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The Five Man Electrical Band, originally known as The Staccatos, was a Canadian rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. The band was formed in 1963 or 1964 and initially included singer Dean Hagopian, guitarist Vern Craig, bassist Brian Rading, and singer/drummer Rick Belanger (born Rick Belanger). Over time, the lineup changed, with Hagopian being replaced by vocalist and guitarist Les Emmerson, and the addition of keyboardist Ted Gerow. The band had several hits in Canada, including Half Past Midnight and Absolutely Right, and internationally, they are known for their 1971 hit Signs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Band Name | Five Man Electrical Band |
| Band Members | Les Emmerson, Brian Rading, Ted Gerow, Rick Belanger, Mike Belanger, Vern Craig |
| Genres | Pop Rock, Roots Rock, AM Pop, Soft Rock, Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock |
| Years Active | 1969-1975, 1986-2022 |
| Notable Songs | "Signs", "Half Past Midnight", "Absolutely Right", "I'm a Stranger Here", "Moonshine (Friend of Mine)" |
| Albums | "Five Man Electrical Band", "Coming of Age", "Goodbye and Butterflies", "Sweet Paradise" |
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What You'll Learn
The Staccatos
In 1968, The Staccatos issued a joint album, "A Wild Pair", with The Guess Who?, with each band taking up one side of the LP. However, their follow-ups to "Half Past Midnight" did not meet with as much success in Canada, and in the US, their singles failed to chart at all. At the end of 1968, Ted Gerow was added to the lineup on keyboards, and shortly after, Vern Craig left. The band was also prompted to change their name by producer Nick Venet, who thought "The Staccatos" sounded "dated". Bassist Rading suggested the name "Five Man Electrical Band", taken from a song written by Emmerson, and the band duly changed their name, releasing a self-titled album in early 1969.
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Signs
The Five Man Electrical Band, originally known as The Staccatos, formed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1963 or 1964. The band's original members were singer Dean Hagopian, guitarist Vern Craig, bassist Brian Rading, and singer/drummer Rick Belanger (born Rick Belanger). Hagopian left after about a year and was replaced by vocalist and guitarist Les Emmerson, who became the band's primary songwriter.
The Staccatos made their recording debut in 1965, releasing early singles written by Craig and Emmerson. After a non-charting single on an independent label, the group signed to Capitol Records of Canada, and their second single, "Half Past Midnight", became a minor success in 1967. In 1968, Ted Gerow joined the band on keyboards, and Craig left soon after. The same year, the band changed its name to Five Man Electrical Band, inspired by one of Emmerson's songs.
The band's 1971 hit single "Signs" is their most internationally recognised song. Emmerson wrote the song after driving to California along Route 66 and noticing the many billboards obscuring his view. He saw the billboards as a perfect metaphor for the frustrations of the band and the times they were living in. "Signs" was initially released as the B-side of the single "Hello Melinda, Goodbye" by MGM Records. However, due to the single's lack of success, MGM Records lost interest in the band.
Despite setbacks with record labels, the Five Man Electrical Band continued to produce music and perform together. They released several albums and singles, including "I'm a Stranger Here" and "Coming of Age", and performed at various events and fundraisers. The band underwent several lineup changes over the years, with members leaving and new ones joining. Despite their greater success in Canada than in the US, the Five Man Electrical Band secured their place in the Canadian music scene alongside other renowned Canadian rock acts.
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Members
The Five Man Electrical Band was formed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1963 as The Staccatos. The original members of The Staccatos included singer Dean Hagopian, guitarist Vern Craig, bass player Brian Rading, and singer/drummer Rick Belanger (born Rick Belanger). Hagopian left after about a year and was replaced by vocalist and guitarist Les Emmerson, who became the band's primary songwriter, while Bell and Emmerson shared lead vocal duties.
The Staccatos made their recording debut in 1965, and their early singles were written by Craig and Emmerson. They signed to Capitol Records of Canada and released their second single, "Half Past Midnight," which became a minor hit in Canada in 1967. Around the end of 1968, Ted Gerow joined the lineup on keyboards, and shortly after, Vern Craig left the band. The band changed its name to Five Man Electrical Band, inspired by one of Emmerson's songs.
The Five Man Electrical Band's classic lineup consisted of Les Emmerson on vocals and guitar, Brian Rading on bass and backing vocals, Rick Belanger on drums and vocals, Mike Belanger on drums and vocals, and Ted Gerow on keyboards and backing vocals. This lineup released several albums and had hits in Canada, including "Half Past Midnight" (as The Staccatos), "Absolutely Right," and "I'm a Stranger Here." Their 1971 single "Signs" became their biggest international hit.
In 1972, Emmerson pursued a solo career while still remaining with the band. Mike Belanger, now going by his birth name, Michael Belanger, left the group during the recording of their 1973 album "Sweet Paradise." Brian Rading also left around the same time. The band replaced them with bassist Joe LaManno and drummer John Raines to finish the album, which included the hit single "I'm a Stranger Here." Despite achieving some success, Emmerson and Gerow, the remaining permanent members, decided to disband the group in 1975 after a string of less successful singles.
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Success
The Five Man Electrical Band, originally known as The Staccatos, was a Canadian rock band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 1963. The band had many hits in Canada, including "Half Past Midnight" (1967), "Absolutely Right" (1971), and "I'm a Stranger Here" (1972). Their 1971 hit single "Signs" brought them international recognition.
The original members of The Staccatos included singer Dean Hagopian, guitarist Vern Craig, bassist Brian Rading, and singer/drummer Rick Bell (born Rick Belanger). Hagopian was later replaced by vocalist and guitarist Les Emmerson, who became the band's primary songwriter. The Staccatos made their recording debut in 1965, releasing early singles written by Craig and Emmerson.
In 1968, the band added Ted Gerow on keyboards, and shortly after, Vern Craig left the group. They changed their name to Five Man Electrical Band, inspired by one of Emmerson's songs. Their self-titled album was released in early 1969, and they began to establish themselves in the Canadian music scene.
The band's success continued with their third album, "Coming of Age," released in January 1972. However, internal dynamics and tensions led to changes in the lineup. Emmerson focused on his parallel solo career, and Mike Bell (Belanger) and Brian Rading left the group during the recording of their 1973 album "Sweet Paradise." Despite these changes, the album produced several hits, including "I'm a Stranger Here," which peaked at No. 2 in Canada.
The Five Man Electrical Band's success in Canada cemented their place in the country's music scene alongside other Canadian rock legends. Their songs became staples on Canadian radio, and they continued to perform together occasionally over the years, even reuniting with all five original members for a charity event in 1986. While their level of success varied in the United States, they toured with notable acts such as The Allman Brothers Band, Jefferson Airplane, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
In conclusion, the Five Man Electrical Band achieved notable success in their native Canada, with multiple hit singles and albums, and their impact on the Canadian music landscape is well remembered.
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Disbandment
The Five Man Electrical Band, initially known as The Staccatos, was a Canadian rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. The band consisted of guitarist Vern Craig, vocalist and guitarist Les Emmerson, bass guitarist Brian Rading, and brothers Michael "Mike" Belanger (born Mike Bell) on drums and Rick Belanger (born Rick Bell) on vocals and guitar. Keyboardist Ted Gerow was added to the lineup in 1968, and guitarist Vern Craig left around the same time.
The band's singles failed to chart in the US, and their follow-ups to "Half Past Midnight" did not perform as well in Canada. In 1972, Emmerson established a parallel solo career, and Mike Belanger and Brian Rading left the group during the recording of their 1973 album "Sweet Paradise." Emmerson, Gerow, and Rick Belanger attempted to continue with new players, but after their 1975 release "Johnny Get A Gun" peaked at No. 69 in Canada, Emmerson and Gerow decided to disband the group.
During the mid-70s, Emmerson continued to work as a solo artist, and he and Brian Rading formed a new group called Emmerson Electrical Band in the late 70s. Emmerson also worked with The Cooper Brothers in the 70s and early 80s.
In 1986, the Five Man Electrical Band reunited with all five original members for a Children's Wish Foundation of Canada charity fundraiser at the Ottawa Civic Centre. The band also performed at the 100th birthday of Maxiville, Ontario in 1992 and in Major's Hill Park on Canada Day in 1997. In the years that followed, the band played a few shows a year as a six-man outfit with Les Emmerson, Ted Gerow, Brian Sim, Rick Smithers, Steve Hollingworth, and Mike Belanger.
After Emmerson's death, the group continued with Mike Crepin on vocals and guitar. However, following Gerow's retirement in 2022, the band recruited keyboardist Allen Wilmore but had no original players remaining.
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Frequently asked questions
The original members of the Five Man Electrical Band were Les Emmerson, Rick Belanger, Brian Rading, and Vern Craig.
Yes, the band was initially called The Staccatos from 1963 to 1968.
The band changed its name to Five Man Electrical Band in late 1968.
"Signs" was written by Les Emmerson.
The Five Man Electrical Band disbanded in 1975.
