<!-- Unsourced image removed: thumb|right|340px|<CENTER>McKenna Mendelson Mainline<BR>L to R: Mike McKenna, Joe Mendelson, Tony Nolasco, Mike Harrison</CENTER> -->

McKenna Mendelson Mainline was a Canadian blues band that released four albums. In the spring of 1969, the band was signed to Liberty Records (United Artists). The band debuted at the Night Owl club in Toronto's Yorkville Village from August 5–10 and the following month recorded demos which later became the basis of a bootleg album, McKenna Mendelson Blues. Gerrard left the band in early October immediately after a show at Massey Hall supporting The Fugs because of artistic differences and was replaced by Mike Harrison (born November 1, 1948, in Brampton, Ontario), bassist from popular Canadian R&B band Grant Smith & The Power

In November 1968, MMM opened for The Jeff Beck Group at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan, and garnered several standing ovations.

Early success in the UK

In December 1968, MMM reversed the trend of English bands coming to North America, and proceeded to England to gig and hopefully to pursue a major record deal. The band hit the stage almost immediately, their first show being at the Utrecht Pop Festival on December 27/28, 1968, filling a prime timeslot just vacated by Jimi Hendrix and his duo (Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell). MMM started soon thereafter gigging on an English club circuit which included such notables as The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Family, The Keef Hartley Band, Gun, and the newly formed Led Zeppelin.

After several false starts, they signed with Liberty/United Artists in the spring of 1969, and in April 1969 recorded a best-selling album, Stink.

Mainline today

The Mainline reunited in the 1990s without Mendelson, but with Mike McKenna (guitar, slide guitar, vocals), Tony Nolasco (drums, lead vocals), Mike Harrison (bass, vocals), Ted Purdy (acoustic guitar, vocals), and Bob Adams (harmonica). This group played regularly into the 2000s, including to a sold out crowd at the last ever show at the El Mocambo Tavern, later released by Bullseye Records as the album Last Show @ The Elmo. To date, their final show was at the Black Swan Tavern On April 25, 2009, celebrating McKenna's 45 years on the Toronto music scene.

Mainline's albums today remain available on music streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify.

Frank "Zeke" Sheppard died of lung cancer on October 10, 1997, at the age of 56.

Mike Harrison died on January 7, 2022, at the age of 74, after suffering a stroke in late 2021.

Mendelson Joe, after five years suffering from Parkinsons Disease, chose an assisted death on February 7, 2023, at the age of 78.

Discography

Albums

  • 1969 Stink (Liberty/United Artists)

Notes

  • "Why can't Toronto grasp Soul or, for that matter, anything else that's really good in today's sound?". Article by Peter Goddard, Toronto Telegram "After Four" section, August 17, 1968, page 50
  • "Denny Gerrard returns with the MMM", Toronto Daily Star, August 10, 1968, page 26
  • Last Show @ The Elmo CD
  • Pacemaker Entertainment