Rheostatics is a Canadian indie rock band originating from Etobicoke, Ontario. Dave Bidini, Tim Vesely, Rod Westlake, and Dave Crosby formed the group in 1978. Westlake left the band shortly after and Dave Clark replaced him on drums in 1980, while Crosby departed in 1981. Martin Tielli joined the group in 1985 following the departure of the band's accompanying horn section. In their early years, the members played local clubs under special permits. Their early releases include the single “The Ballad of Wendel Clark, Parts 1 & 2”, which was later collected on their debut studio album, Greatest Hits (1987). They signed with Intrepid Records in 1991 to release Melville (1991), and followed with Whale Music (1992) on Sire Records. They composed the soundtrack album Music from The Motion Picture Whale Music (1994) for the film adaptation, featuring the single “Claire”, which reached number 40 in Canada and won a Genie Award for Best Original Song. Their subsequent studio albums include Introducing Happiness (1994), Music Inspired by the Group of Seven (1995), The Blue Hysteria (1996), The Story of Harmelodia (1999), Night of the Shooting Stars (2001), 2067 (2004), Here Come the Wolves (2019), and The Great Lakes Suite (2025). After performing a farewell concert at Massey Hall on March 30, 2007, the group reformed in late 2016 and resumed performing.
