by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Manic Manon

Age: 41

Occupation: Sound engineer and administrator for L'X

Bio: This world-weary East End dynamo struck out on her own at age 15 shortly after her mother passed away. Refusing to move in with her troubled father, who "didn't understand punk rock," Manon opted instead to live on the streets of Montreal, supporting herself through petty crime and the benevolence of two male prostitutes who kept a watchful, loving eye over the young lass. Relocating to NYC in '82 to do much of the same, Manon launched the all-girl band Scab, a popular local outfit which changed its name to Bloodsister after the group's lead singer died of a drug overdose. All the rage for at least a couple of months, Bloodsister were on the verge of inking a deal with Geffen Records until Manon's newborn daughter died of sudden infant death syndrome, freaking everybody out and ultimately resulting in the dissolution of the band. Seeking comfort in the subtle joys of heroin and freebase cocaine, Manon finally succumbed to drug addiction ($100 a day for coke and another $40 for junk), only to watch her idyllic life go spiraling downwards. Finally returning to Montreal in the early '90s to successfully detox and pull herself together, she promptly earned a degree in sound engineering, found a gig at L'X, a non-profit community centre that played host to many a local punk rock band before finally losing its Ste-Catherine E. locale last year, and today, through the free sound and stage lighting workshops she conducts at the centre, finds herself as a source of inspiration to many a confused street kid.

Where L'X is located right now? Nowhere. "We've found another space near Frontenac metro but all we can afford is two months' rent. We're really hoping to find a record or punk clothing store who will want to share the building with us. Make it a complete punk centre so a kid can come in, get their records, tattoos, piercings, records, and, [laughing] come out an ‘instant punk.'" Call 866-4004 if you're interested.

Does she see herself in the street kids at L'X? Somewhat. "I try to get them interested in something else besides drugs. Give them something to believe in - like rock 'n' roll! But I don't feel sorry for anybody. I never felt sorry for myself so I sure won't feel sorry for them. I got through it, they can get through it too. You just have to be smart and use the resources available to you."

Does she generally repeat this to herself while stepping over the frozen corpse of some junkie kid on Ste-Catherine East? "Ah, you don't see many corpses like that here. A lot more people died around me in New York. A lot more."

Last book read: We the Living, by Ayn Rand.

Something else she does: Fronts Manic Manon and the Guest List. They'll be playing Foufs on Friday, Feb. 4.

Words of wisdom: "Life's a struggle but if you fight hard enough you'll get your head above water."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca