THE SHAGS was started in the mid 1960′s by Bob (Blackie) Fitzsimmons (Missing from pictures) and Clive Perry on drums. Ray Fountain had a short stint during the jamming stage on his big old organ as did Les Weiss on bass and Lorne Kepos on guitar, as well as being the first manager. Ray Pettinger later took over as manager. John Thompson replaced Lorne on rhythm guitar and Billy Merritt replaced Les on bass. Stuart Adams, whose family had just emigrated from England , provided the authentic british accent just perfect for singing all the great music pouring out of England. We couldnt have asked for anything more. Blackie eventually left the group to join the Air Force and then on to University, and John left to attend University. A virtual unknown at that time, Greg Leskiw was brought in to join the group when John left . The Shags with Greg later changed the bands name to The Jamieson Robertson Device and then to The Logan Avenue Comfort Station, Mood Ja Ja, and Scrubaloe Caine .Greg and Billy were the only original Shags band members left by this time.What was left of the original band totally disbanded when Greg left for the Guess Who.(.Greg is still active on the Winnipeg music scene with his band Swing Soniq). By then the whole local music scene had changed in Winnipeg. We were no longer teenagers in a teen music world but adults in an adult music world. The High School gymnasium stage became the Bar stage. The Shags recorded Smiling Fenceposts b/w Dr. Feel-Good on …

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