Tag Archives: Triumph

APRIL WINE to tour North America, as special guest to reunited TRIUMPH

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This past year was a busy year for APRIL WINE, having toured the UK with Uriah Heep and Tyketto, then Canada with BTO and the Headpins, and then over to Europe to (again) join Uriah Heep and Heavy Pettin’. And 2026 looks like they’ll be on another bigger tour, supporting Triumph! Check out the press release, tour dates, and links below!

(From left to right. Roy Nichol, Richard Lanthier, Brian Greenway, Marc Parent
Photo Credit: Taylor Jones)

Fans of classic Canadian rock n’ roll must be overjoyed with not only the announcement of Triumph’s first North American tour in decades, but that they will have another one of the Great White North’s top rock bands supporting these spring dates: April Wine.  Running from April 22nd through June 6th, the tour will hit all the spots that both Triumph and April Wine amassed legions of fans over the years; Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, St. Louis, San Antonio, New York, etc.

*Tickets are now on sale for all the shows, and can be ordered via this link:  https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ917CqB0/triumph-events 

Comprised of members Brian Greenway (guitar), Richard Lanthier (bass), Roy Nichol (drums), and Marc Parent (lead vocals, guitar), this will not be the first time April Wine and Triumph have shared the stage before. Longtime fans may recall a show at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas on February 18, 1977, which served as Triumph’s major American debut and a significant breakthrough for the band.  Also, in San Antonio during March 1978, as part of a run of five shows in Texas for promoter JAM Productions. One fan recalled the lineup for this show as April Wine, Crack the Sky, and headliner Triumph. Both bands have a strong history with the state, as San Antonio radio station KISS-FM was an early supporter of Canadian hard rock acts, helping both bands gain a significant U.S. following.   

April Wine has been a staple in the rock music scene for over five decades. Known for their powerful ballads and rock anthems, the band has seen several lineup changes but has always stayed true to their roots. April Wine has weathered the storms of the music industry with remarkable resilience and the band continues to captivate audiences with their electrifying performances. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next show, ready to experience the magic that April Wine delivers.   

The journey began in 1969, marking the start of a legendary career in rock music. With hits like “Just Between You and Me”, “Sign of the Gypsy Queen”, “Roller”, “I Like To Rock”, “Say Hello”, “Oowatanite”, “Enough Is Enough”, “Rock N Roll Is A Vicious Game” and many more, April Wine has left an indelible mark on the music industry.  

Significant milestones include their induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2009, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2010 and Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2023. These accolades are a reflection of their hard work, talent, and the significant role they have played in shaping the rock genre. April Wine’s ability to consistently deliver powerful performances and connect with audiences has earned them a place among the greats in rock history.    

Today, the band continues to tour, keeping the spirit of rock alive for their dedicated fanbase. And in 2026, they will bring their melodic and anthemic brand of rock once more to North America!

TOUR DATES:

CANADA

April 22 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON | GFL Memorial Gardens
April 24 – Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena
April 25 – Hamilton, ON | TD Coliseum
April 28 – Halifax, NS | Scotiabank Centre
April 29 – Moncton, NB | Avenir Centre
May 1 – Laval, QC | Place Bell (Montreal)
May 2 – Ottawa, ON | Canadian Tire Centre
May 5 – Winnipeg, MB | Canada Life Centre
May 7 – Edmonton, AB | Rogers Place
May 8 – Calgary, AB | Scotiabank Saddledome

UNITED STATES

May 13 – Rosemont, IL | Rosemont Theatre (Chicago)
May 14 – Milwaukee, WI | Miller High Life Theatre
May 16 – Kansas City, MO | Starlight Theatre
May 17 – St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
May 20 – Irving, TX | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory (Dallas)
May 21 – San Antonio, TX | Frost Bank Center
May 22 – Houston, TX | Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land
May 24 – Tampa, FL | MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater
May 26 – Atlanta, GA | Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
May 28 – Camden, NJ | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Philadelphia)
May 30 – Sterling Heights, MI | Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill (Detroit)
June 3 – Darien Center, NY | Darien Lake Amphitheater
June 5 – Wantagh, NY | Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (New York)
June 6 – Boston, MA | Leader Bank Pavilion

LINKS:

www.aprilwine.ca

https://www.facebook.com/AprilWineOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/aprilwineband

TRIUMPH to tour North America for 50th Anniversary

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It’ll be 2026 soon, and what bands will fans of Canadian rock fan be looking to go see? RUSH….THE GUESS WHO…..APRIL WINE….TRIUMPH! Announced a couple of days ago, TRIUMPH has reunited, added a few players, and added APRIL WINE as the opening act for a 50th Anniversary tour of North America. The band last reunited in 2008, for 2 shows, and before that last toured with Rik Emmett, Mike Levine, and Gil Moore in 1988. Triumph, with Phil X in place of Emmett, was resurrected in ’92 for one more album and tour. Phil X is also involved again for this tour.

For this tour Triumph is adding a few players to help out. To clear things up, the band posted a few days ago – “We want to clear up something that popped up during today’s tour announcement: this is NOT a tribute band tour. This is a Triumph tour. We’re putting in the work to bring our show and our songs back to you, the fans. And to help us deliver a truly world-class show, we’ll be joined on-stage by a few friends – Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz from Slash’s band, and Phil X on loan from the mighty Bon Jovi. Big things ahead. We can’t wait to share it with you. See you on the road!“ – Gil, Rik & Mike

(Brent Fitz and Todd Kerns are also part of Canadian band Toque).

More recently Triumph has been the subject of a Documentary (Rock & Roll Machine, 2021), as well as a Tribute album earlier this year and most recently were honored by the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame (see clip below).

LINKS:

I-Heart Radio interview with Gil Moore HERE.

The Band

Top 11 Canadian Albums Of 1980

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This was a busy year in Canadian rock, but more so in ‘pop’ . Some great albums, but not a lot of heavy releases. A memorable pair of debuts here, and a couple of final albums from bands that split up. Yeah, this is supposed to be a top 10, but I gave in to a tie for my last choice.

Rush – Permanent Waves

Released in January, the band’s biggest success until the next one, reaching #3 & #4 in Canada and the US . “Freewill”, “The Spirit Of Radio”, “Entre Nous”, and the epic 9 minute + “Natural Science”. The first of my favorite trio of Rush albums.

Harlequin – Love Crimes

From Winnipeg, Harlequin featured the voice of George Belanger [still does]. This was their 2nd and biggest album. Released in the fall of that year, it featured 2 hits [and 2 of the band’s best known songs] – “Innocence” and “Thinking Of You”., as well as favorite aor-ish rockers like “It’s All Over Now”, “Wait For The Night”, and “Love On The Rocks”. A solid album, should’ve been huge.

Loverboy – Loverboy

These guys came out, featuring one-time Moxy singer Mike Reno, and former Streetheart members Matt Frenette and Paul Dean. A huge album released in October, featuring the top 10 hit “Turn Me Loose” , as well as 2 further hits “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” and “Lady Of The ’80s”. A solid album along with live favorite “Teenage Overdose”.

Teaze – Body Shots

The 5th and final album from Windsor’s Teaze. Coming off [arguably] their best – One Night Stands, Body Shots [only issued in Canada] was a good follow up, featuring favorites “Boys Night Out” [reworked from their first album], “Sure Thing”, “Calling All Nurses” and “I’m Not Gonna Cry Anymore”. Sadly, they packed it in after this. *I did get to witness their fantastic return show in 2019.

Max Webster – Universal Juveniles

The last album by the legendary Max Webster, released in October. It boasted favorites like “Check”, “April In Toledo”, “Drive And Desire”, and most notably “Battle Scar” – which featured Rush. +David Stone [ex Rainbow] on keys for much of the album.

Saga – Silent Knight

The band’s 3rd album, and first with the classic line up, released in August. Featured the classics “Don’t Be Late” [the single], “Careful Where You Step”, and “Compromise”. One of those few early Saga albums that saw no US release til years later. Great cover art.

Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush – What’s Next

Released in February, this was the last to use the Mahogany Rush tag for a number of years. Features one of Marino’s best recordings in the fast flying “Something’s Comin’ Our Way”. as well as favorites in the drivin’ “Finish Line” and “You Got Livin'”. Also includes a cover of The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues”.

Cruiser – Rollin’ With The Times

Montreal based Cruiser lead by singer / songwriter Don Beauchamp, and featuring original April Wine drummer Richie Henman. A very overlooked album full of great tunes – very catchy pop, rock, and a bit of prog … all very well produced with favorite tracks like “No Admission”, intro “R & R Survival”, and “Incident At New World Theatre”. A 2nd album was released in 2014. Brothers Tom & Wallie Rathie would later write a few tunes for April Wine.

FM – City Of Fear

Progressive trio FM [well before the British aor band of the same name!] released their 4th album in June. The band consisted of lots of keyboards, bass, drums, electric violins & mandolin. Closest band to compare I’d say is supergroup UK [with Cameron Hawkins even sounding a bit like John Wetton on occasion] One of their best, including “Krakow”, “Power” [the single], and the excellent title track. Would be the band’s last for a few years.

Toronto – Lookin’ For Trouble +

Originally called ‘Sass’, Toronto was [is] fronted by Holly Woods, the band’s debut was released in June. It featured the singles “Even The Score” and “Lookin’ For Trouble”, as well as a cover of The Rascals “You Better Run” [a hit for Pat Benatar a month later], and favorite “Get Your Hands Off Me”.

Triumph – Progressions Of Power+

Released in March. Not my favorite Triumph album [lacking something], but it includes the classics “I Live For The Weekend” [a minor hit in the UK], “I Can Survive”, and “Tear The Roof Off”.

+couldn’t decide, so I left it a tie

Other mentions: Zon I’m Worried About The Boys, The Kings Are Here, Prism Young And Restless , 451 451, Wireless No Static, Bryan Adams Bryan Adams

*Drop me a note in the comments with anything you feel was well overlooked or recommendations, and feel free to subscribe to my page.

KJJ, 04 / ’21

Top 10 Canadian Albums of 1981

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This year [1981] was a big year for Canadian rock, Canada’s biggest 3 hard-rock acts at the time all had their biggest selling albums – April Wine’s Nature Of The Beast; Rush’s Moving Pictures and Triumph’s – Allied Forces. So 1981 may have been one of [or the] best years in Canadian rock [!?] But I’m already thinking of 1980 & ’82 – an amazing period for bands from this country. I’ve compiled a list of a 10 great Canadian albums released that year, and that was cutting it down from a list of about 20 [ok, most I have on vinyl].

Feel free to chime in with your own favorites from 1981 in the comments… anything at the top of your list you think I need to check out?

Rush – Moving Pictures

Released in February, and would feature such classics as “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight”, “Red Barchetta”, “YYZ”, etc…. The band would follow this up with the double live Exit…Stage Left released later in ’81.

April Wine – Nature of The Beast

This came out in January, 11 great tracks on this album, with notable hits “Just Between You And Me”, and a remake of Lorence Hud’s “Sign Of The Gypsy Queen”; plus hard rockin’ favorites like “Big City Girls” and “Future Tense”.

Triumph – Allied Forces

Released in September, and featured the hit “Magic Power”, as well as other classics “Fight The Good Fight” and “Fool For Your Love”. 40th Anniversary box set coming this summer!

Loverboy – Get Lucky

Loverboy’s 1980 debut album was huge, included 3 hit singles, and the band won a few Juno’s (Canadian music awards) from it. This follow up was nearly as big, with another string of hit singles, most notably the anthem “Working For The Weekend”.

Santers – Shot Down In Flames

Toronto hard-rock trio’s debut LP, late in the year. Featured the title track (dedicated to Bon Scott), as well as rockers like “Caught In The Wind” and “Crazy Ladies”, as well as a cover of Donnie Iris’ “The Rapper”.

Frank Marino – The Power of Rock n Roll

Marino’s first album labelled as a solo album (minus Mahogany Rush, though he used the same rhythm section and engineer) from the summer of ’81. Marino, from Montreal, influenced by Hendrix, killer guitar playing here and some cool tunes like “Play My Music”, “Stay With Me”, “Crazy Miss Daisy”, and “Ain’t Dead Yet”. This album, wasn’t a huge commercial success, but it’s follow up would be.

Saga – World’s Apart

Saga’s 4th and biggest album as well, released in September. It featured the hits “On The Loose” and “Wind Him Up”, perhaps the band’s best known songs, as well as the ballad “No Regrets”. Hugely successful overseas, particularly in Germany.

Frank Soda – Saturday Night Getaway

Frank Soda & The Imps were backing band for Thor in the mid 70s, then went off on their own to make a few albums. This, released later in ’81 was the first just credited to Frank, as it sees him re-do a number of tracks from the band’s 1979 [live] debut. If you’re not familiar – check it out,

Anvil – Hard N Heavy

The first (and arguably) the best from this Toronto Heavy metal band. Originally released independently under the band name of ‘Lips’ before signing to Attic and changing the name. Released in May, and featured the classics “School Love”, “Bedroom Game”, “Ooh Baby”, as well as the band’s metalized pounding of the Stones “Paint It Black”. A very influential band on many thrash metal bands to come.

Red Rider – As Far As Siam

From June, this cleverly titled 2nd album featured the hit singles “What Have You Got To Do (To Get Off Tonight)”, as well as the band’s best known song “Lunatic Fringe”, which featured in the movie Vision Quest, as well as a few TV shows like Miami Vice and My Name Is Earl.

Other mentions: Toronto – Head On , The Kings – Amazon Beach , Goddo – Pretty Bad Boys, Pat Travers – RadioActive, Butler – Butler , Bryan Adams – You Want It You Got It, The Guess Who – Now And Not Then .

KJJ, 04/21