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Celebration of life for Hamilton musician Gord Lewis set for Nov. 5 at FirstOntario Concert Hall

Gord Lewis will be celebrated at the FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton by his friends, family and entertainment peers on Nov. 5. The event for the late Teenage Head guitarist will feature musical appearances, with proceeds going to charity.

Friends, family, musical peers to honour Teenage Head's late guitarist, who was found dead Aug. 7

Michael To · CBC News ·
An event poster of for Gord Lewis's celebration of life event, with an artistically drawn portrait of Gord featured.
A celebration of the life for Gord Lewis is planned for Nov. 5 at the FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton, which will also serve as a fundraiser in honour of the late Teenage Head guitarist. (Greg Vickers)

A celebration of life for Hamilton musician Gord Lewis will be held on Nov. 5 at the FirstOntario Concert Hall at 7 p.m. ET.

The event, which will be held nearly two months after Lewis was found dead in his apartment, will feature a number of artists and musical performances, providing a colourful mix of genres.

"That was one thing that Gord was all about with his music, he was just trying to make people happy," said Lou Molinaro, music producer and former owner of Hamilton venue This Ain't Hollywood.

Molinaro is helping organize the event with members of Lewis's family. 

These entertainers are expected to make an appearance:

  • Colin MacDonald & Jack Syperek (The Trews).
  • Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil).
  • John Kastner (Doughboys) & Scott McCullough (Doughboys & Rusty).
  • Andy Curran.
  • Mike Trebilcock of The Killjoys.
  • Tim Gibbons.
  • Chris Houston (Forgotten Rebels).
  • Sammy Squid.
  • Greg Brisco.

Lewis was found dead in his Hamilton apartment Aug. 7. His son, Jonathan Lewis, has been charged with second-degree murder. 

Lewis built longtime friendships with many artists after Teenage Head was founded in the 1970s. 

"He was a shy fellow, however, he always had time to chat to everyone," Molinaro said. 

Brian Lewis, one of Gord's six siblings, described his brother as "gentle, artistic, musically inspirational, loving and loyal." Music publicist Eric Alper previously told CBC Hamilton that Lewis was one of "the original punks in this country."

Tickets for the celebration of life are available here — each seat goes for about $15. Proceeds after expenses will go to the Good Shepherd centre in Hamilton. "That [organization] is something that's very close to the Lewis family," said Molinaro.

He plans to set up a separate donation link for fans and well-wishers to donate to the charity if they can't make the celebration.

Molinaro said he and Lewis's family wanted to celebrate him at the First Ontario Concert Hall, adding, "We all felt that Gord deserved that."

"It was a place that Teenage Head never played at during their existence.... Having something like this means a lot and I think it's just a very classy way of extending the legacy of Gordie."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael To

Reporter

Michael To is a reporter with CBC Hamilton. Passionate about food, entertainment, and local culture, while reporting on all topics and beats. Trained and educated actor, versed in multimedia. Contact he/him at: michael.to@cbc.ca.

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