National Velvet - ST (EP)

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Flesh Under Skin	04:18
	2	Kings Cross	04:06

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Behind the Door	05:56
	2	Not the Thunder	05:57

Photos

Videos

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Information/Write-up

Toronto’s Gothic Rock Trailblazers

Formed in the mid-1980s, National Velvet emerged from Toronto’s underground with a sound that blended brooding gothic textures, glam-infused theatrics, and punchy rock hooks. Fronted by the magnetic and theatrical Maria Del Mar—a vocalist known for her deep contralto and defiant stage presence—the band carved out a unique space in the Canadian alternative scene long before goth found mainstream footing.

The band’s name, borrowed from the 1944 Elizabeth Taylor film, hinted at the drama and romanticism that would become central to their aesthetic. The original lineup coalesced in 1985 and included guitarist Mark Crossley, bassist Mark Storm (born Mark Erickson), and drummer Ken Sinclair. The group rehearsed in a dilapidated industrial space on Carroll Street known locally as The Jam Factory, a raw creative hub that also housed acts like Honeymoon Suite, The Jeff Healey Band, and The Tragically Hip in their formative years.

From the outset, National Velvet made waves through word of mouth and sweat-soaked performances on Toronto’s club circuit. Within six months of forming, they self-financed and released a debut EP, selling copies directly at shows. Their rising profile caught the attention of Capitol Records’ Canadian affiliate Intrepid Records, and in 1987 they inked a deal that came with a mandate for change: out went Sinclair, guitarist Mick Gzowski, and saxophonist Chris Weiss; in came Tim Welch (formerly of Images in Vogue) on guitar and Garry Flint on drums.

Their self-titled debut album followed in 1988, featuring the reworked single “Flesh Under Skin”, which gained momentum on radio and helped them secure a CASBY Award for emerging artist recognition. Subsequent singles like “Pacifist at Risk,” “Change My Mind,” and “68 Hrs.” further built their reputation, but mainstream chart success remained elusive.

Their breakthrough came with 1989’s Courage, recorded at Eastcote Studios in London with German producer Zeus B. Held (known for his work with Dead or Alive and Nina Hagen). The album spawned their biggest hit, “Shine On,” followed by the provocative and misheard “Sex Gorilla,” which received heavy rotation on MuchMusic and even broke into MTV airplay in the U.S. The album was certified gold in Canada, cementing their place in the country’s alt-rock history.

Yet creative differences and label interference soon took their toll. When their third single “A Place Called Hysteria” was met with apathy from the label and no promotional support, tensions rose. By the early ’90s, the band parted ways with EMI and retreated from the spotlight, regrouping on their own terms.

Their final studio album, Wildseed, arrived in 1995 on the indie label Iron Music, produced by Garry Flint at the band’s own eNVy Studios. Featuring a revamped lineup and hard-edged sound, the record was praised by critics but overlooked by a public increasingly distracted by grunge and electronic music. Tracks like “Prize,” “Life Force,” and “Take Charge” stood as bold testaments to their growth, but the album failed to reignite the commercial spark.

After disbanding, the members pursued separate paths. Maria Del Mar continued to perform and has since taken part in various musical and theatrical productions, including appearances with Classic Albums Live. Tragedy struck in 2002 when bassist Mark Storm went missing; his body was discovered in Lake Ontario the following year.

Despite the ups and downs, National Velvet’s impact endures. They were one of the few Canadian bands of their era to bridge goth and mainstream rock, paving the way for later acts with darker aesthetics and female-led intensity. Their music, much like the nightscapes they often evoked, remains textured, powerful, and defiantly their own.
-Robert Williston

☙ Maria Del Mar: vocals
Mark Storm: bass
Mark Crossley: guitar
Greg Brinburer: guitar
Don Garbutt: Emulator II
Ken Sinclair: drums
Chris Reis: saxophone

Lyrics and Music by Mark Storm & Maria Del Mar
☙ Produced by National Velvet
Engineered by Don Garbutt
Recorded at Studio 1-2-1 by Rick Small and Neil Goldberg
Recorded at Metal Works

☙ Produced by Rick Small
Engineered by Fraser Hill, with assistance by Hugh Cooper and Dave Runswickle
Recorded at The Metal Works

*☙ Vocal Maria Del Mar
Bass Mark Storm
Sax Chris Reis
Guitar Koji Murai
Drums Randy Cooke
Added Percussion Rick Small

Thanks to:
Greg and Brit Brinburer
David Street
Douglas Erickson
David Street and David Scollard
and to Archanie Slozia

Photography by David Street Graphics
Art Direction by The Richard Studio

☙ Flesh Under Skin
Back in the dark again
The walls are wet and draw a pattern
A network of secrets
Written under skin

I feel flesh under skin
It touches my soul
It feels cold and raw
I feel flesh under skin
It tells me what you are
It tells me what you want
It feels so near

As in another world
Or another time
I see myself there
I’m not alone

I see your eyes
Your face
Your mouth
The sweat in your sight
Is my sweat
The hunger is yours
I feel flesh under skin

☙ Kings Cross
The crowd walks
Dead but breathing
Looking to buy some warmth or health
Cash, sex, sin
Life is cheap
There is comfort now with wealth

The Kings Cross has been served
By the Queens drag
It seems the Kings Cross
Is watching me
And the Queen
Has been sitting here
Every night
Every day
The street is not new
It’s too old
To show
Spirits past the neon

☙ Behind the Door
You’ll never know
What it feels like inside
You’ll always run and hide
Or wait
Or leave
You’ll never hear the floor creak
Beneath your hide
Struck down to the core
Struck down
To hide
To run
To fall

What it feels like to die

Deep Inside

So soft behind the door
So gentle inside your head
The voice in the dark
Calls your name
You obey
Outside you wait
Outside your shell

You’ll never know...
Hide inside... Deep inside...
You Hide

☙ Not the Thunder
It’s not the thunder you hear
The lightning never crashed
This is not white desire
Creeping from the past
It’s not the heat of blood
That pours through your skin
You’re in touch with the Universe
You’re in touch with the Moon
The Moon
The Moon
The Moon
You’re in touch with the Moon

This is not what you expected

Typical little three wishes or a ladder to the sky
You cross the next bridge
To find
The water moves your thoughts
To high tide, low tide
And the sea top
With I might love...
... love...

Lyrics by Permission

☙ Vocals Maria Del Mar
Bass Mark Storm
Guitar Greg Brinburer
Emulator II Don Garbutt

Lyrics and Music by
Mark Storm & Maria Del Mar

National Velvet consists of
vocals Maria Del Mar
bass Mark Storm
guitar Mark Crossley
sax Chris Reis
drums Ken Sinclair

☙ Produced by National Velvet
Engineered by Don Garbutt
Recorded at Studio 1-2-1
Rick Small and Neil Goldberg
Recorded at Metal Works

☙ Produced by Rick Small
Engineered by Fraser Hill
with assistance by Hugh Cooper and Dave Runswickle
Recorded at The Metal Works

*☙ Vocal Maria Del Mar
Bass Mark Storm
Sax Chris Reis
Guitar Koji Murai
Drums Randy Cooke
Added Percussion Rick Small

Thanks to
Greg and Brit Brinburer
David Street
Douglas Erickson
David Street and David Scollard
and to Archanie Slozia

Any correspondence directed to
National Velvet
50 Carroll St.
Toronto, Ont. M4M 3G3

Photography by
David Street Graphics

Art Direction by
The Richard Studio

WRC4-767

All Songs CAPAC 1986

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