The Enigmas
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
The Enigmas are a garage rock ensemble originating from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, established in 1981. Renowned for their energetic stage shows, their sound fuses 1960s garage rock with influences drawn from Detroit's proto-punk scene. During the mid-1980s, they produced two extended plays (EPs) and appeared on notable cult compilations such as It Came from Canada, Vol. 1 and It Came From The Pit. Although the band disbanded, they have intermittently reunited for live performances.
The group was founded by Paul McKenzie (lead vocals, saxophone), Mike Davies (lead guitar), and Brian Olinek (bass), all of whom emerged from Vancouver’s punk community with a mutual passion for garage rock. Initially known as the Bone-a-Partes, they changed their name to the Enigmas in 1982 due to conflicts over the original moniker. Their first gig took place at the Smilin' Buddha alongside McKenzie’s previous band, the Greasy Spoons.
At their height, the Enigmas were a prominent fixture within Vancouver’s underground music circuit, combining garage rock covers from bands like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Sonics with their own compositions. McKenzie’s vigorous frontman style earned him comparisons to Iggy Pop. In 1982, drummer Cam Beck departed and was succeeded by Randy Bowman, formerly of the Subhumans.
By late 1982, the band expanded their touring footprint to include Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Their independently produced five-track EP released in 1983 contained the cult favorite Teenage Barnacle and showcased production quality advanced for an indie release. After further touring along the West Coast, they recorded Strangely Wild in 1985 under Zulu Records. To support this release, they toured Montreal with NoMeansNo and contributed tracks to significant Canadian punk compilations. The group dissolved in 1986 following Olinek’s exit, with members moving on to other projects such as The Scramblers and TT Racer.
The Enigmas began reuniting as early as 1987 with their original lineup. A new song about Charles Manson was featured on Nardwuar The Human Serviette’s 1989 compilation Oh God, My Mom's On Channel 10!. In 1992, McKenzie launched the successful Celtic punk band the Real Mckenzies. The Enigmas reassembled once more in 2010 without Olinek but with Stephen Hamm taking over bass duties and released a live concert DVD.
Further reunions included a DVD launch event in 2014 and a headline performance at the Khatsahlano Festival in 2015 with Adam Payne on bass. Additional live appearances were planned for late 2019.