Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt met in 1978 at South Delta High School in Tsawwassen , British Columbia . After studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston , Osborne returned home and formed the band 54-40 with Merritt and drummer Ian Franey. The band played their first gig in Coquitlam on December 8, 1980, the night John Lennon was killed. In 1981 they made their first recordings for the Mo-Da-Mu label, with four tracks appearing on the independent compilation LP Things Are Still Coming Ashore , which also featured music by Vancouver bands Animal Slaves and Junco Run. In June 1982, the band released the EP Selection . Shortly after the release of Selection , Franey left the band. Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf and Phil Comparelli was added on guitar, trumpet and vocals. The band recorded the album Set the Fire in 1983, releasing it in 1984. Neudorf, frustrated with the band’s prolonged time in the studio and away from the road, left the band in 1985. He was replaced by Matt Johnson.
Met at South Delta High School
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