Mendelson Joe will be remembered for his opinions, dogged determination, intellect, and talent. “Missed but never forgotten,” as one fan wrote on social media. He left this world in the same way he lived—on his own terms.
“The Parkinson’s interrupts my creative flow of writing, painting and making music to say the least. I have ended my job as multi-media artist with the provision of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) on February 7, 2023. I see MAID as a sign of a civilized society. To be born Canadian is a great blessing. We have free speech. We have healthcare. We have MAID. Thank you Canada,” he wrote in a final message.
You can read Mendelson Joe’s final message here.
Mendelson Joe (Birrell Josef Mendelson) born July 30, 1944 in Toronto, died February 7, 2023 at his home in Emsdale, Ontario, through the provision of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) with his wife, Karen Robinson by his side, states his site.
You can find his work here.
RIP Mendelson Joe!
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We brought Mainline to my high school and the administration was not happy with Beltmaker which had ‘different’ lyrics than the album.
First time I saw Mainline was at the long gone Rockpile in Toronto and also solo.
A character true to himself.
Love this story, Bill.
MJoe lived here.
Just listening to Danny Marks on Jazz.FM (his Bluz FM show), talking about Mendelson Joe. The point that struck me was his recognition that Joe: “cared so deeply” about how we get to live (environmentally and politically), and that it ought to be recognized and preserved. Now Danny’s playing some Mainline. Time to inject some of that, of which I am not familiar (not too late). Ride on, M.Joe
In the early 70’s, I formed a band in St. Catharines. Mike Moretto was our singer. We were big Mainline fans and called ourselves the Lost Marbles Boogie Band (after Joe,s song ) and we covered some tunes off the Stink album, including Toilet Bowl Blues. I started promoting a few concerts and hired Mainline for a show, after scouting them at the Victory Burlesque Theatre in Toronto where they performed the Bump and Grind Revue. Later I hired Joe, solo, to headline one of our outdoor shows at our Lower Level Concert Series in downtown St. Catharines, which my wife, Jeanine, and I ran while attending Brock.
Joe showed up from Toronto about 15 minutes before showtime, riding a motorcycle and his guitar on his back. The above self portrait painting, is exactly how I remember him arriving. We provided the sound and he used my amp. Miraculously the amp survived the show after Joe somehow got it to sound like a motorcycle engine during one song. ( I still have that amp ). He put out an amazing performance that night which will always be etched in our memory banks.
Thank you Joe.