Something I Learned Today

Punk Rock and Other Assorted Bullshit

Stretch Marks

September 14th, 2005 | Posted by: Eric | Category: 80's Hardcore

I don’t usually do requests, but tonight I’m putting up a couple tracks in an effort to thank a reader who seriously hooked me up with some great music and info. Thanks Mike!

The Stretch Marks hailed from the frigid realm of Winnipeg and along with fellow Manitobans Personality Crisis garnered a fair bit of attention in the US hardcore community. The Stretch Marks self-released a 6 song 7″ in 1983 entitled Who’s In Charge. BYO took note of the band’s muscular sound and singalong choruses and signed ‘em up, releasing the bands 1984 LP What D’Ya See. Hearing this many years after first listen I have to admit a good portion of the material isn’t as remarkable as I remember. Some of the tracks however (i.e. “What D’Ya See”, “Turnbuckle Stomp”) are loaded with overwhelming energy and still deliver a wallop. My favorites:

From 1983’s Who’s In Charge EP.
Stretch Marks - Who’s in Charge?.mp3
Stretch Marks - Professional Punks.mp3

From 1984’s What D’Ya See LP
Stretch Marks - What D’Ya See?.mp3
Stretch Marks - Turnbuckle Stomp.mp3
Stretch Marks - Another Tragedy.mp3

5 Comments so far

  1. fred September 15th, 2005 1:59 pm

    I remember this band playin LA circa ‘83 in that period where every club in town was closed via LAPD/LA Fire Dept. It was sad to see a band from Canada come all the way to the “big city” LA and play for maybe 20-30 people.

  2. Dik September 23rd, 2005 4:10 am

    played a few big show and a few small shows however had a great time and never regretted playin LA except when they stole bill’s guitar
    cheers
    dik stretch

  3. prizo November 4th, 2005 5:08 am

    I remember owning this record. Ok, actually it was my brother.

    It was pretty good. Not the best but certainly not the worst.

  4. Dev November 5th, 2005 3:41 am

    I still have this record. Its wicked. Turnbuckle stomp brilliant! I saw the Stretch Marks play one of the last gigs. Have to be biased aswell i lived in Winnipeg throught the 80’s. Before coming back to the UK.

    Members of Personality Crisis and the Stretch Marks went on to form Honest John and his Merry Men…they became Honest John…….now thats another story…..8 Track Madness

  5. Chris Walter December 28th, 2007 12:00 am

    For those who are interested, GFY Press will be doing a biography on Winnipeg greats, Personality Crisis. Included will be a detailed but smaller bio on the Stretch Marks, who were, in my books, the best hardcore band to come out of Winnipeg. I’ve always maintained that PC was a rock band.

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