Fast Forward (band)
Encyclopedia
Fast Forward was a band formed in 1984, featuring Ian Lloyd, former lead singer of Stories
and a solo artist. The band released one album, Living in Fiction
.
", three years prior to Bryan Adams
releasing his own version, to worldwide acclaim. It also was co-produced by Bruce Fairbairn
and featured Adams' then songwriting partner, Jim Vallance
, contributing many of the songs and playing drums.
Many of the people involved with 3WC in 1980 returned to become involved with the Fast Forward project in 1984. The project was initially to be another Ian Lloyd solo album, but Lloyd requested that it be recognized as a band effort. The recording band was primarily Bryan Adams' band. The album, Living in Fiction
was co-produced by Bruce Fairbairn and Ian Lloyd. Bruce Fairbairn also contributed horns and backing vocals, as a principal member of the band, which also included Jimmy Lowell (bass and synthesizers), Andrew Kirin (sythesizers), Patrick Mahassen (guitar, backing vocals) and Jim Vallance
(credited as Rodney Higgs), (drums). Lowell had previously been a member of Spider
, a band that also included Holly Knight
and Anton Fig
, and which released two albums in 1980 and 1981. After Holly Knight left the band to pursue a solo career, Lowell and the remaining members of Spider joined with keyboardist Beau Hill
to form Shanghai, which recorded one album in 1982, prior to disbanding. Guest musicians on Living in Fiction included Bob Rock
(guitar) and the aforementioned Beau Hill (keyboards and backing vocals). Hill also wrote the title track
.
The band appeared to be primarily a studio band
. One video was released for "What's It Gonna Take" and there was one live band performance on Canadian radio. Following the lack of commercial success of the record, the band broke up.
, and was particularly notable as the producer of Permanent Vacation
(1987), the comeback
album for Aerosmith
, among other Aerosmith albums, and other notable albums. Fairbairn died suddenly in 1999, at the age of 49. Jim Vallance contributed to various albums, such as those of Aerosmith, as a songwriter and musician, in addition to his songwriting with Bryan Adams. Guitarist Patrick Mahassen later contributed a co-written song to Loverboy. Following a ten year career as a musician, Mahassen developed an international communications career, including a position as Switzerland resources director for Transparency International
. Andrew Kirin, a stage name for Andrew Krehel, became a noted jazz accompanyist, as well as a member of power pop
band The Jetsonz. Kirin died in 2007.
Stories (band)
Stories was a rock and pop music band, based out of New York in the early 1970s. The band consisted of keyboardist Michael Brown, bassist/vocalist Ian Lloyd, guitarist Steve Love, and drummer Bryan Madey, and had a Number 1 hit with a cover of Hot Chocolate's "Brother Louie."-Band history:Lloyd ...
and a solo artist. The band released one album, Living in Fiction
Living in Fiction
Living In Fiction is an album by Fast Forward, released by Island Records in 1984. Fast Forward was formed by Ian Lloyd...
.
History
Prior to the formation of Fast Forward, Ian Lloyd, had developed a solo career, following the breakup of Lloyd's former band, Stories, in 1974. Lloyd released three solo albums between 1976 and 1980, including 3WC (Third Wave Civilization), in 1980. The 3WC album was notable for its inclusion of Lloyd's cover of "Straight from the HeartStraight from the Heart (song)
"Straight from the Heart" is a rock ballad, which was the first single from Bryan Adams' first hit album Cuts Like a Knife. The song was Adams' first song to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #10. It also peaked at #32 on the Adult Contemporary chart, the first Bryan Adams single...
", three years prior to Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
releasing his own version, to worldwide acclaim. It also was co-produced by Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Fairbairn
Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
and featured Adams' then songwriting partner, Jim Vallance
Jim Vallance
James Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC is a retired Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger and producer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams...
, contributing many of the songs and playing drums.
Many of the people involved with 3WC in 1980 returned to become involved with the Fast Forward project in 1984. The project was initially to be another Ian Lloyd solo album, but Lloyd requested that it be recognized as a band effort. The recording band was primarily Bryan Adams' band. The album, Living in Fiction
Living in Fiction
Living In Fiction is an album by Fast Forward, released by Island Records in 1984. Fast Forward was formed by Ian Lloyd...
was co-produced by Bruce Fairbairn and Ian Lloyd. Bruce Fairbairn also contributed horns and backing vocals, as a principal member of the band, which also included Jimmy Lowell (bass and synthesizers), Andrew Kirin (sythesizers), Patrick Mahassen (guitar, backing vocals) and Jim Vallance
Jim Vallance
James Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC is a retired Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger and producer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams...
(credited as Rodney Higgs), (drums). Lowell had previously been a member of Spider
Spider (band)
Spider were an American rock band from New York. They formed in 1977 and disbanded up in 1984. The band released two studio albums through Dreamland Records in the early 1980s, and scored a few moderate hit singles in the United States...
, a band that also included Holly Knight
Holly Knight
Holly Knight is a songwriter, vocalist and musician of pop and rock music.- Biography :She was born in New York City and started playing classical piano as a young child. She soon became interested in rock music, and left home at about sixteen to pursue her dreams...
and Anton Fig
Anton Fig
Anton Fig , known as "The Thunder from Down Under" is a session drummer, noted for his work in David Letterman's house band, the CBS Orchestra. Letterman often refers to Fig as "Anton Zip"or "Buddy Rich Jr."...
, and which released two albums in 1980 and 1981. After Holly Knight left the band to pursue a solo career, Lowell and the remaining members of Spider joined with keyboardist Beau Hill
Beau Hill
Beau Hill is an American record producer who is best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Kix, Winger, Streets, Warrant, Fiona, Europe and Ratt....
to form Shanghai, which recorded one album in 1982, prior to disbanding. Guest musicians on Living in Fiction included Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
(guitar) and the aforementioned Beau Hill (keyboards and backing vocals). Hill also wrote the title track
Title track
Title track may refer to:*Title track, a recorded song having the same name as the album or movie it comes from*Title Track, a song on the album The Stage Names*Title Track, a song on the album We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes...
.
The band appeared to be primarily a studio band
Studio band
A studio band is a musical band that is in regular employment of a Music Recording business for the purpose of playing music on recordings featuring a separate performer. The term may also refer to a band that does not perform live....
. One video was released for "What's It Gonna Take" and there was one live band performance on Canadian radio. Following the lack of commercial success of the record, the band broke up.
Post-Fast Forward
After the breakup of Fast Forward, Ian Lloyd continued his solo career, while the rest of the band members also continued in music. Bruce Fairbairn continued as a musician and record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and was particularly notable as the producer of Permanent Vacation
Permanent Vacation (album)
Permanent Vacation is the ninth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released in August 1987 by Geffen Records.The album marks a turning point in the band's career. It is their first album to employ professional songwriters, instead of featuring material solely composed by members of the...
(1987), the comeback
Comeback
A comeback is the return of a person of public interest, a style or fashion in the mid-point of media interest. The term is predominantly used in politics, sports and pop music. In the case of a band, the term reunion is used...
album for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, among other Aerosmith albums, and other notable albums. Fairbairn died suddenly in 1999, at the age of 49. Jim Vallance contributed to various albums, such as those of Aerosmith, as a songwriter and musician, in addition to his songwriting with Bryan Adams. Guitarist Patrick Mahassen later contributed a co-written song to Loverboy. Following a ten year career as a musician, Mahassen developed an international communications career, including a position as Switzerland resources director for Transparency International
Transparency International
Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...
. Andrew Kirin, a stage name for Andrew Krehel, became a noted jazz accompanyist, as well as a member of power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
band The Jetsonz. Kirin died in 2007.