Quintessential Canadian Rockers April Wine to be inducted to Canadian Music Hall of Fame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Toronto, ON

“With the release of their debut album in 1971, April Wine kicked off a remarkable run of hit records both in Canada and around the world,” said Melanie Berry, President & CEO of CARAS. “For 40 years, the band has given music fans great songs to rock to and live shows to remember. Their induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame is exceptionally deserving, and highlights a long history of musical accomplishments.”

“To be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame is a tremendous honour; and on behalf of all April Wine members, past and present, a heartfelt thank you to the CARAS. I look forward to the presentation in Newfoundland on April 18th,” said Myles Goodwyn, lead member of the band. More...

April Wine at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Zeke - Fazer Online Music Magazine - October 3, 2009

April wine is THE iconic Canadian band. As they celebrate their 40th anniversary as a band, they along with their fans, happily look back upon a stellar career that has seen tremendous commercial success, garnering legions of fans worldwide. They opened the legendary charity show at the El Mocambo in Toronto in 1977, featuring The Cockroaches, who were really The Rolling Stones. This show was captured for a live record, Live at The El Mocambo. They went on to tour the U.S. with The Stones, as were requested as touring partners by such 70’s heavyweights as Styx, Journey and Rush. Not bad I must say. More...

April Wine leaves a nice aftertaste in the mouths of thirsty Regina rock fans
Kevin Blevins - Leader Post - September 12, 2009

From the opening guitar licks of “Wanna Rock,” you immediately knew one thing about April Wine’s performance in Regina Friday night: The band’s signature wall of guitar sound was back front and centre — loud, crisp and proud.

Yes, one of Canada’s biggest rock bands might not be playing hockey arenas anymore — on this night they were playing to a soldout crowd in the comfy confines of Casino Regina’s show lounge — and they might be one guitar player short from their three-axe attack heyday of the 1970s and 80s — no Gary Moffet — but the songs are still great guitar numbers and the remaining players, Myles Goodwyn and Brian Greenway, can still play a power chord in a big, crushing way.

With the 61-year-old Goodwyn wielding a Gibson SG and the 57-year-old Greenway strutting with a venerable black and white Fender Stratocaster — one of the greatest rock guitar models of all time — April Wine launched into a fun, yet tight and precise, audio tour down memory lane.

Hitting their stride with the fourth song, “Say Hello” from the album Harder... Faster, the band did just that, playing harder and faster, capturing the crowd in the moment and recapturing some of its past glory. “We love you April Wine,” one guy in the audience shouted when the band wrapped up the huge 1979 radio hit. More...

April Wine gets its respect
Andrew Wallace - Toronto Star Mar 14, 2009

Excerpt - After 40 years of hard-driving guitar riffs, pleasing harmonies and what some call arena rock, April Wine finally has got its due: the band was inducted yesterday into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame and received a lifetime achievement award.
More...

Myles Goodwyn and Indie Guitars contribute to JDRF
Cornwall Seaway News - March 30th 2009

April Wine and Myles Goodwyn one of Canada’s rock legends and most prolific performers is was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the CMW show recently. At the Indie Guitar booth on Thursday, March 12, Goodwyn and Indie Guitars unveiled a Myles Goodwyn signature guitar along with a substantial donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.ca.

Myles was at the Indie Guitar booth on the show floor greeting fans and signing Certificates of Authenticity during the show.

Mark Owen of Indie Guitars stated, “We had a great weekend at the Canadian Music Week show. Our guitars and studio were very well received by many of Canada’s top touring acts. Paul Bryan of Indie had the chance to meet and speak to Gene Simmons of KISS and was able to pitch him on the advantages of recording the Canadian acts he is signing at Dream Builder Studios in Cornwall.”

The Myles Goodwyn MG Signature guitar will be available at Indie dealers throughout Canada and the United States from March 2009. The Indie MG Signature comes with a personally signed Certificate of Authenticity, a Myles Goodwyn concert poster, and an MG initialed truss rod cover and is expected to sell in stores for under $1,000. Indie Guitar Co. will donate $25 from the sale of every Myles Goodwyn Signature guitar to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

To Contact the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, call 1.877.CURE.533

April Wine/Head East Concert Review - Fort Yates 2009
Mathew Becker - Media Rock Concerts.com April 25, 2009

Excerpt - Before too long, April Wine emerged on stage with the guitar driven hard rock sound they became known for with “Wanna Rock“, “Crash and Burn“, and “Big City Girls” - all three songs from 1981’s Nature of the Beast, the band’s commercial peak. Although Myles Goodwyn and Brian Greenway are joined on stage these days by two newcomers in bassist Breen LeBoeuf and drummer Blair MacKay, their tight performance and onstage chemistry made it seem as if all four members had been playing together for years. Goodwyn, the group’s frontman and main writer, has been singing some of the same songs for over 40 years but was able to keep it fresh by maintaining a powerful stage presence and giving it his best on each note. April Wine songs have a certain youthful element to them, in part created by Goodwyn’s unique voice, and it was remarkable to hear him reach that very same tone last night. The crowd also gave off a great energy as everyone took to their feet and sang along to classics like “Just Between You and Me” and “I Like to Rock“. Drummer Jerry Mercer was certainly missed; he retired just last year just shy of his 70th birthday, but the band has found a suitable replacement in MacKay who kept a tight groove during the show.

Blistering guitars throughout April Wine’s performance kept the band’s signature raw sound intact; in fact the overall mix of sound was nearly perfect with very audible vocals from Myles and yet a huge instrumental force throughout. Just like the Nature of the Beast album cover, the stage was aglow with a burning red tint for the entire set. In addition, there was clearly an established image for the group which was a contrast to the less coordinated Head East. Taking a break from the rock, the band also made a point to discuss their efforts in raising funds for juvenile diabetes research, a condition which Myles Goodwyn’s 12 year old son was diagnosed with several years ago. If you would like to learn more about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, please follow this link - it’s certainly a worthy cause.

Without a doubt some of rock’s greatest groups have hailed from Canada, and April Wine is no exception. The band lived up to their reputation as a great live act with impeccable musicianship and showmanship. They’re touring extensively in 2009 so be sure to look for the group at several American rock festivals over the summer, and of course Canadian fans can catch the band on many occasions this year.

April Wine contributes!
April Wine takes time for a some important charitable causes

SFE Global made a cash donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund on behalf of Myles, Brian and April Wine.

 

 

 

Myles signs this guitar to be auctioned off on K 97, Edmonton's Rock Station. Proceeds will go to the Franklin Fund in honour of MCpl Paul Franklin. This fund helps amputees from both military, service and civilian members.