L'Étranger (band)

L'Étranger (The Stranger or The Outsider) was a Canadian punk rock band based in Toronto, Ontario. Named for the novel L'Étranger by Albert Camus,[1] the band played a politically minded brand of punk music that drew on both Clash influences and the band members' social justice-oriented Roman Catholic faith.[2][3] The band was best known for their anti-apartheid single "One People", one of the first independent videos ever to gain airplay on the then-new MuchMusic.[4]

L'Étranger
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresPunk rock
Years active1980 (1980)–1986 (1986)
LabelsSensible Record Company
Ground Zero Records
Past membersAndrew Cash
Charlie Angus
Peter Duffin
Bruce "Bruce P.M." Meikle
Tim Vesely

History

L'Étranger was founded in 1980 in Toronto, Ontario.[2] by childhood friends, singer/songwriter and guitarist Andrew Cash and bassist Charlie Angus, along with drummer Peter Duffin.[5][6] That lineup released one six-song EP, Innocent Hands in 1982.[7] The songs were composed by Cash and Angus, and some had political themes;[8] some critics referred to the band as "Gang of Four with a sense of humour".[4]

At that time the band was playing in various clubs and music venues in Toronto, performing regularly at the Cabana Room in the Spadina Hotel. Bruce Meikle, under the stage name "Bruce P.M.", was added to the line-up in time for the second EP, 1984's Running Out of Funtown.[9] The band was by then performing more widely around Ontario, managed by James Booth.[8]

Angus left the band to form Grievous Angels,[2] and was replaced by Tim Vesely for the band's final EP, Sticks and Stones in 1986.[4] Liner notes for the EP mention him as a group member who was not involved in the recording.

L'Étranger disbanded later in 1986,[1] and Cash began performing as a solo artist.[2] His first solo release was a reissue of Sticks and Stones.[10] He went on to record several albums as a solo singer-songwriter and as a member of The Cash Brothers, and also worked as a freelance journalist. Duffin later co-founded the acoustic pop band Barnhouse Static with Canadian songwriter Kathy Evans.

As of 2011, Angus and Cash were both in politics, sitting in the House of Commons of Canada as members of the New Democratic Party caucus.[2] Cash lost a re-election bid in 2015, although Angus remains a Member of Parliament as of 2023. Angus ran as a candidate for the leadership of the New Democratic Party in 2017 and came in second place.

Discography
  • 1982: Innocent Hands
  • 1983: Running Out of Funtown
  • 1986: Sticks and Stones

References
  1. Guy Dixon, "Punks in the House of Commons". The Globe and Mail, May 7, 2011.
  2. Jim Rankin, "Andrew Cash: From punk to politics". Toronto Star, May 7, 2011.
  3. Philippe Gohier, ‘The only punk band ever reunited in the House of Commons’. Maclean's, May 9, 2011.
  4. Tom Hawthorn, "'Outsiders' bent on doing things their way". The Globe and Mail, August 21, 1986.
  5. David Akin, "The only band that matters: Can Charlie Angus rock-and-roll his way to the NDP leadership?". National Post, November 24, 2016.
  6. Jason Schneider, "Rockin' the House Charlie Angus, Andrew Cash & A New Dawn for the NDP". Exclaim!, May 29, 2011.
  7. Liam Lacey, "Inside the Sleeve: Innocent Hands, L'Étranger". The Globe and Mail, October 30, 1982.
  8. Michael Barclay; Jason Schneider; Ian Jack (1 June 2011). Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance, 1985-1995. ECW Press. pp. 361–. ISBN 978-1-55490-968-1.
  9. Liam Lacey, "Inside the Sleeve: Running Out of Funtown, L'Etranger". The Globe and Mail, April 12, 1984.
  10. Greg Quill, "Indie avalanche spills raw talent". Toronto Star, January 9, 1987.
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