With all of 2023’s bad news of economic strife, devastating wildfires, global wars and more, this was some good news to put a smile on the faces of Newmarket residents.
Hometown band Glass Tiger, which has reached international stardom over the last four decades, was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame on Dec. 2.
The band — frontman and lead singer Alan Frew, keyboardist Sam Reid, Al Connelly on guitar, Wayne Parker and Tom Lewis on bass and backup vocals and drummer Chris McNeill — were inducted along with other top Canadian music acts that hit it big in the 1970s and ‘80s, including April Wine, Lighthouse, Loverboy, Max Webster, Platinum Blonde, Prism, Rough Trade, Parachute Club and Trooper.
“Truly an honour for Glass Tiger to be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame this year along with so many wonderful Canadian artists,” said Reid, a lifelong resident of East Gwillimbury’s River Drive Park.
“It represents almost 40 years being together as a band — not only as musicians but as friends. Support from our families and, of course, our fans has made that possible. We are still on the road and enjoying it!”
Music industry expert and Richmond Hill resident Eric Alper describes Glass Tiger as one of the greatest bands to come out of Canada in the 1980s, with songs featuring “knockout melodies and heartfelt lyrics.”
Glass Tiger burst onto the scene with its first album, Thin Red Line in 1986.
The lead single, Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone, featured Canadian music icon Bryan Adams, who has sold more than 100 million records and singles worldwide.
Adams would be just the first of many international stars Glass Tiger has recorded and performed with, including Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Journey, Julian Lennon, Cheap Trick and Irish folk band The Chieftains.
Thin Red Line went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Songs Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone and Someday were in the Top 10 on U.S. charts.
Glass Tiger took home three Junos for album of the year, single of the year and most promising group of the year.
A year later, the band won another Juno and was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Proving it was no flash in the pan, Glass Tiger went on to release albums Diamond Sun, which went triple platinum in Canada and Simple Mission, which went platinum in Canada.
The band also played for Canadian troops in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
“Bosnia wasn’t an active war zone. Afghanistan was still a hot spot. There were rocket raids, you’re in full flak vests, you’re sleeping in tents in the middle of the desert with armed guards,” said Reid, who also served as an Honorary Colonel of 8 Air Maintenance Squadron.
“It changed our lives.”
Frew’s bandmates rallied around him when he suffered a stroke in 2015 as the group was preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Reid called it a wake-up call, not only for Frew but for other members of Glass Tiger.
“That closeness we have, we’re attached as brothers. So, when something happens to one of us, especially something as traumatic as a stroke, we were very, very concerned.
Frew recovered and in 2018, Glass Tiger released its album called 31, which Alper described as the band’s hit songs reimagined with traditional acoustic instruments as well as two new tracks, Wae Yer Family co-written and featuring Johnny Reid and “Fire It Up.”
The album included special guest contributions from Julian Lennon (Thin Red Line), Alan Doyle (My Song), Véronic DiCaire (Someday) and Susan Aglukark and David R. Maracle (Diamond Sun).
Through it all, Glass Tiger has been true to its hometown, Reid said.
“Back in our day, people would sometimes ask about Newmarket because the band from day one has always been Glass Tiger from Newmarket. We’ve carried that banner around and we’re really proud of it,” he said.
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