Now almost 60 years later, the band is getting some rock star treatment as people came out to celebrate the band and the history of a past music scene that once rocked Nanaimo. (Lauryn Mackenzie /CHLY 101.7fm)

Following the story of a long lost record being found, former Nanaimo-based band, The Glass Cage, was reunited for the first time in over 50 years.

Downtown Nanaimo’s the Vault Café was standing room only on Sunday February 22 as The Glass Cage celebrated the release of their long lost record Where Did the Sunshine Go?

CHLY earlier reported on the story behind the record, when veteran music promoter, Marcus Pollard, found an unknown acetate record in a Port Alberni collectible store.

To his surprise, the record still played, and the music on it was really good.

After his discovery, Pollard spent several years researching the unknown psych rock group The Glass Cage. Eventually, through his work, he connected with the then teenagers who recorded the unreleased album in the summer of 1968.

The record featured Nanaimo’s, Norm Roth, Wayne Harbord, Clayton Millan, the late Terry Morrison and the late Doug Hastings.

Pollard knew that he and his friend Jason Flower, a musician and archivist out of Victoria needed to give the album its time in the spotlight.

Now almost 60 years later, the band is getting some rock star treatment as people came out to celebrate the band and the history of a past music scene that once rocked Nanaimo.

To celebrate the album release the band hosted three album release parties in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo.

CHLY attended the event in Nanaimo.

The event featured talks from Pollard, Flower, and Q&A with the original band members. Where Did the Sunshine Go? was also played in its entirety.

As the final record release party came to an end, Pollard said he is happy to have celebrated the band in the city they formed in.

“I didn't cry, so that's good. But I mean, it's totally full circle,” Pollard said. “This is where it was born. I feel that Jason and Supreme Echo and I, we did right by the band, we did right by the city. I'm a very happy guy.”

Flower said that the event at the Vault Café was the perfect conclusion to bringing this record, and band, back to life.

“We're here in Nanaimo. The city had a population of 15,000 people at the time. I just can't believe this sound even came from here. Having learned what bands were coming through, it does all make sense,” Flower said. “I think most of all, honouring these musicians and also seeing their families here, and knowing that there was no animosity amongst any of the members, given that they were teenagers when they broke up and everything. There's so much love, and the guys are so cool. I mean, I think we're equally just grateful on all sides, to have been able to do this together.”

Flower, who created the archival record label Supreme Echo in Victoria whose team worked on reissuing this record, said this project was special because of the original recording being found on an acetate—not a vinyl—record.

“I think what's so special is the source to begin with, being an acetate. For world record collectors, this is the greatest find. I mean, there are unreleased albums, and you find tapes, and you hope they're not too deteriorated, and you transfer them,” Flower said. “But to find a one of a kind, acetate disc–okay, actually, we found two in the end–from little Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, we now have an album that is now redefining the history of Pacific Northwest, psychedelian garage rock. It's really gonna mark its place and I already see this in international critical acclaim.”

Having worked on many records over the years, Flower said he has never seen such an extraordinary response from people around the world for an archival album by an unknown band.

“You have to imagine this was all based on basically controlling the material not coming out and leaking one song,” he said. “I usually would publish two teasers on a digital pre-order, but the opening track is such a banger, it was enough to just tantalize the people with.”

Even before the whole album was digitally released on February 24, he said the first pressing of the vinyl was already sold out.

Flower said he hopes this project shows people the importance of saving and documenting music.

“I hope that anybody out there listening that has a brother or an uncle or a grandfather that has an acetate this one of a kind recorded record that has nothing written on it, we'd love to preserve it for the broader public,” he said. “So we can continue to document the history of underground on the island, because this album, The Glass Cage, is a soundtrack to your city.”

Community members, friends and family gathered to celebrate the band and reminisce on life 60 years ago.

Christine Robertson was there to remember her late husband Doug Hastings, the original drummer for The Glass Cage who can be heard playing on the album. She said Doug would talk about his time with The Glass Cage a bit during their marriage of 15 years.

“I actually have known his family for 60 years, because we moved to Nanaimo in 1965 and started at the church that his parents were very involved with,” Robertson said. “I've known the Hastings forever.”

She said it is great to see that everybody is so enthusiastic and interested in the band.

“I am absolutely thrilled that they managed to figure it all out and get it together,” Robertson said. “I'm thrilled.

She said Doug never forgot his time with the band and his love of music.

“He loved his music,” Robertson said. “He didn't have his drum kit when we were together, but he would be sitting on the couch, tapping the arm of the couch to the music in his head, and the vibrations drove me nuts on occasion.”

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.