Capturing the spirit of Canadian rock from the late 20th century, this history tells the stories of the musicians and bands that made an indelible mark on Canadian culture and the global stage. Regarded by critics and musicians as the definitive history of the era, this massive tome has been updated to include brand-new interviews and up-to-the-present histories of the bands from Canada's homegrown music industry, including Blue Rodeo, the Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Sloan, Barenaked Ladies, Daniel Lanois, and many others. Rich, extensive first-person interviews pair with a treasure trove of rare photos in this one-of-a-kind masterpiece, making it one of the seminal works in the field of Canadian music writing and a must-read for any Canadian music fan.

Disclaimer

Foreword

Overture: Everybody Knows This is Nowhere

Did You Get My Message on the People's Radio?: CBC, Campus Radio, MuchMusic

Glittering Prizes and Endless Compromises

Under the Volcano: The Fallout of Vancouver Punk

Folk of the Eighties: Montreal

Yeah, it Matters: Change of Heart and Post-Punk Toronto

Northern Wishes & Visionary Flounders

What Are We Fighting For?: The Outsiders

Acadian Driftwood: The Creation of The Daniel Lanois Sound

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

Folk You: Roots Revisited

Te Importance of Being Sloan

Never Mind the Molluscs: The Halifax Underground

The Path of Thorns: Nettwerk Records

Trust Yourself: Blue Rodeo

Two Solitudes: The Tragically Hip

Epilogue: Where the Change Is

Selected Cast of Characters

Selected Critical Discography

Sources

Thank Yous

Index

Michael Barclay works at Maclean’s and blogs at Radio Free Canuckistan. He has written for the CBC, Exclaim!, Eye Weekly, and Magnet; has been a musician his whole life; and sings on Arcade Fire's Funeral album. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. Ian A.D. Jack is a teacher and songwriter. He is a former freelance writer who now spends his time recording and performing with The Loft Party and Headpets. He lives in Port Hope, Ontario, with his wife, Cara, and their two spirited sons. Jason Schneider’s work can regularly be read in Exclaim!. He has also been a contributor to the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and many other publications. He is the author of Whispering Pines: The Northern Roots of American Music, From Hank Snow to The Band, and the novel 3,000 Miles. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario. Gordon Downie, author of the foreword, is the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band The Tragically Hip.