"I Could Play The Wild Mutation As A Rock 'N Roll Star"

When Bowie sang that line on his 1972 album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, he was echoing the fantasy of many a teenage boy or girl. The children wanted to grow up to be garbagemen or astronauts or superheros, but at a certain age that changed and most teens would have given anything to make that wild mutation as a rock 'n roll star. However, only a precious few ever get to live out that dream. While Bono, and Sting and Chris Martin are doing so on a large scale worldwide level, every scenester knows that in every hometown, there are many rock stars to be found. Or at least people who pretend to be such.

Living in Toronto, there is an overabundance of local rock 'n roll heroes, and I've taken the time to compile a top 10 list of the ones that most convincingly play the part. What makes these individuals who are relatively unknown outside of the Toronto, Montreal area such an example of R&R swagger? I don't know, all I can say is that if you've ever seen them live, it is downright impossible to take your eyes off of them. For the most part:

1. Robbie Butcher

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Bands: Tin Bangs, Nights (formerly Seedy Ease)
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
His ability to transform the drums into his own personal stage. He wears bright pink pants and makes it look cool. He'll mug for every single camera that's pointed his way. He sits in the background but still becomes the star of every show. What places him at number one on this list is his basic refusal to be Ringo.

2. Jamie Greer

Hometown: Montreal (via Windsor)
Band: The Golden Hands Before God...
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Jamie struts around the stage with the confidence of a local Jagger, while his tambourine acts as an extension of his (usually shirtless) body. The one time that I've seen him so far (there will be more though, trust me) he actually broke the tambourine in half! Now that's rock 'n roll!

3. Carleigh Aikins

Hometown: Barrie, Ontario
Band: Fox Jaws
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
She's cute as a button but her whiskey stained vocal chords demand attention. She's the rock 'n roll version of Cadet Laverne Hooks from the Police Academy movies. She seems all sweet and innocent but don't you dare tick her off because that vocal rasp is sure to put you in your place.

4. Dorian Wolf

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: Spiral Beach
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
I think that most people would choose Airick or Maddie, but I think that bass playing Dorian is the real rock star in this band. He oozes a playful confidence that causes him to come off as a rockabilly rebel transported from the 50's to challenge you to a street race that you stand no chance of winning. (Has my commentary reached an appropriate level of US magazine styled cheese yet? Bear with me, I'll get there.)

5. Patrick Krief

Hometown: Montreal, Ontario
Bands: Black Diamond Bay and formerly The Dears
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
He's the Hendrix of local(ish) indie rock. The man plays guitar like a magician and when he struts through the audience wailing away on that Strat, you're completely at his mercy.

6. Wayne Petti

Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Bands: Cuff The Duke as well as solo material
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
The man presents a genuineness that is impossible to fake. He's the boy next door and probably the reason that many young girls have been spotted wearing those "Talk Nerdy To Me" t-shirts.

7. Rajiv Thavanathan

Hometown: Toronto via Newfoundland
Bands: Oh No Forest Fires, Five Blank Pages
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
The fact that he's nothing but a big ol' hairy blur whenever he's on stage. He's the Sonic the Hedgehog of live music. He can't sit still. Just try to take a picture of him, go on try it! His boundless energy is contagious and although he's in serious danger of owing a new mic stand to every venue in the city, he shows no signs of slowing down.

8. Johnny Maldoror

Hometown: Montreal, Ontario
Band: Les Breastfeeders
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
The fact that he's as entertaining as he is disconcerting. You're never sure if what he is doing is schtick or real. You don't know if the furry boa is a prop or part of his actual wardrobe. He's the tambourine player with mystique and that, my friends, is very rock 'n roll.

9. Sarah Smith

Hometown: London, Ontario
Band: The Joys
What Makes Her A Rock Star:
Sarah makes every single person in the audience feel as if they're also a member of the band. In a room full of a hundred people, she has the ability to make you feel as if she's singing to you personally. Regardless of what may be going on in her personal life, she exudes a joyfulness that translates to the entire room, and all the while rocking it old school.

10. Lonely Vagabond

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Band: In a way, all of them
What Makes Him A Rock Star:
Only a precious few know who this person is but he shows up at every indie show in the city. He leaves very articulate and positive comments on the bands myspace page, yet most of these bands don't even know who he is. If you try to look for a picture of him, all you'll find are pics of James Dean, Elvis and Morrissey. There are times where it seems as if he's been attending two shows at once. Heck, even I have been approached by people wondering if him and I are one and the same. He's Toronto's version of ? and the Mysterians, yet his support for the local music scene is highly admirable.

And therein lies my personal list of the greatest rock stars you've never heard of unless you live in the general vicinity of my area. And these ten are just the tip of the iceberg. There's also Jonathan Chandler, Rob Szabo, Steve Strongman, Cameron Jingles, Basia Lyjak, Jason Wells, Rick White, Chris Murphy, Kevin Drew, Rooster Alcock, Dan Werb, Laura Barrett, Danielle Duval, Ruhee Dewji and on and on and on. As far as I'm concerned, the world can have its Bonos and its Stings . If rock 'n roll is this active here in Toronto, Montreal and the surrounding area, than I'd imagine that it's equally as active in whatever hometown you hail from. Do yourself a favour, if you're not already doing so, hunt down some of the rock stars in your own area and prepare to be amazed.