Loverboy | |
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Loverboy at the Juno Awards 2009
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Background information | |
Origin | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
Genres | Rock, hard rock |
Years active | 1979–1988, 1989, 1991–present |
Labels | Columbia, CMC International |
Associated acts | Streetheart, Moxy |
Website | www.LoverboyBand.com |
Members |
Mike Reno Paul Dean Doug Johnson Matt Frenette Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve |
Past members | Scott Smith |
Loverboy is a Canadian rock group formed in 1979 in Calgary, Alberta. Loverboy's hit singles, particularly "Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend", have become arena rock staples and are still heard on many classic rock and classic hits radio stations across Canada. The band is based in Vancouver.
Throughout the 1980s, Loverboy accumulated numerous hit songs in Canada and the United States, earning four multi-platinum albums and selling millions of records. After being rejected by many American record labels, they signed with Columbia/CBS Records Canada and began recording their first album on March 20, 1980. Loverboy's founding members were Mike Reno (previously with Moxy as Mike Rynoski) on lead vocals, Paul Dean (previously with Streetheart and Scrubbaloe Caine) on guitars and vocals, Jim Clench (formerly of April Wine and BTO) on bass guitar (replaced shortly after by Scott Smith), Doug Johnson (b. Dec. 19, 1957 in New Westminster, B.C.) on keyboards, and Matt Frenette (b. Mar. 7, 1954 in Calgary, also formerly of Streetheart) on drums.
It has been stated by Reno that their name was chosen due to a dream by Paul Dean. He had come up with the name after spending the previous night with some of the band mates, including Reno and their girlfriends, before going to the movies. The girlfriends were browsing through fashion magazines, where the guys in the band saw a Cover Girl advertisement. Cover Girl became Cover Boy, and then became Loverboy in Dean's dream later that night. After being told by Dean about the dream the next morning, Reno agreed to try it out and it stuck. The group made its live debut opening for Kiss at Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, B.C. on November 19, 1979.