The Northern Pikes
are a Canadian rock band formed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members were Bryan Potvin, Jay Semko, Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead. Hollingshead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by in 1986. The band was active until 1993 and subsequently reunited in 1999.
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NORTHERN PIKES TICKETS
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History
The Northern Pikes released two independent
EPs before being signed to Virgin Records in 1986. Their first album for the label,
Big Blue Sky
, included the Semko-penned "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album
Secrets of the Alibi
contained two more minor Canadian hits, "Wait for Me" and "Let's Pretend" (both by Semko), as well as the slightly bigger hit "Hope Go Astray", written by Potvin.
Their 1990 album,
Snow in June
became their biggest seller in Canada and the
US. That album's lead single, "
She Ain't Pretty", was the band's biggest hit, and was written by Potvin. An innovative
music video for that song received heavy play on
MuchMusic and was nominated for a
Juno Award. Overall, the band has been nominated for 5 Juno Awards, but have yet to record a win.
In 1992, the band released
Neptune
. The album's biggest hit, "Believe", was again written by Potvin. After touring to support the album, they announced their retirement as a group in July 1993.
In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of
Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993
, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring. They have since released three independent albums, including a live one aptly titled
Live
, with promises of more to come.
In 2006, the band was expected to release a hybrid collection of songs from
Truest Inspiration
and
It's a Good Life
under the name
Beautiful Music
. It was to include a bonus DVD of footage from the recording of
Truest Inspiration
and some promo clips from
It's a Good Life
. However, this has yet to see the light of day.
[1]
Recently, the band has struck up a musical collaboration with
Les Stroud. Throughout 2005 and 2006 they performed together live several times, and a collaborative album is currently being produced under the tentative name
Les Stroud and the Pikes
. The official Northern Pikes website, the album is scheduled to be released in 2008.
[2]
Discography
Singles
| Release date
| Title
| Chart peak
| Album
|
| CAN
| US
|
| June 1987
| "Teenland" (Semko)
| 29
|
| Big Blue Sky
|
| October 1987
| "Things I Do For Money" (Semko)
| 85
|
|
| January 1988
| "Dancing In A Dance Club" (Semko)
|
|
|
| August 1988
| "Wait For Me" (Semko)
| 58
|
| Secrets of the Alibi
|
| November 1988
| "Hopes Go Astray" (Potvin)
| 45
|
|
| April 1989
| "Let's Pretend" (Semko)
| 66
|
|
| May 1990
| "She Ain't Pretty" (Potvin)
| 6
| 86
| Snow in June
|
| August 1990
| "Girl With A Problem" (Semko)
| 8
|
|
| November 1990
| "Kiss Me You Fool" (Bryck/Semko)
| 12
|
|
| March 1991
| "Dream Away" (Potvin)
| 47
|
|
| October 1992
| "Twister" (Semko/Potvin)
| 25
|
| Neptune
|
| February 1993
| "Believe" (Potvin)
| 17
|
|
| April 1993
| "Worlds Away" (Semko)
| 40
|
|
| 2001
| "Echo Off The Beach" (Potvin)
|
|
| Truest Inspiration
|
| 2001
| "Colour Into Colour" (Bryck)
|
|
|
| 2003
| "It's A Good Life" (Semko)
|
|
| It's a Good Life
|
| 2003
| "Underwater" (Bryck)
|
|
|
Albums
- 1984 - The Northern Pikes
(independent)
- 1985 - Scene in North America
(independent)
- 1987 - Big Blue Sky
- 1988 - Secrets of the Alibi
- 1990 - Snow in June
- 1992 - Neptune
- 1993 - Gig
- 1999 - Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993
- 2000 - Live
- 2001 - Truest Inspiration
- 2003 - It's a Good Life
- 2007 - Platinum