Vancouver Punk
The west-coast first wave that coined 'hardcore' — political, tuneful and absurdly early.
What you're really asking
A. gave hardcore its name while the Pointed Sticks and Modernettes wrote power-pop sharp enough for radio that never came.
Where it sits
By 1978 the city had Quintessence Records' counter, the Smilin' Buddha Cabaret and a scene split between fury and hooks. 's Hardcore '81 literally named the genre; the Subhumans (Canada's) matched them in politics and preceded them on wax.
Pointed Sticks were briefly the great pop hope — signed, shelved, beloved — and the Modernettes' Teen City stayed a cult 12-inch for decades.
The scene
A. as the engine, the Subhumans as the conscience, the pop wing across the street.
What: punk with actual songwriting, politics with actual jokes. How it works: original Friends Records and Quintessence pressings are scarce Canadiana; reissues exist because the originals vanished.
The leading records
D.O.A.
Hardcore '81
1981
The album that named hardcore — speed, slogans, grin.
The Subhumans
Incorrect Thoughts
1980
Canada's angriest melodies; the political spine of the scene.
Pointed Sticks
Perfect Youth
1980
Power pop that should have ruled the world — ask any collector.
Modernettes
Teen City
1980
Barracuda cool: the single-bar scene's great 12-inch.
Young Canadians
Hawaii
1980
Art Bergmann's sneer — three songs, permanent reputation.
Oddballs
Keep digging
- Why did 'hardcore' get named in Vancouver?
- Where are the Quintessence pressings now?
- What happened to Art Bergmann?