Ian Thornley
Encyclopedia
Ian Thornley is a Canadian
rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter.
Born and raised in Toronto
, Thornley studied jazz music at Boston
's Berklee College of Music
in the 1990s, and formed the band Big Wreck
in 1993 with classmates David Henning, Brian Doherty, and Forrest Williams. They soon relocated from Boston to Toronto and eventually signed a US record deal with Atlantic Records
. Their 1997 debut album, In Loving Memory Of...
, was a significant hit that year on rock radio in both Canada
and the United States
. Big Wreck released a follow-up in 2001 called The Pleasure and the Greed
, but went on to break up in 2002.
Thornley subsequently returned to Toronto, where he played as a session musician on albums by Nickelback
, Sarah Harmer
and Stephen Fearing
before launching a new band, Thornley
, who released one album, Come Again, in 2004.
His follow-up record to Come Again, titled Tiny Pictures
, was released in Canada on February 10, 2009 via 604 Records. The album was produced and mixed by Nick Raskulinecz
.
In the fall of 2010, Ian Thornley started touring with ex-band mate Brian Doherty from Big Wreck. Ian has seemingly stopped calling his band "Thornley" and is officially touring under his full name. On November 26, 2010, they were billed as "Ian Thornley and Big Wreck" at the Edmonton Grey Cup Festival.
Ian Thornley left 604 records in 2011 and signed with Anthem/SRO. He began work on a new album with Big Wreck, called Albatross, that will be released in early 2012. The first single, also entitled Albatross, will be released the week of Nov 14th, 2011.
the electric blues of Buddy Guy. At the age of 15, he got into rock and roll, but it was mellower, melodic rock like Supertramp. He also cites Bruce Cockburn as an influence to his guitar playing. Ian's first concert was Bruce Springsteen. It was after that show that he knew that was exactly what he wanted to do.
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...
rock guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter.
Born and raised 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...
, Thornley studied jazz music at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
's Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in the 1990s, and formed the band Big Wreck
Big Wreck
Big Wreck is a rock band formed by Ian Thornley in 1994. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley went onto a successful solo career with his own band Thornley. In 2010, Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty reunited for a cross-Canada tour, playing both Big Wreck and Thornley songs. Doherty then...
in 1993 with classmates David Henning, Brian Doherty, and Forrest Williams. They soon relocated from Boston to Toronto and eventually signed a US record deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Their 1997 debut album, In Loving Memory Of...
In Loving Memory Of...
In Loving Memory Of... is the debut album by hard rock band Big Wreck. Released in 1997, the album features the single "The Oaf," which became major Top Ten hit....
, was a significant hit that year on rock radio in both 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...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Big Wreck released a follow-up in 2001 called The Pleasure and the Greed
The Pleasure and the Greed
The Pleasure and the Greed is the second album from Big Wreck. The album debuted at #10 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 7,408 copies in its first week. The opening track "Inhale" was released as the first single from the album and achieved notable radio airplay in Canada...
, but went on to break up in 2002.
Thornley subsequently returned to Toronto, where he played as a session musician on albums by Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
, Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and activist.-Biography:Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sister Mary started taking her to concerts by the well-known Tragically Hip. At the age of 17, she...
and Stephen Fearing
Stephen Fearing
Stephen Fearing is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter.Fearing was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He returned to Canada in 1981 and began pursuing a career in music. In addition to his solo career, Fearing was one of the founding members of Blackie and the Rodeo...
before launching a new band, Thornley
Thornley (band)
Thornley is a Canadian post-grunge/hard rock band formed by Ian Thornley in 2002. The band was started when Ian Thornley returned to Toronto after the breakup of his earlier band, Big Wreck. With the help of Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Thornley signed on to Kroeger's 604 Records...
, who released one album, Come Again, in 2004.
His follow-up record to Come Again, titled Tiny Pictures
Tiny Pictures
-External links:* *...
, was released in Canada on February 10, 2009 via 604 Records. The album was produced and mixed by Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...
.
In the fall of 2010, Ian Thornley started touring with ex-band mate Brian Doherty from Big Wreck. Ian has seemingly stopped calling his band "Thornley" and is officially touring under his full name. On November 26, 2010, they were billed as "Ian Thornley and Big Wreck" at the Edmonton Grey Cup Festival.
Ian Thornley left 604 records in 2011 and signed with Anthem/SRO. He began work on a new album with Big Wreck, called Albatross, that will be released in early 2012. The first single, also entitled Albatross, will be released the week of Nov 14th, 2011.
Influences
His early influences were "folk blues like country blues and acoustic styles", and laterthe electric blues of Buddy Guy. At the age of 15, he got into rock and roll, but it was mellower, melodic rock like Supertramp. He also cites Bruce Cockburn as an influence to his guitar playing. Ian's first concert was Bruce Springsteen. It was after that show that he knew that was exactly what he wanted to do.