L-R:
Len Fidkalo, Ron Rene, Bill Pavlik, Colin
Palmer, Morley Nickles
In 1966, The Quid (English slang for a
pound note) released one of the local
scene’s most electrifying singles.
Recorded at CKRC radio station’s studio,
Crazy Things, produced by Harry Taylor for
local Eagle Records, was a raw, raucous
slice of British-style R ‘n’ B inspired by
the Yardbirds and Van Morrison’s Them.
Written by bass player Morley Nickles and
sung with wild abandon by Ron Rene, the
record captured the live excitement the
band generated onstage. Rene was one of
the most dynamic performers in the city
even drawing compliments from Cummings who
later named checked him the Guess Who’s
1969 psychedelic epic Friends Of Mine
(“Fade away like Ron Rene”).
The Quid was formed from the remnants of
The Vi-counts when that group split in
1965. Guitarists Colin Palmer and Willard
‘Billy’ Pavlik found Nickles, singer Rene,
and drummer Al Johnson playing in various
bands at St. Mary’s Road teen club the
Twilight Zone. Johnson was soon replaced
by Lenny Fidkalo (Fidkalo and Johnson
later engaged in a legendary outdoor drum
battle at the corner of Nairn and Hwy 59
that was broken up by police). Their name
was perfect for the British Invasion
sounds that dominated the charts at the
time. “It was such a great time to be
playing that music and to see people
appreciating it,” recalls Palmer. “It was
a time when everybody wanted to dance.”
Popular at community clubs and teen clubs
like J’s Discotheque, Pink Panther, The
Den, and the Hungry I, The Quid also had
an active fan club as well as support from
CKRC deejays. “Ron Legge and Boyd Kozak
used to plug our records all the time,”
says Nickles, who also penned the band’s
follow up single, Lover Lover. The Quid
appeared at various Clark’s department
store locations across the city promoting
the single and giving away free copies.
Lover Lover charted across Western Canada
and the band fielded offers to tour.
Palmer and Pavlik had day jobs but
considered quitting to become full time
musicians.
The turning point came at a fall 1966
dance at the University of Manitoba. The
Quid played to an enthusiastic packed UMSU
crowd and were elated only to be brought
down by bad news. “We just bought new
suits and the next day Ron told us he was
leaving to join The Fifth,” Nickles
remembers. “If Rene had stayed I think we
could have made it.” Palmer and Pavlik
regrouped the following year with horns
and soul singer Bobby Barton as The New
Quid but never attained the same level of
attention.
John Einarson July 23, 2022 on Manitoba Museum
Facebook page
Personal
appearances newspaper ad, September 30,
1966
On
June 28, 1987, The Quid performed at the
Winnipeg Convention Centre for the SHAKIN' ALL OVER CONCERT
