April Wine is a Canadian rock band from Waverley, Nova Scotia. Formed in 1969, the group originally consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Myles Goodwyn, guitarist David Henman, bassist Jim Henman, and drummer and keyboardist Ritchie Henman. The band's current lineup features guitarist Brian Greenway (a member since 1977), bassist Richard Lanthier (since 2011), drummer Roy Nichol (since 2012) and guitarist and lead vocalist Marc Parent (since 2022).

History 1969–1985 April Wine was formed in the fall of 1969 by brothers David and Ritchie Henman (on guitar/vocals and drums, respectively) with their cousin Jim (on lead vocals and bass) and friend Myles Goodwyn (on guitar and vocals). According to David, the band's first official rehearsal took place on December 1, 1969. The group soon relocated to Montreal, Quebec and signed with Aquarius Records, recording and releasing their self-titled debut album in 1971. After the album was released, Jim Henman left April Wine in October 1971, with Jim Clench taking his place. On Record followed in 1972, before the Henman brothers also departed in September 1973, after a period of intensive touring which left them "burned out". Goodwyn and Clench brought in Gary Moffet and Jerry Mercer to record that year's Electric Jewels.

The lineup of Goodwyn, Moffet, Clench and Mercer released Live! in 1974 and Stand Back in 1975, before Clench left after disagreements with the rest of the band concerning "musical direction". He was replaced by Steve Lang, who debuted on The Whole World's Goin' Crazy the next year. Forever for Now and Live at the El Mocambo followed in 1977, before Brian Greenway of The Dudes (which featured David and Ritchie Henman) joined the band that August, making it a five-piece for the first time. The new five-piece lineup remained stable for several years, releasing a string of successful albums, but eventually disbanded after Goodwyn and the rest of the band grew apart due to creative differences; they played a farewell tour which ended on July 31, 1984, and spawned the live album One for the Road.

Despite the band's breakup, April Wine was still contractually obligated to produce one more album for Capitol Records. Goodwyn, who had recently moved to Nassau, The Bahamas, therefore led the production of Walking Through Fire in 1985, which featured Greenway and session musicians Jean Pellerin (bass), Marty Simon (drums) and Daniel Barbe (keyboards).

Since 1992 After several years of occasional discussions, April Wine officially reunited in July 1992. Alongside returning members Myles Goodwyn and Brian Greenway, the new lineup also included former bassist Jim Clench and drummer Jerry Mercer, plus new third guitarist Steve Segal. Gary Moffet was invited to return alongside his bandmates, but chose to remain "committed to his record production business". The band released Attitude in 1993 and Frigate in 1994, before Segal left during 1995. The remaining members released Back to the Mansion in 2001, the tour for which introduced former Coney Hatch and the Guess Who frontman Carl Dixon in Segal's place. Dixon remained with April Wine for three touring cycles, leaving in early 2004 to return to the Guess Who.

Back to a four-piece lineup, April Wine released Roughly Speaking in 2006, before Clench left at the end of the year to "pursue other interests", replaced the following January by Breen LeBoeuf. In November 2008, Mercer also left the band, reportedly after "conflicts with lead singer Myles Goodwyn became unbearable". Blair Mackay took over on drums from January 2009. The new members did not last long, however — LeBoeuf was replaced in July 2011 by Ray Lanthier, while Mackay was replaced in March 2012 by Roy "Nip" Nichol. This lineup remained stable for over ten years, before Goodwyn announced in December 2022 that he would be stepping down from touring due to ongoing health issues, with Marc Parent taking his place. Goodwyn played his last show in March 2023, before he died on December 3, 2023.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBrian Greenwayall April Wine releases from First Glance (1978) onwardsRichard Lanthier2011–presentnone to dateRoy "Nip" Nichol2012–presentMarc Parent2022–present

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMyles Goodwynall April Wine releases from April Wine (1971) to Alive in America (2023)David Henman1969–1973Ritchie HenmanJim Henman1969–1971April Wine (1971)Jim ClenchJerry Mercerall April Wine releases from Electric Jewels (1973) to One for the Road (1985), and from Attitude (1993) to Alive in America (2023)Gary Moffet1973–1984Steve Lang1975–1984 Jean Pellerin1985 bassWalking Through Fire (1986)Marty SimondrumsDaniel BarbekeyboardsSteve Segal1992–1994 guitarCarl Dixon2001–2004Greatest Hits Live 2003 (2003)Breen LeBoeuf2007–2011noneBlair Mackay2009–2012

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesLate 1969–October 1971Myles Goodwyn — guitar, lead and backing vocals David Henman — guitar, lead and backing vocals Jim Henman — bass, lead and backing vocals Ritchie Henman — drums, percussion, keyboardsApril Wine (1971)October 1971–September 1973Myles Goodwyn — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards David Henman — guitar, backing vocals Jim Clench — bass, backing and lead vocals Ritchie Henman — drums, percussion, keyboardsOn Record (1972)September 1973–fall 1975Myles Goodwyn — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Gary Moffet — guitar, backing vocals Jim Clench — bass, backing and lead vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsElectric Jewels (1973) Live! (1974) Stand Back (1975)Fall 1975–August 1977Myles Goodwyn — lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Gary Moffet — guitar, backing vocals Steve Lang — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsThe Whole World's Goin' Crazy (1976) Forever for Now (1977) Live at the El Mocambo (1977)August 1977–July 1984Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Gary Moffet — guitar, backing vocals Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Steve Lang — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsFirst Glance (1978) Harder ... Faster (1979) The Nature of the Beast (1981) Live in London (1981) Power Play (1982) Animal Grace (1984) One for the Road (1985) Greatest Hits Live (1999) Alive in America (2023)1985Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Jean Pellerin — bass Marty Simon — drums Daniel Barbe — keyboards Walking Through Fire (1985)Band inactive 1985–1992Summer 1992–early 1995Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Steve Segal — guitar Jim Clench — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsAttitude (1993) Frigate (1994)Early 1995–early 2001Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Jim Clench — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsBack to the Mansion (2001)Early 2001–early 2004Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Carl Dixon — guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Jim Clench — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsGreatest Hits Live 2003 (2003)Early 2004–late 2006Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Jim Clench — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsRoughly Speaking (2006)January 2007–November 2008Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Breen LeBoeuf — bass, backing vocals Jerry Mercer — drums, percussion, backing vocalsrowspan="5" January 2009–July 2011Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Breen LeBouef — bass, backing vocals Blair Mackay — drums, percussion, backing vocalsJuly 2011–March 2012Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Richard Lanthier — bass, backing vocals Blair Mackay — drums, percussion, backing vocalsMarch 2012–December 2022Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Richard Lanthier — bass, backing vocals Roy Nichol — drums, percussion, backing vocalsDecember 2022–March 2023Marc Parent — lead and backing vocals, guitar Myles Goodwyn — lead and backing vocals, guitar Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Richard Lanthier — bass, backing vocals Roy Nichol — drums, percussion, backing vocalsMarch 2023–presentMarc Parent — lead and backing vocals, guitar Brian Greenway — guitar, harmonica, lead and backing vocals Richard Lanthier — bass, backing vocals Roy Nichol — drums, percussion, backing vocalsnone to date

References

External links April Wine official website