It was November 1979. A young band called had more dreams than bookings but their manager, , was determined to change that equation.
Wed been playing a few clubs and Bruce said, Im throwing you to the lions, drummer Matt Frenette told WE Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»at the awards celebration on Wednesday night.
The lions? Allen had booked Loverboy to open for KISS at the Pacific Coliseum.
A year later Loverboy would record their first album, which sold four million copies, but that night they were just a group of nervous young rock and rollers.
As keyboardist Doug Johnson remembers of that concert, Bruce announced us and said, Ladies and gentlemen the sound of the 80s! Everyone [in the audience] went, huh? We were pelted with about 30 toilet paper rolls and I took them all home because we werent making much money.
Frenette, Johnson, and Paul Dean were at the on Wednesday night to accept VMIs Legends award. (Lead singer Mike Reno was recovering from knee surgery; original bassist Scott Smith died in a freak sailing accident in 2000.)
Its come to that, Frenette said with a laugh when asked what its like to be old enough to be considered a legend. Once we got in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame it was a slippery slope.
Its not only Loverboy thats attained legend status. The award is named in honour of Allen, whose other clients include Bryan Adams, Anne Murray and Michael Bublé, and agent Sam Feldman, whose A-to-Y roster of musicians is a Whos Who of the Canadian music scene.
Frenette said Allens tutelage toughened us up. Allen says, I thought it was a good character builder.
Character they had they became known for their long hair and tight red leather pants. But image is only whats on the surface. Allen says Loverboy has what every band needs to get ahead and stay there: incredible focus. (Allen also says that he only takes on single artists now. I dont do young bands any more because bands become a democracy.)
Much has changed since those heady days when Loverboy did indeed become one of the voices of the 80s, pumping out hits such as Working for the Weekend, The Kid is Hot Tonight, and Heaven in Your Eyes (Top Gun.) One album alone, Get Lucky, won six Junos and altogether theyve sold more than 20 million albums.
Allen's not surprised that older bands are still filling the coliseums because its their fans who grew up buying records and going to concerts. Their lives were defined by the music.
With young kids, music has become very disposable. Its a very tough business now. Its the worst its ever been. Sex, drugs and rock and roll just doesnt work any more.
But times are still good for Loverboy, which most recently had a successful road tour with Journey and Pat Benatar. It was like putting on an old pair of boots, says Frenette, adding that while band members are spread out across the continent as they follow their childrens lives, theres a real brotherhood among the band.
The things that keep you bonded as people and grounded as human beings gives us our longevity, Frenette says.
Weve had an incredibly blessed run, Johnson told the crowd.
Back in 1984, Ron O. Vermeulen, who got his start at The Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, was in the studio booth when Loverboy recorded its Lovin' Every Minute Of It album. He was the recipient of the John Vrtacic Memorial Award.
Patrick Zulinov was voted as VMI's Unsung Hero for his work in promotions, publicity and artist relations in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»for the past 17 years.
Each year, VMI raises money for various charities during awards night. This year's recipients were and .
