Shakane, originally known as Force West, was a Bristol-based pop band formed in 1964 from two local bands. The original lineup included Charlie Dobson on lead vocals, John Phillips on drums, Adrian Castillo and Mike Hewer on guitars, and John Strange on bass. In 1965, Hewer was replaced by Brian Trusler. Force West released eight singles between 1965 and 1969 but did not achieve commercial success. Following Dobson's departure in 1969, the remaining members rebranded as Shakane and signed to Miki Dallon’s Youngblood label. They enjoyed some European mainland success with singles like "Big Step" (1970) and "Love Machine" (1972), but UK success eluded them. In 1972, they became the house band at the Towns Talk nightclub in Bristol, a role that lasted for around 17 years. Shakane disbanded in 2014 due to health reasons, marking the end of a 50-year musical journey.
