Teenage Head’s Frankie Venom, R.I.P.

Lead singer for influential Canadian punk outfit.

By Fred Mills

Sad news for punk fans: Frank Kerr, a/k/a Frankie Venom of legendary Canadian punk band Teenage Head, passed away yesterday. The Scotland-born Kerr was 51. He'd recently battled throat cancer.

His bandmate Gord Lewis indicated it was from natural causes.

Kerr, the band's lead singer, co-founded Teenage Head at Westdale High School in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1975 - the band was, quite literally, at Punk's Ground Zero while - and released their first single in 1978, issuing their influential self-titled debut LP the following year. For years they remained at the forefront of the Canadian punk scene. (The photo above is from '76.)

Over the years Teenage Head went through numerous lineup changes, including the departure of Kerr himself, who subsequently fronted the groups Frankie Venom and the Blue Angels as well as Frankie Venom and the Vipers. Then in 1996 he rejoined Teenage Head. Earlier this year the band issued Teenage Head With Marky Ramone (reviewed HERE) on the venerable Sonic Unyon label; teaming with the erstwhile Ramones drummer to serve up reworkings of some of their most beloved tracks was a natural fit, as the band was frequently referred to as "The Canadian Ramones."

Teenage Head will receive a special lifetime achievement award at the 2008 Hamilton Music Awards in November.

Read the official press release from guitarist Lewis at www.teenagehead.ca .