DEATH SENTENCE

Live to die

With a near riot at the 1984 Shindig contest and apparently a beer can to the MC’s head, the notorious Death Sentence garners a second-place spot. This reckoning force of Vancouver’s hardcore and second wave punk is now a name synonymous with early Canadian punks D.O.A. and the Subhumans. Keep in mind that Death Sentence was bottled fed in the cradle of a Burnaby haunted house and that upbringing that would come to foreshadow their tumultuous ride. This band would emerge swinging with the ferocity and danger of what a live show should be. “Their tour shenanigans would make Mötley Crüe blush,” says drummer Doug Donut.

The trail of their recording history includes the 1984 demo with two tracks on the celebrated Undergrowth compilation, collaboration with Collector's RPM Undergrowth label led to the 1985 EP Not a Pretty Sight. After touring and sold out local dates, they recorded the 1987 full length Stop Killing Me! for Fringe Records. A 1989 metallic and rock tinged demo titled "Girls, Guns & Guitars" was recorded but never released.

By 1991, drug abuse, endless lineup changes and poor finances put a halt to the recording of the third album. A revolving door of members including: Brad Kent of Avengers and D.O.A., also Gabe Mantle from Gob. News of their vocalist’s Pete ‘Puke/Cleaver’ Keller’s 1994 untimely death would be the nail. “How he lived, as long as he did, is beyond any of us,” says Donut. “Pete was the real deal, a brilliant, scary, angry, total punk rock nutcase.” With a demand for their live gigs, older members would drop in to keep up the momentum, including actor Bernie Coulson, the drummer from Hard Core Logo. By 2001-02, Dan Scum was recruited by guitarist Syd Savage for his rawness and sense of humour. “Dan was a big fan of the band and I was sold on him after one song,” says the drummer.

Death Sentence 1990 - Dan Walters photo

The 2009 reissue of Not A Pretty Sight/Stop Killing Me! was remastered by Doug Donut’s Lazy 8 Records and this Rickshaw Theatre release event returned them to the stage. Only a small handful of copies remain and are available at their rare shows. After uniting for a 2012 benefit, they have become a Jak's Skate Team function mainstay.

Punk and skateboarding share an undeniable connection. The Jaks emerged in the early ‘80s. “The team is a blend of old-school skaters, hardcore punkers and crazy fuckers that skate,” describes Steve ‘Slutty’ Jak Suttie. Death Sentence holds currency with Victoria’s Dayglo Abortions, and California’s Verbal Abuse as a premiere Jaks band. This lineup is with Donut on drums, Mike Jak (ex-Dayglos), Syd Savage on guitar, Ben Lightning on bass and Dustin Jak on vocals. 2014 marks the 30-year anniversary of the definitive debut release and with it comes the most intense and solid lineup of this decade. “Everyone knows their shit and are on top of their game,” says Donut.

A blazing performance this past July in Victoria can only point at why they are promising to be one of the highlight gigs of the year. Playing their debut album front to back and launching the 2014 Vancouver Jak's Skate competition.

Death Sentence play Funkys Sept. 12.

-Dan Walters and More Betty