Blue Peter (band)
Encyclopedia
Blue Peter was a Canadian
new wave
synthpop
founded in 1978 in Markham, Ontario
by Chris Wardman
and Paul Humphrey. In their heyday, Blue Peter opened for major international acts such as The Police
and Simple Minds
. The video for "Don't Walk Past", directed by Rob Quartly
, was #85 on MuchMusic's
top videos of the century list, and was played on MTV
in the United States
, in spite of the lack of American record distribution for the band.
The initial lineup was rounded out by bassist
Geoff McOuat and drummer
Ron Tomlinson; this ensemble recorded Blue Peter's first EP
, Test Patterns for Living
, in 1979. In 1980, Mike Bambrick replaced Tomlinson on drums, and in the same year, the band released their first full-length album, Radio Silence
.
Over the next couple of years, Blue Peter ran into difficulties with record labels and management, which led to them briefly releasing material on their own label, including "Chinese Graffiti" in 1981. Around this same time, McOuat left the band and was replaced by new bassist Ric Joudrey. After a year without label representation, Blue Peter returned to Ready Records in 1982, in time to release Up To You
. "Chinese Graffiti" was included on the Up To You release, and won the band a CASBY Award
(then known as the "U-Knows") for Single Of The Year in 1982.
When Falling
was recorded, the band was fleshed out by the addition of Jason Sniderman
on keyboards, and new drummer Owen Tennyson (replacing Bambrick). The album was their most successful, and would also prove to be their last. It spawned their biggest single, "Don't Walk Past", and its companion video, which won awards including "Best Video of 1983" from the Canadian Film and Television Association. Falling ranked 24th on CFNY's Top 83 of '83. "Don't Walk Past", was ranked at number 92 in CFNY's Best 102 of the Decade, published in 1990. After Falling, Blue Peter had some of the tracks, including "Don't Walk Past", remixed by engineer Kevin Doyle and released these remixes as Version in 1984. That same year, Blue Peter won another CASBY, this time for Male Vocalist of the Year, for Paul Humphrey.
Later in 1984, Blue Peter demoed several tracks for a proposed new album (tentatively entitled Vertigo), but the band broke up before the tracks were completed or released. In 1997, the band issued the "best-of" compilation All Through The Night which featured one newly-overdubbed and mixed track from the Vertigo demo sessions called "Equalizer".
In 2006, Blue Peter reunited for a concert to commemorate the release of The Best of Ready :: 20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection. The following year, the band reissued their catalog as three compilation CDs. The re-release of Falling included 8 of the Vertigo demos as bonus tracks.
Since then, the band has played a couple of concerts a year, including appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival
in 2009 to promote the movie Suck
, which featured music by them on its soundtrack
. In January 2011, Blue Peter performed at the Horseshoe Tavern
in Toronto
as part of Juno Decades: Songs of the '80s.
(Toronto at The El Mocambo
), The Jam
(Toronto at the Concert Hall, and Ottawa), Simple Minds
at (Massey Hall
in Toronto, and Montreal) and The Police
at the "The Police Picnic ’83" in Toronto. In 1984 the band played a sold out show at Toronto's Ontario Place
Forum.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
founded in 1978 in Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
by Chris Wardman
Chris Wardman
Chris Wardman is a Canadian music producer, musician and songwriter. Wardman was a founding member of Blue Peter, and was their lead guitarist and main contributing songwriter. Wardman was also a member of Breeding Ground in the late 1980s. Wardman has been actively producing albums for many...
and Paul Humphrey. In their heyday, Blue Peter opened for major international acts such as The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
and Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
. The video for "Don't Walk Past", directed by Rob Quartly
Rob Quartly
Robert "Rob" Quartly is a Canadian music video, television and commercial director. During the 1980s, Quartly produced numerous Juno award-winning music videos for artists including Corey Hart, Gowan, Platinum Blonde and Rush....
, was #85 on MuchMusic's
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
top videos of the century list, and was played on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in spite of the lack of American record distribution for the band.
History
Blue Peter was founded by guitarist/songwriter Chris Wardman and lead singer Paul Humphrey in the late 1970s, as a high school band.The initial lineup was rounded out by bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Geoff McOuat and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Ron Tomlinson; this ensemble recorded Blue Peter's first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Test Patterns for Living
Test Patterns for Living
Test Patterns for Living was the first release, an EP, by the Toronto-based New Wave band Blue Peter. Released in 1979, it included the single "Factory Living" , which helped the band get their first radio airplay on CFNY...
, in 1979. In 1980, Mike Bambrick replaced Tomlinson on drums, and in the same year, the band released their first full-length album, Radio Silence
Radio Silence (1980 album)
Radio Silence is the first full-length album by the Toronto-based new wave band Blue Peter . Released in 1980, it contained the moderately successful single "Video Verite", as well as the eponymous single "Radio Silence", known for its simple "dying keyboard" riff...
.
Over the next couple of years, Blue Peter ran into difficulties with record labels and management, which led to them briefly releasing material on their own label, including "Chinese Graffiti" in 1981. Around this same time, McOuat left the band and was replaced by new bassist Ric Joudrey. After a year without label representation, Blue Peter returned to Ready Records in 1982, in time to release Up To You
Up To You (Blue Peter EP)
Up To You was an EP by the Toronto-based New Wave band Blue Peter. Released in 1982, it included the single "Chinese Graffiti", which garnered the band their biggest radio exposure to date, winning a CASBY Award for Single Of The Year...
. "Chinese Graffiti" was included on the Up To You release, and won the band a CASBY Award
CASBY Award
The CASBY Award is a Canadian award for independent and alternative music, presented annually by Toronto, Ontario radio station CFNY, currently branded as 102.1 The Edge. The name CASBY stands for Canadian Artists Selected By You....
(then known as the "U-Knows") for Single Of The Year in 1982.
When Falling
Falling (Blue Peter album)
Falling was the second full-length album by the Toronto-based new wave band Blue Peter. Coming on the heels of Up To You, their successful 1982 EP, Steve Nye was selected to produce their next album, which included the hit song, "Don't Walk Past"...
was recorded, the band was fleshed out by the addition of Jason Sniderman
Jason Sniderman
Jason Sniderman is a Canadian musician and businessman. He was one of the chief executives of Sam the Record Man, which was established by his father, Sam Sniderman.-Music career:...
on keyboards, and new drummer Owen Tennyson (replacing Bambrick). The album was their most successful, and would also prove to be their last. It spawned their biggest single, "Don't Walk Past", and its companion video, which won awards including "Best Video of 1983" from the Canadian Film and Television Association. Falling ranked 24th on CFNY's Top 83 of '83. "Don't Walk Past", was ranked at number 92 in CFNY's Best 102 of the Decade, published in 1990. After Falling, Blue Peter had some of the tracks, including "Don't Walk Past", remixed by engineer Kevin Doyle and released these remixes as Version in 1984. That same year, Blue Peter won another CASBY, this time for Male Vocalist of the Year, for Paul Humphrey.
Later in 1984, Blue Peter demoed several tracks for a proposed new album (tentatively entitled Vertigo), but the band broke up before the tracks were completed or released. In 1997, the band issued the "best-of" compilation All Through The Night which featured one newly-overdubbed and mixed track from the Vertigo demo sessions called "Equalizer".
In 2006, Blue Peter reunited for a concert to commemorate the release of The Best of Ready :: 20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection. The following year, the band reissued their catalog as three compilation CDs. The re-release of Falling included 8 of the Vertigo demos as bonus tracks.
Since then, the band has played a couple of concerts a year, including appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
in 2009 to promote the movie Suck
Suck (film)
Suck is a 2009 rock-and-roll vampire comedy film starring, written and directed by Rob Stefaniuk. Stefaniuk stars alongside Canadian actress Jessica Paré, Malcolm McDowell and rock legends Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Moby and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Production took place in and around...
, which featured music by them on its soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. In January 2011, Blue Peter performed at the Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
as part of Juno Decades: Songs of the '80s.
Live
Blue Peter performed across Canada from 1979-1985. Some notable opening slots included The Boomtown RatsThe Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats were an Irish punk rock band that had a series of Irish and UK hits between 1977 and 1985. They were led by vocalist Bob Geldof.-Biography:All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland...
(Toronto at The El Mocambo
El Mocambo
The El Mocambo Tavern is a live music and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located on Spadina Avenue, just south of College Street, the bar played an important role in the development of popular music in Toronto since the 19th century...
), The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
(Toronto at the Concert Hall, and Ottawa), Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
at (Massey Hall
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
in Toronto, and Montreal) and The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
at the "The Police Picnic ’83" in Toronto. In 1984 the band played a sold out show at Toronto's Ontario Place
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal waterfront park attraction located in Toronto, Ontario, and owned by the Crown in Right of Ontario. It is administered as an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, just south of...
Forum.
Albums and EPs
- Test Patterns for LivingTest Patterns for LivingTest Patterns for Living was the first release, an EP, by the Toronto-based New Wave band Blue Peter. Released in 1979, it included the single "Factory Living" , which helped the band get their first radio airplay on CFNY...
EP (1979) - Radio SilenceRadio Silence (1980 album)Radio Silence is the first full-length album by the Toronto-based new wave band Blue Peter . Released in 1980, it contained the moderately successful single "Video Verite", as well as the eponymous single "Radio Silence", known for its simple "dying keyboard" riff...
(1980) - Up To YouUp To You (Blue Peter EP)Up To You was an EP by the Toronto-based New Wave band Blue Peter. Released in 1982, it included the single "Chinese Graffiti", which garnered the band their biggest radio exposure to date, winning a CASBY Award for Single Of The Year...
EP (1982) - FallingFalling (Blue Peter album)Falling was the second full-length album by the Toronto-based new wave band Blue Peter. Coming on the heels of Up To You, their successful 1982 EP, Steve Nye was selected to produce their next album, which included the hit song, "Don't Walk Past"...
(1983)
CD Compilations
- All Through the Night (1997)
- The Best Of Blue Peter, 20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection (2006)
- Burning Bridges (released May 8, 2007) - Up To You and Version remastered, + bonus tracks
- Falling (released May 8, 2007) - Falling remastered, + 8 demos for an unreleased album to be called Vertigo
- Radio Silence (released May 8, 2007) - Radio Silence and Test Patterns For Living remastered, + bonus tracks
Compilation Appearances
- The Best of Ready Volume 1 :: 20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection (released 2006), Ready RecordsReady RecordsReady Records was a small but influential independent record label based out of Toronto, Canada that signed a number of New Wave and Indie rock bands from the early to mid-1980s. Focusing primarily on local Toronto-area talent, it released 7" and 12" singles, LPs and cassettes...
compilation - The Best of Ready Volume 2 :: 20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection (released 2006), Ready RecordsReady RecordsReady Records was a small but influential independent record label based out of Toronto, Canada that signed a number of New Wave and Indie rock bands from the early to mid-1980s. Focusing primarily on local Toronto-area talent, it released 7" and 12" singles, LPs and cassettes...
compilation - Retro Active 4 Rare & Remixed (released 2005) includes Don't Walk Past (F Version Original 12")