Glass Tiger

Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger at a record company event
Background information
Origin Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Genres Rock, pop rock, new wave,[1] synthrock[2]
Years active 1983-present
Labels Capitol Records
Warner Music Canada
Website http://www.glasstiger.ca
Members Alan Frew
Sam Reid
Al Connelly
Wayne Parker
Chris McNeill
Past members Michael Hanson

Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band from Newmarket, Ontario. It is best known for its top-ten hits "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday".

Beginnings

In the summer of 1984, a band from Newmarket, Ontario called Tokyo spent two evenings opening for Boy George and Culture Club at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens. Their dynamic, original sound captured the moment of the mid 80’s and they soon became a major force in suburban high schools and the Ontario club circuit. When a record deal was finally signed with Capitol Records, Tokyo officially became Glass Tiger.

With Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams; Aerosmith; Ozzy Osbourne) behind the boards, Glass Tiger was immediately introduced to the recording studio to work on their first album. The Thin Red Line set a record for being the fastest selling debut recording in Canadian history, going gold within weeks of its release and earned the band a Grammy nod for ‘Best New Artist’ in 1986. To date, the album has been certified four-times Platinum in Canada and Gold in the United States. One of Glass Tiger’s many hit singles "Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)" yielded a #2 spot on Billboard, followed by "Someday" reaching #7. Both songs made Canadian history with Glass Tiger winning successive Juno’s a year apart for Single of the Year, from the same album.

Glass Tiger’s second release Diamond Sun, and third album, Simple Mission, solidified their reputation as being one of Canada’s better song crafters. Diamond Sun sported four charting singles: "Diamond Sun," "I’m Still Searching," "My Song," and "(Watching) Worlds Crumble," achieving Double Platinum status; while Simple Mission went Platinum, with "Animal Heart", and the notable Celtic duet classic, "My Town", featuring Rod Stewart.

Glass Tiger has toured with international music legends like Tina Turner in Europe, the ever popular Journey (with Steve Perry) in America and Roxette throughout Europe and Canada.

History

In Newmarket, Ontario, Alan Frew and Wayne Parker, both from local band 'ONYX' along with keyboardist Sam Reid from Holland Landing band 'THE END' were recruited by drummer Michael Hanson with the intent of forming a new band. Hanson at the time was the lead singer and drummer for 'THE END'. After Hanson disbanded the group, the new partnership from the ashes of both bands successfully formed the band Tokyo, which later developed into Glass Tiger. Al Connelly joined the band in 1983.[3][4]

Glass Tiger's Toronto area performances and songwriting resulted in a recording contract in 1985 with EMI/Capitol Records. In 1986 the band released their first album, The Thin Red Line;[5] it was produced by Jim Vallance, with some co-writing by Bryan Adams. This album sold multi-platinum, and two of its songs, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday", appeared on Billboard magazine's top 10.[6][7]

Glass Tiger won three 1986 Juno Awards: Album of the Year for The Thin Red Line, Single of the Year for "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)", and Most Promising Group of the Year. The album's producer, Jim Vallance, was named Composer of the Year. The band won two more Juno Awards in 1987,[8] and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.[6]

The band performed in the United States as part of the Raised on Radio Tour and on Tina Turner's European Break Every Rule Tour. They released a second album, Diamond Sun, in 1988, after which key founding member Michael Hanson departed, citing growing unrest between members, as well as Hanson's desire to concentrate on his own music. He was later replaced as drummer by Jimmy Scotland, then by Randall Coryell, and later in 1997 by Chris McNeill.

Glass Tiger's third album, Simple Mission, was recorded in several Los Angeles studios, including Sunset Sound and A&M Records studio. Production was by Tom Werman and engineering by Ed Delena, and the album was released in 1991 by Capitol Records. The album received radio play in Canada and Europe, and the European single "My Town" reached No. 1 in Germany. The song "My Town", with Rod Stewart[9] and Alan Frew on lead vocals, reached #33 in the United Kingdom.

Simple Mission was certified platinum in Canada. The single "Animal Heart" reached #2 on Canada's rock charts.

The band made a brief Canadian tour, and then toured for two months in Europe with the Swedish band Roxette. In 1993, the band went on hiatus.[6] Lead singer Alan Frew released two solo albums before the band reformed and began touring again in 2003.

In March 2009, Glass Tiger and members of the NHL alumni visited Canadian Forces stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.[10] The visit included live performances and footage was shown on an episode of Entertainment Tonight Canada. The band returned to Afghanistan for a second performance in 2010.[11]

In 2012 Glass Tiger toured across Canada with the band Roxette,[12] and performed as part of Penticton, BC's "Rock The Peach Music Fest"[13]

On July 1, 2013 Glass Tiger performed a free concert in Leduc, Alberta as part of a Canada Day Celebration.[14]

Glass Tiger performed at a number of festivals in the summer of 2017.[15] On September 23, 2017 Glass Tiger performed at Canada Games Plaza in Prince George, British Columbia. The free concert was part of a thank you to the city for receiving over 11,000 evacuees from the southern interior displaced by various wildfires.[16]

Members

Current members

  • Alan Frew – vocals, guitar (1983–present)
  • Sam Reid – keyboards (1983–present)
  • Al Connelly – guitar (1983–present)
  • Wayne Parker – bass (1983–present)
  • Chris McNeill – drums, guitar (2000–present)

Former members

  • Michael Hanson – drums (1983–1988)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums


Title

 Release Certifications
The Thin Red Line 1986
  • CAN: 4× Platinum
  • US: Gold
Diamond Sun 1988
  • CAN: 2× Platinum
Simple Mission 1991
  • CAN: Platinum

Live albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Title Release Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[17]		 US
[18]		 US
Rock
[19]		 UK
[20]		 AUS
[21]
"Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" 1986 1 2 17 29 9 The Thin Red Line
"Thin Red Line" 19 — — — 91
"Someday" 14 7 — 66 97
"You're What I Look For" 1987 11 — — — —
"I Will Be There" 29 34 21 — —
"I'm Still Searching" 1988 2 31 12 — — Diamond Sun
"Diamond Sun"[22] 5 — — 78 —
"My Song" (featuring The Chieftains) 19 — — — —
"Far Away From Here" — — — — —
"Send Your Love" — — — — —
"(Watching) Worlds Crumble" 1989 27 — — — —
"Blinded" 1991 — — — — — Simple Mission
"Animal Heart" 4 — — — —
"Rhythm of Your Love" 8 — — — —
"My Town" (featuring Rod Stewart) 8 — — 33 —
"Rescued (By the Arms of Love)" 8 — — — —
"Touch of Your Hand" 1993 34 — — — — Air Time: The Best of Glass Tiger
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

NB: "My Song" (1988) missed the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 71 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.

NB: "Don't Forget Me" and "Someday" both reached the Billboard AC chart, peaking at #30 and #4 respectively.

References

  1. ↑ Michael Sutton. "The Best of Glass Tiger: Air Time - Glass Tiger | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  2. ↑ Glass Tiger. "Glass Tiger | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. ↑ "Glass Tiger plays Zehr Square" Jul 21, 2017 by Coral Andrews Waterloo Region Record
  4. ↑ "Meet Glass Tiger", New Jersey 101.5 Radio, By Craig Allen April 13, 2013
  5. ↑ "Glass Tiger, Johnny Reid team up". Brian Kelly, Sault Star, July 6, 2017
  6. 1 2 3 Artist: Glass Tiger CANOE -- Jam!
  7. ↑ " Glass Tiger Thin Red Line". AllMusic Review by Mike DeGagne
  8. ↑ "Nominees and Winners - Glass Tiger". Juno Awards website. Accessed 2018 01 12.
  9. ↑ "Glass Tiger". The Bulletin, Newmarket, December, 2014. Pages 12 - 14
  10. ↑ Persico, Amanda (2009-03-20). "Glass Tiger boosts military spirits". YorkRegion.com. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  11. ↑ "Glass Tiger gives Canadian soldiers unplugged show". May 06, 2010. Aurora Banner
  12. ↑ "Concert review: Roxette with Glass Tiger at the Bell Centre; Aug. 31, 2012". Montreal Gazette, September 1, 2012
  13. ↑ http://www.penticton.ca/EN/main/community/events/events-calendar/27667/rock-the-peach-music-fest.html
  14. ↑ Leduc announces double headliners for double celebration Archived March 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. City of Leduc
  15. ↑ "Happy Alan Frew Talks 1980s Music, New Glass Tiger Album and More!". Music Life Magazine, by Jim Barber, October 29, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Thank You PG celebration rocks Canada Games Plaza". Prince George Citizen. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  17. ↑ Canadian peaks RPM Magazine
  18. ↑ "Glass Tiger – Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.
  19. ↑ "Glass Tiger – Chart History: Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks". Billboard.
  20. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 228. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  21. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. ↑ "Canadian Content (Cancon)". RPM - Volume 48, No. 17 Aug 13, 1988
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