Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band from Newmarket, Ontario that formed in 1981. The band has released five studio albums. Its 1986 debut album, The Thin Red Line, went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Two singles from that album, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday", reached the U.S. Top 10. Glass Tiger has won five Juno Awards and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987. In 2025, the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
History In Newmarket, Ontario, a band called Tokyo formed in 1981. The band's members were vocalist Alan Frew and bassist Wayne Parker (both from local band Onyx), along with keyboardist Sam Reid (from River Drive Park band The End) and drummer Michael Hanson. Guitarist Al Connelly joined the band in 1983. The band later changed its name to Glass Tiger.
In 1986, Glass Tiger released its first album, The Thin Red Line;"Glass Tiger, Johnny Reid team up" . Brian Kelly, Sault Star, July 6, 2017 it was produced by Jim Vallance (who co-wrote two songs) and Bryan Adams made a memorable vocal cameo on the lead single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)". This album went quadruple platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. Two of its songs, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and "Someday", reached the Top 10 in the U.S. charts. Glass Tiger won three 1986 Juno Awards: Album of the Year for The Thin Red Line, Single of the Year for "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)", and Most Promising Group of the Year. The album's producer, Jim Vallance, was named Composer of the Year. The band won two more Juno Awards in 1987"Nominees and Winners - Glass Tiger". Juno Awards website. Accessed 2018 01 12. and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.Artist: Glass Tiger CANOE -- Jam!" Glass Tiger Thin Red Line". AllMusic Review by Mike DeGagne The band performed in the United States as part of Journey’s Raised on Radio Tour and on Tina Turner's European Break Every Rule Tour. On June 3, 1989, the band performed at the opening celebration of the Skydome.
The band released a second album, Diamond Sun, in 1988. The album was certified triple platinum in Canada and featured the single "I'm Still Searching", which peaked at #2 in Canada. Hanson left the band in 1988 following the release of Diamond Sun.
Glass Tiger's third album, Simple Mission, was released in 1991 by Capitol Records. The album received radio play in Canada and Europe."Glass Tiger" . The Bulletin, Newmarket, December 2014. Pages 12–14 It was certified platinum in Canada.
The band went on hiatus in 1993. After pursuing other projects, the band reformed in 2003 with new drummer Chris McNeil and began touring again.
In March 2009, Glass Tiger and members of the NHL alumni visited Canadian Forces stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The visit included live performances, and footage was shown on an episode of Entertainment Tonight Canada. The band returned to Afghanistan for a second performance in 2010."Glass Tiger gives Canadian soldiers unplugged show". May 6, 2010. Aurora Banner
In 2012, Glass Tiger toured across Canada with the band Roxette,"Concert review: Roxette with Glass Tiger at the Bell Centre; Aug. 31, 2012". Montreal Gazette, September 1, 2012 and performed as part of Penticton, British Columbia's "Rock The Peach Music Fest" On July 1, 2013, Glass Tiger performed a free concert in Leduc, Alberta, as part of a Canada Day Celebration.Leduc announces double headliners for double celebration City of Leduc Glass Tiger performed at a number of festivals in the summer of 2017."Happy Alan Frew Talks 1980s Music, New Glass Tiger Album and More!". Music Life Magazine, by Jim Barber, October 29, 2017. On September 23, 2017, Glass Tiger performed at Canada Games Plaza in Prince George, British Columbia. The free concert was held to thank the city for receiving over 11,000 evacuees from the southern interior who had been displaced by various wildfires.
In February 2018, to celebrate 31 years of making music together, the band released an album entitled 31. Produced by Scottish/Canadian country artist Johnny Reid, the album includes special guest contributions from Julian Lennon ("Thin Red Line"), Alan Doyle ("My Song"), Véronic DiCaire ("Someday") and Susan Aglukark and David R. Maracle ("Diamond Sun").
In May 2019, Glass Tiger released their fifth studio album, 33. Following the release of 33, the band joined Corey Hart on his Never Surrender cross-Canada tour in June 2019. The band continued to perform a number of headlining shows throughout the summer and performed as part of the Sopot International Song Festival in Poland.
On May 15, 2025, Glass Tiger was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Band members
Current Al Connelly – guitar, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present) Alan Frew – vocals, guitar, tambourine (1983–present) Wayne Parker – bass, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present) Sam Reid – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1981–1993, 2003–present) Chris McNeill – drums (2003–present) Former Michael Hanson – drums, guitar, backing vocals (1981–1988)
Timeline
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications CAN AUS US The Thin Red Line Release date: February 17, 1986 Label: Capitol Formats: CD, cassette 3 77 27 RIAA: Gold MC: 4× Platinum Diamond Sun Release date: 13 April 1988 Label: EMI Manhattan Formats: CD, cassette 6 — 82 MC: 3× Platinum Simple Mission Release date: 22 March 1991 Label: Capitol Formats: CD, cassette 11 — — MC: Platinum 31 Release date: 16 February 2018 Label: Halo Entertainment Group Formats: CD — — — 33 Release date: 17 May 2019 Label: Willow Music Formats: CD - EP on Vinyl — — — Songs for a Winter's Night Release date: 30 October 2020 Label: Willow Music Formats: CD - Vinyl — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums Live (2006)
Compilation albums Air Time: The Best of Glass Tiger (1993) No Turning Back: 1985–2005 (2005) Then, Now, Next (2012)
Singles Title Release Peak chart positions Certifications AlbumCANCanadian peaks RPM MagazineUSUSRockUKAUS "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"1986 1 2 17 29 9 MC: Platinum The Thin Red Line "Thin Red Line" 19 — — — 91 "Someday" 14 7 — 66 97 MC: Gold "You're What I Look For" 1987 11 — — — — "I Will Be There" 29 34 21 — — "I'm Still Searching" 1988 2 31 12 — — Diamond Sun "Diamond Sun""Canadian Content (Cancon)". RPM - Volume 48, No. 17 Aug 13, 1988 5 — — 78 — "My Song" (featuring The Chieftains) 19 — — — — "Far Away From Here" — — — — — "Send Your Love" — — — — — "(Watching) Worlds Crumble" 1989 27 — — — — "Blinded" 1991 — — — — — Simple Mission "Animal Heart" 4 — — — — "Rhythm of Your Love" 8 — — — — "My Town" (featuring Rod Stewart) 8 — — 33 — "Rescued (By the Arms of Love)" 8 — — — — "Touch of Your Hand" 1993 34 — — — — Air Time: The Best of Glass Tiger "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
NB: "My Song" (1988) missed the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 71 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart.
NB: "Don't Forget Me" and "Someday" both reached the Billboard AC chart, peaking at #30 and #4 respectively.
Awards and nominations Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Juno Awards 1986 The Thin Red Line Album of the Year Glass Tiger Most Promising Group of the Year "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" Best Selling Single Best Video Grammy Award1987 Glass TigerBest New Artist Juno Awards 1987 "Someday" Single of the Year Glass TigerCanadian Entertainer of the Year 1989 Canadian Entertainer of the Year Best Group "Diamond Sun" Single of the Year Diamond Sun Album of the Year 1992 "Animal Heart"Single of the Year Glass Tiger Group of the Year
Notes
References
External links Glass Tiger homepage Bio at CanadianBands.com Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia entry Glass Tiger in The Canadian Encyclopedia Photos from Glass Tiger's performance in Vancouver, 2008