Moxy (band)

Moxy

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1973 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Headquarters	Toronto , Canada
Products	Rock music, albums, singles

Moxy is a Canadian rock ensemble that originated in Toronto, Ontario, in 1973. They initially toured across Canada before scoring a breakthrough hit in late 1975 with "Can't You See I'm A Star," which facilitated their expansion into the U.S. market. Their major touring hubs included Ontario, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and San Antonio. Joe Anthony, famously dubbed "The Godfather of Rock" on San Antonio’s KISS-FM, was instrumental in promoting Moxy throughout Texas, culminating in their first U.S. headline performance in 1977 as the opening act for AC/DC.

Although Joe Anthony has passed away, Moxy’s legacy in Texas remains strong with enduring hits like "Can't You See I'm A Star," "Moon Rider," and "Sail On Sail Away." Tracks such as "Midnight Flight," "I'll Set You on Fire," and "Are You Ready" continue to receive regular airplay on Texas radio stations.

1973–1983

Moxy was established in Toronto in 1973 by musicians previously associated with the rock band Leigh Ashford. The lineup featured vocalist Douglas "Buzz" Shearman (formerly of Sherman & Peabody), alongside Greg Godovitz (known from Fludd and Goddo), Gil Moore (who later joined Triumph), Earl Johnson (ex-King Biscuit Boy), Bill Wade (previously with Outlaw Music and Brutus, performing as Hally Hunter), and Terry Juric. Their first live appearance took place in October 1974 at Scarborough’s rock venue "The Knob Hill Hotel." After several personnel adjustments, the group adopted the name MOXY.

Their debut single, "Can't You See I'm A Star," was released on Yorkville Records and received substantial airplay on Toronto’s CHUM (AM). This initial success paved the way for a recording deal with Polydor Records Canada in December 1974, largely influenced by the prior achievements of Leigh Ashford and Buzz Shearman’s growing reputation.

Self-titled debut

The independently produced debut album, MOXY, also referred to as the Black Album, was recorded within a two-week period in early 1975. The production was co-managed by Mark Smith, known for his work with Bachman–Turner Overdrive. During sessions at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, session guitarist Tommy Bolin was working nearby. Initially, Earl Johnson was slated to perform all guitar parts but was dismissed following a disagreement with the engineer. Roland Paquin, Moxy’s road manager, had previous connections with Bolin through his time with The James Gang. After completing the recordings, Bolin resumed work on his solo project Teaser before eventually joining Deep Purple.

Encouraged by the dynamic twin guitar arrangement, Moxy returned to Toronto to enlist rhythm guitarist Buddy Caine, a longtime friend of Johnson’s. This addition allowed Johnson to concentrate exclusively on lead guitar during live performances. This configuration supported a Canadian tour that covered regions including Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, predominantly playing smaller venues.

The debut album found an audience on southern U.S. hard rock radio stations. During the winter of 1975, songs such as "Can't You See I'm A Star" and "Moon Rider" received extensive rotation on KMAC/KISS in San Antonio, Texas. Bolin’s participation attracted attention from U.S. media outlets despite his modest statements regarding his contribution. Moxy renegotiated their distribution agreements with both Polydor Canada and Mercury Records, subsidiaries of PolyGram Records, which re-released the album globally in 1976. By spring of that year, tracks like "Fantasy" and "Sail On Sail Away" had climbed into the top 20 on KISS-FM San Antonio's charts. DJ Joe Anthony regularly broadcasted the entire album throughout much of the late 1970s.

Moxy II

Following several years of live performances, Moxy transitioned from a local bar band to a prominent headlining group within Canada. The album Moxy II was produced at Toronto's Sound Stage studio under the guidance of acclaimed Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas. Released in Canada a year after their debut and three months subsequent to the U.S. re-release of Moxy I, Moxy II attracted international media coverage. Critics forecasted success, frequently likening the band’s sound to that of Aerosmith, Rush, and Deep Purple. The UK magazine Sounds offered high praise, with Geoff Barton recommending the album to readers at a special rate and later referring to Moxy as the Canadian equivalent of Led Zeppelin.

During the autumn of 1976, Moxy embarked on a tour across Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces before supporting Black Sabbath and Boston on a Texas tour, except for the San Antonio Convention Center Arena show where Boston was the headliner. Their single "Take it Or Leave It" climbed to No. 14 on Toronto’s CHUM AM Top 30 chart by 17 November 1976. In Texas, songs such as "Midnight Flight," "Cause There's Another," and "Take it or Leave It" enjoyed significant radio airplay. Further tours took them through California, Illinois, and Missouri. By March 1977, "Cause There's Another" had reached No. 16 on CHUM radio charts.

Ridin' High

In March 1977, Moxy returned to the Toronto studio with producer Jack Douglas to record Ridin' High. This album showcased entirely original tracks with a heavier edge, expanding on their earlier sound. It received favorable reviews and earned a 1977 Juno Award nomination for most promising group. Despite this recognition, airplay was limited as Canadian and northern U.S. FM stations increasingly favored softer rock genres. Conversely, southern U.S. and European audiences strongly supported singles like "Are You Ready," "Ridin' High," and "I'll Set You on Fire."

On 27 July 1977, promoter Joe Anthony introduced Moxy for their inaugural U.S. headline shows in Texas, beginning with a performance at Austin’s Armadillo World Headquarters. They continued with shows in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, each featuring AC/DC as the opening act. The band then toured through California, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, sharing stages with artists such as Styx, The Ramones, Hall & Oates, Rainbow, The Runaways, and Trooper, culminating in a headline appearance at Toronto's Massey Hall.

By late 1977, the intense touring regimen began taking a toll on the members’ health. Having been active since the late 1960s, they endured the rigors of a lifestyle often associated with excess. Vocalist Buzz Shearman developed vocal cord damage that necessitated offstage vocal support from Brian Maxim during live shows. Alongside internal personality clashes and health challenges—including Shearman’s vocal issues and struggles with alcohol—he departed from the band following the completion of the Ridin' High tour to pursue medical treatment.

Under the Lights

Michael Rynoski, who later gained fame as Mike Reno of Loverboy, took over vocal duties from Buzz Shearman and appeared on Moxy's subsequent album. Early in 1977, Bill Wade departed and was replaced by Danny Bilan, who eventually became part of Wild T and the Spirit after contributing to Hanover Fists Hungry Eyes.

The album's namesake track, Under the Lights, along with "High School Queen," achieved chart success in Canada; however, the overall sound was noticeably mellower, lacking the vigor characteristic of earlier works. Moxy toured across Canada, performing at events such as the Canadian World Music Festival alongside acts like Aerosmith, Johnny Winter, and Ted Nugent. Despite these appearances, the band did not replicate previous sales figures or audience enthusiasm with Reno fronting. Buzz Shearman went on to create Buzz Saw with former Christmas guitarist Bob Bulger and drummer Frank Russell. After releasing the album, Earl Johnson exited in the summer of 1978 and was succeeded by Woody West, who had prior experience with The Stampeders’ big band and Brutus.

Aftermath

In late 1979, Shearman returned to Moxy, joining Buddy, Terry, Danny, and new guitarist Doug MacAskill for tours throughout Canada and Texas. During intervals in Moxy's activity, Terry Juric contributed to Thor’s 1978 release Keep The Dogs Away and Stanley Frank’s 1980 album Play It Til It Hurts. Bill Wade participated in The Cry’s 1980 album Wispear and established Bongo Furies alongside Canadian rock musician Gino Scarpelli and bassist Terry McKeowen. In March 1980, Buzz was considered as a potential replacement for the late Bon Scott in AC/DC, but ongoing vocal cord problems resulted in the band choosing former Geordie vocalist Brian Johnson. By 1982, Buzz, Earl, and Bill lent their support to Canadian singer-songwriter Lee Aaron on her debut record, The Lee Aaron Project. In 1983, Buzz was employed at Shaw Industries, balancing work with efforts to revive Moxy through securing a new recording contract. Tragically, he died in a motorcycle accident near Toronto on June 16, 1983, at age 33.

Following Buzz Shearman’s passing, original members reunited for a benefit performance and released a retrospective collection aimed at providing financial assistance to Valerie (Buzz’s widow) and Jesse Shearman (his son). Ahed Records issued A Tribute to Buzz Shearman, which included three unreleased Moxy tracks featuring Buzz: "Highway," "Eyeballs," and "Trouble." Subsequently, Buddy Caine, Terry Juric, Danny Bilan, and Brian Maxim formed the group Voodoo. Buddy also created the Buddy Caine Band; their song "Feed The Fire," dedicated to Buzz’s memory, appeared on the 1994 compilation Best Of Moxy: Self-Destruction. Earl Johnson continued producing music with collaborators Tom Griffin, Howie Warden, and Danny "Coke" Colonello, performing tracks such as "Heaven On Heels," "Body Contact," and "Killer on the Loose" at Toronto venues including El Mocambo, Gasworks, and Larry's Hideaway. Bill Wade contributed to Thor’s 1997 album An-THOR-Logy, which had been recorded in 1979.

Moxy V

In 1999, Bill Wade brought together Moxy once again with Earl Johnson and Buddy Caine after two decades without new recordings to create their fifth studio album, Moxy V. This release marked a return to their classic hard rock roots and introduced vocalist Brian Maxim, who had previously collaborated with band members on other projects. Notable songs such as "Working Man," "Yuccatan Man," and "Walking on the Wild Side" drew inspiration from early band material. Shortly following the album's launch, Bill Wade became seriously ill; Kim Hunt stepped in as bassist during this period. Wade succumbed to cancer on July 27, 2001, aged 53.

Raw

Celebrating their 25th year, Moxy shared the stage with Saxon in San Antonio in 2000 and returned in 2004 to perform alongside Budgie and Michael Schenker at the Legs Diamond event, attracting an audience of 6,000. Their considerable fanbase across Europe paved the way for their inaugural international tour in 2001, which was supported by a specially released European version of Moxy V.

On January 12, 2001, Moxy performed at Toronto's El Mocambo club; this concert was recorded but has yet to be officially released on DVD. However, the track "Time To Move On" was made available through World Studios.

Later that same year, Moxy inked a deal with Bullseye Records Canada and delivered Raw, a live compilation of greatest hits captured during an exclusive warehouse performance. Under the guidance of Earl Johnson, Bullseye also remastered and reissued Moxy V for the North American market.

In 2003, Brian Maxim departed and was succeeded by Alex Machin, known for his work with A Foot in Coldwater and Champion. To mark their 30th anniversary in 2005, Moxy appeared at the Voyageur Days Festival alongside prominent Canadian rock artists. On August 26, 2005, they performed their two most successful Canadian singles live on Citytv Toronto. Guitarist Buddy Caine retired in December 2008 to dedicate more time to his family.

Earl Johnson era

For the band's 40th anniversary, founding guitarist Earl Johnson put together a refreshed lineup. The 2015 release 40 Years And Still Riding High, available as both an album and DVD, featured Juno Award-winning singer Nick Walsh, drummer Alexis Von Kraven, guitarist and backing vocalist Rob Robbins, and bassist Rod Albon. Moxy partnered with Perris Records to distribute their music across North and South America, while Escape Music handled releases in the UK and Europe. The first limited edition of 2,000 copies included a live DVD packaged within a triple CD box set.

Legacy

The initial trio of albums featuring Buzz Shearman remain Moxy’s most acclaimed and commercially successful records, with the vinyl edition of Moxy I especially coveted by fans of Tommy Bolin. Collections such as A Tribute to Buzz Shearman, Best Of Moxy: Self-Destruction, and the live album Raw have continued to sell steadily, particularly within Texas. Songs like "Train" and "Time to Move On" were included in The Ultimate: The Best of Tommy Bolin box set (1989), while "Cause There's Another" appeared on Canada's well-known rock compilation When Cancon Rocked! (2004).

In 2004, Moxy achieved the rank of number 87 on San Antonio’s KZEP FM list titled "Top 104 Best Groups of All Time," placing them ahead of bands such as Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake, Queensrÿche, and Iron Maiden. The track "Can't You See I'm A Star" was featured in a mini-movie about Pierre Trudeau released in 2005. A 2006 article spotlighted Moxy as one of the "Top 6 Classic Rock Bands You Never Knew You Didn't Know."

In 2009, Canadian artist Don Coleman released "LOUD HARD FAST & WILD," a tribute project supported by both Moxy and Valerie Shearman in honor of Buzz Shearman. Valerie Shearman also oversaw reissues of Moxy’s earlier catalogue on CD during the mid-1990s through Pacemaker Records and again in the mid-2000s via Unidisc Music Inc. That year saw the release of an unreleased track recorded in 1981 featuring Buzz Shearman’s vocals titled "You Can't Stop the Music in Me," co-written with Billy Wade; it was made available on radio and digital platforms on Buzz’s birthday, March 8. Additionally, a retrospective DVD sharing the same title chronicling Moxy’s formative years was issued in November 2009.

Founding members

• Douglas "Buzz" Shearman – lead vocals (1973–1977, 1979–1983)
• Earl Johnson – guitarist (1973–1978, 1999–present)
• Bill Wade – drummer (1974–1978, 1999–2000)
• Terry Juric – bassist (1974–1983)
• Buddy Caine – guitarist (1975–1983, 1999–2008)

Note: Although Buddy Caine is listed on the album Moxy, he joined the group after its recording was finished.

Additional members

• Tommy Bolin: guitar solos (studio sessions only, 1975) on Moxy I
• Tom Stephenson: keyboards (studio sessions only, 1975), Bolin’s keyboardist
• Mike Reno: lead vocals (1978) – subsequently with Loverboy
• Danny Bilan: drums (1977–1983) – later part of Wild T and the Spirit
• Scott "Professor Piano" Cushnie: keyboards (1978)
• Woody West: guitar (1978–1979) – formerly of The Stampeders and Brutus
• Doug MacAskill: guitar (1979–1983) – previously with The Stampeders then The Arrows
• Brian Maxim: vocals (1999–2003) – from Stumbling Blind and A Passing Fancy
• Alex Machin: vocals (2003–2008) – associated with Island, A Foot in Coldwater, Champion
• Jim Samson: bass (1999–2013) – formerly of Zon
• Kim Hunt: drums (2000–2013) – linked to Island, Zon, Urgent
• Russell Graham: vocals (2008–2013) – from Killer Dwarfs, Penny Black, Hard Road
• Andy Narsingh: bass and backing vocals (2013) – affiliated with Dave Barrett Trio, Arsin, Juggernaut Jam Band, Permanent Waves (Rush tribute)
• Rob Robbins: guitar and backing vocals (2013–present) – from Steel Lily, Dr. Dirty with Rhett Forrester (Riot)
• Nicholas Walsh: lead vocals (2013–present) – associated with Slik Toxik, Famous Underground
• Mike Cotton: drums (2014–2015)
• Rod Albon: bass and backing vocals (2015–2018) – recorded all bass parts on "40 Years and Still Riding High," linked to Steel Lily, Tracenine
• Desche Sparboom: drums (2015–2024) – involved with Fear Disorder, Famous Underground
• Chaz Coats-Butcher: bass (2018–2024) – connected to Lee Aaron, Forgotten Rebels, Broken Silence, Invisible Man, Second Hand Stereo, Eric Martin and the Independents
• Gus Indovina: bass and backing vocals (2024-present)
• Ron Mcleod: drums (2024–present) – associated with Blackwell, Sanctuary, Canada Roxx, Bonjovi Forever, Floyd Factor

Leigh Ashford / Moxy Chronology

<timeline> ImageSize = width:790 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:5 right:15 DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Alignbars = justify Period = from:01/01/1967 till:01/01/2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1967 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1967 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 Colors =

id:v value:red legend:Vocals
id:g value:green legend:Guitars
id:k value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:b value:blue legend:Bass
id:d value:orange legend:Drums
id:a value:black legend:Studio_releases
id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

 at:01/07/1971 color:black layer:back
 at:15/07/1975
 at:15/06/1976
 at:15/05/1977
 at:15/04/1978
 at:01/07/2000
 at:15/07/2015

PlotData =

width:11 textcolor:black align:left
bar:LEIGH ASHFORD from:start till:15/11/1974 color:tan1
bar:MOXY from:15/11/1974 till:16/06/1983 color:tan1
bar:MOXY from:01/07/1999 till:end color:tan1
bar:Gord Waszek from:start till:01/07/1973 color:g
bar:Earl Johnson from:01/07/1973 till:01/07/1978 color:g
bar:Earl Johnson from:01/07/1999 till:end color:g
bar:Buddy Caine from:01/07/1975 till:16/06/1983 color:g
bar:Buddy Caine from:01/07/1999 till:01/12/2008 color:g
bar:Woody West from:01/07/1978 till:01/11/1979 color:g
bar:Doug McAskill from:01/11/1979 till:16/06/1983 color:g
bar:Rob Robbins from:01/07/2013 till:end color:g
bar:Glen Brown from:01/07/1969 till:01/07/1970 color:v
bar:Buzz Shearman from:01/07/1970 till:01/11/1977 color:v
bar:Buzz Shearman from:01/11/1979 till:16/06/1983 color:v
bar:Micheal Rynoski from:01/11/1977 till:01/11/1979 color:v
bar:Brian Maxim from:01/07/1999 till:01/07/2003 color:v
bar:Alex Machin from:01/07/2003 till:01/07/2008 color:v
bar:Russell Graham from:01/07/2008 till:01/07/2013 color:v
bar:Nicholas Walsh from:"2013" till:end color:v 
bar:Seth Newton Garwood from:start till:"1 July 70" color:k 
bar:Doni Underhill from:"1 Sep 72" till:"1 Jan 73" color:b 

</timeline>

Studio albums

• Moxy (1975)
• Moxy II (1976)
• Ridin' High (1977)
• Under the Lights (1978)
• Thinking About You (1980) — a reissued version of Under the Lights
• Moxy V (2000)
• 40 Years And Still Riding High (2015)

Compilation albums

• A Tribute to Buzz Shearman (1984)
• Best Of: Self-Destruction (1994)

Live albums

• Raw (2002)
• 40 Years and Still Riding High CD/DVD package (2015)

DVDs

• You Can't Stop the Music... The Buzz Shearman Years (2009)
• Live In Toronto (2015) — Escape Records' three-disc edition of "40 Years and Still Riding High"

Singles

• "You Can't Stop the Music" (2009)

See also

• Canadian rock
• Music of Canada

External links

• Official website
• CanadianBands.com biography