He’s a rebel. Back at Sir Sandford Fleming Academy, Fine was known as the guy with the motorcycle, and today he is the owner and operator of two popular Queen West hangouts — the Bovine Sex Club, and Rock Lobster Food Co.
About Bovine, he stresses that it isn’t a sex club but a mere rock ’n’ roll club. The downtown institution has been around for 23 years and has attracted some of the hottest acts in the music business.
Fine was born to Canadian parents in New York but grew up in Toronto’s Bathurst and Glencairn area. In high school he struggled with making it to classes in time but excelled in math. Geography was another high point in Fine’s high school career.
That’s where he met one of his favourite teachers, Dr. Lloyd, who taught geography. Dr. Lloyd, treated Fine with respect.
“He treated me like an adult in private when I was helping him prepare films and audiovisual presentations,” Fine says of him, “I was his tech assistant. Classy guy.”
Fine’s favourite memory in high school was slyly manipulating the system to graduate Grade 13 at the end of Grade 12. He technically did not graduate from Grade 12.
Fine was also able to leave classes several times a week early with teachers’ permission to go work at a restaurant or pub.
“I think it was a unique situation for both parties to deal with,” Fine says. “I doubt that would fly today.”
Part of the reason might be because school culture has changed dramatically.
“Technology and the Internet have changed the way teenagers learn, work and socialize,” Fine says. “It’s certainly a challenge for the students, teachers and their parents.”
Though Fine earned a few degrees from the University of Toronto and Windsor and was a partner in many local businesses, he never really left the hospitality industry, which he entered in his high school days.
He plans to keep up with his career and enjoys its perks.
“Owning the Bovine Club for 23 years has developed a worldwide network of culturally like-minded friends, musicians, filmmakers and film producers,” Fine says. “The club is a small but influential player in the music and film business.”