Banned from Atlantis

Banned From Atlantis were a Winnipeg based punk, rock, punk rock and indie band from the early 90's to 1995. They released a couple of 7" splits, 1 cassette tape called Outie and a full-length CD called People Write to Geena Davis in Japanese.

History

Little is known about Banned From Atlantis. All that's known is they started out on Fresh Bread Records, and after releasing cassettes Permanent Waves and Outie they signed onto the now defunct Sister Records for their release of People Write to Geena Davis in Japanese. Their live shows could be described as being chaotic, sloppy and energetic. James Meagher, the drummer, would be behind his kit (usually shirtless), pounding the cymbals harder and faster than most drummers. One could always count on his crash cymbal falling over at least once during the show. What he lacked in his ability to keep a solid rhythm, James made up in energy and ferocity. Doug McLean would play his distorted acoustic guitar, jumping up and down in one spot while playing. The band broke up in late 1995.

Mike Germain then joined "The Hummers" (another Winnipeg based band) as their keyboardist in 2001 and started his own band, Mincer Ray.

Doug Mclean was previously in a band called The Garage People. After Banned from Atlantis broke up, he went on to form the Bonaduces and the Paperbacks.

James went to join the air cadets, then moves to Los Angeles to start and acting career. He returned to Winnipeg with Christina Ricci (rumoured to be his friend/girlfriend).

Doug dedicated People Write to Geena Davis in Japanese to the memory of Christian J. Watson (1970–1994). Lisa Smirl, the bass player, won a Rhodes Scholarship and became an academic in international relations living in England. She died in February 2013 ^[1]

On November 10, 2010, an aging fan felt a twinge of sadness when he noticed that Winnipeg had lost one of its long-standing links to band—the "Permanent Wave" sign at 1174 Pembina Highway, which graced the cover of the "Outie" cassette (1994), had been taken down.

Band members

• Mike Germain (Vocals, lead guitar)
• James Meagher (Drums)
• Lisa Smirl (Bass) Her voice is heard on the Treble Charger self=title zines under the Banned From Atlantis page, talking about essay topics they have written.
• Doug McLean (Acoustic guitar)

Releases

• Outie (Nov. 1994 on two-track DAT recorder)

1. Subtle Suggestions
2. I'm On Fire (Brucee)
3. I Love You, You're Mad, You're Crazy, You're Mad, I Love You... Watch Me Set My Hair on Fire
4. White Owl
5. Pretty Geek Poetry
6. Sociopathetic

• People Write to Geena Davis in Japanese^[2][3] (Four days in the Summer of 1995)

Recorded at God of Thunder Studios by Bob Weston and Paul James. Mastered at John Golden Mastering.

1. Tantrums
2. Philadelphia/Cincinnati
3. Sebadohboy
4. Ido
5. Rickets + Riddles
6. Subtle Suggestions
7. Steaming Seed
8. Sovereign Thug
9. Tricks
10. Pretty Geek Poetry
11. Sociopathetic

References