you leave once more
You’ll find out what’s in store

Have to say, uh, that there’s something on my mind
She’s a friend and I knew you wouldn’t mind
Have to say, uh, that there’s something on my mind
She’s a friend and I knew you wouldn’t mind
Have to say, uh, that there’s something on my mind

Teenage Head – Let’s Shake….Power Pop Friday

I remember hearing about this Canadian band but I didn’t start listening to them until recently. Deke and Dave my Canadian friends have mentioned them while following their blogs. Teenage Head was sometimes known as Canada’s answer to the Ramones.

They are from  Hamilton, Ontario and met in Hamilton Weston High school… friends Frank “Venom” Kerr and Gord Lewis formed the group in 1975 with bassist Steve Mahon (later changed his last name to Marshall) and Nick Stipinitz on drums. They took their name from a Flaming Groovies song title and quickly gained a loyal following on the Ontario club circuit for their raw energy, highlighted by Lewis’guitar work and front man Venom’s antics and natural charisma on stage.

Signing with Attic Records, Teenage Head issued their sophomore effort, Frantic City, in early 1980.

They played a show at the Ontario Place Forum, a prominent outdoor venue situated in a Toronto park. Over 15,000 people showed up but they venue wasn’t large enough to hold them. A drunken crowd tried to storm the entrances, sparking a battle with the police officers on hand…multiple injuries and arrests followed. The band woke up the next morning with their name in the papers. They lost some gigs but the publicity pushed “Frantic” up the charts and to gold status.

Teenage Head released Let’s Shake in 1980 and it made it to #88 in Canada.

Let’s Shake

OOH

Give me that opener, pass me that beer
C’mon move your ass on out of here
Well I guess you know I need some money
But you are just too fat and ugly

C’mon shake
Oop, Well let’s shake
C’mon shake
Yeah baby let’s shake

(music)

Well you can’t dance, can’t keep up the beat
Well that’s because you got size twelve feet
Well don’t make me run, well don’t make me blush
You’re just that girl I hate to touch

C’mon shake
Ooh baby let’s shake
Yeah c’mon shake
Well let’s shake

(Bop! We do the bop. Go… Push down. Woo! Yeppy. Yeppy. Yeah… Bla.)

Well every time I see you dance
Hey! Where’d you get those great big pants
Just one ear, well just one eye
Just one glance and I could die

So let’s shake
Mmm let’s shake
C’mon let’s shake
Yeah baby let’s shake

(Bop! We do the bop. I really lie. Act proud.)
(music)

Let’s shake
Let’s shake
Yow let’s shake
C’mon baby let’s shake
Let’s shake!