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Biography
for|the fish|Northern PikeRefimprove|date=December 2010Infobox musical artist | | name = The Northern Pikes| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada | instrument =| genre = Rock music|Rock | occupation =| years_active = 1984dash1993 1999dashpresent| label = Virgin Records|Virgin | associated_acts =| website = URL|thepikes.com| current_members = Bryan Potvin Jay Semko Ross Nykiforuk Don Schmid | past_members = Glen Hollingshead Merl Bryck| notable_instruments = The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock music|rock band formed in Saskatoon , Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members were Bryan Potvin , Jay Semko , Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead. Hollingshead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Don Schmid in 1986. The band was active until 1993 and subsequently reunited in 1999.
History
The Northern Pikes released two independent Extended play|EP s before being signed to Virgin Records in 1986, "The Northern Pikes" (1984) and "Scene in North America" (1985). Their first album for the label, Big Blue Sky , included the Semko-penned "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album Secrets of the Alibi contained two more minor Canadian hits, "Wait for Me" and "Let's Pretend" (both by Semko), as well as the slightly bigger hit "Hope Go Astray", written by Potvin.
Their 1990 album, Snow in June became their biggest seller in Canada and the United States|US . That album's lead single, " She Ain't Pretty ", was the band's biggest hit, and was written by Potvin. An innovative music video for that song received heavy play on MuchMusic and was nominated for a Juno Award . Overall, the band has been nominated for 5 Juno Awards, but have yet to record a win.
In 1992, the band released Neptune . The album's biggest hit, "Believe", was again written by Potvin. After touring to support the album, they announced their retirement as a group in July 1993.
In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993 , but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring. They have since released three independent albums, including Truest Inspiration (2001) and '' It's a Good Life (Northern Pikes album)|It's a Good Life (2003), as well as the aptly titled Live (Northern Pikes album)|Live (2000).
In 2005, the band struck up a musical collaboration with Les Stroud . Throughout 2005 and 2006 they performed together live several times, but a promised collaborative album never materialized.cite news | title = Survivorman a catch for the Northern Pikes | work = Entertainment | publisher =Parry Sound North Star | date =2006-03-22 | url = http://www.parrysound.com/fun/1143060631/ | accessdate =2007-08-14
In 2006, the band was expected to release a hybrid collection of songs from Truest Inspiration and '' It's a Good Life (Northern Pikes album)|It's a Good Life under the name Beautiful Music . It was to include a bonus DVD of footage from the recording of Truest Inspiration and some promo clips from It's a Good Life (Northern Pikes album)|It's a Good Life . However, this has yet to see the light of day. In 2011, the band released its first two independent EPs digitally via iTunes. cite web| last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =News | work = | publisher =The Northern Pikes - Official Website | date = | url = http://www.thepikes.com/news.htm | doi = | accessdate =2007-08-14 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070627004534/ http://www.thepikes.com/news.htm |archivedate = 2007-06-27
Bryck left the band in 2007, and long-time auxiliary keyboard player Ross Nykiforuk was promoted to full membership in his stead. The band's website currently promises a new studio release for 2012.
2003 - '' It's a Good Life (Northern Pikes album)|It's a Good Life
Live albums
1993 - Gig (Northern Pikes album)|Gig
2000 - Live (Northern Pikes album)|Live
Compilations
1999 - Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993
2007 - Platinum
References
;Citations Reflist
External links
http://www.thepikes.com The Northern Pikes Official Site
http://myspace.com/npikes The Northern Pikes at MySpace
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/N/Northern_Pikes.html The Northern Pikes entry at JAM! The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia
http://www.innerviews.org/inner/semko.html Jay Semko interview discussing The Northern Pikes
DEFAULTSORT:Northern Pikes, The Category:Musical groups established in 1984 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1993 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1999 Category:Musical groups from Saskatoon Category:Canadian rock music groups
