SUPPLIED IMAGE
Glass Tiger's Alan Frew, second from right, says 'you can't beat the power of a real solid hit song.'
Stan Ashbee
Special to the News
Don’t forget them when they’re gone — which will be next to impossible for Canadian icons Glass Tiger, performing live at the Esplanade Oct. 30. The band’s hits include “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone),” “Someday,” “My Town,” “Animal Heart,” and “Thin Red Line.” For those growing up in the late-1980s, Glass Tiger was an integral part of the Canadian music scene and the band’s videos were fan favourites on the long gone (but not forgotten) Much Music (when the network was mostly music video heavy) and CBC’s “Video Hits.”
And for those who can remember the less-superior-than CD cassette tape, Glass Tiger’s “The Thin Red Line” was produced on a red cassette for those lucky enough to score one. The album set a record for being the fastest-selling debut recording in Canadian history. Glass Tiger’s latest album “31” — produced by Johnny Reid — celebrates and reimagines three decades of music that made the Newmarket, Ont., band stars in Canada and beyond.
Today, the band includes original members Alan Frew on vocals and guitar, Sam Reid on keyboards, Al Connelly on guitar and Wayne Parker on bass, as well as long-time drummer Chris McNeill, who joined in 2000.
In light of a recent health scare, Frew is also actively speaking out on the dangers of high cholesterol and hypertension in an effort to increase public knowledge and raise awareness of proper health practices in stroke prevention.
“We had an anniversary coming up. It was our 30th anniversary and I had a major health issue. I suffered a stroke and that kind of cost us a year. We were thinking, let’s put a new album out with new songs — which is a tough grind, at the best of times. But, it wasn’t until I got together with my friend Johnny Reid, who showed some interest wanting to work with Glass Tiger. Johnny’s suggestion to me was, ‘Alan, you should do an album that just kind of emotes what’s really important having gone through what you just went through — like love, family and friendship.'”
This fall, Frew said, the band is on tour through late October and November.
With the current tour, fans can expect an eclectic mix of the classic songs performed the way they were originally recorded and with a fresh new sound. “The new album affords the band the luxury of also mixing it up with acoustic versions of the songs reimagined like on the new album.”
Glass Tiger, Frew said, is a bit of an enigma. “We only did three albums.” Whereas, he continued, other Canadian acts such as Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies and Tom Cochrane have released many more albums during their careers. “But of the three albums we did and the 11 or 12 singles we released — five of them are like all-time Canadian classics.”
“It shows you the power of a real solid hit song. You can’t beat the power of that. The craft behind that, the crafting of a great pop song or a great rock song, whatever it is. Obviously, we had a knack for doing that. Songs like ‘Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)’ and ‘Someday’ — they got into the very fabric of Canadiana and to some extent, internationally,” Frew added.
Today there’s streaming apps, iTunes, YouTube and word of mouth. There’s a real trend happening for 1980s music now, Frew believes. “Some young people are finding it through their parents and others are finding it on their own for whatever reason.”
Frew said the survival rate in the music business is maybe four or five years and a new album from the band could be a future reality. “We get 35, close to 40 together as musicians. That’s because we still love it, we’re still good friends, we travel well together and we get along. So, we certainly will take a look at putting some new music out, with the understanding we know the game.”
The Esplanade show starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at tixx.ca, by calling 403-502-8777 or in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk.
