Vocalist/guitarist Gordon Deppe and bassist Sandy Horne founded the Spoons in 1979 in Ontario, while both were still in high school. Later adding drummer Derrick Ross and keyboard player Rob Preuss, the group recorded Stick Figure Neighborhood in 1981 for Ready Records. Arias and Symphonies and Talkback followed in the next two years, but then Scott MacDonald and Ian Hendry replaced Rob Preuss and Derrick Ross, respectively. The Spoons also added guitarist Colin Cripps for a 1986 album on Anthem called Bridges over Borders. Two years later, Vertigo Tango was released.