Alan Frew (lead vocals)
Sam Reid (keyboards, vocals)
Al Connelly (guitar)
Wayne Parker (bass)
Michael Hanson (drums, vocals)
Randall Coryell (drums) [replaced Hanson]
Formed in 1980 as Tokyo in Newmarket, Ontario, the band that eventually became known as Glass Tiger spent four years on the Toronto area bar circuit before attracting the attention of US manager Derek Sutton (Styx). He was impressed by what he saw and took the band's demo to Manhattan Records in the States. Manhattan was a young new label being distributed south of the border by Capitol Records, so when Capitol Canada heard about the label's interest they rushed to take a look themselves, and the results ended up being a worldwide deal with Capitol and a variety of its labels.
A name and style change saw the end of Tokyo and the beginning of Glass Tiger. In early 1986 Capitol sent the band into the studio with Bryan Adams's then songwriting partner Jim Vallance, and the result was their debut album, 'The Thin Red Line'. The first single, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)", featured Adams on backing vocals, and went to #1 in Canada. The album eventually went four times platinum in Canada, and sold 600,000 copies in the US. Its success border was due in part to the band's constant touring, opening for the likes of the Moody Blues and Journey in the US, and Tina Turner in Europe.
The band received three consecutive Juno Awards in 1986, and two in 1987 plus a Grammy Award nomination.
By the time it came to recording again, however, Glass Tiger were getting tired of being labelled a teenybop band, and so the sessions with Vallance producing again resulted in 'Diamond Sun', a much tougher, harder album.
The album entered the North American charts immediately in the Spring of 1988 and opening slots for some major acts followed. The album produced 5 singles including "I'm Still Searching" and "My Song". Hanson quit the band to pursue a solo career (which never got off the ground).
In the interim the band landed a new US record deal with Manhattan Records and new management. 1991's 'Simple Mission', produced by Tom Werman (Motley Crue, Poison, Stryper) re-defined the band's sound once again with a more guitar oriented record and the world-wide exposure from the hit "My Town" which featured a duet between lead vocalist Alan Frew and Rod Stewart. To replace Hanson on the drums the band brought in rock heavy weight Tony Thompson (Chic, Power Station).
Despite a thorough trashing by critics, another tour followed with Randall Coryell on drums, but the band began feeling the effects of the change in the music biz as more aggressive and grungier acts began cutting a path through the audiences of pop bands like Glass Tiger. Crowds began to become abusive and unappreciative during their tour and the band took the hint.
Following the tour the band split up. Alan Frew continued on with EMI Music Canada and released a solo album several years later produced by John Jones (Duran Duran, Celine Dion); Al Connolly joined Norge Union and did session work for many Canadian acts; Sam Reid continued as a songwriter and frequent columnist for Canadian Musician magazine and has been most recently involved in a company called Sanctuary who release New Ages styled easy listening CDs featuring the sounds of nature; Drummer Michael Hanson released a solo album under the name Earthboy.
Singles
1986 Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) (Capitol)
1986 Someday (Capitol)
1986 The Thin Red Line (Capitol)
1987 You're What I Look For (Capitol)
1987 I Will Be There (Capitol)
1988 I'm Still Searching (Capitol)
1988 Diamond Sun (Capitol)
1988 My Song (Capitol)
1989 Send Your Love (Capitol)
1989 Watching Worlds Crumble (Capitol)
1991 Animal Heart (Capitol)
1991 Rhythm Of Your Love (Capitol)
1991 My Town (Capitol) [duet with Rod Stewart]
1991 Rescued (By The Arms Of Love) (Capitol)
1993 Touch Of Your Hand (EMI)
Albums
1986 The Thin Red Line (Capitol)
1988 Diamond Sun (Capitol)
1991 Simple Mission (Capitol)
1993 Air Time: The Best Of The Best (Capitol)
Video
Compilation Tracks
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