George
Wallace* ~ Lead Guitar
William
"Mojo" Collins* ~ Guitar, Vocals
Steve Garr* ~ Bass
Brian Knaff* ~ Drums,
Vocals
Rocky Lieble ~ Organ
Rick Richter ~ Saxophone
* Performed with Initial Shock
![]() The Initial Shock moved to San
Francisco
in 1967 and became one of the leading bands of the Bay Area underground
rock scene, eventually breaking up in 1969. Bill
"Mojo"
Collins continued in the music business and is currently a popular
singer/songwriter
based in North Carolina. Brian Knaff formed the Good Music
Agency and later the Talent Buyers Network and is a successful talent
agent. Terry Hill, September 2011
The Initial Shock were one of many bands who moved to San Francisco in 1967, but were more or less alone insofar as having been the only band who moved from Montana. Apparently the group was from Missoula, MT and featured members of local groups The Chosen Few and Mojos Mark IV, and at least one member was assigned to an Air Force base in the area. When the Air Force commitment was over, the band decided to move to San Francisco to be where the action was. The Initial Shock released two singles, but no albums. The first, "Mind Disaster"/"Its Not Easy" (BFD 036), was recorded in Montana and released in 1966. The second, rarer single "You Been A Long Time Comin'"/I Once Asked" (BFD 2022) was released in 1967. I know nothing about the record label nor details of the recordings. The Initial Shock was well regarded by those who were there at the time, although unfortunately the only live recorded evidence that circulates (to my knowledge) is an excellent 4-song piece of an Avalon Ballroom concert from 1968. It reveals a driving, bluesy sound, but its hard to know how representative of their material it might be. Members of the group were George Wallace-lead guitar
While relatively little is known about the Initial Shock, they played a number of interesting shows in the Bay Area from 1967-69. |
If
you have corrections, a neat photo or more information, please send it
to:
Last
Update: 23 September 2011
Credits::
Terry
Hill, Rock Archeology 101