add a biography

Reviewer: Zel

Only slightly more than a decade ago, internationally renown recording artists collectively known as GLASS TIGER dominated the music scene, becoming one of the most successful Canadian bands of the late 1980's.
Today, stronger than ever and well-developed as individual artists, the four original members: Alan Frew - vocals, Sam Reid - keyboards, Al Connelly - guitars and Wayne Parker - electric bass, reunite their talents to perform a select few concert performances.

What started in Newmarket, Ontario in 1981 was Tokyo. Tokyo was a group composed of Alan Frew, Wayne Parker and Al Connelly who had played in a band called Onyx, along with Sam Reid and Michael Hanson who had performed in a band called The End. In 1984 Tokyo opened on tour for Culture Club and Canada fell witness to five extremely talented individuals. They possessed a unique talent that offered a flare for something different, exactly what the record companies were looking for!

Tokyo became a force to be reckoned with in suburban high schools, clubs and on the Ontario bar circuit. In 1985, years of hard work and dedication paid off when a record deal was signed with Capitol Records and Tokyo became Glass Tiger."

I like to think of our music as hard edged on the outside, but with a soft, melodic core. We feel the name Glass Tiger implies this," Alan Frew was once quoted.

The guys were immediately introduced to the studio where their first album was recorded: The Thin Red Line (1986 / 87). The Thin Red Line set a record for being the fastest selling debut recording in Canadian history, going gold within weeks of its release. To date, this album has received four Platinum records in Canada and went Gold in the United States. One of Glass Tiger's many hit singles, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" yielded a #2 spot on Billboard that was followed by "Someday" which hit # 5. With five Juno Awards and a Grammy nomination under their belt, Glass Tiger was invited as the "Special Guests" for Tina Turner's European tour. Glass Tiger played
every major city in the United States and Canada entertaining hundreds upon thousands.

Glass Tiger's second album, Diamond Sun, and third album, Simple Mission, solidified their reputation as being one of Canada's best. Diamond Sun boasted the singles "Diamond Sun," "I'm Still Searching," "Far Away From Here," "My Song," and "(Watching) World's Crumble," achieving double Platinum status, with Simple Mission exceeding Platinum.

Set on a course to entertain, the re-united Glass Tiger's shows feature performances of their past hit singles - available on the CD release Air Time/The Best Of The Best (1993) - with samples of their most recent personal and individual endeavors. Glass Tiger continues to offer fans of old and new alike a show to enjoy and to be remembered with the same warmth and energy they have always displayed.

Performance Line-up:
Alan Frew - Vocals
Sam Reid - Keyboards
Al Connelly - Guitars
Wayne Parker - Electric bass

Special Guests:
Paul Stephens - Guitar
Chris McNeill - Drums

from: Kedikoi Productions Ltd.