Canadian band Glass Tiger formed in 1981, but frontman Alan Frew says it was 1983 when people started paying attention to the band. “That’s when record companies started coming to venues, and trying to talk us into signing with them.”
Frew had been in another band, and was invited to audition for the band that would become Glass Tiger. “We all kind of knew each other,” he says, “and I said I would only audition for fun, as a hobby.”
Some hobby. The band has enjoyed incredible success, with top-ten hits such as such as “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” and “Someday.” On May 15, Glass Tiger will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary.
The band includes Frew on vocals and guitar, Sam Reid on keyboards, and Al Connelly on guitar. Chris McNeill plays drums, Tom Lewis is on bass, and Carmela Long sings backing vocals. Past band-member Wayne Parker will also be in Calgary for the celebrations.
Frew says that the band is best known for three big albums: The Thin Red Line (1986), Diamond Sun (1988), and Simple Mission (1991). “I call Glass Tiger the hardest-working, laziest band on the planet.” He emphasizes that they work incredibly hard at writing and performing, but says they’ve been “lazy” about getting into the studio. That’s okay with him. Those three albums had enormous impact, with eleven JUNO nominations, including five wins. They’ve sold more than 7 million records. “We only had three albums for years and years,” laughs Frew.
Since 2018, a new album, an EP, and a Christmas album have been added to the mix.
Frew says the induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame is a sign of recognition for all the hard work, and the band’s legacy. He adds, “It’s also a major thank-you for our families. My family has watched me walk out the door for 35 years. It’s all they’ve known.”
As the band prepares for a western Canadian tour, Frew says he’s happy to know their audiences are truly inter-generational. “I see it all the time, parents with their teenagers,” says Frew. When he asks for a show of hands, inquiring how many people have seen Glass Tiger in concert before, about a third of the audience will raise their hands. “It shows me that there’s a brand-new generation or two on the go. They’ve come out to see us, and it’s amazing when it’s kids.”
Audiences can expect the hits, but some new music, too, when the band performs in Alberta in April. Frew says his favourite Glass Tiger song is “This Island Earth,” from the album Diamond Sun. “And if we’ve written something new and it makes it into the show, I like that, too.”
Glass Tiger will play five Alberta shows in April. Find details at glasstiger.ca
