The Rockatones, garage band from Park Extension

Post date: Nov 09, 2015 5:0:32 PM

History

Four Park Extension lads met at school in 1961 and formed a band called The Rockatones. They played local gigs and eventually toured from southern Quebec to northern Vermont to eastern Ontario. In 1963 they recorded an instrumental, and in spring 1965 their track "I'm a Man" made it to #9 thanks to play on local station CFCF and the CBC show Teen 65. However the multiple demands of touring, studying, and album making led them to put down their instruments in 1966 and follow non-musical careers. John Semeniuk, lead guitar, bass guitar, lead singer and composer, Len McFarlane, drums, Steve Mitchell, lead guitar, and Brian Headland, lead guitar and composer, regrouped in a backyard in 2014 celebrate their 50 years of friendship along with their manager, Nick Semeniuk.

Discography

1963 - Les disques fontaine - 45 RPM

F1575 - Shandia / Young in years

1964 - Les disques fontaine - 45 RPM

F1593 - Submerge / The Sheik & Harem

1965 - Melbourne - 45 RPM

WG 3184 - Great Balls Of Fire / Crying Waiting Hoping

WG 3189 - Shake Hands / Why Don't He Get Along

WG 3201 - I'm A Man / Bad Girl

1966 - London - 45 RPM

M. 17347 - For My Own / Everything's Gone Wrong

Audio

And finally, the band's favourite vocal release, For My Own: