The first edition of Bundock was formed in 1979 by Guy Pelletier and Pierre Bundock in Quebec. After moving to Montreal in 1983 and deciding to write songs in English two years later, the band's lineup coalesced around Bundock (vocals, saxophone), guitarist Dominique Lanois, bassist Marc Gendron, drummer Alain Roussel and keyboard player Martin Plante. Signed to Alert Records, the band released the Mauve EP in 1987, which included "American Singer," their tribute to Jim Morrison. Bundock's debut album, S.A. (Societe Anonyme), appeared in 1988.