The Walk (Canadian band)
Encyclopedia
The Walk were a Canadian
alternative rock
band. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
, the band was formed in 1987 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Allan, guitarist/keyboardist Jason Frederick
, bass guitarist Eric Forget and drummer James Prudhomme. They disbanded in 1996.
In 1990, with producer John Newlands, they released their debut album, Hollow,
independently. The same year they also contributed a track to the compilation "From Under The Slag Heap", produced by campus radio station CFLR (now CKLU-FM
). Sporadic touring followed, with the band opening for acts such as The Tragically Hip
and Sarah McLachlan
.
In 1991 the band relocated to Hamilton, Ontario
, where they released their second album (with guitarist Billy Bruhmuller replacing Cahill), Insomuch. The album received national radio airplay and charted on college radio across Canada.
In 1993, The Walk became a four piece, and made what were arguably their strongest recordings with producer Colin Cripps
at Hamilton's Grant Avenue Studios. Initial tracks were released as the Wellington Street EP. A full length album followed, Turbine
, produced by Cripps and mixed by Mark S. Berry
. The band signed to MCA (now Universal Music Group
) Canada. A promotional single and video, "Given It All Away" was released, receiving airplay on MuchMusic
, and the band toured extensively, supporting acts such as Crash Vegas
, Junkhouse
, The Headstones
, 13 Engines
, Trooper
, Waltons, and The Watchmen
.
In 1996, after nearly a decade of being well-received critically but only middling commercial success, The Walk disbanded
. Most of the members left the music industry entirely, although Frederick continues to write and release music, mostly for film and television.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band. Originally from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the band was formed in 1987 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Allan, guitarist/keyboardist Jason Frederick
Jason Frederick
Jason Frederick is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and composer of music for films and television.-Biography:Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Frederick was educated in Canada and the United States...
, bass guitarist Eric Forget and drummer James Prudhomme. They disbanded in 1996.
History
The band was originally known as "Painted Black" (which featured fifth member, guitarist James Cahill) before changing its name to The Walk in 1989.In 1990, with producer John Newlands, they released their debut album, Hollow,
independently. The same year they also contributed a track to the compilation "From Under The Slag Heap", produced by campus radio station CFLR (now CKLU-FM
CKLU-FM
CKLU-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 96.7 in Sudbury, Ontario. It is the campus radio station of the city's Laurentian University, and airs programming in both English and French, along with special interest programming for other language communities in the area.The station...
). Sporadic touring followed, with the band opening for acts such as The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
and Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
.
In 1991 the band relocated to Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, where they released their second album (with guitarist Billy Bruhmuller replacing Cahill), Insomuch. The album received national radio airplay and charted on college radio across Canada.
In 1993, The Walk became a four piece, and made what were arguably their strongest recordings with producer Colin Cripps
Colin Cripps
Colin Cripps is a Canadian musician and record producer.-Career:Cripps has been a member and producer of the bands Crash Vegas and Junkhouse, and a frequent collaborator with bands such as Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy Band, and The Headstones.He has also produced and written material for Kathleen...
at Hamilton's Grant Avenue Studios. Initial tracks were released as the Wellington Street EP. A full length album followed, Turbine
Turbine (album)
Turbine was the third full-length album by The Walk, released in 1994. Initially released independently on Gritty City Records, the album received a national release later the same year on MCA Canada....
, produced by Cripps and mixed by Mark S. Berry
Mark S. Berry
Mark S. Berry is a music producer who has to his credit 36 international Gold and Platinum record awards. He is also chairman of Attack Media Group ....
. The band signed to MCA (now Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
) Canada. A promotional single and video, "Given It All Away" was released, receiving airplay on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
, and the band toured extensively, supporting acts such as Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas was a Canadian folk rock band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.-Biography:The band was formed by Michelle McAdorey and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer...
, Junkhouse
Junkhouse
-History:Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia....
, The Headstones
The Headstones
Headstones are a Canadian hard rock band that began in the late 1980s in Kingston, Ontario and were active until 2003, subsequently reforming in 2011. The band consists of vocalist Hugh Dillon, guitarist Trent Carr, bassist Tim White, and drummer Dale Harrison...
, 13 Engines
13 Engines
13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1990s.Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students—vocalist John Critchley, guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier. They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986...
, Trooper
Trooper (band)
Trooper is a Juno Award winning Canadian rock band that developed from a group formed by vocalist Ramon McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith in 1975...
, Waltons, and The Watchmen
The Watchmen
The Watchmen is a Canadian rock band. They were one of the most commercially successful Canadian alternative rock groups of the mid to late 1990s. During their peak years the band had three gold records and one platinum record...
.
In 1996, after nearly a decade of being well-received critically but only middling commercial success, The Walk disbanded
. Most of the members left the music industry entirely, although Frederick continues to write and release music, mostly for film and television.
Discography
- Hollow (1990)
- Insomuch (1992)
- Wellington Street EP (1993)
- "Given It All Away" cd single (1994)
- TurbineTurbine (album)Turbine was the third full-length album by The Walk, released in 1994. Initially released independently on Gritty City Records, the album received a national release later the same year on MCA Canada....
(1994)
External links
- The Walk at Myspace.com