B-Sides

Websites:  No
Origin: Vancouver, British Columbia, 🇨🇦
Biography:

The B-Sides were a seven-piece reggae/ska collective that brought a fierce dancefloor energy to Vancouver’s club scene in the early 1980s. Fusing Jamaican rhythms with punk attitude, mid-’60s soul, and political edge, they became one of the most beloved live acts of their time. Formed in the basement of vocalist Bobby Herron’s home, the group evolved into a powerhouse whose blend of original material and select covers packed venues across Canada.

The B-Sides’ lineup featured Bobby Herron (vocals, percussion), Dano 5-0 (guitar, vocals), Tony Fernandes (guitar, vocals), Bob “B-Tone” Walker (sax, flute, keys), Ryszard Ozimek (organ, trombone), Bruce Fernandes (bass), and Russell DeVert (drums). Keyboardist Squire Ozone and a rotating cast of backing singers also contributed. Their songs were often collaboratively written and unapologetically topical—titles like “Bedtime for Ronald (or the USA)” and “Invasion of the Money Snatchers” carried biting social commentary alongside irresistible grooves.

Describing themselves as “a modern dance band” with “essentially white reggae pop” roots, the B-Sides defied easy categorization. Their live shows were legendary, drawing sold-out crowds to venues like the Savoy, Town Pump, and Commodore Ballroom. In 1983, they were voted Best Club Band by the Georgia Straight, and their shows often broke bar sales records, including one week at Harpo’s in Victoria.

Their discography includes the politically-charged 7" Bedtime for Ronald (or the USA) (1980), the follow-up single Run and Hide b/w Late Night, and a full-length self-titled LP recorded at Blue Wave Sound Recorders and produced by Carlton Lee. While they often focused on original songs, their live repertoire also included smart, dancefloor-ready takes on Desmond Dekker, The Rude Boys, and The Doors—with lyrics bent to fit their sly worldview.

The B-Sides toured Canada at least three times—once memorably in a modified school bus dubbed “Further 2”—playing everything from packed clubs to university halls. As Dano 5-0 later recalled in a tour diary, their road life was part circus, part protest, and part party, fueled by liquor, gaffer tape, and last-minute improvisation. They emerged as a band that could make you think while making you dance.

Though they disbanded by 1984, worn down by the grind and creative differences, the B-Sides remain a cult legend. Their work was featured on the Vancouver Independence compilation, and their recordings continue to be celebrated as snapshots of a time when Vancouver ska was wild, witty, and fiercely alive.
-Robert Williston