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Five Man Electrical Band

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Musicians

The Resume

    (1964- )
    Formed in Ottawa, Canada
    Original name was The Staccatos (1964-68)
    1968 line-up:
    Les Emmerson - guitar/lead vocals
    Brian Rading - bass/vocals
    Ted Gerow - keyboards/vocals
    Rick 'Bell' Belanger - drums/vocals
    Mike 'Bell' Belanger - drums/vocals
    Recorded 'Signs' and 'Absolutely Right' (from the album 'Goodbyes & Butterflies')

Why he might be annoying:

    In the '60s, their harmonies sounded so much like The Beach Boys that U.S. radio stations and listeners dismissed them as 'Canadian Beach Boy wannabes.'
    They titled their second album (as The Staccatos) 'Five Man Electrical Band,' then changed the name of their band a year later to the album title (1969).
    They had dual drumming brothers both nicknamed 'Bell.'
    They are a two hit wonder.
    They broke up in 1973, yet Emmerson recorded for two more years under the name before pulling the plug.
    They reformed in 1986 and play occasional gigs under the 'Five Man' moniker, but with SIX members (three original).
    In 1995, they released 'Absolutely Right: The Best of Five Man Electrical Band' with only two legitimate hits to their credit.

Why he might not be annoying:

    In the '60s, they toured both the U.S. and Canada continuously despite constant visa problems.
    They finally had enough and moved permanently to the U.S. in 1969.
    'Signs' was written out of frustration over the amount of billboards the band saw while traveling historic Route 66.
    'Signs' was re-released in 1971, became an international hit (#2 in the U.S., #1 in Canada) and sold more than 2 million singles.
    'Absolutely Right' made it to #3 on the Billboard charts (1972).
    In 1990, Tesla did an acoustic remake of 'Signs' (from the album 'Five Man Acoustical Jam'), which hit the Top 10 on Billboard charts.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 28 Votes: 39.29% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 57 Votes: 38.60% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 45 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 58 Votes: 72.41% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 68 Votes: 60.29% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 127 Votes: 50.39% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 352 Votes: 46.59% Annoying