The Mods

Amazing what you can do on New Years Day when you’re not hung over!

Wishing the baby of the band, the youngster and drummer extraordinaire Dave Quinton a very happy birthday as we close out the year. In late 1978 we three Mods took young David under our wing and wrestled him out into the world, guiding his drumming and turning him into a formidable young punk rock star. A good story should always contain fact and fiction.

A week before Christmas 1978 the Mods headed to Ottawa for a weeks worth of gigs. Dave's Mom was at the door to see him off and gave us a big box of homemade cookies for the trip. The first night at the Black Swan David got beaned with a beer bottle from a fairly hostile crowd. The week ended on a brighter note with a great weekend at the Rotter's Club and a historic Mods stay at the Beacon Arms (chased by house dicks, apples and other shenanigans) which will be fully documented in our forthcoming memoires. Happy Birthday Quinton!! from all of us!!

Happy Happy Happy Day of Birth celebration to our guitarist (and Beacon Arms private hotel detective), Scott Marks! 😀

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Wishing Mods Bass player and backing vocalist a majorly Happy Birthday today. As he enjoys his much deserved retirement!! Long live the Plant!!

It was in early 1978 that we first saw the Viletones. Greg, Mark and I went to see them at the Horseshoe. I can't recall who else was on the bill that night, but that night had an immediate impact on us. We didn't exit unscathed. Mark went home with a black eye as he traded a few blows between sets outside the Viletones dressing room. It was our initiation to the scene and the beginning of a favour and debt we owe to Steven. This was 6 months before David Quinton joined as our drummer and we had Nick (Arson) playing with us. Greg got to know Steven and worked to have us open for the Viletones. Steven wanted to hear us before he would commit. One spring evening we picked up Steven and drove him to Greg's house in Scarborough where we rehearsed. Steven was in character remarking how far out in the burbs we lived. We had all attended Thomson C.I. and of course Steven had gone to Midland C.I. just down the road - but we didn't know that at that time. At Greg's house, Greg's mom, gushing like a school girl was introduced to Steven. Steven, sensing the unusual greeting, turned into an absolute gentleman, addressing her as Mrs. Trinier and being as polite as a schoolboy, albeit with a few F*&k's thrown in. A few weeks later in June 79 we opened for the Viletones at the Horseshoe. That doesn't happen without the nod from Steven and it opened the door a crack and we were able to squeeze through. I didn't know him well and most of what I do know is from that time period - he was complicated, that much I know. He would frequently show up at our shows and you never knew exactly where that would take things. He was smart and charismatic and I hope he is in a place that recognizes what he brought to staid, boring Toronto in the late 70's. From all of us, we bid goodbye to Steven who left an indelible mark on our lives - RIP from the Mods.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJPd0aMS_hc/?igsh=NXhqb2NtM25yc2Ns

The Mods-Step Out Tonight b/w You Use Me. 1978 Mods Records, Canada(Self Released). White lettering/skin tones version. This is the lone single the band released in their lifetime. There are two live tracks on the 1979 compilation “And Now From Toronto…The Last Pogo”(1979 Bomb, Canada). The 2018 mostly archival release “Reactions”(@uglypoprecords ) is well worth tracking down. This was an absolute killer band with remarkable songs. My introduction to the band was the inclusion of the A side here on “Killed By Death 26”(Redrum), an all Canadian version that’s one of my favorites of the entire series. I found that compilation in the late 90s at The Orange County Record Show in Buena Park, California. A few weeks later I pulled a copy of this single in LA at Rockaway, to be later sold, then re-acquired during the first couple weeks of the pandemic via Discogs on a ridiculously low “Make An Offer”. The one pictured is that version. I have a somewhat fascination with Canadian punk. I’ve personally never stepped foot in the country. That’s gonna change in a couple weeks. I’m headed to Step Out onto the tracks these guys laid out in Toronto. #themods #canadianpunk #killedbydeath #punk #punkrock #punkrecords #punkvinyl #stevesstackofrecords #vinyligclub #nowspinning

Canadian group THE MODS - Scott Marks, David Quinton, Mark Dixon, Greg Trinier (1979)

From all of us Mods Mark Dixon, Gregg Trinier Scott Marks, Happy 11th birthday to our wonderful drummer extraordinaire David Quinton. The man that ensured our sets were always shorter than required and spawned numerous wrist cramps for me. Love you David, stay healthy, the Mods are due for a comeback tour 😂!!

Found this review of the show at the Danforth Music Hall featuring The Police and The Mods. We had just switched our name to The News about two months before this, but there was still some confusion (as there still is!)
Sting.com ... not too bad
https://www.sting.com/tour/date/1779 #

Sting The Official Sting Fan Club

Happy Birthday to our marvellous guitar player Scott Marks turning 68 today. Scott and I learned guitar together, attended concerts, discovered Dylan, Bowie, Prine, The Jam and so many other bands together. Friday nights at the 99 cent Roxy. Wishing Scott a healthy great year, and good luck in his newly elected position as IAFF Canadian Trustee!