Vancouver's 54-40 takes their name from %James K. Polk's presidential campaign slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight," which sought to expand the U.S. border northward. 54-40 formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Darryl Neudorf (drums), and Neil Osbourne (vocals); they began touring the Western Canadian club circuit, without gaining much attention. In 1984, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals; Neudorf left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Matt Johnson (not The The's frontman). By the time of the band's self-titled album in 1986, their folk/roots approach had earned them favorable comparisons to R.E.M.
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