"I always thought we were a really awesome rock and roll band. We played every show like it was our last," says Myles Deck. From about 2006 to 2011, Myles Deck and the Fuzz was Halifax's most intense live act, taking cues from the stage presence of Iggy Pop and James Brown. "I wanted to be completely different from what was going on in Halifax at the time."
Now drumming for Toronto metal trio Cauldron, Deck looks back on the Fuzz's career with a lot of heart. After the band's debut EP and a split seven-inch with Cuban Assassins (RIP), the Fuzz put out a full-length with From Here to There Records. Then, Deck brought out the big guns, asking hometown hero Joel Plaskett to produce Police Cops, landing Mike O'Neill for the band's final LP, You Can't Heal a Sick Riff, as serious efforts to match the band's live reputation.
"We wanted to have the best songs, too," says Deck. "But I read the reviews online and people ripped them up and thought the albums were shitty. I remember a one-sentence review that said, 'I want to track down everyone on this Thanks list and kill them.' It was a total Spinal Tap moment. I didn't want to be a joke band because of the live show, though it was really fun."
The Fuzz live show is the stuff of legend: Deck crowd-surfing covered in peanut butter, Deck shirtless, beer and sweat and thrusting everywhere. "That's the kind of music it is. Rock and roll is very primal at its root, with real sexual energy, which played a big part," he says.
But with a few line-up changes and conflicting priorities, the Fuzz neared its expiry date.
"I really wanted to become a touring band, and I really wanted to start doing more house shows after one time in London, Ontario. The sound guy was like, 'Listen man, no one wants to be here on a Tuesday, I know I don't.' After that, I never wanted to play bars again," he says, "I even wanted to tour houses and call it The Home Wrecker Tour. Sadly, that never happened."
By 2011, Deck was burnt out. "I figured big touring was never going to work with us, so I called it quits. In hindsight, I should have just taken a vacation, but you know. No regrets."
So Deck moved to Toronto to drum metal, meet Metallica and tour, tour, tour. But he can't forget the Fuzz. Just last month, he released a new EP in anticipation. "I miss being up front singing and going crazy, and I miss the guys [Dale Boudreau, Alan Hoskins and Jordan Oakie]. They've been bugging me to do a reunion ever since the day we broke up," he says.
"If people never had the chance to see us, this is their last chance. I'm looking forward to playing with some of the best, hard-hitting musicians I've ever played with," says Deck. With his gang of rock and rollers, Deck says don't miss this nostalgic badass opportunity to Fuzz out.
"My favourite memory is when we were changing a blown tire and a cop stopped to check on us. Our friend Janice was really good at selling merch and she convinced the cop to buy a Fuzz t-shirt. So he took off his gun and his belt, handing them to her to reach for his wallet," Deck laughs. "We took a picture, gave him our website and never heard from him since."
Myles Deck and the Fuzz w/The Holy Snappers, Pervert, The Graboids
Friday, August 16 at 10pm, $10
Michael’s Bar & Grill, 6100 Young Street