Check out Ron Obvious’s video of ’80s Vancouver music-critic band The Explosions

david boswell photo

By Steve Newton

I recently connected for the first time with noted Vancouver recording engineer and studio designer Ron Obvious after inquiring about some concert photos he took of AC/DC during their fabled 1978 opening slot for Aerosmith at the Pacific Coliseum.

Turns out that way back in 1982 Mr. Obvious had recorded three songs for a local band called the Explosions that included some guys I knew from the newspaper biz, including my old editor Bob Mercer and music critics Tom Harrison and Alex Varty.

Mercer was the lead vocalist and harmonica player, Varty handled lead guitar, and Harrison played drums and sometimes sang. The band was rounded out by rhythm guitarist David Lester (who went on to form Mecca Normal) and bassist Jamie Baugh.

Obvious recorded the Explosions at the studio he worked at, Little Mountain Sound, just before it became world famous for spawning multiplatinum albums by groups like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and the Cult, and making multi-millionaires of local producers Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock.

The first track, “Summer Sun”, sounds like Mick Jagger stumbled into a Lou Reed recording session, and the other two songs aren’t bad either.

I like how Obvious interspersed archival photos of the band members–some of whom have, sadly, passed away–with footage of the studio and various Vancouver landmarks.

R.I.P. Tom Harrison and Bob Mercer.