The most productive Canadian rock bands of all time

The pleasure of Montreal, Easy Plan turned into a part of the saturated pop punk scene of the mid-to-late Nineties and into the 2000s. But, the band’s debut relatively cleverly titled No Pads, No Helmets…Simply Balls (2002) produced a top-40 hit with “Best,” the infectiously potent “Addicted” and “I am Only a Child,” which was once featured within the Steve Martin remake of Less expensive through the Dozen. Its follow-up Nonetheless Now not Getting Any (2004) hit No. 3 at the Billboard 200. From there, the band put away the teen-angst focal point and attempted to mature its sound with 4 extra album, each and every reaching quite a lot of ranges of luck.

From its 1978 debut to the band’s twenty second document from 2021, Saga has confirmed some severe endurance. The gang, which has long past thru many lineup adjustments over time, is easiest recognized for 1981’s Worlds Aside album and its lead-off monitor “At the Unfastened.”

The New Pornagraphers are one of the crucial extra uniquely ingenious bands to hail from Canada —Vancouver, to be actual. Shaped in 1997, The New Pornographers are a hodge-podge of singer/songwriters, maximum having been a part of different Vancouver bands, treading water in an international of indie and gear pop. Led through the flexible Carl Newman, the gang is understood for sharing vocals. Excluding Newman, the gang’s maximum recognizable on-and-off once more member is Neko Case, who has loved a forged solo profession.

From the Toronto house, Sum 41 loved quite a few luck throughout the pop-punk motion, beginning with its 2001 debut All Killer No Filler. From the album, “Fats Lip” hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Selection Airplay chart in the USA. “In Too Deep” additionally earned some respectable air play. The 2-time winner of on the Juno Awards, celebrating the most efficient Canadian musical artists, Sum 41 additionally won a Grammy Award nomination for the 2012 track “Blood in My Eyes.” Lead singer/guitarist Deryck Whibley was once married to fellow Canadian pop rocker Avril Lavigne.

This Toronto indie rock workforce, which could also be liked in synth-pop circles, began within the past due Nineties because the duo of Emily Haines and James Shaw. It has since grown right into a foursome that continues to attract raves from a faithful fan base and song critics. A few of the 8 studio albums Metric has put out, 2009’s Fantasies stays the gold usual. It received the Juno Award for Selection Album of the Yr, and the track “Stadium Love” has been integrated into game-day enjoy through the Toronto Blue Jays and Edmonton Oilers over time. 

April Wine were given its actual wreck in Montreal, however the band has roots in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. At the beginning instructed through the Henman brothers, then the multitalented guitarist-keyboardist-vocalist Myles Goodwin, April Wine earned its first true North American luck with 1972’s On Report. Then in mainstream shape with First Look (1978), Tougher … Sooner (1979), The Nature of the Beast (1981), and Energy Play (1982). The gang is most definitely easiest recognized for the top-20 ballad “Simply Between You and Me” — the primary video through a Canadian artist to be performed on MTV.

The Toronto-based energy trio could be one of the crucial extra underrated bands of the sector rock technology of the Seventies and into the ’80s — irrespective of nation. A multiple-Juno Award nominee, Triumph put out 16 studio albums, highlighted through 1981’s Allied Forces, with a number of going Platinum. Triumph could also be part of the Canadian Track Corridor of Status. Songs corresponding to “Magic Energy” and “Battle the Excellent Battle” can nonetheless be heard on vintage rock radio and stay well liked by lovers of onerous/innovative rock and heavy steel.

The 3 Timmins siblings and bandmate Alan Anton had been going robust since 1986. The Toronto four-piece may no longer have loved constant mainstream luck in the course of the many years, however it stays a robust selection/nation rock band that is put out greater than 15 studio albums. The Cowboy Junkies are most likely easiest recognized for his or her model of the Velvet Underground’s “Candy Jane,” which was once featured within the movie Herbal Born Killers.

When it got here to onerous rock throughout the early Eighties, Calgary’s Loverboy did it higher than maximum. Recognized for top-40 favorites like “Flip Me Unfastened,” “Running for the Weekend,” “Scorching Ladies in Love,” “Lovin’ Each Minute of It,” and “This May Be the Evening,” Loverboy won in depth radio air play, and its movies had been a typical presence on MTV. Frontman Mike Reno additionally loved his personal top-10 hit in “Virtually Paradise,” a duet with Center’s Ann Wilson for the Footloose soundtrack. 

Just like Nickelback, it is simple to pan Scarborough’s Barenaked Girls as a band that did not actually take itself significantly. Alternatively, possibly that is a reason why for its luck throughout the Nineties. Selection rock, pop rock, school radio, people: BNI’s song has fallen into many classes over time. However the workforce, led in its heyday through Ed Robertson and Steven Web page, drew quite a few mainstream rock lovers with hits like  “If I Had $1000000” and “One Week.” To not point out, the band’s liable for The Large Bang Principle’s theme track. It is received seven JUNO’s, two Billboard Track Awards, and BNI has been nominated for 2 Grammys.

Hailing from Jonquière, Quebec, Voivod has constructed itself into probably the most creatively flexible steel bands within the trade. Shaped within the early Eighties, Voivod, which as soon as featured former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted in its lineup, began as a velocity steel band. However over time — and 15 studio albums later — its sound has additionally featured parts of innovative, thrash, and selection varieties of the steel style. The gang’s 1989 document Nothingface stays the spotlight of its Juno Award-winning legacy, one that is nonetheless being written lately.

The primary of 2 teams in this checklist to characteristic Winnipeg local Randy Bachman. Teamed with brothers Robbie and Tim, Fred Turner, after which Blair Thornton, BTO song can nonetheless be heard on vintage rock radio and streaming products and services. Recognized for hits like  “Let It Journey”, “You Ain’t Noticed Not anything But” and, after all, “Takin’ Care of Trade,” BTO was once just right for straight-up rock and roll. That led to 3 Juno Awards and a place within the Canadian Track Corridor of Status.

From Alberta however founded in Vancouver, Nickelback will get railed on continuously for being thought to be “posers.” A post-grunge, selection/onerous rock act at the outdoor, however with a pop-rock vibes and tunes that song lovers of every age and genres appear to get in the back of. Positive, it is simple to rag, however Nickelback has been nominated for 6 Grammys, received seven Billboard Track Awards, two MTV Video Track Awards, and 12 JUNOs. From 2001, “How You Remind Me” went No. 1 within the Scorching 100 and The entire Proper Causes (2005) crowned the Billboard 200 album chart. The latter bought kind of 11 million copies. To not point out, Nickelback continues to attract reward for its high-energy reside presentations. Through the way in which, frontman Chad Kroeger was once additionally married to Avril Lavigne.

Regarded as some of the pioneers of the commercial song and electro-industrial genres, the Vancouver-based workforce at first began as a facet venture for co-founder Kevin Compton (a.ok.a. cEvin Key) within the early Eighties. Then again, it temporarily developed right into a full-time gig for Compton when Kevin Oglivie, (higher referred to as Nivek Ogre) turned into extra concerned. Even with 13 studio albums underneath its belt and quite a few acclaim, Thin Pet by no means loved a lot mainstream love. Then again, the gang left a long-lasting affect at the likes of Moby, 9 Inch Nails, and Korn.

As of 2021, those Toronto nation rockers have put out 16 studio albums, at the side of a number of reside choices. Since hanging out its debut document Outskirts — that includes the hit “Take a look at” — in 1987, Blue Rodeo has accrued a vital following. Highschool friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor were given the ball rolling, and it hasn’t actually stopped. Regardless that the gang has received greater than 10 Juno Awards over time, its luck has unquestionably long past past the borders of Canada.

Sooner than Randy Bachman earned luck with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, he and keyboardist Burton Cummings went from the streets of Winnipeg to revel in world stardom throughout the Sixties and into the ’70s. Very best recognized for its No. 1 vintage “American Lady,” which was once in fact anti-U.S., The Wager Who additionally scored with “Those Eyes” and “No Time.” All tunes that proceed to be performed lately on quite a lot of vintage rock codecs and surely celebrated within the band’s house nation.

As of 2022, the genius of Arcade Hearth was once liable for six studio albums, received one of the crucial 10 Grammys it was once nominated for, and claimed 11 JUNOs. The band’s first 3 albums — Funeral (2004). Neon Blade (2007) and The Suburbs (2010) — could be the most efficient opening run for a band within the final 3 many years. To not point out, the magnitude of its spirited reside presentations. Began in Montreal through Win Butler and Josh Deu, Arcade Hearth has received over lovers starting from the worlds of indie rock to bounce song. Through all accounts, it has no intentions of preventing. 

In the case of Canadian-specific recognition, The Tragically Hip are rock royalty — even after the band known as it an reputable profession following the loss of life of frontman and provincial legend Gord Downie in 2017. A mixture of other and people rock (revel in “Forward Through a Century”), The Tragically Hip was once well-respected in the USA, however the Kingston, Ontario, workforce received 17 Juno Awards and 9 of the 13-plus albums it launched crowned the Canadian charts. This was once a band that enjoyed its house nation however wasn’t over-the-top. That refined nationwide pleasure, present in its song, made the Hip a really nationwide gem.

Shaped in Toronto, 4 of the 5 participants of The Band had been Canadian (Levon Helm because the lone American). Then again, those nation/people rockers, who spanned the Sixties, ’70s or even the ’80s, and likewise incorporated fellow song legends Robbie Robertson and Rick Danko, turned into the world over famend because of classics like “The Weight” and “Up on Cripple Creek.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Status in 1994 and awarded the Grammy’s Lifetime Fulfillment Award in 2008, The Band has been cited as a significant affect at the likes of the Black Crowes, Wilco, the Cling Stable, and Demise Cab for Cutie.

In the case of innovative rock, Rush sits atop the mountain. Whilst those Rock and Roll Corridor of Famers not excursion underneath the band’s identify following the loss of life of mythical drummer Neil Peart (believe “YYZ” an homage), the legacy stays robust. Rush began out as a natural rock outfit after forming within the Toronto house, however quickly, the band complex the intricacies and construction of its songs. As regards to any Rush album – Fly Through Evening (1975), 2112 (1976) or Hemispheres (1978) or Shifting Photos (1981) – is really an enjoy. Fellow mythical bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers have cited Rush as a major affect.