Breeding Ground (band)

Breeding Ground
Jonathan Strayer (bass, left) and John Shirreff (vocals, right)
Background information
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Alternative rock, Post-punk
Years active	1981–1990
Labels	Mannequin Records, Fringe Product
Associated acts	Molly Johnson, Alta Moda, Infidels, Blue Peter, Kinetic Ideals, Chalk Circle, Dave Howard Singers, Johnny McLeod
Members	John Shirreff (vocals) Hugh Gladish (guitar, keys) Jonathan Strayer (bass guitar)
Past members	Ken Jones (drummer) Jonathan Davies (drummer, production) Kevin Hunter (drummer) Gary Quinn (bass guitar, slide guitar) Chris Wardman (additional guitars, production) Molly Johnson (guest vocals, live shows) Jason Sniderman (piano) Tad Winklarz (saxophone)

Breeding Ground were a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1980s, based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lead singer John Shirreff and guitarist Hugh Gladish were the only consistent members of the band, and they founded the group in 1981 with original bassist Jonathan Strayer.

Breeding Ground were created in 1981 by vocalist Shirreff, guitarist Gladish, and bassist Strayer. Breeding Ground played over 40 shows on the Queen Street West circuit before they released their first eponymous debut EP, Breeding Ground, on Mannequin Records, recorded at Montclair Sound in November 1982, with original drummer Ken Jones. This was produced by Paul Tozer, their live audio technician, who worked with them on their first two EPs. Within a month of its release they were asked to open up for Bauhaus on December 4, 1982 at Larry's Hideaway in Toronto. Comparisons to Joy Division and the British cold-wave invasion were quick to surface after this release. They were managed by longtime friend David Hart (who also masterminded and operated the stage lighting) during this era. Breeding Ground also played at Lee's Palace in Toronto in 1986.

Within a little over a year, they had returned to the studio with this line-up to record "Reunion/Slaughter", their second 12" single. Jonathan Davies, the drummer for local band Kinetic Ideals, expressed an interest in assisting with production, and 3 months before the release replaced Jones in the live line-up. This EP was recorded at Quest Studio, Oshawa, and released in October 1983. "Reunion/Slaughter" was playlisted on Toronto radio station CFNY and again on college stations across Canada.

Davies was later replaced by Kevin Hunter, who would stay with the band until their break-up in 1990.

Three years after releasing "Reunion/Slaughter", the band returned to the studio in the late winter of 1985 to record their third release, with label Fringe Product. This album, Tales of Adventure, was released April 25, 1986, and spawned the hits "This Time Tomorrow" and "Happy Now I Know" featuring Molly Johnson. Videos were produced for these songs, both directed and produced by Jonathan Strayer's younger brother Colin Strayer; the video for "This Time Tomorrow" was shot on January 28, 1986. However, a year later, bassist Strayer had left, leading to a brief hiatus in which they disbanded, until reforming with Gary Quinn on bass leading to the follow-up recording, Obscurity & Flair. Chris Wardman joined soon after the release of Obscurity & Flair as an additional guitarist. It should be noted that the late Gary Quinn, wrote the lyrics for, and played slide guitar on the track "Live Like Fear".