Slik Toxik
Slik Toxik was a Canadian hard rock band from Toronto.
Biography
Nick Walsh and Dave Mercel had been playing in a band called Virgin Angel in 1986 when they moved on to another act called Portrait, where Nick was fronting and playing guitar. Guitarists Rob Bruce and Kevin Gale had both been in the line-up separately. Portrait rattled around the Southern Ontario club scene for about a year when Nick decided to drop the guitar for the stage, and hold the mic full time. Bruce and Gale were both brought into the fold to be the twin axemen, drummer Alex Munro was added along with his cousin Frank Currell replaced Dave Mercel as bassist (who became the band's lyricist). After sometime Frank was eventually replaced with Pat Howarth and Slik Toxik finally came to be in 1988.
In 1990, John Boyes [citation needed] (brother of Bob of Luhtala Management) saw the band performing at The Siboney Club in Toronto and signed them to a management deal. A three-song demo tape (featuring the songs Blood Money, Rachel's Breathing and White Lies, Black Truth) was recorded and produced by Bob Potter (The Scorpions) and shopped to major labels. Capitol Records then signed the band in 1991 and issued an EP, 'Smooth And Deadly'. This was followed in 1992 by the full album (and video) 'Doin' The Nasty' with Slik Toxik touring from coast to coast. The release of four singles helped the album reach gold status, #61 on the Canadian charts[1] and won the 1993 Juno Award for Best Rock Album of the Year. The band kept in close touch with their fans through mail-outs and contests which established it as a fanbased act.
The "Helluvatime" video won the People's Choice Award for 'Best Video Of The Year' as well as 'Best Metal Video Award' at the 1992 MuchMusic Video Awards. They would be the last act to ever play Toronto's famed Rock And Roll Heaven and went on to tour the remainder of the year doing gigs with Kim Mitchell, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Spinal Tap at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario.
Through the changing wave of music that was taking place at the time, EMI brought in producer Glenn Robinson (The Tea Party, Kyuss) to work on pre production with the band for their next album, but after an intoxicated Pat Howarth stole and smashed a limousine at the 1994 post-Juno Awards party, the label began questioning the stability of the band. EMI suggested that Slik Toxik be moved to one of their subsidiary labels, but after that meeting the band thought that they might stand a chance to do it independently instead, given the fact that they a fairly big fan base. Howarth was subsequently replaced by new bassist, Adam Headland.
Slik Toxik attempted a follow-up with 1994's 'Irrelevant' on the fledgling Strawberry label, but by this time, record labels were no longer interested in heavy metal acts and the band folded.
Final Line-Up
- Nick Walsh - vocals
- Rob Bruce - guitar
- Kevin Gale - guitar
- Adam Headland - bass
- Neil Busby - drums
Former Members
- Pat Howarth - bass (1988-1994)
- Alex Murno - drums (1986-1991)
Discography
Albums
- Doin' the Nasty (EMI, 1992)
- Irrelevant (Strawberry/A&M Records, 1994)
EPs
- Smooth And Deadly (Capitol Records, 1991)
Singles
- Big Fuckin' Deal (Capitol Records, 1991)
- Helluvatime (EMI, 1992)
- By The Fireside (EMI, 1992)
- White Lies, Black Truth (EMI, 1992)
- Sweet Asylum (EMI, 1992)
Videos
- Helluvatime (1992)
- White Lies, Black Truth (1992)
- By The Fireside (1992)
- Sweet Asylum (1992)