I am an older metalhead who recalls the glory days of the Mustache, the Fortifications, the Brick, the Black Light, and a slew of other heavy metal clubs in Montreal. I lived the lifestyle throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. I miss the long hair down to my ass and the good times with metal babes.
The Mustache on Lambert Closse was the place to be seen. They had an excellent happy hour from 8-10 pm, and the first set started at 9 pm.
I saw many great Canadian metal bands come through the Stache, including Anvil, Coney Hatch, and Helix. Any metal band that played the old Montreal Forum across the street stopped in after their show to see the new up-and-coming Canadian metal acts. I met Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Ratt and Judas Priest, among others, there in the mid-1980s after their Forum shows.
Anvil wrote their classic song March of the Crabs as an ode to the Mustache. Bands that travelled and played the Canadian circuit at the time were booked from Tuesday to Saturday, and if from out of town, stayed upstairs on the second floor. It was a disgusting, filthy place with several mattresses on the floor and a place to get crabs. This is why Anvil wrote March of the Crabs.
Long live Heavy Metal!