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Formed in December of 2003, the boys of 86 This, only a few months before, met while working together at a local restaurant in Cambridge, Ontario. Chris Butler and AJ Medhurst (drums and bass) were already in a band called Simulated Flavour and asked Derek to join their band as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, to create a foursome with Frankie Forman (RIP) on lead guitar. Literally days after Derek accepted the challenge, Frankie left the band and moved to Hamilton, leaving the three beginner musicians to devise and scheme something new. I dont think it would be accurate to say that from there on, 86 This was born but soon.
With Derek pushing himself as not only lead vocalist, but now lead guitarist, as well, he combined his influences (The Hives, Suicide Machines, The Living End, NOFX, Reel Big Fish, Anti-Flag and Less Than Jake) with AJs and Chris more hardcore influences (Black Sabbath, Kiss, Metallica, System of a Down, Shotgun Rules) to pave the road to creating 86 This.
During their very first show, opening for some pretty extremely hardcore bands, such as Farewell To Freeway, Caulfield, and Love Letter Refuge, the three newcomers even broke out the acoustic guitar. Lets just say that their mix of songs left a few people staring wide-eyed, wondering what they were doing, opening for such different bands. But still, they were on to something. Always stepping things up and taking things a little more seriously, 86 This set aside the acoustic guitar, for the time being, and started to create more of a Rockabilly Punk Rock sound.
Their sound spread through their city and soon they were accepting out of town gigs, finally feeling that they had stepped away from Simulated Flavour. Its safe to say that 86 This was officially a band. Read More