Genres Rock Website thenorthernpikes.com Genre Rock music | Labels Virgin Origin Saskatoon, Canada (1984) | |
 | ||
Years active 1984 – 1993
1999 – present Past members Merl Bryck
Glen Hollingshead
Ross Nykiforuk Members Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin, Don Schmid, Ross Nykiforuk, Merl Bryck Albums Snow in June, Secrets of the Alibi, Big Blue Sky, Hits and Assorted Secrets 1, Live | ||
Northern pikes teenland
The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock band formed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members are Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin, Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead who left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Don Schmid in June 1986.
Contents
- Northern pikes teenland
- History
- Independently released EPs
- Contribution
- Studio albums
- Collaborative EP
- Live albums
- Compilations
- Songs
- References
The band was active until 1993, and toured and recorded again from 1999 through to the present.
The Northern Pikes were inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, September 30, 2012 in Regina Saskatchewan. The entire band, Jay Semko, Merl Bryck, Don Schmid and Bryan Potvin performed at the induction ceremony.
History
The Northern Pikes released two independent EPs before being signed to Virgin Records in 1986, "The Northern Pikes" (1984) and "Scene in North America" (1985). They also recorded a song for Saskatchewan After Dark, a 1985 compilation of Saskatchewan-based artists sponsored by the provincial government. Their first album for Virgin, Big Blue Sky, included the Semko-penned "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album Secrets of the Alibi contained three Canadian hits, "Wait for Me", "Let's Pretend" & "Hopes Go Astray".
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 in 1991. 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 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 Truest Inspiration (2001) and It's a Good Life (2003), as well as the aptly titled Live (2000).
In 2005, the band struck up a musical collaboration with Les Stroud. Throughout 2005 and 2006 they performed together live several times. A six-song EP born from this collaboration entitled Long Walk Home was released in the spring of 2007, and was credited to "Les Stroud & The Pikes".
In 2006, Merl Bryck made the decision to curtail his touring schedule, and left the Northern Pikes. Long-time sideman Ross Nykiforuk joined the band on keyboards as the fourth member onstage from 2006-2011. Since then, Semko, Potvin and Schmid have continued touring under the Northern Pikes banner as, in their own words, a "power trio".
Independently-released EPs
Contribution
Studio albums
Collaborative EP
Live albums
Compilations
Songs
She Ain't PrettySnow in June · 1990
TeenlandGig · 1993
Things I Do for MoneyGig · 1993