Boulevard (band)
| Boulevard (BLVD) | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Genres | Hard rock, Arena rock |
| Years active | 1983–1991, 2014- |
| Labels | MCA Canada |
| Members |
Mark Holden Dave Corman David Forbes Andrew Johns Cory Curtis Randall Stoll |
| Past members |
Randy Gould Randy Burgess Jerry Adolphe Tom Christiansen |
Boulevard is a Canadian band (originally called BLVD) formed in 1983 in Calgary by Mark Holden (saxophone/vocals). The band dissolved in 1991. They reunited in 2014 and played at Firefest in Nottingham, England. The band has also started to write new songs for an upcoming record, due out in 2016. They released a DVD, "Live from Gastown" in December 2015.
In 1983, Mark Holden, co founder of the new Thunder Road Studio in Calgary, Alberta. Shortly thereafter, he started a studio project called Modern Minds using studio players in Calgary at the time. In 1984 he asked Andrew Johns to join as Keyboard player/ lead vocalist while redoing some of the old demos. Meanwhile an offer from CBS records in Germany signed the band. The band then travelled to Germany to make a video for the first single "Rainy Day In London", and perform on 'Ronny's Pop Show' and 'Bananas' both widely viewed TV shows. "Rainy Day in London" topped out at #45 on the Billboard Charts in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The band was then assembled which included Randy Gould on guitar, Jerry Adolphe on drums, Hans Sahlen on bass and Andrew Johns on keyboards and lead vocals. The group remained in Calgary until it ended up inking a deal with MCA records in 1988 and consequently moved to Vancouver Canada to procure management with the Bruce Allen talent agency where Randy Burgess replaced Hans on bass and vocals.
Their self-titled debut album was recorded at Ocean Sound in Vancouver by producer Pierre 'Baz' Bazinet and was mixed by notable rock producers Bob Rock and Mike Fraser. The album produced four singles with videos for "Never Give Up" and "Far From Over", and the band had good exposure by touring Canada opening for Glass Tiger. The band also opened for BOSTON on its final leg of the Third Stage tour… ending up in Seattle WA, the home of new lead singer David Forbes. David had crossed paths with both Mark Holden and Andrew Johns in unrelated circles and was a great fit for the band and brought his powerful voice to the "already vocal heavy" band. All members sang "live". In day of samplers and tape it was a surprise to hear this "studio" band actually sound better "live"..
By 1990, Boulevard had revised their lineup with Thom Christiansen on bass (formerly of Idle Eyes, later to play with Econoline Crush, Josh Kelly) and Randall Stoll on drums.(Randall later moving on to play with k.d. lang and Tom Cochrane. They recorded Into the Street at Venture Studios in Vancouver with John Punter and released two singles in Canada. The band broke up by 1991.
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