Billboard Canada is reporting that Steven Leckie, leader of the legendary Toronto punk band, The Viletones, died on June 12, at age 67, after a long battle with cancer. He had faced many health challenges in recent years, including multiple sclerosis.
News of his death fuelled an eruption of tributes on social media, and comments confirmed Leckie’s status as a genuine pioneer of Canadian punk rock, one whose reputation and work also had an impact and influence internationally.
Leckie founded the Viletones in 1976, alongside Freddie Pompeii on guitar/vocals, Chris Hate (Chris Paputts), on bass guitar/vocals and Mike Anderson (aka Motor X), on drums/vocals. The original line-up was active in 1976 and 1977, and thereafter featured Leckie as the only original member, with various backing musicians. Later Viletones lineups comprised leading Toronto players of the day, including bassist Screamin’ Sam Ferrara, drummers Tony Vincent and Jeff Zurba, and guitarists Steve Koch, Steven Stergiu, Conrad Wiggins, Ian Blurton, Scott McCullough, Myke Adaptiv and Steve Scarlet.
In 1977, the Viletones released their first single, “Screamin Fist” b/w “Possibilities” and “Rebel,” on their own label Vile Records. In 1978, they released the EP Look Back In Anger, which featured the songs “Don’t You Lie” and “Dirty Feeling” b/w “Back Door To Hell,” “Swastika Girl” and “Danger Boy.” The same year Pompeii, Hate and X left The Viletones to form The Secrets.
That year, the new lineup of the Viletones appeared at the legendary concert and documentary The Last Pogo, filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, May 1, 1978. In 1983, the Viletones released their first full-length album, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, recorded live at Larry’s Hideaway in Toronto. In 1994, the record label Other Peoples Music released a retrospective collection, A Taste Of Honey.
After a reunion, a new lineup of the Viletones recorded and released the 1998 album What It Feels Like To Kill, featuring live material and three new tracks written by Leckie and Stergiu, their first new material since the early 1980s. In 2023 Californian label Artifix Records released a collectors edition vinyl retrospective, Fleurs du Mal.
Read more at Billboard Canada.
(Photo by Billy Pinton)
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News of his death fuelled an eruption of tributes on social media, and comments confirmed Leckie’s status as a genuine pioneer of Canadian punk rock, one whose reputation and work also had an impact and influence internationally.
Leckie founded the Viletones in 1976, alongside Freddie Pompeii on guitar/vocals, Chris Hate (Chris Paputts), on bass guitar/vocals and Mike Anderson (aka Motor X), on drums/vocals. The original line-up was active in 1976 and 1977, and thereafter featured Leckie as the only original member, with various backing musicians. Later Viletones lineups comprised leading Toronto players of the day, including bassist Screamin’ Sam Ferrara, drummers Tony Vincent and Jeff Zurba, and guitarists Steve Koch, Steven Stergiu, Conrad Wiggins, Ian Blurton, Scott McCullough, Myke Adaptiv and Steve Scarlet.
In 1977, the Viletones released their first single, “Screamin Fist” b/w “Possibilities” and “Rebel,” on their own label Vile Records. In 1978, they released the EP Look Back In Anger, which featured the songs “Don’t You Lie” and “Dirty Feeling” b/w “Back Door To Hell,” “Swastika Girl” and “Danger Boy.” The same year Pompeii, Hate and X left The Viletones to form The Secrets.
That year, the new lineup of the Viletones appeared at the legendary concert and documentary The Last Pogo, filmed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, May 1, 1978. In 1983, the Viletones released their first full-length album, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, recorded live at Larry’s Hideaway in Toronto. In 1994, the record label Other Peoples Music released a retrospective collection, A Taste Of Honey.
After a reunion, a new lineup of the Viletones recorded and released the 1998 album What It Feels Like To Kill, featuring live material and three new tracks written by Leckie and Stergiu, their first new material since the early 1980s. In 2023 Californian label Artifix Records released a collectors edition vinyl retrospective, Fleurs du Mal.
Read more at Billboard Canada.
(Photo by Billy Pinton)
Did you know BraveWords has an active Facebook Group where you can start your own metal discussion or take part in many other discussions. The BraveWords Facebook Group is the evolution of the old BraveWords message board from years ago.
Bands… feel free to promote your shows and albums.
Podcasts… feel free to promote your new episodes.
Radio Shows… feel free to promote your latest show.
Record Labels… feel free to promote your latest releases
Click to join and start discussing: https://m.facebook.com/groups/bravewordsmetal/
The post VILETONES Leader STEVEN LECKIE Dead At 67 appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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