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Derivative but entertaining, Ontario's Forgotten Rebels delivered trashy glam-punk with the snottiness of the Sex Pistols, the dopey humor of the Ramones, and the big hooks of Gary Glitter and T. Rex. The group got its start with a 1978 demo entitled Burning the Flag, which was followed with an independent EP, Tomorrow Belongs to Us (both were later collected on a 1997 reissue titled after the latter). The original lineup featured vocalist Mickey DeSadist (b. Mickey Gerlecki), guitarist Tony Madelina, drummer Angela Madelina, and bassist Carl "Chris Suicide" Johnson, and like most of the Forgotten Rebels' lineups, it was short-lived, as new drummer Pete "Treason" Latimer joined in between recordings and left just as quickly.
For the band's 1980 debut album, In Love With the System , a new lineup coalesced around DeSadist: guitarist Alan "Al McCombo" Smolak, bassist Chris "Pogo Au Go Go" Houston, and drummer Larry Electrician. In Love sported a harder-edged punk sound than either previous or subsequent records; following its release, Houston left to form a backing band called the Sex Machine, with whom he recorded an album in 1986. For that matter, the remainder of the band left as well, leaving DeSadist to recruit an all-new lineup of Mike "Taster" Mirabella (guitar), John Welton (bass), and Robert Allan (drums). This unit recorded the glammed-up This Ain't Hollywood... (1983), which featured covers of "Save the Last Dance for Me," "Eve of Destruction," and Gary Glitter's "Hello Hello (I'm Back Again)," plus one of the group's signature songs, "Surfin' on Heroin." 1985's The Pride and the Disgrace found DeSadist and Mirabella matched with a new rhythm section of bassist Mike "Spike" Lumen and drummer Dave McGhire. 1988's Surfin' on Heroin was mostly a collection of newly recorded versions of previously released songs, with Mike Szykowny temporarily replacing Lumen. Lumen was back in the fold for 1989's Forgotten Rebels (also known as Untitled ), which also featured McGhire, new guitarist Jeffrey Dee Campbell, and an inexplicable new spelling for DeSadest's last name.
A long hiatus ensued, but the Rebels regrouped in 1994 with a surprisingly similar lineup -- DeSadest, Campbell, McGhire, and bassist Chaz Butcher -- and a new LP, Criminal Zero . In addition to the Tomorrow Belongs to Us compilation, 1997 also saw the release of Executive Outcomes , which welded early demos onto a 1990 live perfomance. Butcher soon left the group in favor of Steve Mahon.
Steve Huey, All-Music Guide
Band Lineup History
Vocals1977-Always: Mickey Gerlecki (aka Mickey DeSadest, Mickey DeSadist, Mickey)
Drums1977-1979?: Angelo Maddalena (aka Styx) (First Drummer)
1980?-1981?: Pete Latimer (aka Pete Treason)
1980?-1981?: Larry Electrician
1981?-1981?: Robert Allan
198?-198?: Joe Csontos
1981-2003: Dave McGhire (aka Dave England)
2003-2004: Paul Newman: Former Drummer of Doughboys
2004-Now: Dan Casale: Former Drummer of Riotstar/Poinsened Aeros
Bass1977?-1979?: Carl Johnson (aka Chriss Suicide)
1979?-1982?: Chris Houston (aka Pogo Au Go Go, Carl Johnson, Chuck Yer Biscuits) was on Tomorrow Belongs To Us (S & M), In Love With The System, This Ain't Hollywood, Rhona Barrett/Tell Me You Love Me
1982?- 1982?: John Welton
1982?-1989?: Mike Szykowny (aka Mike Lumen, Spike)
1992-1997: Chaz Butcher: Used to be the bassist Lee Aaron's band
1997-2001: Steve Mahon: Used to be the bassist in Teenage Head
2001 - Now: Shawn Maher aka TT Mahar: Used to be the bassist in Sven Gali
Guitar1977-1977: Mickey Gerlecki (aka Mickey DeSadest, Mickey DeSadist, Mickey)
1977-1979?: Tony Maddalena (aka Les Ripper)
1980?-1982?: Alan Smolak (aka Al McCombo) (Passed Away February 11, 2004)
1982?-1987?: Mike Mirabella (aka Mike Taster)
1987?-Now: Jeffrey Campbell (aka Jeffrey Dee)