The Gruesomes

The Gruesomes emerged in Montreal in 1985 as a Canadian outfit whose teenage members favored '60s attire complete with bowl haircuts. Founding personnel included guitarists and vocalists Bobby Beaton and Gerry Alvarez plus brothers Eric Davis on drums and John Davis on bass. John Knolls stepped in on drums a couple of years later in place of John Davis. Across the remainder of the decade the group issued three albums and produced a pair of music videos.

Despite scant prior stage experience the members quickly assembled a local following through club dates and delivered their opening EP Jack the Ripper on Primitive Records inside their first twelve months, with the Unchained EP appearing on the same imprint shortly afterward.

Switching to Og Music the band recorded its initial long-player Tyrants of Teen Trash in 1986. By then the audience had grown substantially, allowing the album to register strongly in Canada as well as the United States and Europe. While maintaining a demanding tour itinerary the quartet added Gruesomania and Hey! over the next two years. Even as several tracks reached the charts and popularity continued to climb the members disbanded in 1990.

At the start of the new millennium the Gruesomes reconvened and were greeted warmly in Canada, drawing a sold-out crowd to a Toronto venue ten years after their last joint appearance. The performance was filmed for television, and the group also released the album Cave-In in 2000.

Tracks appearing on the band's various recordings include "Buried & Dead," "Got Love if You Want It," "Get Outta My Hair," "My Broken Heart Will Never Mend," "Jack the Ripper," "Cry in the Night," "I Never Loved Her," and "Bloodhound."