Information/Write-up
Blank Generation were a pioneering force in Edmonton’s fledgling punk and alternative scene, active from 1978 to 1982. Formed when Craig Fenrich (bass, vocals) met Helmuth Sultanow (guitar, vocals) at Lilo’s Music Store in 1978, the pair bonded over a shared love of the new music erupting out of New York (Richard Hell, Ramones, Iggy Pop) and the UK (Sex Pistols, The Clash). Joined by Mark Stordal (drums) and James P. McQuarrie (keyboards), they played their first gig later that year — a mix of covers and originals — but from 1979 onward committed themselves exclusively to original material.
With no clubs or promoters supporting punk in Edmonton, Blank Generation built their own scene. Under the banner of Blank Productions, they rented halls, PAs, and staged DIY shows. Their 1979 New Music Extravaganza was the city’s first punk rock festival, featuring four local bands and garnering media attention that helped establish a new scene. Over the next three years they promoted around a dozen major shows, not only providing early gigs to locals (including the very first shows by SNFU) but also bringing in touring acts from across Western Canada and beyond. Among the bands they booked were D.O.A. (their first Edmonton appearance, leading to a lasting friendship with Joey Shithead and manager Ken Lester), Subhumans, Personality Crisis, The Sturgeons, and Angelic Upstarts.
Their efforts created a circuit between Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg, with Blank Generation themselves performing frequently. In 1981 they became the only Alberta band invited to Vancouver’s landmark Hardcore ’81 festival, sharing the stage with Black Flag, 7 Seconds, D.O.A., Insex, and 54.40. They also played regularly at University of Alberta venues, most notably opening for Los Angeles punk icons X.
In March 1981 they entered Homestead Recorders to cut what was meant to be a 13-track LP. Funds ran out before six tracks could be mixed, leaving a seven-song 12" EP, The Last Generation. Produced by Gus Whitney and Roger Weiglein, engineered by Linsie Umrysh with Randy Speechly assisting, the record captured the band’s raw mix of youthful urgency and atmospheric keyboards. Songs like “Reaction,” “Shoot to Kill,” and the title track showcase their ability to channel aggression while still standing apart sonically from their peers.
The EP’s visual presentation was just as striking: the stark front cover photograph by Ron Ramage was paired with artwork and a back cover photo by Roszay (Rose Kapp), whose lens documented some of the Edmonton scene’s most iconic images. Her contribution not only gave The Last Generation its distinctive look but also preserved the raw energy of Blank Generation at their peak.
In 1982, with Stordal and McQuarrie departing, Fenrich and Sultanow regrouped as Dammerung, recording two tracks for an unissued compilation before calling it quits the following year. Fenrich then joined Office in Vancouver with Vincent Evans and Phil Young, self-promoting shows that led to live radio and television broadcasts. Returning to Edmonton in 1985, he formed Government of God with David Bacon, performing on a bill with Dead Kennedys thanks to his longstanding connections with D.O.A. and SNFU. By 1986, Fenrich stepped away from performing live except for special occasions.
Though short-lived, Blank Generation’s contribution to Edmonton and Western Canada’s punk movement was profound. They were not only one of the region’s first all-original punk bands but also tireless promoters who created the infrastructure for a scene where none had existed. Their lone record, The Last Generation, remains a testament to their role as both musicians and scene-builders — raw, inventive, and inseparable from the community they helped spark.
-Robert Williston
Cragory Quasar (Craig Fenrich): bass, vocals
Mark Stordal: drums
Helmuth Sultanow: guitar, vocals
James P. McQuarrie: keyboards
Recorded at Homestead Recorders, Edmonton, Alberta, March 14th and 15th, 1981; except tracks 3 and 4 recorded on location by T.D.C. Productions
Produced by Roger Weiglein and Gus Whitney
Engineered by Linsie Umrysh, assisted by Randy Speechly
Front photo courtesy Ron Ramage
Artwork and back cover photo by Roszay
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