The Diodes

As the earliest Canadian punk act to secure a contract with a major label, the Diodes remain known above all for the brooding, riff-driven success of “Tired of Waking Up Tired” and their forceful reading of the Paul Simon composition “Red Rubber Ball.” Fronted by vocalist Paul Robinson and propelled by guitarist John Catto, bassist Ian MacKay, and drummers John Hamilton and later Mike Lengyell, the Toronto group generated raw, unrelenting force.

Columbia signed the band and issued its self-titled debut album in 1977. Two years afterward the label placed the follow-up, Released, on its Epic subsidiary, yet weak sales of both records prompted the company to end the deal.

After issuing their third album, Action/Reaction, on the independent Orient imprint, the musicians moved to England, but the relocation arrived too late to sustain the group. They dissolved soon afterward, with a collection of unreleased recordings and rehearsals appearing as Survivors in 1982.