On August 7, 2022, original member Gord Lewis was found murdered in his home at age 65. His son Jonathan Lewis was arrested shortly after the crime and charged with second-degree murder . Teenage Head said the band will continue with performances following Lewis’ murder, as was his wish.
In November 2016, Teenage Head announced the return of Desroches as lead singer. Jack Pedler, due to illness was replaced by Gene Champagne, also of the Un-Teens and The Killjoys . In late 2017, Teenage Head began performing record release parties throughout Ontario for their new remix and remastered compilation,…
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DesRoches moved on to form his own group, The Shakers. He rejoined Teenage Head as vocalist in the mid-1980s (for the album Electric Guitars), and yet again in 2016. Steve Park soon left and later joined another Hamilton band, Simply Saucer .
In 2014, Canadian writer Geoff Pevere published the book Gods of the Hammer: The Teenage Head Story . To help celebrate the book launch, the band played a guest vocalist night at the 2014 edition of Canadian Music Week . Musicians performing with Teenage Head that evening including the Dead…
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The remaining members of the band continued to perform after Venom’s death playing a tribute show for him, and performing at the 2008 Hamilton Music Awards. In 2009, longtime fan and friend of the band, Pete MacAulay joined as the new singer, to in his words “take Frankie’s space, not…
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On October 15, 2008, Gord Lewis announced that Frankie Venom had died at 52, following a battle with throat cancer. In 2014, a memorial statue of Frankie Venom had been planned in Venom’s hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, but was stalled because of criticism of public funds being spent to commemorate…
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In 2003, the band recorded a host of previously released material with Ramones drummer Marky Ramone at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton and Metalworks Studios in Toronto with Ramones producer, Daniel Rey . The resulting album was released in Canada on April 22, 2008, titled Teenage Head with Marky Ramone…
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In 1986, one year after the release of Trouble in the Jungle , Venom left the band to form a new group, Frankie Venom and The Vipers. Nick Stipanitz joined the Vipers as well. Venom was replaced by Dave Desroches , who led the band for three years before departing…
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Their 1983 record Tornado was marked by controversy, with the band’s new American label MCA Records demanding that they change their name to ‘Teenage Heads’ to placate the more conservative American audience. The title track was the band’s last big hit in Canada. During this time the band appeared, as…
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In September 1980, riding high on the success of Frantic City and the band’s unintended notoriety, Attic Records , their Canadian label, set up a series of showcase gigs in New York City, hoping to attract a U.S. record deal. Only a few days before their scheduled departure, Lewis was…
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