Glass Tiger

Biography

Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band from Newmarket, Ontario that formed in 1981. The band has released five studio albums. Its 1986 debut album, The Thin Red Line×The Thin Red Line18 September 1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks1Thin Red Line4:582Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)4:083Closer to You3:374Vanishing Tribe4:075Looking at a Picture4:056The Secret0:477Ancient Evenings4:568Ecstacy4:269Someday3:3810I Will Be There3:2911You’re What I Look For3:53, went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Two singles from that album, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday×Someday1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksASomeday (extended mix)7:19B1Someday (dub mix)6:26B2Someday (single-version)3:34", reached the U.S. Top 10. Glass Tiger has won five Juno Awards and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987. In 2025, the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

History

In Newmarket, Ontario, a band called Tokyo formed in 1981. The band's members were vocalist Alan Frew and bassist Wayne Parker (both from local band Onyx), along with keyboardist Sam Reid (from River Drive Park band The End) and drummer Michael Hanson. Guitarist Al Connelly joined the band in 1983. The band later changed its name to Glass Tiger.
In 1986, Glass Tiger released its first album, The Thin Red Line×The Thin Red Line18 September 1986 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks1Thin Red Line4:582Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)4:083Closer to You3:374Vanishing Tribe4:075Looking at a Picture4:056The Secret0:477Ancient Evenings4:568Ecstacy4:269Someday3:3810I Will Be There3:2911You’re What I Look For3:53; it was produced by Jim Vallance (who co-wrote two songs) and Bryan Adams made a memorable vocal cameo on the lead single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)". This album went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Two of its songs, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday×Someday1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksASomeday (extended mix)7:19B1Someday (dub mix)6:26B2Someday (single-version)3:34", reached the Top 10 in the U.S. charts. Glass Tiger won three 1986 Juno Awards: Album of the Year for The Thin Red Line×Thin Red Line21 July 1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksAThin Red Line (Rather Red Mix)6:10B1Thin Red Line (Really Red Mix)6:05B2Thin Red Line (Album Version)4:51, Single of the Year for "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)", and Most Promising Group of the Year. The album's producer, Jim Vallance, was named Composer of the Year. The band won two more Juno Awards in 1987 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The band performed in the United States as part of Journey’s Raised on Radio Tour and on Tina Turner's European Break Every Rule Tour. On June 3, 1989, the band performed at the opening celebration of the Skydome.
The band released a second album, Diamond Sun×Diamond Sun13 April 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Diamond Sun5:232Far Away From Here4:083I’m Still Searching3:584A Lifetime of Moments4:595It’s Love U Feel5:336My Song3:267(Watching) Worlds Crumble4:548Send Your Love4:289Suffer in Silence3:3510This Island Earth6:31, in 1988. The album was certified triple platinum in Canada and featured the single "I'm Still Searching", which peaked at #2 in Canada. Hanson left the band in 1988 following the release of Diamond Sun.
Glass Tiger's third album, Simple Mission×Simple Mission1990 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Blinded4:392Animal Heart3:513Let's Talk4:244Where Did Our Love Go4:325My Town4:506The Rhythm of Your Love4:387Spanish Slumber1:308Simple Mission4:359Stand or Fall4:0010Rescued (By the Arms of Love)4:1611One to One4:3112One Night Alone4:0613(She Said) Love Me Like a Man4:10, was released in 1991 by Capitol Records. The album received radio play in Canada and Europe. It was certified platinum in Canada.
The band went on hiatus in 1993. After pursuing other projects, the band reformed in 2003 with new drummer Chris McNeil and began touring again.
In March 2009, Glass Tiger and members of the NHL alumni visited Canadian Forces stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The visit included live performances, and footage was shown on an episode of Entertainment Tonight Canada. The band returned to Afghanistan for a second performance in 2010.
In 2012, Glass Tiger toured across Canada with the band Roxette, and performed as part of Penticton, British Columbia's "Rock The Peach Music Fest" On July 1, 2013, Glass Tiger performed a free concert in Leduc, Alberta, as part of a Canada Day Celebration. Glass Tiger performed at a number of festivals in the summer of 2017. On September 23, 2017, Glass Tiger performed at Canada Games Plaza in Prince George, British Columbia. The free concert was held to thank the city for receiving over 11,000 evacuees from the southern interior who had been displaced by various wildfires.
In February 2018, to celebrate 31 years of making music together, the band released an album entitled 31. Produced by Scottish/Canadian country artist Johnny Reid, the album includes special guest contributions from Julian Lennon ("Thin Red Line"), Alan Doyle ("My Song"), Véronic DiCaire ("Someday") and Susan Aglukark and David R. Maracle ("Diamond Sun").
In May 2019, Glass Tiger released their fifth studio album, 33. Following the release of 33, the band joined Corey Hart on his Never Surrender cross-Canada tour in June 2019. The band continued to perform a number of headlining shows throughout the summer and performed as part of the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland.
On May 15, 2025, Glass Tiger was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Band members

Current

Al Connelly – guitar, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present)
Alan Frew – vocals, guitar, tambourine (1983–present)
Wayne Parker – bass, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present)
Sam Reid – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present)
Chris McNeill – drums (2003–present)
Former

Michael Hanson – drums, guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988)

Compilation albums

Air Time: The Best of Glass Tiger (1993)
No Turning Back: 1985–2005 (2005)
Then, Now, Next (2012)

Singles

NB: "My Song" (1988) missed the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 71 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.
NB: "Don't Forget Me" and "Someday×Someday1986 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksASomeday (extended mix)7:19B1Someday (dub mix)6:26B2Someday (single-version)3:34" both reached the Billboard AC chart, peaking at #30 and #4 respectively.