#Legends of Rock and Roll

[vancouvertrueborns]

Les Vogt and the Prowlers, Vancouver’s first Elvis-style rock band, performs at a track meet pep rally held in John Oliver Secondary’s gym in 1956. Shortly after this photo was taken, the band opened for Bill Haley and the Comets at Kerrisdale Arena – Vancouver’s first rock concert. 

Unfortunately, the Prowlers did not ride the Comets’ plasma tail to success. The local heroes peaked in 1960, when Les Vogt’s song “The Blamers” knocked Elvis’ “It’s Now Or Never” from #1 on the C-FUN radio station’s Top 40 chart.

The Prowlers broke up and Les went on to become a nightclub owner (The Grooveyard, Purple Steer) and a concert promoter with Jaguar Enterprises, a company he co-founded with iconic Vancouver DJ, Red Robinson. Today, Les continues to stage concerts through his Legends of Rock and Roll series, that includes Elvis, Buddy Holly and Tina Turner tribute artists.

As for South Van and J.O. being the birthplace of Vancouver rock and roll, we shouldn’t be surprised. The entire southeast corner of the city was the epicenter for the region’s post-war baby boom. Large tracts of available land close to downtown quickly gave way to affordable housing and young families. For instance, Les grew up on the south slope, in the Fraserview neighbourhood – a sprawling government housing project comprised of 1,100 humble but functional bungalows. Each house had, in accordance with CMHC requirements, at least two kids in it, many had four to eight. Those youngsters had a lot of time to dream about rock stardom as they walked, biked or bussed to J.O. at 41st and Fraser. 

Killarney Secondary opened its doors in 1957 and David Thompson the following year, thus absorbing some of the talent from the school formerly known as South Van High.

[spheresr4cubes]

The concept of Hyrule Warriors inviting other Links is very funny to me.

[vintage-tigre]

Jimi Hendrix, 1968

[jarofalicesgrunge]

Nirvana

[starleska]

i am astonished that Tumblr hasn't immediately jumped on Nordic Bunny from Shred Force - look at his design!!!! the guitar-body-head, the lipstick, the cat eyes and tail, the tattered cape and platform boots...serving so much cunt that Disney couldn't even greenlight it 😭🤘

[eroticlamb]

Led Zeppelin photographed with Sable Starr and Lori Mattix at Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco, Los Angeles, June 1972 ♡ Photographed by Michael Ochs

[adriheavymetal]

Dio 💯🎤🎼🤘🤘 14 years without him 😭🎤🤘 🎸🎼🎤🤘❤🎼

[coolthingsguyslike]

[another-little-hippie]

ALL YOU JIMBERT SHIPPERS NEED TO STFU WE HAVE LITERAL EVIDENCE THAT JIMMY WOULD NEVER!? OKAY!? 😡😡

no homo bro

[getyourwings]

Aerosmith live at Wayland High 1973, photographed by Brian Lynch.

[max-e-doodle]

Gibson & Marshall.

[vintage-tigre]

[jarofalicesgrunge]

Kurt Cobain signing Autographs 1991 ©️📸

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Jimi Hendrix playing the acoustic guitar

[eroticlamb]

Slash celebrating his birthday, backstage during Aerosmiths' "Permanent Vacation" tour at Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas Texas, July 24 1988. Photographed by Ian Tilton

[sbrown82]

TINA TURNER performing "Steel Claw" live on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1982).