The Shags (Connecticut band)
| The Shags | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | West Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1963-1967 |
| Labels | Nutta, Sammy, Taurus, Laurie, Kayden |
| Associated acts | The Bram Rig Set, Uranus and the Five Moons |
| Past members |
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The Shags were a garage rock band from West Haven, Connecticut, who were active in the mid-1960s, and recorded a number of songs, some at the famed Trod Nossel Studios. They were one of a number of bands at the time to use the moniker, "the Shags," but they were the best-known of these groups. Their work has been re-issued on various compilations, and they are known for the songs such as "Don't Press Your Luck" and "Breathe in My Ear." They re-united for several occasions in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Shags were founded in West Haven, Connecticut in the summer of 1963 by schoolmates Tom Violante (real name Tom Roberts) and Carl Augusto (real name Carl Donnel). Like most members of their generation, the future members of the Shags had grown up listening rock & roll. Augusto, had played lead guitar (and sometimes sang) and another future member of the Shags, Johnny Tangredi, played drums in a local, mostly instrumental surf rock band called the Deltons. But, sensing the rapidly approaching British invasion, and now highly under its influence, Augusto and Violante wanted to form a new band that would reflect what they perceived to be the next big thing.
During the summer of 1963, Augusto and Violante started a new band, which consisted of Tom Violante on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Carl Augusto on lead guitar joined, Rich Ventura on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Eddie Staffieri on drums. They would practice in Violante's family garage on Cynthia Drive in West Haven, later adding Bobby Giannotti on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. They eventually became known as the Hollywood Dropouts. Their lineup evolved with the departure of Ventura, Staffieri, and Gianotti. Mike Goodwin joined the band on bass and vocals and Jeff Cannata on drums (Cannata later went on to found Jasper Rath with Bobby Giannotti). However, Cannata soon departed and was replaced by Johnny Tangredi, who had played with the Deltons on drums. The band played occasional small venues.
In late 1964 the Hollywood Dropouts came to the attention of Sam Goldman, who had managed and produced the doo-wop stars, the Five Satins, in the late 1950s and would become the Shags' manager and producer. Around this time bassist Mike Goodwin left and was replaced by Billy Hall. The resulting lineup would be Tom Violante on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Carl Augusto, on lead guitar and vocals, Billy Hall on bass and Johnny Tangredi on drums. The band also brought in John "Aaron" Perkins on vocals, but he only sang in live performances, not when the group was recording.
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