As mentioned in a previous post, the whole concept for God Family Country was based on the chance discovery of a pile of 3-cassette packages found at a local surplus store. After performing the live GFC show in November 1989, the band set about recording and producing the cassette packages, which were finally released in December 1990. The recordings consisted of studio versions of all the tunes performed at the live GFC show as well as three more tunes, one each by dWM, Jeff-0 and Roba. As always, PnrH did the graphic design for the package plus the silk screening, and the cassette labels were designed by the band: God by Roba, Family by Jeff-0 and Country by dWM.
Here’s the complete package with silk screening by PhrH and cassette labels by SCW
SCW’s God, Family, Country show was performed on November 9, 1989 at Toronto’s venerable Music Gallery as part of the 20th Century and how to leave it series curated by Myke Dyer.
Poster for the God Family Country show (designed by PnrH)
The show was based on a series of videos SCW had prepared in advance. There were three sections, one for each topic: God, Family and Country. Each section began with a taped introduction by SCW collaborator Charles ‘Militant’ Doubt, plus a CGI animated intro (pretty advanced for 1989).
For the show the pre-recorded videos were processed and animated live with Amiga computers operated by SCW collaborators Bruce Becker and Catherine Willson, accompanied with sequenced and improvised musical performances by SCW. Because the main focus of the show was the live processed video, the three band members were set up at the back of the darkened hall wearing their Who Shot the Pope? hats, which were created – as always – by SCW’s wardrobe designer Cathie Whittaker.
Here’s some photos from the show (taken with flash – the hall was actually dark):
L-R: Jeff-0, dWM and Roba in ‘Pope Hats’L-R: dWM, Roba and Jeff-0 getting busyMyke Dyer introducing SCW
Although SCW had planned on recording the GFC show, someone (R.I.P. GBH) accidentally unplugged the video recorder right before the show began, so there’s no record of the performance as the audience experienced it. There is however a live audio recording which was made separately. To give a taste of the performance, the following clips show the pre-recorded video clips along with the live audio.
Here are the pre-recorded intros for the GFC show along with the live audio:
Each of the three members of SCW wrote tunes addressing each of the topics of God, Family, and Country. Here is the pre-recorded video for dWM’s “Who Shot the Pope?” (part of the God section) along with the live audio:
Here is the pre-recorded video for Jeff-0’s “Mary Dear” (part of the Family section) along with the live audio:
Here is the pre-recorded video for Roba’s “That’s Wrong!” (also part of the Family section) along with the live audio:
SCW has updated their YouTube channel with completely remastered videos. When SCW originally uploaded their videos over 10 years ago YouTube was much stricter about video file sizes, resulting in lossy, poorer-quality videos compared to the source videos.This is no longer an issue, so SCW has re-uploaded their videos to YouTube, allowing them to present their videos in their original glorious quality!
Note however that many (most?) of these videos originate from pretty low-rez 80’s analog tape formats – such as VHS and U-Matic – and sometimes the videos have been further copied back and forth thru multiple generations of tape, resulting in some nasty degraded analog goodness!
Later in 1989 SCW, having shed their recent disco-jazz-funk-punk live band identity, returned to their experimental roots and embarked on a new project, with the band now based on the musical trio of Roba, dWM and Jeff-0, and with PnrH providing graphic design and Cathie Whittaker providing costume design. Also around this time SCW began their video collaboration with Bruce Becker (aka bdb) and Catherine Willson, who were experimenting with live Amiga computer graphics.
They chose the name of the next project based on something they stumbled across at the local electronics (and other junk) surplus store (R.I.P. Active Surplus). There they found a bunch of plastic fold-out 3-cassette packages titled God Family Country, by Zig Ziglar, an early self-help guru.
They decided then and there that the next SCW project would be a 3-part album called God Family Country, and so bought up all of the available packages to insert their own cassettes as a deluxe limited-edition 3-cassette package.
Having figured out the concept and the packaging, they then realized that they had to actually create some music to fill those 3-cassette packages! Having also recently acquired a couple of Ensoniq EPS samplers they set about our musical task. And in the typical SCW way of doing things they decided to first present God Family Country as a live show, and then release the deluxe 3-cassette package a year later… and the CD would be released even later!
We are devastated to announce that dWM (d Wayne Morris) has passed from this world to another dimension of consciousness, sound, and love. Our condolences go out to his family, particularly his wonderful children, Avery and Baxter.
dWM approached everything with an intensity and creative vision that was truly unique. He was always interested in looking beyond the consensus or accepted ‘truths’ to discover the real dope on things, including politics, health and much more. It can’t be denied that this took him to some weird – although always interesting – places, but it was always with the utmost sincerity and sense of social justice. Most importantly to us, he never stopped playing music – being not only a core member of SCW but also of many other bands over the years, including Tanz Pest, Orchestra Paavola, Dub Enforcement Agency and Masters of Love and Sound. He could play any musical instrument and was always looking for something new to try – musically and otherwise…
Another key interest was community radio, which he loved as a democratic means for people to hear one another and be heard, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location. He also used radio as a vehicle for art – we encourage you to check out his ground-breaking experiential radio projects.
He was an incredibly generous individual, always inviting people over for dinner, handing out homemade chocolates and hot sauces, and hosting many band rehearsals and recording sessions.
In 1987 dWM resumed his assault on the airwaves of Toronto with Flag Air Base, broadcast live on CKLN-FM. The premise of FAB was to invite different guests for each episode to create a set of improvised sonic mayhem. Depending on who was guesting, any given episode might be concerned with politics (Nicaragua, atomic weapons), found sounds, live instruments or pure noise. Here’s how dWM describes it:
Flag Air Base operates as a collaborative airwave-space playground for myself and other artists in Toronto. Some are seasoned audio and radio artists and for others this was a new experience. Mixing sounds, “playing” the studio equipment, resonating at different points all over the City.Rippling the plasma of the electric environment.
We get together prior to the broadcast to figure out what we want to do, what to focus the show on (if anything). The night of the broadcast we bring in tape decks, instruments, sound processors, pre-edited tapes and records. Each show was mixed live to air for one hour.
In total there were 20 shows produced between 1987-1990. Each show was released as a limited-edition cassette. Here’s the artwork for the FAB #1 cassette (designed by PnrH)
FAB #1 cassette tape cover
Here’s some choice excerpts from the various FAB shows:
FAB #1 w/ PnrH – Sept 4/87
Sound Earthquake in Toronto, 9 Richter scale. We jam the signals and mess the frequencies in this free-form display of sonic chaos
FAB #2 w/ Karen Young – Oct 2/87
A child is having slug problems with his lettuce. Karen brings in her big beat blaster to express her profound funkiness. Then we show our respect for facts.
FAB #7 w/Greg Hermanovic – Apr 8/88
Spine-tingling chills! “I thought you knew, civilization ended miles back”. Greg mixes his recordings from China and Southeast Asia until it gets too racy at the end. “Hello Baby, want a kiss?”
FAB # 12 w/Heidi Schaeffer & Cathy Devlin – Oct 7/88
Recordings from Nicaragua and the AMARC 3 community radio conference. What is it like to do radio in a warzone? Cmdte. Borge tells about the liberating aspects of revolutionary radio. An enthusiastic bell-ringer at Ocotal signals the end.
FAB #14 w/ Dan Lander – Feb 2/89
Happy groundhog day. Dan replays an audio letter and learns how to dial long distance from Banff. “Repetition is the key to learning”.
FAB #17 w/ Jon Christian & Gary Keller – May 5/89
We bring tribalism into the studio. Jon and Gary have their junkyard percussion ensemble in tow. “Don’t near the edge”.
FAB #20 w/ Claudio Cacciotti – Mar 2/90
The topic tonight is mind control. Hey-hey diddly dum day. Wayne pays a visit to the local Church of Scientology for their unsuspecting input. Can you afford to be clear?
Two ‘best of’ FAB cassette compilations were also issued. Here’s the artwork (by dWM)
In 1989 SCW as a five-piece disco-jazz-punk-funk live band ceased to exist. Scott left the band, and PnrH – while no longer an active musical member – continued on as SCW’s graphic designer and artist-in-residence. These photos from April 21, 1989 mark the last live show of this funky-ass version of SCW.
PnrH, Scott and Roba riffin’ prettyScott x2, PnrH and Jeff-0 lookin’ goodJeff-0, PnrH and Scott bustin’ looseJeff-0, dWM and PnrH takin’ off
On December 31 1988 SCW hosted their second annual New Year’s party, once again at ARC on Queen St. West in Toronto. This time they topped the previous year’s show by having four different costume changes, all created by official SCW wardrobe designer Cathie Whittaker.
Poster for the show designed by PnrH and Jeff-0
Here’s a photo gallery highlighting some of the costume changes.
The boys rock their see-through Ts and trucker caps
Jeff-0, Roba, PnrH and Scott in their trusty silver lame jackets.
MCs Eddie Fast and Old Lang, with PnrH in the middle throwing confetti
Roba, Jeff-0, dWM and Scott in robes with leopard-print fezzes
Newspaper Ad for the Show
Here’s some video featuring MCs Eddie Fast and Old Lang supervising the limbo contest!
Sometime in 1988, the 5-piece version of SCW posed for photographs at their Queen St. rehearsal space. The band were rocking their silver lamé jackets (custom-made by Cathie Whittaker) plus matching silver helmets. In the background are sculptures by our friend and collaborator William T. “Bill” Francis.
No, we don’t play ‘Free Bird’
C’mon in! We won’t hurt anyone!
All decked out in silver lamé with Bill Francis sculptures
One of SCW’s closest friends and collaborators was the talented and fashionable Karen Young, aka DJ FunKY. Karen produced and directed experimental videos, sometimes using SCW’s music for the soundtrack. Here’s a KY animation from 1988, set to SCW’s track (fough) from our first cassette release.
Sucking Chest Wound 