By Wayne Baggs
He Hijacked My Brain by Gary Topp.
Gary Topp’s He Hijacked My Brain is a wild, nostalgic ride through Toronto’s underground music and arts scene, told by one of its most influential promoters. If you’ve ever set foot in The Edge, Larry’s Hideaway, or The Horseshoe during their punk and new wave heydays, this book will hit home.
Topp—half of the legendary Garys—recounts his years booking acts that ranged from films at The Roxy and The Police to lesser-known but equally important voices of the era. His storytelling is casual and engaging, filled with anecdotes that capture the chaotic energy of the scene. You can practically hear the beer bottles clinking and amps humming in the background as he describes nights that changed Toronto’s cultural landscape.
The book isn’t just about music, though. It’s about risk-taking, rebellion, and the kind of DIY ethos that made the late ‘70s and early ‘80s such an electric time for live music. If you love Toronto music history, punk rock, or just great behind-the-scenes stories, He Hijacked My Brain is worth the read.
BKonthescene 