“I grew up in awe of him. I don’t remember not listening to the music.”
Like most younger siblings, Brian Lewis has always looked up to his older brother. Ten years his junior, he recalls the days when his brother Gord filled their Hamilton home with music, lounging on the sofa in a pair of ripped jeans, his long red hair hanging over his electric guitar.
“I thought, and I still think, that’s the coolest image of rock and roll I’ve ever seen,” he told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.
Gord Lewis, one of the founding members of the Canadian punk rock band Teenage Head, was found dead in his Hamilton apartment on Sunday.
Jonathan Lewis, 41, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death. Brian confirmed that Jonathan was Gord’s son and his godson.
“Our family is conflicted. We saw Gord and Johnny love each other and be loyal to each other throughout their lives,” Brian said.
He described Gord and Jonathan as inseparable, but added that they were each “dealing with their own demons”.
“My wife and I were involved in the situation between Jonathan and Gord until last week. There have always been health concerns for both Gord and Jonathan. But things have gotten worse in recent weeks and months,” Brian said.
News of Gord’s death reverberated throughout the Canadian music scene and beyond.
The group paid tribute to their ax man in a social media post on Monday night, saying they were “heartbroken” to hear of the tragic loss.
“We are heartbroken and still trying to get over the loss of our friend, bandmate and brother Gord Lewis,” the band wrote. “Our hearts go out to his family and all who knew and loved him.”
Since then, Brian says he’s been thinking a lot about his older brother and the impact he had on the lives of those who knew him or listened to his music.
“Gord was gentle, humble, giving, and on stage he was amazing,” Brian described.
“I wasn’t the only one who stood repeatedly at hundreds of concerts staring at him while he played the guitar, because it was such a unique sound, such an innovative way of playing. He personified cool.”
Despite the tragedy, Bryan said Gord’s untimely death was “not a shock” and spoke about the difficult circumstances surrounding Jonathan.
“He’s really, really sick. It’s such a sad and terrifying situation,” he said, adding that he and his family still worry about Jonathan and his future.
Brian said the tributes to his brother and the support his family have received since his death have been overwhelming and have helped them through their grief.
“The outpouring of love was also, strangely, not unexpected because we all knew what he was like. Everyone around him knew what he was like. He was what everybody says,” Bryan said with a laugh.
“Gord, music and Teenage Head were intertwined. They were one and the same. There was no separation.”
He was proud to be 65.
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