The Globe and Mail had a little more detail on those Uxbridgians who were tagging up our beautiful city. Turns out they're a "hardcore punk band" called Liferuiner. I'm sure they could use some publicity, so here's their official MySpace page:
Liferuiner. Ooh, scary. Lock up your daughters, Poughkeepsie, they might die of laughter, or get spraypaint in their eyes or something.
POLICE TEACH SUBURBAN PUNK ROCKERS A LESSON ON HOW GRAFFITI RUINS LIVES
GREG MCARTHUR
Globe and Mail Update
May 5, 2008 at 9:31 AM EDT
TORONTO — Two members of a hardcore punk band called Liferuiner were among four young men arrested this weekend in connection with a "rampant graffiti spree" in Toronto's west end.
The musicians, whose song titles include You Call Me Son, I Call You Dead and You Look Better When You're Drunk, were arrested late Friday night in the town of Uxbridge - nearly 90 kilometres away from scene of the alleged vandalism - where the band kicked off what was supposed to be a 43-city tour through Canada and the United States.
Investigators allowed the band to play the show, but swooped in as they started packing up their gear at O'Grady's Tap & Grill, Detective Constable Todd Storey said.
"People paid money to hear them," he said.
Danny Surjanac, a singer with the band, and Shane Tyrer, a drummer, each face 28 counts of mischief under $5,000.
Two other men, Ryan McCarney and Sterling Healey, also face the same charges.
Over the past four months, vandals armed with red, blue and black spray paint have blanketed the intersection of Islington Avenue and the Queensway with graffiti and signature messages known as tags.
Various businesses, including a commercial photography studio, an Asian produce depot and a perfume importer, have been sprayed-painted with similar messages such as "Riff Raff," "Get Loose!" and "Cahoots!"
"Everyone's been complaining about it," Det. Constable Storey said, explaining that one of his colleagues had counted as many as 71 of the signature tags in the area.
Many of the white cube vans in the industrial area have also been targeted, Osvaldo Perez, an employee at another vandalized business, said yesterday.
"The driver paints it, and then they come back," said Mr. Perez, pointing at a freshly painted cube van that now features the message "Get Loose!"
One of the keys to identifying the vandals was a recent change in address by some of the suspects, Det. Constable Storey said.
When the musicians vacated their most recent Queensway-area apartment, they left behind the same signature tags on some of the furniture.
Members of the band could not be reached for comment, and neither they, nor their manager, returned voicemail and e-mail messages.
According to the band's website, their next scheduled concert is Friday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
However, their bail conditions will likely prohibit their ability to travel to the United States, the police officer said.
However, Band manager Gregory Moore, reached late Sunday, referred to one of the suspects as a "fill-in singer" and said the arrests will not affect the band's U.S. tour.
"The band feels it was unfortunate that the ... individuals were arrested. The band is fully supportive of art — regardless of form," he said.
Original Article
