Statue of Venom questioned

A public meeting was planned for Thursday night to discuss a proposed statue of Hamilton musical icon Frankie Venom. The punk rock musician fronted the 1980’s band Teenage Head — the group shot to international stardom in the 80’s and were proud of their Hamilton roots. However, the statue could cost $200-thousand and many taxpayers are against it.

Frankie Venom was born Frankie Kerr and he grew up in Hamilton. He died in 2008 of throat cancer, but his musical roots shaped Hamilton’s music scene and some want to see his legacy and the road he paved for other artists honoured.

By all accounts, Frankie Venom was an electrifying artist: “He was honest and the most charismatic front man in rock and roll I have ever seen in my life.”

Teenage Head was iconic in the 1980s but many feel an expensive statue is not the way to celebrate his musical contribution.

“I dont agree with McHattie proposing that $200,000 for a statue in Victoria Park. I rather see the money go towards the wadding pool that’s in the park.”

“It doesn’t need to be a big statue that is costing a whole lot of money — that can go towards better things.”

However, friend and fellow musician Tom Wilson who thought of the idea disagrees: “We have to be proud about the artists that walk our streets and in order to do that, I think a statue is perfect.”

However Wilson and his family say the idea was never just about a statue. Madeline Wilson said: “Yes, the statue being presented on its own look frivolous.”

Instead it was part of a larger project to support artists Frankie Venom paved the way for.

Tom Wilson said: “For a musician — aging or otherwise — someone who needs teeth fixed, need addiction counselling, someone who needs reiki treatment, we want to make these things available for musicians.

Hamilton is filled with talented musicans and artists. Last year, public arts funding was $160,000. Councilor McHattie says that isn’t enough: “It depicts our history as a city. It speaks about the kind of people we are, the culture that we have as a city and is extremely important.

McHattie says the statue doesn’t have to cost the city $200,000: “Fund half of the project with city money and the other half going out to crowd funding.”

And in the end, why was Frankie Venom chosen? Madeline Wilson said: “He is somebody that — had he had a 2nd chance or been give options — would have been a member of our community and a strong one at that.”

The project Tom Wilson and his daughter Madeline are creating is called “Banned Together”. They want to roll it out in time for the 2015 Juno’s hosted in Hamilton.

At tonight’s meeting at 69 Pearl St. N., other ways to celebrate the musicians legacy will be discussed, like awards, and scholarships.