The Cockroaches

The Cockroaches formed in early 2005 when Saskatchewan transplant Eddy Blake began performing at Montreal’s legendary bluegrass and old time country jams, including the Wheel Club and the Barfly. It was here at the Barfly that Eddy met by chance the young talented guitarist Dale MacDonald. Upon seeing and hearing Eddy slap the bass, Dale did not hesitate to approach and inform Eddy that they would soon play in a band together. Much taken in by this Nova Scotians confidence and charisma, Eddy quickly agreed. The very next day, the two met at Eddy’s and began dropping the needle on their favorite records, playing along with the tracks over and over until in a single afternoon they had mastered a small repertoire consisting of the likes Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Joe Clay, Elvis Presley, Johnny Horton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Ike Turner, Link Wray and others (not unlike the Beatles or the Rolling Stones!). Not long after Eddy left Flesh, the psychobilly outfit with which he had been performing, and the Cockroaches were born.

Within weeks fortune again smiled upon the young bassist at the Wheel Club, a Montreal institution of old country and rockabilly. It was on this auspicious occasion that, while performing at a rockabilly jam along side some of Montreal’s rockabilly greats including Slim Sandy and Guillaume Ozoux, drummer Danny M___ took notice of the stranger’s savage talent. They conversed, exchanged numbers and agreed that the three would jam shortly after. Little did Eddy know that this wild eyed and mysterious cad with which he was speaking was known by many names, including Skid Marks, Colonel Lingus and Dan Pedro Dorito, a punk rock legend in his own right who had performed with The Spaceshits, The Sexereenos, The Del Gators, The CPC Gangbangs and others!

The three soon met at a dingy by-the-hour jam space on Rue Beaubien. Quickly the potential was seen, as within a few short sessions the trio had already penned a set of original material which could hold it’s own against the set of rockin’ 50’s covers they had learned just weeks before! I mean the sound was way out there, unstoppable! Like junior Caesars looking for a gang war, they created a beat and sound all of their own, and it hit like a Tommy gun aimed at the squares!

The mayhem that ensued is a blur to all. I mean, when these three greased-up bopcats took the stage all senses were lost and taken over by the beat. Band and fans alike, peoples eyes rolled back in their heads, foam formed at their mouth and they began to shake, stammer and convulse as though possessed by demons! There was no stopping it, feared and admired, adored and abhorred, the Cockroaches were an unstoppable force of musical savagery!

The group continued on this way, performing shows and shows, any time any where they could. They released one 45 rpm EP and a full length CD in 2006 and 2007 respectively. They were featured as the ‘bad boys of the rockabilly scene’ on Bravos TV documentary Rockabilly 514. They performed along side some of their heroes at Montreal’s Red Hot and Blue Rockabilly fest as well as Torontos rip it up weekender, and even performed on the Van’s Warped Tour. They received much critical acclaim and earned their status as legends in rockabilly’s seedy underbelly of the rock and roll scene. However, in late 2008 following an extremely well received European tour the Cockroaches sadly disbanded.

All three members still currently reside in Montreal and are all active on the music scene. Dale is much acclaimed as the lead guitarist of Montreal’s 60’s punkers Chocolat, in addition to his role in the rising star which is Red Mass. Danny performs in Chocolat as well and, as adept in art and fashion as he is in music, he is in the process of creating a much anticipated business. Eddy Blake currently records and tours with the United Steel Workers of Montreal and is expected to release an album of brand new original material exploring the honky-tonk side of rock and roll in the near future. Rock and roll is dead, long live rock and roll!