Toronto punk rock

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The groundwork for the Toronto punk rock scene was laid by the protopunk band Dishes,^[1] along with the promotion team known as The Garys and a core group of enthusiasts. A September 1976 concert by the touring Ramones catalyzed the movement. The joke was that 1,200 people went to see the Ramones over three shows, and they all went out and started bands. In January 1977, Leave Home, the Ramones' second album, came out. The cover featured bassist Dee Dee Ramone wearing the Toronto concert shirt The Garys had made for the occasion.

Early Ontario punk bands included The Diodes, The Viletones, The Demics, Forgotten Rebels, The Scenics, Arson, Androids, Cardboard Brains, Cads, The Fits, The Dents, The Swollen Members, Tyranna, Zro4, The Existers, The Mods, Teenage Head, The Poles, The Ugly, and many more. Along with the Dishrags far to the west in Victoria, British Columbia, Toronto's The Curse and B Girls were North America's first all-female punk acts.^[2] To many, Toronto was considered among the top three punk centers, along with New York and London.

In July 1977, the Viletones, Diodes, and Teenage Head headed down to New York City to play a four-day showcase at CBGB. At The Last Pogo at the Horseshoe Tavern in 1978 signaled an end to the "first wave" of punk rock in Toronto.