Doug and the Slugs
Encyclopedia
Doug and the Slugs are a Canadian
new-wave/power-pop band based in Vancouver
. The group was formed in 1977 and was most active throughout the 1980s. They are best remembered for the Canadian top 40 hits "Too Bad" (1980), "Making It Work" (1983) and "Tomcat Prowl" (1988). "Too Bad" was used as the theme song for The Norm Show
, a 1999-2001 sitcom starring Norm Macdonald
.
, who had been a graphic designer in his home town before moving to Vancouver in the mid-1970s. Bennett would be the band's chief songwriter, frontman and lead singer.
After some turnover amongst Slugs in the early months, the lineup stabilized by 1978, and for the entirety of their recording career (1978–1992), Doug & The Slugs consisted of lead vocalist Doug Bennett, guitarists Richard Baker and John Burton, keyboardist Simon Kendall, bassist Steve Bosley and drummer John "Wally" Watson.
The band built a solid following in the Vancouver area through constant gigging. Determined to exert control over their own music and artwork, the band founded their own record label, Ritdong Records, and worked out a distribution deal with RCA Records
for their recordings. Their debut single "Too Bad" was issued on Ritdong in February 1980, and became a substantial hit in Vancouver, rising to #2 on local Top 40 station CKLG. Shortly thereafter, the track entered the Canadian hit parade, peaking at #20. Doug & The Slugs self-produced debut album, Cognac & Bologna was also issued in 1980.
Throughout the 1980s, a string of singles and albums followed. Their biggest success was 1982's Music For The Hard Of Thinking, which in Canada peaked at #22, and spun off two top 40 singles: "Who Knows How To Make Love Stay" and "Making It Work". However, the band didn't break through internationally, and RCA ended their distribution deal with Ritdong in 1984, after the release of the best-of compilation Ten Big Ones.
Ritdong then entered into a distribution deal with A&M Records
. Two Doug & The Slugs albums were issued via this deal (1984's Popaganda and 1988's Tomcat Prowl), as well as a Doug Bennett solo album (1986's Animato, on which all the Slugs played.) The 1988 single "Tomcat Prowl" became the band's final top 40 entry, peaking at #23.
Ritdong's deal with A&M expired after Tomcat Prowl, and the group didn't record for several years. Doug & The Slugs' final album (1992's Tales From Terminal City) came out on their own Tomcat Records label. It is the only Doug & The Slugs album not to have hit the Canadian charts.
Most of the Slugs left the band after 1992, although Kendall stayed until 1994. After this time, Bennett toured with an ever-rotating cast of new musicians, still billing the act as Doug & The Slugs. The original Slugs reunited to back Doug for two "25th anniversary" shows in Vancouver in 2003; Bennett continued to perform with other Slugs until his death, in October 2004.
After a gap of several years, the original Slugs (Baker, Bosley, Burton, Kendall and Watson) reunited in 2009 and invited singer Ted Okos to be their new frontman. The group still performs live dates as Doug & The Slugs, although there is now no-one named Doug in the band.
Dennis Henderson is now a high school electronics teacher at Hugh McRoberts Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia
, Canada
.
In Season 3, Episode 11: It's Backwards Day of Da Vinci's Inquest Simon Kendall is heard playing his beautiful composition Hymn For Believers from his CD Sweet Compassion as the episode closes and continuing on in place of the customary Da Vinci ending theme. It is a very moving and very effective use of the piece.
Other performers with the band (timelines unknown):
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
new-wave/power-pop band based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The group was formed in 1977 and was most active throughout the 1980s. They are best remembered for the Canadian top 40 hits "Too Bad" (1980), "Making It Work" (1983) and "Tomcat Prowl" (1988). "Too Bad" was used as the theme song for The Norm Show
The Norm Show
The Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran from 1999 through 2001 on the ABC television network.-Synopsis:...
, a 1999-2001 sitcom starring Norm Macdonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
.
Band history
Doug and The Slugs was founded by Toronto-born Doug BennettDoug Bennett (musician)
Doug Bennett was the lead singer of Canadian rock band Doug and the Slugs. He also produced and directed music videos for artists such as Headpins, Trooper, Zappacosta, Images In Vogue and for the Slugs themselves....
, who had been a graphic designer in his home town before moving to Vancouver in the mid-1970s. Bennett would be the band's chief songwriter, frontman and lead singer.
After some turnover amongst Slugs in the early months, the lineup stabilized by 1978, and for the entirety of their recording career (1978–1992), Doug & The Slugs consisted of lead vocalist Doug Bennett, guitarists Richard Baker and John Burton, keyboardist Simon Kendall, bassist Steve Bosley and drummer John "Wally" Watson.
The band built a solid following in the Vancouver area through constant gigging. Determined to exert control over their own music and artwork, the band founded their own record label, Ritdong Records, and worked out a distribution deal with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
for their recordings. Their debut single "Too Bad" was issued on Ritdong in February 1980, and became a substantial hit in Vancouver, rising to #2 on local Top 40 station CKLG. Shortly thereafter, the track entered the Canadian hit parade, peaking at #20. Doug & The Slugs self-produced debut album, Cognac & Bologna was also issued in 1980.
Throughout the 1980s, a string of singles and albums followed. Their biggest success was 1982's Music For The Hard Of Thinking, which in Canada peaked at #22, and spun off two top 40 singles: "Who Knows How To Make Love Stay" and "Making It Work". However, the band didn't break through internationally, and RCA ended their distribution deal with Ritdong in 1984, after the release of the best-of compilation Ten Big Ones.
Ritdong then entered into a distribution deal with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. Two Doug & The Slugs albums were issued via this deal (1984's Popaganda and 1988's Tomcat Prowl), as well as a Doug Bennett solo album (1986's Animato, on which all the Slugs played.) The 1988 single "Tomcat Prowl" became the band's final top 40 entry, peaking at #23.
Ritdong's deal with A&M expired after Tomcat Prowl, and the group didn't record for several years. Doug & The Slugs' final album (1992's Tales From Terminal City) came out on their own Tomcat Records label. It is the only Doug & The Slugs album not to have hit the Canadian charts.
Most of the Slugs left the band after 1992, although Kendall stayed until 1994. After this time, Bennett toured with an ever-rotating cast of new musicians, still billing the act as Doug & The Slugs. The original Slugs reunited to back Doug for two "25th anniversary" shows in Vancouver in 2003; Bennett continued to perform with other Slugs until his death, in October 2004.
After a gap of several years, the original Slugs (Baker, Bosley, Burton, Kendall and Watson) reunited in 2009 and invited singer Ted Okos to be their new frontman. The group still performs live dates as Doug & The Slugs, although there is now no-one named Doug in the band.
Singles discography
| Release date | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... RPM TOP 100 |
Album | ||
| 1980 | "Too Bad" | #20 | Cognac and Bologna |
| 1980 | "Chinatown Calculation" | #75 | |
| 1980 | "Drifting Away" | - | |
| 1981 | "Real Enough" | - | Wrap It! |
| 1981 | The Slugs: "Running Around" |
- | Non-LP single |
| 1983 | "Who Knows How to Make Love Stay" | #25 | Music for the Hard of Thinking |
| 1983 | "Making It Work" | #29 | |
| 1983 | "Nobody but Me" | - | |
| 1984 | "It's Alright Medley" | - | Ten Big Ones |
| 1984 | "Day by Day" | #92 | Popaganda |
| 1984 | "Love Shines" | - | |
| 1984 | "Waiting for You" | #83 | |
| 1985 | "White Christmas" | - | Non-LP single |
| 1986 | Doug Bennett: "It's Got to Be Monday" |
#80 | Animato |
| 1988 | "Tomcat Prowl" | #23 | Tomcat Prowl |
| 1989 | "(I Don't Want To) Walk Away" | #84 | |
| 1989 | "It's a Powerful Thing" | #64 | |
| 1992 | "Terminal City" | - | Tales from Terminal City |
Original studio albums
| Release date | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... RPM Album charts |
||
| 1980 | Cognac and Bologna | #36 |
| 1981 | Wrap It! | #28 |
| 1983 | Music for the Hard of Thinking | #22 |
| 1984 | Popaganda | #43 |
| 1986 | Doug Bennett: Animato |
#95 |
| 1988 | Tomcat Prowl | #39 |
| 1992 | Tales from Terminal City | - |
Compilation albums
- 1984: Ten Big Ones
- 1987: Doug and the Slugs (U.S. release only)
- 1993: Slugcology 101
Awards and recognition
- 1981: multiple nominee, Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
:- Composer of the Year, "Too Bad"
- Best Album Graphics, Cognac and Bologna
- Single of the Year, "Too Bad"
- 1983: nominee, Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
, Most Promising Group of the Year
Band member timeline
The initial band members were (based on available information):Dennis Henderson is now a high school electronics teacher at Hugh McRoberts Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In Season 3, Episode 11: It's Backwards Day of Da Vinci's Inquest Simon Kendall is heard playing his beautiful composition Hymn For Believers from his CD Sweet Compassion as the episode closes and continuing on in place of the customary Da Vinci ending theme. It is a very moving and very effective use of the piece.
Other performers with the band (timelines unknown):
- drums
- Vince Ditrich
- Larry MacGillvary
- Pat Steward
- guitar
- John Ellis
- Elio Martelli
- Al Rodger
- keyboards
- Darrell Havers
- saxophone
- John DohenyJohn DohenyJohn Steven "Pip" Doheny , is a jazz tenor saxophonist and band leader, who also plays flute, clarinet, and alto saxophone....
- John Doheny