Chris Gibb (synthesizer, bass, vocals)
Kenny MacLean (synthesizer, guitar, vocals)
Henry Diclemente (percussion, drums)
Greg Stephens (synthesizer, vocals)
Originally surfacing in 1978 during the burgeoning Toronto punk scene, the trio of ex-Wanka member Gibb, ex-Hairdressers member MacLean and Diclemente (who replaced earlier drummer Chris Steffler) were known as The Suspects. The band released an independent single called "Raining Over France" in 1979 which gained some airtime on Toronto radio stations and brought them attention from Capitol Records.
Capitol had the band change its name to The Deserters and groomed them with a new, Police-esque mystique for their eponymous 1981 debut which was recorded in Los Angeles. The album sported a charting single in the synth-pop styled track "Alien" and the Deserters were able to land opening slots for other Capitol New Wave acts in Canada.
To augment and expand their sound beyond the obvious Police boundaries, they added keyboardist Stephens for their follow-up 'Siberian Nightlife' which was also recorded in Los Angeles in 1982. Despite intensive touring and a push at radio for the singles "Nothing Ever Happens" and "Julie" by Capitol-EMI, the album failed to ignite.
With the Canadian punk scene officially dead and the new wave scene firmly progressing into techno-pop, another Toronto act, Platinum Blonde (who were an authentic Police tribute act originally) took their original musical inspiration directly from the Deserters songbook to the point of actually nicking a few obvious riffs.
Rather than get upset about the theft of the material, Kenny MacLean instead joined the band as keyboardist, vocalist. MacLean went on to a solo career. He passed away in November 2008;
Singles
with THE SUSPECTS
1979 Raining Over France/ (independent)
with THE DESERTERS
1981 Alien/Inner Visions (Capitol-EMI) 72856
1981 Inner Visions/A.W.O.L. (Capitol - UK) CL-212
1981 Alien/Protection (Capitol - UK) CL-225
1981 Take It Away/Raining Over France (Capitol-EMI) 72870
1983 Nothing Ever Happens/Siberia (Capitol-EM) 72913
1983 Julie/Take It All (Capitol-EMI) 72918
Albums
with THE DESERTERS
1981 The Deserters (Capitol-EMI) ST-12164
1983 Siberian Nightlife (Capitol-EMI) ST-12257
Video
Compilation Tracks
Deserters MySpace Page
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