Moonquake

Websites:  No
Origin: Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Moonquake emerged from Montréal’s vibrant early-1970s rock scene, but their roots stretched back a few years further. Bassist and singer Jack August (also known as Jack Geisinger) had already established himself in two significant Montréal outfits—Influence, and later Charlee with guitarist Walter Rossi—before teaming with guitarist Hovaness Hagopian and drummer Derek Kendrick. The trio first worked together as the touring and recording band for Michel Pagliaro, gaining valuable experience on the Canadian rock circuit. By 1973 they struck out on their own, initially adopting the name Earthquake and releasing the single “Remember” b/w “This Winter” on Gamma.

The following year they rebranded as Moonquake, keeping “Remember” and “This Winter” as centerpiece tracks for their self-titled debut LP on Gamma Records. Blending heavy rock riffing with flashes of psychedelia and even country-rock, the album showcased August’s gritty lead vocals alongside Hagopian’s multi-instrumental range, which included electric sitar and synthesizer. Kendrick anchored the sound with dynamic percussion, while guest keyboardists Germain Gauthier and Ozzie Miles added further depth. The record drew critical praise: Ottawa Citizen writer Bill Provick heard echoes of the Yardbirds and Lennon/McCartney in Moonquake’s songs, calling the LP “the finest debut album I’ve heard in some time.” “Remember” received steady radio play and remains their most enduring track.

In 1975 Moonquake signed to Aquarius Records and recorded their follow-up, Star Struck. Produced in the United States by Paul Leka and Billy Rose, with string and horn arrangements from the celebrated David Axelrod, the album marked a more polished and ambitious step forward. Backed by additional musicians including keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers and vocalists Frank and George Simms, the record balanced hard rock, balladry, and progressive flourishes. The single “Wild Little Story” charted modestly, reaching #69 in Canada in the fall of 1975, giving the band their brief moment of national recognition.

Despite the momentum, Moonquake disbanded the following year. Their legacy is contained in two full-length albums and a handful of singles, but the group occupies a fascinating corner of Canadian rock history: a hard-hitting power trio with ties to some of Montréal’s most important late-1960s and early-1970s acts. Jack August’s earlier work with Influence and Charlee provided Moonquake with a direct link to the city’s psychedelic and progressive rock lineage, while Hagopian and Kendrick helped shape the band’s identity as both rooted in classic rock tradition and reaching for something more expansive.

Though their career was short-lived, Moonquake’s records stand as prime examples of early-70s Canadian rock ambition: tightly played, filled with stylistic variety, and stamped with a sound that was very much their own.
-Robert Williston