The Shag
Encyclopedia
The Shag - originally known as The Shags, and later simply as Shag - were an American
garage
and psychedelic rock
band in the 1960s, best known for their 1967 single
"Stop and Listen". They were one of numerous bands at the time using the name "The Shags".
The Shags were formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, in 1964 by Paul "Green" Greenwald (drums, flute, congas, vocals), John Sahli (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Mike Lamers (guitar, congas, autoharp, percussion, vocals), and Don Luther (bass guitar, percussion, vocals). At first, they played folk and blues music, soon influenced by bands such as The Rolling Stones
to develop a harder rock sound. They started playing at parties, schools and small bars, before gaining a manager, Paul Pattengale, and residencies first at DaQuisto's and later at O'Brad's club in Milwaukee. They also toured in the southeastern Wisconsin area. In 1965, they recorded a single, "Dance Woman" / "Cause I Love You", for the local Raynard label.
Sahli left the band in 1965 for a career in commercial design, and was replaced by Ray McCall (guitar, keyboard, vocals). The band increasingly performed their own material, and developed a reputation for outlandish costumes and special effects. In 1967, they were signed by Capitol Records
and recorded "Stop and Listen" / "Melissa". "Stop and Listen" was written and sung by McCall and featured his fuzz guitar. It has been cited as one of the first anti-drug rock songs to be recorded. The record was credited to The Shag (without the final "s"), to avoid confusion with another group of the same name.
McCall left in 1968 and was replaced by Gordon Elliott (guitar, harmonica, congas, vocals). The band then moved to Marin County, California, and started playing major venues and ballrooms in support of bands such as Jefferson Airplane
and The Who
. They recorded material in San Francisco for an album, which went unreleased at the time. As Shag, they also appeared in July 1969 at the Midwest Rock Festival
in Milwaukee, on a bill which also featured Led Zeppelin
, Blind Faith
, The MC5, Jethro Tull
and many others.
The band split up in 1971. Elliott then formed an unrecorded band, Elixir, with George Edwards
and Michael Tegza of the band H. P. Lovecraft
.
In the 1990s and later, "Stop and Listen" was included on several CD compilations of 1960s garage band recordings, including Boulders, Volume 1 and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 10
. An album of the band's 1969 recordings, Shag, was released on Gear Fab records in 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
garage
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
and psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
band in the 1960s, best known for their 1967 single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Stop and Listen". They were one of numerous bands at the time using the name "The Shags".
The Shags were formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, in 1964 by Paul "Green" Greenwald (drums, flute, congas, vocals), John Sahli (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Mike Lamers (guitar, congas, autoharp, percussion, vocals), and Don Luther (bass guitar, percussion, vocals). At first, they played folk and blues music, soon influenced by bands such as The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
to develop a harder rock sound. They started playing at parties, schools and small bars, before gaining a manager, Paul Pattengale, and residencies first at DaQuisto's and later at O'Brad's club in Milwaukee. They also toured in the southeastern Wisconsin area. In 1965, they recorded a single, "Dance Woman" / "Cause I Love You", for the local Raynard label.
Sahli left the band in 1965 for a career in commercial design, and was replaced by Ray McCall (guitar, keyboard, vocals). The band increasingly performed their own material, and developed a reputation for outlandish costumes and special effects. In 1967, they were signed by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and recorded "Stop and Listen" / "Melissa". "Stop and Listen" was written and sung by McCall and featured his fuzz guitar. It has been cited as one of the first anti-drug rock songs to be recorded. The record was credited to The Shag (without the final "s"), to avoid confusion with another group of the same name.
McCall left in 1968 and was replaced by Gordon Elliott (guitar, harmonica, congas, vocals). The band then moved to Marin County, California, and started playing major venues and ballrooms in support of bands such as Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. They recorded material in San Francisco for an album, which went unreleased at the time. As Shag, they also appeared in July 1969 at the Midwest Rock Festival
Midwest Rock Festival
×The Midwest Rock Festival was a music festival held at the State Fair Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the 25th-July 27, 1969.The festival featured Led Zeppelin, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The First Edition, Sweetwater, Pacific Gas & Electric, SRC and Shag ; Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends,...
in Milwaukee, on a bill which also featured Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Blind Faith
Blind Faith
Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. The band, which was one of the first "super-groups", released their only album, Blind Faith, in August 1969...
, The MC5, Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and many others.
The band split up in 1971. Elliott then formed an unrecorded band, Elixir, with George Edwards
Ethan Kenning
Charles Ethan Kenning is an American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed as George Edwards when he led 1960s acid-rock band, H. P. Lovecraft...
and Michael Tegza of the band H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft (band)
H. P. Lovecraft was an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1967 and named after horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. Much of the band's music was possessed of a haunting, eerie ambience, and consisted of material that was inspired by the macabre writings of the author whose...
.
In the 1990s and later, "Stop and Listen" was included on several CD compilations of 1960s garage band recordings, including Boulders, Volume 1 and Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 10
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 10
Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 10 is a compilation album in the Highs in the Mid-Sixties series, featuring recordings that were released in Wisconsin...
. An album of the band's 1969 recordings, Shag, was released on Gear Fab records in 2005.