Dennis
Blackman ~ Guitar
Jerry
Brown ~ Drums
Mike
Brown ~ Drums
Gary
Devost ~ Guitar
Bob
Jackson ~ Drums
Rick
Laing ~ Bass, Backing Vocals
Bernie
Mallet ~ Drums
Steve
Perry ~ Guitar
Norm
Sawyer ~ Bass
Colin
Steeksma ~ Bass
Ian
Steeksma ~ Guitar, Vocals
Simon
Williams ~ Bass
In the late 60's and first year or two of 1970's, Twitch arose from the ashes of the last version of "The Cry For Justice", which included Ian Steeksma and Steve Perry. Wanting to try something different, also to perhaps cash in on the growing trend for bands to put on a show, and using theatrical makeup, Ian Steeksma, Steven Perry, Rick Lang and Mike Brown eventually made up the first Twitch to begin touring the local clubs and schools in Vancouver. In 1973, Rick left and the band was joined by Ian's younger brother Colin on bass.Using Colin's and Steve's additional writing skills, the band evolved into a very theatrical performance utilizing many dark and near-Satanic themes; the show climaxed with the drummer Mike being shot on a huge cross.
Steve and Mike left the band, which left Ian and Colin to re-form.
The next incarnation of Twitch was to be based on a more good-time atmosphere as the prior dark side antics were eventually even getting to theband members, but also utilizing an original storyline of songs, a lot of the New Wave and Punk music coming out of New York, and still using theatrical makeup and choreography.
Twitch was a local rock group known for it's bizarre stage show, theatrics and theme inspired fast rock. In one part of the show.the drummer, Mike Brown, was shot from a platform with a fake revolver and dove (fell) over the drum kit on a riser and landed writhing around in "pain" on the stage next to the rest of the band spewing fake blood. When the "bullets" hit him, a pressurized blood bag hidden in his mouth exploded for effect.
Although that and the rest of the show was very successful even after seeing it several times including Grey cup weekend, the owners at the time were never able to erase or paint the "blood stains" off the wall until it was demolished..
Picture is on myspace and then found in the Twitch archives
Ian Steeksma, December 2006
Twitch reformed recently for a one night show at CAMEO showcase. http://cameocanada.com/
Photo Courtesy of Colin Steeksma
),
The members that gelled together were Ian, Colin, Gary Devost and Jerry Brown. The band toured extensively from 1974 to 1979 throughout western Canada, crossing paths with Long John Baldrey, Trooper, Sweeny Todd and others
.
Eventually the band broke up, after again playing the Commodore backing up Blondie and traveling to San Francisco and and Los Angeles to attempt to garner a record deal, and playing the local clubs. In the 80's, the band reformed as Blind Date.
