Keith Whittaker (vocals)
Iain Atkinson (bass)
Rob Brent (guitar)
Jimmy (J.D.) Weatherstone (drums)
Steve Koch
The Demics began in the late '70's in London, Ontario and soon moved from the small club setting where their style of punk was barely appreciated to the hotbed of the Canadian punk scene itself -- Toronto.
Soon, the band found itself the showpiece act on fledgling indie label Ready Records in Toronto and a 5-song EP called 'Talk's Cheap' led to some notoriety on cutting edge Toronto radio like CFNY-FM.
The band was wooed to Tom Treumuth's Hypnotic Records label who were more equipped, along with the Intercan label, to take the band farther with its distribution deal through Pickwick Records.
The result was the self-titled debut album in 1980 and the band's first legitimate hit single "New York City" -- produced by legendary English guitarist/producer Chris Spedding.
The Demics' rising star was short lived and the band split up amidst lack of a clear vision and musical direction following the loss of their deal on Intercan/Hypnotic.
Weatherstone would go on to play drums for various incarnations of country cow-punk Handsome Ned's Sidewinders and The Hellions.
In 1996, Other People's Music out of Toronto released a compilation CD of the Demics' material. This was followed by Chart Magazine's listing of "New York City" as the number one greatest Canadian single of all time.
On July 16 of that year, Keith Whittaker died of cancer in Toronto after years of living in London, Ontario.
Singles
1980 New York City/Blue Boy (Intercan/Hypnotic) CAN-10014
1981 All Gone Wrong/The 400 Blows (Intercan/Hypnotic) CAN-10018
Albums
1979 Talk's Cheap (Ready) EPRR-001
1980 Demics (Intercan/Hypnotic/Pickwick) IC-1010
1990 Talk's Cheap [re-issue] (Fringe Product)
1996 The Demics (Other People's Music)
Video
Compilation Tracks
Submit corrections, additions and feedback
