Founded in 2005, the SHANKS are the rocknroll brainchild of songwriter/vocalist/bassist Ian Donald Starkey (Pistolwhip von Shankenstein). Riding 2010’s wave of heretofore unknown success, The SHANKS CV includes distribution on Fading Ways (UK), an EXCLAIM! Magazine “Album of the Year” nomination, selection for a Tranquilizer Records (Canada) compilation, showcase bookings at Canadian Music Week and NXNE, support slots with the Arkells and JUNOfest, college radio support and arena performances for pro boxing events and the Tri-City Roller Girls. The SHANKS incendiary live show has headlined many of the top Toronto music venues including The Horseshoe Tavern and their upcoming release event at Lee’s Palace.‘On a farm in the middle of nowhere the SHANKS fine-tuned their bass/drum assault. Despite the lack of members, SHANKS manage to create some big-sounding music, stacking the haunting vocals of Pistolwhip von Shankenstein over pounding and deceptively simple drumming” EXCLAIM!Choosing to focus more on stripped-down arrangements that emphasized his fresh chordal approach to busting out steep rock jams on the electric bass guitar, Starkey tapped drummer John David Brumell (who started slaying stages as a SHANK in 2010) to play on the latest SHANKS release “Skordalia” (engineered by Arturs Sadowski). Brumell (Colonel Crankshaft) began to play the drums when his parents took him in utero to see Buddy Rich at the Imperial room before he moved on to perform and/or record with Our Lady Peace, Kenny MacLean, Paul Reddick and the Sidemen, Serena Ryder, Rik Emmett, Lorded and Zeppelinesque.The SHANKS have performed in a variety of surreal situations, including in the midst of professional fireworks exhibitions, inside sheep pens, roller derby arenas and boxing rings. In Falstaffian Pistolwhip’s joyous and delusional theatre of the absurd, dramatic suspense, the chilling danger of raw firepower and fine quality cakes served in ethnic community halls are always major ingredients in putting on a powerful and emotional rock show.With the May 28th, 2011 self-release of “Skordalia” which is the fifth SHANKS record (and third full-length) to date, the SHANKS are currently plotting more drastic tour stops to bring the rock to their Canadian homeland with Europe and the US to follow.“Alice Cooper eat your heart out, Ian Starkey has found an interesting way to take leave of the everyday… a musical wizard who brings an epic quality to each tune” In The Hills“If you like the Dead Boys, you’ll like the SHANKS… Chart-blasting two-piece rocknroll grenades for animal husbandry enthusiasts… do you really know where meat and potatoes come from?” New Music Canada / CBC3“Deep, hard-driving rock that carries the listener along with a dark but captivating style” The Gauntlet“The SHANKS? It’s like…. rock and roll high school!” Dave Bookman THE EDGE 102.1