Breeding Ground (band)
Encyclopedia
Breeding Ground were an alternative 1980s band, based out of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Lead singer John Shirreff and guitarist Hugh Gladish were the only constant members of the band, and they founded the group in 1981 with original bassist Jonathan Strayer.
, which they did on December 4, 1982 at Larry's Hideaway. Comparisons to Joy Division
and the British cold-wave invasion were quick to surface after this release. They were managed by longtime friend David Hart (who also masterminded and operated the stage lighting) during this era.
Within a little over a year, they had returned to the studio with this line-up to record Reunion/Slaughter, their next 12" single. Jonathan Davies, the drummer for local band Kinetic Ideals
, expressed an interest in assisting with production, and 3 months before the release replaced Jones in the live line-up. This EP was recorded at Quest Studio, Oshawa, and released in October 1983. 'Reunion/Slaughter' was playlisted on Toronto radio station CFNY and again on college stations across Canada.
Davies was replaced (before recording Tales of Adventure) by Kevin Hunter, who would stay with the band until their break-up in 1990.
. Videos were produced for these songs -- both being directed and produced by Jonathan Strayer's younger brother Colin Strayer; This Time Tomorrow's video was shot on January 28, 1986. However, a year later, bassist Strayer had left, leading to a brief hiatus in which they disbanded, until reforming with Gary Quinn on bass leading to the follow-up recording, Obscurity & Flair. Chris Wardman
joined soon after the release of Obscurity & Flair as an additional guitarist. It should be noted that the late Gary Quinn, wrote the lyrics for, and played slide guitar on the track "Live Like Fear".
at The Concert Hall in April 1983 and Echo and the Bunnymen on the Ontario portion of their tour in March 1984.
With the release of Tales of Adventure the band started to receive even more national radio airplay, and the two music videos were getting regular rotation on Canadian television music channel MuchMusic
. Breeding Ground made it to the number one spot on the college and university music charts, a first for an independent Canadian act. In 1989, four years after releasing Tales of Adventure, the band went to the studio for the last time, with the line-up of Shirreff, Gladish, Quinn, and Hunter, with a mixture of song-writing including Chris Wardman, before he officially joined the live line-up. This LP, Obscurity & Flair produced the hit Ceremony of Love, once again featuring vocalist Molly Johnson
. A third video was shot for this song, produced by Mark Mowad, but received minimal exposure on MuchMusic
because it was so dark, literally. Keyboardist Tad Winklarz from Chalk Circle
added saxophone on the track "Bells Descend".
A little known fact is that there was a fourth video shot for the song "Live Like Fear" on a very small budget by an acquaintance of the late Gary Quinn. The whereabouts of this video is unknown and it has never been viewed by the public.
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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
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...
. Lead singer John Shirreff and guitarist Hugh Gladish were the only constant members of the band, and they founded the group in 1981 with original bassist Jonathan Strayer.
Formation
Breeding Ground were created in 1981 by vocalist Shirreff, guitarist Gladish, and bassist Strayer. Breeding Ground played over 40 shows on the Queen Street West circuit before they released their first eponymous debut EP, Breeding Ground, on Mannequin Records, recorded at Montclair Sound in November 1982, with original drummer Ken Jones. This was produced by Paul Tozer, their live audio technician, who worked with them on their first two EP's. Within a month of its release they were asked to open up for BauhausBauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
, which they did on December 4, 1982 at Larry's Hideaway. Comparisons to Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and the British cold-wave invasion were quick to surface after this release. They were managed by longtime friend David Hart (who also masterminded and operated the stage lighting) during this era.
Within a little over a year, they had returned to the studio with this line-up to record Reunion/Slaughter, their next 12" single. Jonathan Davies, the drummer for local band Kinetic Ideals
Kinetic Ideals
Kinetic Ideals was a Canadian new wave band from Mississauga, Ontario. They released one single and three EPs on the Mannequin record label, formed by Paul Abrahams, manager of the new romantic group Spoons ....
, expressed an interest in assisting with production, and 3 months before the release replaced Jones in the live line-up. This EP was recorded at Quest Studio, Oshawa, and released in October 1983. 'Reunion/Slaughter' was playlisted on Toronto radio station CFNY and again on college stations across Canada.
Davies was replaced (before recording Tales of Adventure) by Kevin Hunter, who would stay with the band until their break-up in 1990.
Studio albums
Three years after releasing Reunion/Slaughter, the band returned to the studio in the late winter of 1985 to record their second release with label Fringe Product. This album, Tales of Adventure, was released April 25, 1986, and spawned the hits This Time Tomorrow and Happy Now I Know featuring Molly JohnsonMolly Johnson
Molly Johnson, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz.-Biography:Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts...
. Videos were produced for these songs -- both being directed and produced by Jonathan Strayer's younger brother Colin Strayer; This Time Tomorrow's video was shot on January 28, 1986. However, a year later, bassist Strayer had left, leading to a brief hiatus in which they disbanded, until reforming with Gary Quinn on bass leading to the follow-up recording, Obscurity & Flair. 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...
joined soon after the release of Obscurity & Flair as an additional guitarist. It should be noted that the late Gary Quinn, wrote the lyrics for, and played slide guitar on the track "Live Like Fear".
Local and national success
They were invited to open for touring acts such as The StranglersThe Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
at The Concert Hall in April 1983 and Echo and the Bunnymen on the Ontario portion of their tour in March 1984.
With the release of Tales of Adventure the band started to receive even more national radio airplay, and the two music videos were getting regular rotation on Canadian television music channel MuchMusic
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:...
. Breeding Ground made it to the number one spot on the college and university music charts, a first for an independent Canadian act. In 1989, four years after releasing Tales of Adventure, the band went to the studio for the last time, with the line-up of Shirreff, Gladish, Quinn, and Hunter, with a mixture of song-writing including Chris Wardman, before he officially joined the live line-up. This LP, Obscurity & Flair produced the hit Ceremony of Love, once again featuring vocalist Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson
Molly Johnson, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz.-Biography:Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts...
. A third video was shot for this song, produced by Mark Mowad, but received minimal exposure on MuchMusic
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:...
because it was so dark, literally. Keyboardist Tad Winklarz from Chalk Circle
Chalk Circle
Chalk Circle was a Canadian college rock band in the 1980s. The band consisted of lead singer and guitarist Chris Tait, bassist Brad Hopkins, keyboardist Tad Winklarz and drummer Derrick Murphy.-History:...
added saxophone on the track "Bells Descend".
A little known fact is that there was a fourth video shot for the song "Live Like Fear" on a very small budget by an acquaintance of the late Gary Quinn. The whereabouts of this video is unknown and it has never been viewed by the public.
Breakup
Gladish and Shirreff made a decision to end the second phase of the band in March 1990.Discography
In nine years of existence, Breeding Ground released 2 LPs, 2 EPs, and one greatest-hits CD and 3 music videos.| Release Date | Title | Label | Notes |
| 1982 | Breeding Ground 12" EP | Mannequin Records | Eponymous debut; helps put their name on the map and gets them more shows at clubs around town. Features original drummer Ken Jones. Got some college radio airplay. |
| 1983 | Reunion/Slaughter 12" EP | Fringe Product | Single release for upcoming album Tales of Adventure; this EP was included in the second pressing of Tales of Adventure. Assistant production by Jonathan Davies, who replaced Ken Jones in 1983. |
| 1986 | Tales of Adventure | Fringe Product | First full-length album. Was generally well-received and cemented their place in the Toronto club scene. Produced by Chris Wardman of another local Toronto band, Blue Peter. Molly Johnson Molly Johnson Molly Johnson, OC is a Canadian Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter of pop and jazz.-Biography:Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts... sang on the record—with her help, the record made it onto spot #60 CFNY Radio's best 86 Albums of 1986. |
| 1989 | Obscurity & Flair | Fringe Product | Second full-length album, and the first to feature Gary Quinn on bass and slide guitar. |
| 1994 | Revisited | Fringe Product | Greatest-hits CD. Was released post-breakup. |