Leto

Sadly, the lead singer of Teenage Head (Frank Kerr aka Frankie Venom) passed away on Wedsnesday at the age of 52. He had throat cancer which was diagnosed only a month ago.

I'm not sure how well known Teenage Head is to the denizens of TFP, but for myself, this band was the epitome of how exciting and even viral the music scene was in the late 1970's when I was in high school. The band was even brought to our school for a concert, one of the most successful ever.
This year they were even recording with Marky Ramone.

I do have Teenage Head on my mp3 player, and It will be top of my playlist today.





Teenage Head frontman `Frankie Venom' dead of cancer at 52
The Canadian Press

HAMILTON — Frank Kerr, lead singer of the iconic Hamilton punk band Teenage Head, has died of cancer at age 52.

Gord Lewis, his bandmate and close friend since childhood, said Kerr died Wednesday at a Hamilton hospital.

He had been diagnosed less than a month ago with throat cancer.

To his fans, Kerr was known as Frankie Venom, a wildly unpredictable stage persona seemingly capable of anything when standing in front of a microphone.

"Frankie was the true punk rocker. He really was," said Lewis, who founded the band in 1975 with Kerr while they were students at Westdale high school.

"But that's what made him interesting. I thrived off his abilities and his energy."

Kerr's death came on the same day it was announced that Teenage Head would be recognized with a lifetime achievement award at the Hamilton Music Awards on Nov. 16.

"He knew it was happening and I'm sure he felt good about it," said Lewis.

Kerr and the band had their biggest hits with their first two albums, "Teenage Head" (1979) and "Frantic City" (1980).

They remain recognized by leading rock critics as among the greatest Canadian rock albums ever made.

Kerr's most identifiable songs included "Let's Shake," "Top Down," "Somethin' On My Mind" and "Picture My Face."

The band's popularity reached the point that, in 1980, more than 13,000 frenzied fans tried to squeeze into the old Ontario Place Forum for a show. Officials attempted to close the gates on the over-capacity crowd and a riot ensued, ending in injuries to both police and fans, as well as about two dozen arrests.

Teenage Head continued recording and performing on and off through the years.

This year they released "Teenage Head With Marky Ramone" of the famous New York punk band, The Ramones.



CP24- Teenage Head frontman `Frankie Venom' dead of cancer at 52 - CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television


Teenage Head (band - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

SSJTWIZTA

holy shit, thats a bummer. i was hoping to see those guys play one of these days.

ain't got no sense and you're tearin' me apart seem to get stuck in my head more than most songs.

sad day.

__________________
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for me And there was no one left to speak out for me.
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Cuddly Knife

sad news...RIP

Spiker

Leto; Like you I'm in Canada, Toronto to be specific. I grew up on punk and loved the scene. I saw Teenage Head a few times, they were just an incredible live act.

Sad news indeed.