The 222s

The 222s are a Canadian punk band that was active from 1977 to 1981. They are among the first original Canadian punk bands and most likely the first glam/punk band to emerge from Montreal. They are most famous for their 1978 single "I Love Suzan". They temporarily re-formed in 2010 and still occasionally play [primarily] festivals in their native Canada.

History

The 222s, who took their name from a Canadian pain killer of the same name, were formed by guitarist Pierre "Al Cleann" Major and singer Jean "Frisson" Brisson in the summer of 1977. A few months later, bass player/drummer Angel Calvo and drummer, keyboardist and singer Louie "Louie" Rondeau, joined the group. This early line-up played a small handful of gigs around Montreal, mostly in high schools and regularly in support of Danger, a popular francophone rock and roll band often mislabeled 'punk' by a predominately clueless local media.

Within a few months Calvo was replaced by bassist Christian "Chris O'Bell" Belleau while original singer Jean Frisson relocated to NYC to be closer to that city's comparatively thriving punk scene. Less than a year later, an impoverished Frisson [who noted Quebecois singer/songwriter/poet Lucien Francoeur once wrote a popular album about, Le Retour de Johnny Frisson] temporarily put music aside and started 'hustling' as a gogo boy in Manhattan's meatpacking district. Frisson's abrupt departure from the band coincided with the recording of the 222s first single, I Love Susan b/w The First Studio Bomb, so drummer Rondeau [aka Louie Louie] took on the lead vocals.