Dave Rave and Rick Andrew met while in a band called Madonna Inc. in 1972. In this band, a future member of Teenage Head, Frankie Venom, was also present. However, this version of the band didn't last a year. Nevertheless, Rick and Dave soon formed a partnership and began writing songs inspired by power pop legends such as Badfinger, Flamin’ Groovies, Brinsley Schwarz, and Big Star (Alex Chilton). Over the next few years, they performed incessantly in southern Ontario, New York State, and across northern Ontario.
By 1978, they had been captivated by the punk rock and new wave music that was reshaping the musical landscape, influenced by artists like Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds. The turning point came when they decided to record some of their tunes and form a new band, The Shakers. They then added Claude DesRoches (who had already been playing with Rick and Dave for years) and borrowed Gord Lewis from Teenage Head, as well as Bill Dillon (known for working with Robbie Robertson, The Pretenders, Sarah McLachlan) as guitar players.
The Shakers' first single, "Out the Door" / "Till I’m Gone," produced by Rick Andrew and Daniel Lanois (known for working with Peter Gabriel, U2, Robbie Robertson) was released on the indie label "Warpt Records." By the end of the first month of the 1980s, The Shakers were receiving airplay on top forty, FM, and college radio stations. In those days, getting airplay on top forty radio stations was rare for an independent release. The single held the #1 spot on McMaster University CFMU for more than a month.
Responding to the overwhelming demand for live performances, they brought in guitarist and songwriter Tim Gibbons. They embarked on extensive tours with bands like Teenage Head, Stark Naked, Bob Segarini, and Jayne County & the Electric Chairs. The band soon began headlining shows in major venues across Ontario.
The band entered the studio again with producer Daniel Lanois at Grant Avenue Studios and recorded their debut album, infusing the "Tim Gibbons flavor" into The Shakers' sound and songs. The album titled "In Time" garnered great reviews, and the entire album was immediately added to the playlist of Toronto’s CHUM FM and other major radio stations. The Shakers continued their tour over the next year in support of the new album, performing alongside artists like Nick Lowe, Paul Carrack, and Martha and the Muffins.
Alongside producer Daniel Lanois, they decided to record a "Live to Master" LP featuring songs they had reshaped in their own style, originally by artists like Chuck Berry, Arthur Alexander, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The resulting record, "The Shakers Rock and Roll," included legendary guests from the Downchild Blues Band: Don Walsh and Jane Vasey, along with Ed Roth from the Rick James band. These same sessions produced another EP, "Shake Some Action" b/w "Poison Ivy & Wildcat."
The band continued to showcase their live prowess by filling large venues, including Hamilton Place Studio Theatre, El Mocambo in Toronto, The Kee to Bala, and the McMaster University Phys-Ed Complex.
At the beginning of 1982, they released another great original single, "California," b/w "Do Anything." Following this release, Tim decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. The band had attracted the attention of record producer Jack Richardson (known for working with The Guess Who, Bob Seger, and Alice Cooper). Moving forward, Dave, Rick, and Claude, with the help of guitar players Bill Dillon, John Lewis, Bernie LaBarge, and Dan Gibbons, recorded another album titled "The Shakers Weekend."
After touring and promoting the "Weekend" album, they decided to go their separate ways. In the 1990s, with the emergence of the Brit-Pop movement (e.g., Oasis) and the Power-Pop movement in the USA and Canada (e.g., Sloan), there was a demand for updated "Shakers" music and media. The untitled "The Shakers" CD was released, followed by sold-out reunion shows, including performances by Rick and Dave of Shakers songs at the renowned "Cavern Club" in Liverpool.
Then, in 2019, a double CD containing the complete "Shakers" catalog titled "The Shakers Anthology" was released. This collection was entirely remastered by popular recording and mastering engineer James Andrew (known for his work with Teenage Head, Ray Materick, Ride Theory). As a bonus track, they included a rocking version of "Ain't Got No Sense" as a tribute to Teenage Head.
In 2023, The Shakers’ music was included on the soundtrack of the US film “The Love Song of William H. Shaw”.
With the ongoing popularity of "The Shakers Anthology" and worldwide demand, The Shakers decided to reunite and record a new EP containing several new original recordings. Right up to the present day, the media continues to write about the music and excitement that "The Shakers" created. The band is eagerly looking forward to sharing their new music with the world.