UIC (band)

U.I.C., which was first an acronym for Unemployment Insurance Commission but was later changed to Up in Canada ^[1] were a punk and garage rock band from Exeter, Ontario,^[2] formed in June 1982 by guitar player Fred "Slack" Robinson, singer John Lindenfield, drummer Murray "Houndog" Heywood, bassman Mike Caldwell and guitar player Ted Treibner.

Heywood had started playing the drums with his brother's band when he was 11, playing dances and banquets, doing mostly country covers. He became frustrated and sold his drums when he was 16 but once Fred Robinson, who was three years older, learned how to play barre chords, he and Heywood discovered that they could play as well as the Ramones and Sex Pistols and decided to start a band. The UIC guys used to sit on a hill near their home in Exeter in Fred's car to get good FM reception and hear the Detroit stations that played Iggy Pop and The Stooges, which became one of their main influences. Heywood was more into Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith but was introduced to the Ramones and punk rock and quickly fell in love with it. Since he was not able to copy John Bonham's drumming style, Heywood happily changed for a Tommy Ramone style.

Fred's brother, Dave "Smokin'" Robinson, became the singer in December 1982. Eventually, Chris Mittelholtz was added as a sax player. Caldwell was replaced by Dan "Hack" Preszcator at the end of 1983. U.I.C were perennial fan-favourites at the aptly named Freakers Ball, an outdoor music festival held in various Exeter-area cornfields throughout the 1980s, and played many gigs in London, Ontario, before making the move to Toronto in 1984. Welcomed into the city's indie scene, the band went on to play with other garage faves like The Gruesomes, and Deja Voodoo, and to open for notable acts like Teenage Head and The Goo Goo Dolls.

2016 marks the 30th anniversary of U.I.C.'s first recording, Our Garage, released by the Fringe Product record label in 1986. The album was produced by Gemini-nominated sound engineer Michael Edward Jackson. In an interview in the first issue of In Yer Ear fanzine (1987), Dave and Murray acknowledged that Mike Star, owner of Star Records and organizer of Star Club shows in Oshawa, On., was instrumental in getting Our Garage to the American market, helping distribute the vinyl release in New York, Chicago and Boston.

After its release, the band embarked on its first of a number of cross-Canada tours. Demand for the band skyrocketed in clubs from Ottawa, London, through Toronto to Oshawa and beyond, including regular appearances at the Star Club, Lee's Palace, and the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.

Next, the band recorded Live Like Ninety, on the Og Music label, capturing a blistering live set at Lee's Palace late in 1988. The following year, the band recorded The Wiseman Sessions, produced by Blue Rodeo founding member Bob Wiseman (Ron Sexsmith, Lowest of the Low). The resulting album was limited to 50 copies, however the band is currently considering a larger re-release. U.I.C. also contributed to numerous compilation albums, most notably three of Og Music's It Came From Canada series.

After the first two albums, Treibner and Heywood left the band to form an outlaw country band named Positively Stompin'. Kevin Kelly replaced Treibner on second guitar and Joey Bechta replaced Heywood on drums in 1990 while Nick Stirling was added as keyboard player and Scott Clatney as a percussionist.

Influenced by Detroit bands like The Stooges, MC5, the legendary Link Wray, and the great Teenage Head. They released five albums and played on a few compilations,^[3] including three of the five It Came from Canada compilations released by Deja Voodoo's label Og Music.^[4] U.I.C played many gigs in London, Ontario and later moved to Toronto in 1984. They had a huge influence on Canadian punk rock and garage rock,^[5] getting airplay on many college radio stations,^[6] and seeing many bands, like Ottawa's Resin Scraper and Japan's The Titan's covering their songs. Fred Robinson now plays guitar and sings for The Legendary Dirtbikers.^[7] The band U.I.C. broke up after a goodbye tour in 1995.^[8]

Name change

After releasing three albums and some tracks on compilations, U.I.C officially packed it in late 1995. Dave Robinson joined Oshawa band El Speedo in late 1996, after two years with El Speedo, Robinson and guitar player Ken Mikalauskis started The Chickens. They soon added 3 original members from UIC in 1999. The Chickens performed for six years before calling it quits after opening for Soundtrack of our Lives at their favorite venue, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. The Chickens guitarist, Ken Mikalauskas now resides in Sackville, New Brunswick.^[9] The rest of The Chickens can be found pecking around Toronto. Murray Heywood now lives in Oshawa and is a youth pastor and runs the worship for the youth at his church. He is also developing two youth Christian rock/punk/garage bands similar to bands like Relient K, MXPX and Switchfoot.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Our Garage (Fringe Product, 1986)
• The Wiseman Sessions (Independent, 1989) (Limited to 50 copies)
• Live Like Ninety (Og Music, 1989)
• Witches Incredible (DROG Records, 1993)
• Prepare to Plug In (Independent, 2001) (As The Chickens)
• Bring it On (Independent, 2004) (As The Chickens)

Compilations

• 2 + 2 = ? on It Came from Canada, Vol. 1 (Og Music, 1985)
• Nashville Dreamin' on It Came from Canada, Vol. 2 (Og Music, 1986)
• Lite It 'n' Fly on It Came from Canada, Vol. 5 (Og Music, 1989)
• Leave Me Alone on Mr. Garager's Neighbourhood (Og Music, 1989)
• Do you Wanna Go! on Johnny Hansens Presents Puck Rock Vol.1 (Wrong Records, 1992)
• I'm a Cowboy Now on Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider (EMI Music, 1994)

References