Rush and the Canadians

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: verslibre wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Paul, you forgot Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Gordon Lightfoot, Shania Twain and Celine Dion. ;)   That was just a list of Canadian bands - not solo artists.  What, no Crash Test Dummies, Platinum Blonde or Toronto?  No Chiliwack, Max Webster or Klattu either.

Platinum Blonde was a pop rock band that made a few albums. Their third album was called (wait for it) Alien Shores (1985), and Alex Lifeson even played two guitar solos on it. Dalbello, who later sang "Start Today" on Alex's Victor album (and did a terrifyingly great impression of Caress-era Geddy), contributed backing vocals to some songs, too.

Canadian bands I know, besides Rush obviously are Saga, Annihilator, Devin Townsend, Mystery, Bolus, Borealis, GY!BE, Harmonium, Third Ion, Triumph, Universe Effects, Voivod. 

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Canadian bands I know, besides Rush obviously are Saga, Annihilator, Devin Townsend, Mystery, Bolus, Borealis, GY!BE, Harmonium, Third Ion, Triumph, Universe Effects, Voivod.    The only two bands I know in your list are Saga and Triumph. I thought Harmonium were a French band though, so I'm guessing they must be French-Canadian.

Cristi wrote: Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: Canadian bands I know, besides Rush obviously are Saga, Annihilator, Devin Townsend, Mystery, Bolus, Borealis, GY!BE, Harmonium, Third Ion, Triumph, Universe Effects, Voivod.    The only two bands I know in your list are Saga and Triumph. I thought Harmonium were a French band though, so I'm guessing they must be French-Canadian. how very predictable.  have you ever listened to Harmonium?

SteveG wrote: AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: JD wrote: Born and raised in the Great White North less than an hour from the origins of  the band I can say with absolute confidence they are known...and highly thought of. It's a generational thing, but they are probbaly the most popular Canadian rock band after The Guess Who. I don't see how The Guess Who could be considered more popular than Rush in Canada especially if we are going by album sales. Maybe among people who are a bit older but over all I seriously doubt it. I believe that Gordon Lightfoot is more popular than both The Guess Who and Rush in Canada.

And Celine above him. But I was thinking more of the rock genre than music in general. Gordon, Buffy, Anne, Celine, David, Leonard are all great but not in the same category as Rush with respect to genre. There are tons of very popular Canadian rock musicians: Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Alanis Morisette, Corey Hart, Tom Cochrane, Alannah Myles, Robbie Robertson etc. etc. etc.  Without specific criteria to use as a measurement (ie: record sales or concert attendance or awards) it becomes more of an opinion thing, that's all.

Let's not forget April Wine.

Cristi wrote: shame on me, I forgot about Guess Who.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: Cristi wrote: shame on me, I forgot about Guess Who.    The Guess Who were the first Canadian band I thought of and I didn't forget April Wine either.

TCat wrote: The Tragically Hip is another Canadian band that is a lot bigger up here than most places.  The lead singer passed away not too long ago. Rush is so big in Canada that I've heard them played even in supermarkets.  In fact, I heard Jacob's Ladder just the other day in the local Foodland.  It was a pretty big deal up here when Peart passed away.