The late ‘70s and ‘80s was a golden age for Canadian bands, even if the success of many didn’t make it beyond our borders. But who can forget bands like Trooper, Prism, Streetheart, Chilliwack, Honeymoon Suite, and… the legendary Doug and the Slugs?

Some of the groups are still performing (Platinum Blonde is currently opening for Billy Idol, for example), and that includes Vancouver’s Slugs, which improbably is still doing it – even without band co-founder and singer Doug Bennett, who died in 2004 at age 52.

Five years later the band reformed with a new frontman Ted Okos, who has earned plaudits for his “respectful and considerate interpretations” of Bennett’s performances of classic hits like “Making It Work,” “Real Enough,” “Who Knows How to Make Love Stay,” and, of course, “Too Bad,” their first hit from their 1980 debut album, “Cognac and Bolgna.”

Most remarkably, Okos sounds and even looks like Bennett, but rest assured, is worthy of the mic in every other way, making the Slugs signature ska-infused pop songs his own, while keeping the memory of the beloved Bennett alive.

See for yourself on this terrific performance of “Too Bad,” laid down at a live session in Vancouver in 2022.

Lyrics

Too bad that you had to get caught
That’s not like you to lose face
So sad that you’re not as smart
As you thought you were in the first place
Baby, I could use some of your persuasion
(too bad .. persuasion .. too bad .. persuasion)
To wipe away (wipe, wipe, a-wipe, a-wipe a-wipe away)
the taste of your machinations
(too bad .. machinations .. too bad .. machinations)
It’s over
Kaput except for the tail spin
(too bad .. for the tail spin .. too bad .. for the tail spin)
Save the dialogue (baby set your dialogue)
for the old men in the pool room
(too bad .. such a cool room .. in the pool room .. such a cool room)
Try it once, well I’m not so sure
Try it twice and you’re by my door
Too bad that you had to get caught
That’s not like you to lose face
So sad that you’re not as smart
As you thought you were in the first place
The money, no more than insulation
(too bad .. insulation … too bad .. insulation)
The getaway, (get get a-get a-get a-get away)
I watched with fascination
(too bad .. fascination .. too bad .. fascination)
The hideway, Woooo! such imagination
(too bad .. ‘magination .. too bad .. ‘magination)
Ah .. the 45! Goodbye!
I used it with no hesitation
(too bad .. hesitation .. too bad .. hesitation)
Too bad that you had to get caught
That’s not like you to lose face
So sad that you’re not as smart
As you thought you were in the first place