The Northern Pikes

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For the fish, see Northern Pike
The Northern Pikes
The Northern Pikes (2006)
The Northern Pikes (2006)
Background information
Origin Saskatoon, SK, Canada Flag of Canada
Genre(s) Rock
Years active 1984–1993,1999-present
Label(s) Virgin Records
Website http://www.thepikes.com
Members
Bryan Potvin
Jay Semko
Merl Bryck
Don Schmid
Former members
Glen Hollingshead

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 Don Schmid in 1986. The band was active until 1993 and subsequently reunited in 1999.

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 "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album Secrets of the Alibi contained two more Canadian hits "Wait for Me" and "Hopes Go Astray".

Their 1990 album, Snow in June became their biggest seller in Canada and the US. That album's single, "She Ain't Pretty", was the band's biggest hit. 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. 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]


Contents

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

  • 1987 - Teenland / Heartaches Heartbreaks
  • 1987 - Things I Do For Money / Love Will Break You
  • 1987 - Dancing In A Dance Club / Never Again
  • 1988 - Wait For Me / Better Twice
  • 1989 - Hopes Go Astray / Hole In The Ground
  • 1989 - Let's Pretend / Do You Really Want Me
  • 1990 - She Ain't Pretty / Isn't It Lovely
  • 1990 - Girl With A Problem / Unimportant
  • 1991 - Kiss Me You Fool / Shadow Of Doubt
  • 1991 - Dream Away / Unimportant
  • 1992 - Twister / Black Cat
  • 1993 - Everything / World's Away
  • 2001 - Echo Off The Beach
  • 2001 - Colour Into Colour
  • 2003 - It's A Good Life
  • 2004 - Underwater

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ News. The Northern Pikes - Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  2. ^ "Survivorman a catch for the Northern Pikes", Entertainment, Parry Sound North Star, 2006-03-22. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.