Instruments
Bands
- Jet Lag
- Shakin' Jack and the Rattle Snakes / The Nu-sonics (London)
- Crosstown Blues Band- Guitar, Vocals (1985-July 1989)
- Outsiders- Guitar, Vocals (February 2007-)
- The Hoodoo Men
- Rock Steady- Guitar, Vocals (March 2009-)
Biography
Gord Ellis began playing guitar in high school and played in a number of bands during that time, including Jet Lag, with his childhood friend Randy Breiland.
In 1982-1983, he was at school in London, Ontario and played with a London based "punk a billy" band called Shakin' Jack and the Rattle Snakes (later the Nu-sonics). The other guitarist in that band was Rob Ruttan, a fellow Hillcrest graduate who had moved to London. In 1984, back in Thunder Bay, Gord met Jerry Depiero and they formed a musical bond over Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and the Rolling Stones. Dave Campbell was the third piece of the puzzle and the Crosstown Blues Band was formed. Gord's chugging rhythm guitar and spiky slide leads were a key element to the band, as were Depiero's blazing harmonica. After a nearly 5 year run, Crosstown broke up in 1989. Gord then hung it up for two decades after that, only appearing for a couple Dylan celebrations and some one-off gigs. In Feb of 2007, Gord rejoined his old friend Dave Campbell in the Outsiders. He is also a member of Rock Steady, laying down the reggae rhythm groundwork for Clay Breiland's brilliant lead guitar.
Gord has played with many of Thunder Bay's finest, including Rodney Brown, Danny Johnson, Ari Lahdekorpi, Mike Filipowitsch and Billy Manzik.