Battered Wives and Cigarettes

Toby Swann: Vocals, Guitars

John Gibb: Vocals, Guitars

Cleave Anderson: Drums

Jasper (aka Larry) Klassen: Vocals, Bass

Patrick Mooney: Drums (Replaced Anderson)

The Battered Wives were part of that same Queen Street scene that spawned The Viletones, Diodes, Teenage Head, The Curse, The Ugly and dozens of other bands that populated Toronto's downtown during the lava-hot summer of 1977. 

Naturally, with a moniker like "Battered Wives", they were no stranger to controversy.  Women's groups were critical of not only the band's name but their logo: a fist with a lipstick smeared across the knuckles.  The band never apologized for the name, claiming they were drunk when they chose it.

Women reportedly picketed every venue they played.  But the constant controversy and media attention became too much for Cleave Anderson (who, seemingly, has played with virtually every Toronto punk rock band from the era).  He would leave the band to join The Sharks (with Sherri Kean of "I Want You Back" fame), to be replaced by Patrick Mooney.

Eventually, they bowed to public and record company pressure, releasing their follow-up as The Wives.  They opened for Elvis Costello on the European leg of his tour.  But with no promotion for the western gigs, the group asked to be released from their deal with Bomb records.  Ready Records picked them up and even let them use the "Battered" prefix in their original name.

Ah, but all things must come to an end, or at least a whimper.  Punk rock's hedonism petered away and the band split up.  British born Toby Swann had a solo career and founded Gamma Gamma.  Jasper Klassen became a successful Nashville songwriter.  John Gibb returned to his business career.  Patrick Mooney played with several Toronto bands.  Cleave Anderson would have the most success, of course, as a member of Blue Rodeo.

Meanwhile, here's something interesting (as pointed out by Beau of It Came From Canada -- please visit his site...he's got some neat stuff there!):

Listen to "Angry Young Man" and you'll notice a mysterious resemblance to the J. Geils Band's "Freeze-Frame".  "AYM" came out in 1977/78, while "FF" was released in 1982.

Makes you wonder. 

Battered Wives (1978):

1	Battered Wives	Daredevil	2:57
2	Battered Wives	I Want It All	3:08
3	Battered Wives	Get What I Can	3:18
4	Battered Wives	Uganda Stomp	2:59
5	Battered Wives	Suicide	3:52
6	Battered Wives	Angry Young Man	2:20
7	Battered Wives	You Better Be Right	2:35
8	Battered Wives	Lovers Balls	3:42
9	Battered Wives	Everybody Loves A Loser	3:24
10	Battered Wives	Freedom Fighter	3:36
11	Battered Wives	Talkin' Shop Liftin'	4:18
12	Battered Wives	Something She's Hiding	3:04
13	Battered Wives	Best Part Of A Man	3:33
14	Battered Wives	Rocking Good Summer	2:02
15	Battered Wives	Rodeo	3:58
16	Battered Wives	Bad News	2:56

By The Way:

Thanks To Shane For The Following Upload!!!

 

This is the Wives' ultra-rare second album, Cigarettes. It's the sound of The Man winning the argument: as the band shortened their name.    Not as "Punk Rock" as their earlier material, but still great.  I'm hearing these songs for the first time and I love 'em. 

Enjoy.

Cigarettes (1979):

1	Battered Wives	Ready Or Not	3:10
2	Battered Wives	New Wave Robot	3:11
3	Battered Wives	Afraid Of The Dark	3:48
4	Battered Wives	Windy Beach	2:32
5	Battered Wives	Run For Your Life	3:33
6	Battered Wives	Hit And Run	2:49
7	Battered Wives	Plastic Princess	2:59
8	Battered Wives	(I Love) Telling You Lies	2:26
9	Battered Wives	Fantasy	2:38
10	Battered Wives	Wake Me When It's Over	2:53
11	Battered Wives	Mandy	5:13
12	Battered Wives	Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll	2:52
13	Battered Wives	Pass Out	2:59
14	Battered Wives	Love Abuse	2:53
15	Battered Wives	Factory Girls	4:11
16	Battered Wives	Classified	3:40
17	Battered Wives	Giddy	2:04