Rockabilly revivalist Ray Condo was born and raised in Hull, Quebec, picking up the guitar at age 12 and at 16, making his recorded debut with the British Invasion-influenced teen combo the Peasants. After a stay at art school, he spent several years kicking around the country and did not return to music until the mid-'70s, settling in Vancouver and joining a punk band, the Secret V's. Condo again drifted away from performing, however, and only after relocating to Montreal in 1984 did he form the Hardrock Goners, a cult-favorite quintet noted for its energetic blend of rockabilly, Chicago-style blues, traditional country, and Western swing. The group issued their debut LP, Crazy Date, on the Pipeline label in 1986, followed by albums including 1993's Hillbilly Holiday and 1994's Come On!.