Gene Champagne Digs Up a Punk-Surf Classic with New Cover of “I Can’t Pretend”

Now signed to Boston’s Rum Bar Records, Hamilton singer/songwriter (and legendary Canadian punk lifer) Gene Champagne is back with a brand new release, a cover of The Barracuda’s 1981 classic “I Can’t Pretend.”

If that title rings a bell, it should. Champagne isn’t just picking random deep cuts for fun, he’s got history with this one. Fans of Canada’s punk roots will remember that Teenage Head recorded their own version of the track back in 1985 on Trouble In The Jungle, with Champagne behind the kit.

“This is a song that I have loved for a very long time,” Champagne says. “I’ve always thought of recording it… the vibe of the song is perfect and it seemed like a great opportunity to give the song some attention and put a bit of my style into it.”

And that’s exactly what he does here — keeping the spirit of the original alive while giving it that unmistakable Champagne edge. His goal wasn’t to reinvent the wheel, but to make the track feel at home alongside the new material he’s currently writing.

“Because this is a cover song my goal was to keep the integrity and spirit of the song yet lend a little bit of my style,” he explains. “I wanted this song to blend well with what original music I have been writing and recording.”

If you caught his cover of the Ohio Express bubblegum classic “Yummy Yummy Yummy” last year, you already know Champagne has a real knack for pulling unexpected songs into his own world — equal parts punk, surf, and pure rock ‘n’ roll fun.

Gene Champagne is also known for his work behind the scenes as the drummer for Teenage Head, The Killjoys, and The Black Halos, making his solo output feel like a natural extension of decades spent in the heart of Canadian rock culture.

Catch Gene Champagne Live Supporting The Boys (UK)

Gene will be hitting the road this March supporting UK punk legends The Boys, with three Ontario dates lined up:

Fri March 13 — Toronto, ON — The Horseshoe

Sat March 14 — Hamilton, ON — The Corktown

Sun March 15 — London, ON — Palasad Social Bowl