George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Since 1975, they’ve sold more than 15 million albums, built a classic catalog of hits, and played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows. They broke records with their 50 Dates/50 States tour, delivered landmark performances at Live Aid and on SNL, and became mainstays of radio, MTV and stages worldwide for more than two generations. Through it all, they’ve remained one of the most consistent– and consistently passionate – progenitors of blues-based rock in pop culture history.

For the past 45 years, it’s been very good to be George Thorogood & The Destroyers. And in 2019, their Good To Be Bad Tour: 45 Years Of Rock will prove why like never before.

But after 45 years of rock – and no signs of stopping – can Thorogood point to what continues to make it all matter? “My highlight is every night when I walk on that stage and play our hits for those happy people,” he says. “At the end of the show, the audience is smiling, I don’t see any police and everyone got their money’s worth.”

More importantly, is it still good to be bad? George Thorogood instantly flashes that huge grin. “You bet it is,” he says. “We’ll always be the baddest band in the land. Expect our best on this tour, because that’s what you’re gonna get.”

STYX

The six men comprising STYX have committed to rocking the Paradise together with audiences far and wide by averaging more than 100 shows a year every year since (yes) 1999, and each one of them is committed to making the next show better than the last. Founded in Chicago in 1972, STYX has the unique distinction of being the first band in rock history to have four consecutive certified multimillion-selling albums in a row: 1977’s The Grand Illusion, 1978’s Pieces of Eight, 1979’s Cornerstone, and 1981’s Paradise Theatre.

STYX draws from more than four decades of barn burning chart hits, joyous singalongs, and hard-driving deep cuts. Like a symphony that builds to a satisfying crescendo, a STYX set covers a wide range of stylistic cornerstones. From the progressively sweeping splendor that is “The Grand Illusion” to the hunker-down fortitude of all that is the “Blue Collar Man,” from the majestic spiritual love for a special “Lady” to the poignant rumination on the fleeting nature of fame in “Miss America,” from an individual yearning for true connection as a “Man in the Wilderness” to a soul-deep quest to achieve what’s at the heart of one’s personal vision in “Crystal Ball,” from the regal reach-for-the-stars bravado of “Come Sail Away” to the grainy all-in gallop of that rugged “Renegade” who had it made, STYX draws on an unlimited cache of ways to immerse one’s mind and body in their signature sound.

Vince Neil, the voice of Mötley Crüe

Vince Neil, the legendary front man of Mötley Crüe, is an international superstar, accomplished businessman and heartfelt philanthropist. His unmistakable voice leads some of the greatest rock songs of a generation including “Wild Side”, “Shout at the Devil,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood,” “Kickstart My Heart,” “Same Ol’ Situation,” and many others.

Raised on the tough streets of Compton, California, Vince Neil fell in love with music as a child, developing a broad vocabulary that ranged from classic Motown to Hard Rock. As a teenager, he began performing with local bands and soon discovered both a passion for the stage and a natural talent as a singer and performer. He fronted the popular band Rock Candy before reuniting with high school buddy Tommy Lee in 1981, establishing his spot in rock and roll history with the formation of Mötley Crüe.

Mötley Crüe’s epic 34‐year run included countless multi‐platinum releases, more than 22 hit singles, 100 million albums sold and dozens of global tours with sold-out arenas, inclusive of some of the largest venues in the world. The band completed “The Final Tour” on New Year’s Eve 2015, closing the book that told the story of their iconic career. Despite the Mötley Crüe departure from the rock world, however, Vince Neil shows no sign of slow down, continuing to carry on with the unending “The Legacy Continues Tour”.

Neil continues to perform all the classic Mötley Crüe hits with select cuts from his three solo albums. Additionally, this badass performer is working on new music, and has hinted about performing some of it during this tour: “I’ll say that we are recording some stuff for a new record this year,” he said in a Loudwire interview in January. “You often hear some surprises at our shows. I don’t want to give away some of those surprises …The music is exciting. It’s good, fun, nasty, raw energy and great songs.”

Presently, Neil remains primarily occupied answering the call to his immense following with shows internationally in conjunction with the culmination of his fourth solo album. Besides being an International Superstar, Neil is an accomplished businessman and heartfelt philanthropist. He manages to own several restaurants and his own brand of both tequila and vodka. Certainly not least, his efforts have rallied millions of dollars for a non‐profit organization, The Skylar Neil Memorial Foundation, in tribute to the unfortunate loss of his daughter to cancer in 1995.

Trooper

Dan Brisbois of canadianbands.com writes, "They've won practically every Canadian music award possible and they've been dubbed 'Canada's Greatest Party Band' ... and rightfully so." Bob Mersereau, author of The Top 100 Canadian Albums wrote, "Since it came out in 1979, Trooper's Hot Shots has been one of the biggest-selling albums in Canadian music history. It has gone six times platinum, and sells consistently, as do tickets to Trooper gigs. There are clubs and festivals across the country where the annual Trooper show is practically an official holiday." Indeed, Trooper continues to consistently sell out shows across the country - often performing for three generations of fans - demonstrating that the band and its music remain borderless, timeless and ageless.

Trooper has become a Canadian legend. They continue to perform their huge collection of hits with the vitality and sense of humour that has served them well on their steady march through the hills and valleys of Rock and Roll.

Trooper - truly Canadian stars

Joel Rubinoff - The Record

"... a band as ubiquitous on this side of the border as maple syrup and Mounties, popping up every three minutes on classic rock radio despite a bad rap from critics for never having made it in the U.S. ... What they fail to acknowledge, and what becomes more apparent with each passing year, is that this frolicking, rollicking showcase for McGuire’s soaring pop melodies and whimsical wordplay is arguably one of the biggest Canadian bands of all time."

Jim Slotek - Toronto Sun

"When JACK-FM debuted in Toronto last year, it kicked things off with a series of celebrity guest DJs, one of whom was CBC's Rick Mercer. On the morning he hosted, he announced he'd be playing "the greatest Canadian rock song ever." That song: Raise A Little Hell by Trooper."

Real Troopers!

Mike Ross - Edmonton Sun

"They will play Raise a Little Hell, Boys in the Bright White Sports Car, 3 Dressed Up as a Nine, We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time) and ... holy crap, these guys had some big songs."

The Northern Pikes

Iconic Canadian rock band The Northern Pikes are defying the odds, returning with a brand-new studio album, Forest Of Love. It’s the group’s first new release since 2003, and the first to feature new group member Kevin Kane (The Grapes Of Wrath). He joins founding members Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin and Don Schmid, the gang responsible for classic hits She Ain’t Pretty, Teenland, Things I Do For Money, Wait For Me, Hopes Go Astray, Girl With A Problem, Kiss Me You Fool, Believe and more.

Well, they’ve never really been away of course, their music and videos constantly heard as Canadian classics, and the band have been keeping their fans happy with short tours and festival gigs through the 2000’s. Things started heating up again in 2017, when Universal Music reissued the group’s classic debut, 1987’s Big Blue Sky album in a special 30th anniversary “Supersized Edition”, a 3-LP set on coloured vinyl, with a treasure trove of previously unreleased demos and a vintage live recording. The Pikes responded with their biggest tour in a couple of decades, a sprawling 29-date jaunt across the country, with rapturous fans getting to relive their love of Saskatchewan’s finest.

The other guys in the band had no doubt Kane was the missing ingredient. “Having a fourth person after having played as a trio for awhile was pow, it was great,” says bass player Jay Semko. “Kevin’s goooood, he can sing, we couldn’t have asked for a fourth person who was better, really. I’m a huge fan, a Grapes of Wrath fan, a fan of Kevin’s writing and singing, he’s a super-talented guy who fits right in.”

So, it’s the same band, but a brand-new one too. “That’s what it is, it’s Pikes 2019,” says drummer Don Schmid. “We’re all different than we were 30 years ago, it’s a new version. We were hungry to go into the studio.”

They recorded 10 brand-new originals over two sessions and 11 days, basically a song a day. And these truly were new songs, never shared with the other group members before. Each day brought a new surprise. “When we went into the studio, I hadn’t heard a single thing. Not a stitch,” says Schmid. So we started every morning with acoustics and a vocal, whoever wrote the initial song, and we’d craft it into a Pikes tune. And at the end of the day, you had a song.”

Of course, when they hit the road, they still have a whole lifetime of beloved hits for fans young and old. “People want to hear songs that they know and love from earlier in our career, and we’re happy to play them,” says Semko. “Nothing’s more fun than having a whole crowd sing along to one of your songs. It feels pretty good!”

54.40

54.40 is one of the most important popular music groups to emerge from the Canadian cultural landscape. Celebrating their 30-year anniversary – a remarkable achievement in itself - the band has an unbelievable catalogue of hit songs, including "Baby Ran", "I Go Blind" and "Ocean Pearl". Lead by chief songwriter Neil Osborne, 54.40 have carved out a legacy of gold and platinum albums and an outstanding reputation for their live performances that carries through to this day. The secret to their longevity is their ability to redefine and reinvent themselves, taking longtime fans on a ride that is bound to pick up new young fans on the way. To experience 54.40 in concert is to experience how songs have touched and continue to touch people's lives: each show is an extraordinary affair that bridges the gaps of generations through a shared love of music. "A band has to evolve with its audience to keep their interest,” explains bassist Brad Merritt. “We make records based on where we're at, at that time. So it's kind of like a time capsule."

When asked about their track record Matt Johnson once commented, "one thing we hear consistently is 'I didn't know you guys had so many hits,' but we just consider ourselves songwriters. We enjoy the craft and whether we're trying to write an eight-minute epic or just a three-minute pop song, it's very enjoyable for us and we're not afraid to do either."

Toque

In 2012, Todd Kerns, Brent Fitz and Cory Churko took time out of their busy schedules playing with Slash and Kelly Clarkson to band together and play a charity event in Winnipeg, Canada. They decided the theme of the night was to play only Canadian classic music. With a setlist comprised of tunes by such greats as Streetheart, Queen City Kids, Kim Mitchell, Loverboy, Saga, Platinum Blonde, Harlequin and Aldo Nova, they played to a packed house raising money for Cancer research.

The night was such a success that they decided to put together a record to celebrate the best in Canadian Music and remake the songs that influenced and inspired their careers. Toque was born!

The Static Shift

The Static Shift are a Calgary-based, multi-album power trio made up of Mitchell Brady (Guitar/Vocals), Keone Friesen (Bass/Harmonica), and Isaiah Stonehouse (Drums/Background Vocals). They have recorded and released two full albums – Windsor Street (2014), Common Bliss (2017) and an EP, At Odds (2015) – and are always creating new material. A mixture of classic rock and blues, with romps of alternative, indie and psychedelic rock, carries the audience back to the heydays of rock ‘n' roll, while adding a new and unique modern twist to the mix.

The Static Shift are old souls who have honed their unique sound, old school vibe, and high energy blues/rock performance in both sound and stage – a must see for live music enthusiasts…