Electro Quarterstaff is a Canadian instrumental metal band formed in 2001 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The group is known for a technical and progressive style that utilizes three lead guitarists. The original lineup featured three guitarists, a vocalist, and a drummer, though the group later became an instrumental ensemble consisting of guitarists Josh Bedry, Drew Johnston, and Andrew Dickens, along with drummer Dan Ryckman. They added bassist Marty Thiessen in the winter of 2006 and performed their first concert with him in the autumn of 2007. The band is named after a weapon used in the animated series Rocket Robin Hood. Following the 2004 release of the EP Swayze, the group signed with Willowtip Records. They released their debut studio album, Gretzky, in 2006, which featured reworked versions of earlier material. That same year, the band completed its first tour of the United States and Canada, performing at the Maryland Deathfest. Their second album, Aykroyd, was released in 2011.
