TEAZE came from Windsor, Ontario. They breathed Detroit’s airwaves and rocked to its beat. Local influences mattered most like; Bob Seger System, MC5, The Stooges, Grand Funk and Brownsville Station. This mixed bag of power rock, r&b and pizzazz made TEAZE stand out in Canada.

The first TEAZE album was recorded in 1976 at a facility near Toronto called The Grange. The band thought they were taping demos. Nevertheless an LP called “TEAZE” was released. It ultimately went on to sell more copies in Sweden than Canada.

After that, TEAZE was signed by Aquarius Records and the band moved to Montreal. In late 1977 they made an album called “ON THE LOOSE” with producer George Lagios. The big hit turned out to be a country styled song called “SWEET MISERY.”

The next album marked a night of firsts. It was the first show outside of Canada. It was their first outing as a concert headliner. It was their first (and only) live album, “TOUR OF JAPAN.”

In spite of everything, the band was growing in popularity. A deal was signed with Capitol in the U.S. At last TEAZE would be on sale “up North” in Detroit. “ONE NIGHT STANDS” needed to be a great album. It was. Certainly it was TEAZE’s finest work. The performance was passionate. The music was powerful. The lyrics were lucid and clever. Producer Myles Goodwyn helped the band weave together all of their disparate elements. “ONE NIGHT STANDS” included the band’s most memorable songs, ”HEARTLESS WORLD” and “YOUNG AND RECKLESS,” but it didn’t include a hit. It was glorious and it was a commercial failure.

TEAZE’s fifth and final album, “BODY SHOTS” was a strong effort but at some point between their first and last recording the members of TEAZE had lost their brashness. The fourth LP indicated that their best might not be good enough. Getting released from their U.S. deal proved to be a decisive blow and the band fragmented within six months of the re- lease of “BODY SHOTS.”

The oddest thing about this decidedly unusual rock band is that, although TEAZE peaked among Rock’s lower altitudes, interest in them has not abated. If anything, the group seems to have gained status since their last show in 1980.

Perhaps TEAZE was ahead of its time. It could be they were misunderstood. Or maybe there’s a limit to the number of times an act can shoot itself in the foot. In any case, those who remember TEAZE, do so with fondness. The five albums constitute a legacy. Maybe to really enjoy the best of TEAZE you had to be there, but these recordings are the next best thing.