Deadly Snakes Reunite Then Re-Disband

After a 10-year reign as darlings of Canada's indie scene, garage-rockers Deadly Snakes made the abrupt decision in 2006 to call it quits. While breaking up was no doubt challenging for the legendary Toronto collective, it appears that staying apart has actually been the real struggle.

"It was very clear at the end that we shouldn't be a band anymore," says drummer Andrew Gunn, speaking to Spinner outside of Portland, Ore.'s East End bar. "We never expected to play another show when we broke up ... but things change."

Less than four years since the outfit's final performance at Toronto's Silver Dollar, Gunn and his former bandmates seem to be spending an awful lot of time together for a group that's supposed to be on permanent hiatus.

"Our singer, Andre [Ethier], puts out solo stuff and he came up with this idea to have the Snakes founding members -- me, Matt [Carlson] and Max [McCabe-Lokos] -- be his backup band to record a single for Dull Knife Records," says Gunn. This now sold-out seven-inch was what prompted the guys to start jamming again, albeit under Ethier's moniker.

Last month, they took things one step further when they formally re-raised the Deadly Snakes banner to play a reunion show at the Vice-sanctioned Scion Garage Fest in Portland. The recent flurry of activity naturally drums up the question: could a full-fledge tour be in the works?

While it's an idea that makes Gunn smile -- not to mention something that fans have been pleading for since Deadly Snakes first gave word of their demise -- the energetic drummer is quick to dismiss the idea. "I think everyone is beyond the point of getting the band back together and doing another tour," he says. "Vice made the first serious offer that showed some respect for what we had done and I'm just treating it like that's all it was -- one show with no future plans."

Who knows, though? After all this time getting reacquainted with his former bandmates, Gunn might just decide to add a few more percussionists to the Quest for Fire lineup when the stoner-rock group -- which also features Deadly Snakes bassist/guitarist Chad Ross -- heads out on the road on Nov. 11 for a small run of US and Canadian dates.

After all, it seems like a shame not to invite the rest of the Deadly Snakes gang to partake in his current project when these old rock friends seem to be on such a roll.