Lawrence Gowan

Lawrence Gowan

Lawrence Gowan performing with Styx on 9 May 2000 at Universal Amphitheatre
Background information
Birth name Lawrence Gowan
Also known as Gowan, Larry Gowan
Born (1956-11-22) 22 November 1956
Glasgow, Scotland
Origin Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Genres Hard rock, progressive rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, guitar
Years active 1974–present
Labels Anthem Entertainment
Columbia Records
Atlantic Records (outside Canada)
Linus Entertainment
Associated acts Styx, Rhinegold
Website gowan.org

Lawrence Henry Gowan (born 22 November 1956) is a Scottish-born Canadian musician. Gowan has been both a solo artist and the current lead vocalist and keyboardist of the band Styx[1] since May 1999.[2] His musical style is usually classified in the category of progressive rock.

Career

At the age of 19, he earned an ARCT in classical piano performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music, in Toronto, Ontario.[3] Upon graduation, he enjoyed modest local success with the band Rhinegold in 1976.[4][5]

After the band broke up five years later, Gowan began what was to become a successful solo career under the stage name Gowan, releasing his first album under that name in 1982, which was produced by Rob Freeman[6] and featured Kim Mitchell of Max Webster on guitar. This album contained the singles "Victory", "Give In" and "Keep Up the Fight". His 1985 album Strange Animal was his commercial breakthrough in Canada, produced by British producer David Tickle and featuring a more 'theatrical' Gowan, backed by Peter Gabriel's rhythm section players Tony Levin and Jerry Marotta. The album spawned the hit singles "A Criminal Mind", "(You're a) Strange Animal", "Guerilla Soldier" and "Cosmetics".[5] His 1987 follow up Great Dirty World gave him another hit single with "Moonlight Desires," featuring Jon Anderson (from Yes) on backing vocals[7] as well as the fan favourite "Dedication".

Lawrence Gowan in 2006 at a Styx show.

1990's Lost Brotherhood, recorded at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario, had a harder rock sound, and featured such players as Red Rider member Ken Greer, former Coney Hatch guitarist Steve Shelski and Rush's Alex Lifeson. It produced the singles "Lost Brotherhood", "All the Lovers in the World", and "Out of a Deeper Hunger". This was Gowan's first album for Anthem Records and his first US release.[8]

A few bars from "The Dragon" was heard playing on a car radio in the 1990 movie "Navy Seals" and appears on the original motion picture soundtrack.[9]

He released the more acoustic ...but you can call me Larry in 1993 under his full name, returning to the Canadian pop charts with "When There's Time for Love", "Soul's Road" and "Dancing on My Own Ground". He subsequently released The Good Catches Up in 1995, which featured the single "Guns and God", which received moderate airplay in Canada. Also that same year, Gowan was part of an all-star lineup at Toronto's Massey Hall to celebrate Ronnie Hawkins' 60th birthday, as documented on the album Let It Rock, sharing the stage with veteran rockers Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and The Band. In 1997, Gowan released two live CDs: Sololive – No Kilt Tonight containing a rendition of Ragtime's classic "King Chanticleer Rag", and Au Québec with a cover of Harmonium's "Pour un instant" as well as his first composition in French, "Stéphanie", for his fan base in Quebec.

In 1997, Gowan released "Healing Waters" as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales after her death.[10] "Healing Waters" was officially an unreleased song from Gowan, though it was used in its original form, in the 1995 Jeff Wincott movie, When the Bullet Hits the Bone.

His song "A Criminal Mind" was covered in 2005 by Canadian hip-hop artist Maestro; Gowan appears in the video and his vocals are sampled on the track.[11] The song was also covered by Canadian gypsy jazz music group The Lost Fingers.[12] The song was sampled in a song performed by Akon and Freck Billionaire.

He also guest-starred on the Canadian animated comedy series Chilly Beach.

In February 2006, Gowan did four orchestra-accompanied concerts in London, Ontario and Kitchener, Ontario. Also in 2006, his home was featured on MTV's Cribs.

In March 2010, Gowan released "Return of the Strange Animal", a remastered version of 1985's "Strange Animal" plus a making-of documentary and music videos on DVD.[13] In May 2010, Gowan performed two solo shows in support of the 25th anniversary of the "Strange Animal" album.

In May 2012, Gowan re-issued a remastered version of 1987's "Great Dirty World".[14][15]

As of 2012, Gowan is currently recording a new solo album which he hopes to have completed sometime in 2013.[15]

Gowan appeared on 11 October 2012 episode (#29) of John Wants Answers.[16]

On 13 October 2013 Gowan played a solo concert, titled 'In Kilt Tonight' at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Canada. All proceeds were donated to McDermott House Canada, a charitable organization.[17]

Styx

In 1997 during Styx's tour, Gowan performed as a supporting act for Styx at Montreal's Molson Centre and Quebec City's Colisée.[5] He also played with Styx in Vancouver at General Motors Place (now Rogers Arena) as the opening act for Def Leppard on 27 September 2007.

Tommy Shaw admired his talent and vibrant stage charisma, and called him in May 1999 asking him to tour with them for 53 dates, replacing their lead singer Dennis DeYoung. Since then, Gowan's classic hit, "A Criminal Mind", is often played by Styx.[5]

Styx had long been plagued by differences in artistic inclination. DeYoung's absence created an opportunity for a more permanent restructuring of Styx. Gowan subsequently became the band's permanent vocalist.[18]

Styx's 2003 album Cyclorama was Gowan's first studio album with the band. Gowan sings two songs on Cyclorama, "Fields of the Brave" and "More Love for the Money", both of which have an easily recognizable Gowan signature. He then continued recording with Styx for their 2005 album, Big Bang Theory.

Awards and nominations

The following are Gowan's Juno nominations:[19]

In 1995, Gowan was presented with the SOCAN award for songs that have won major airplay in 1995 for his song, "Dancing on My Own Ground".[21]

On 16 November 1998, Gowan received the National Achievement Award from the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).[22]

In 2003, Gowan was presented with the SOCAN award (along with three other musicians) for songs that have surpassed the 100,000 radio airplay mark for his song, "Moonlight Desires".[23]

In 2011, Gowan was presented with a star on the Scarborough Walk of Fame-Entertainment.[24]

In 2013, Gowan announced he was recorded a new studio album, complete with new original material. The album is apparently in production in downtown Toronto at a private studio. According to Gowan, the album is based on an old concept album by Rhinegold, which was written and conceived in the mid-70's, during their rounds of the Toronto club scene. Gowan revealed on John Wants Answers, that the album will be called "Dr Starlight and The Watchmakers" and will consist of edited version of Rhinegold songs.

Members

Discography

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
Canada CAN
AC
1982 "Keep Up the Fight" — — Gowan
"Make It Alone" — —
1985 "A Criminal Mind" 5 14 Strange Animal
"(You're a) Strange Animal" 15 —
"Guerilla Soldier" 24 —
"Cosmetics" 41 —
1987 "Moonlight Desires" 10 2 Great Dirty World
"Awake the Giant" 36 —
"Living in the Golden Age" 78 —
1990 "All the Lovers in the World" 6 6 Lost Brotherhood
"Lost Brotherhood" 44 —
"Out of a Deeper Hunger" 36 17
1993 "When There's Time (For Love)" 6 11 ...but you can call me Larry
1994 "Dancing on My Own Ground" 15 17
"Soul's Road" 13 15
"Your Stone Walls" 46 —
1995 "Heart of Gold" 88 46 Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young
"I'll Be There in a Minute" 41 — The Good Catches Up
"Guns and God" 14 20
1996 "Laura" — 33
"The Good Catches Up" 18 21
1997 "Get It While You Can" 21 —
"Healing Waters" — 13 Best of...

Original studio albums

Release date Title Chart positions
CAN
September 1982 Gowan 82
January 1985 Strange Animal 5
March 1987 Great Dirty World 4
July 1990 Lost Brotherhood 26
September 1993 ...but you can call me Larry 60
November 1995 The Good Catches Up

Compilation albums

Release date Title Chart positions
CAN
October 1997 Best of... 87
1998 Home Field (UK only)
(includes four live versions of previously released songs and unreleased bonus track Healing Waters)[25]
April 2010 Return of the Strange Animal
(remastered reissue of Strange Animal with bonus tracks + DVD)
May 2012 Great Dirty World
(remastered reissue of Great Dirty World with bonus tracks)

Live albums

Live DVD

With Styx

References

  1. ↑ Closterman, Chuck (March 2005). "Ship of Dreams". Spin 21 (3): 63–67.
  2. ↑ Darr, Deanna (5 August 2011). "Styx ready to crack Sturgis rally's 'secret code'". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Gowan takes to the Styx ; Scarborough native reinvents himself as prog-rock singer and keyboardist". Toronto Star. 12 October 2000.
  4. ↑ Krewen, Nick (1 November 1995). "Still rockin' : but Lawrence Gowan calls his own shots now". Waterloo Region Record.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Law, John (30 December 2009). "Gowan going strong as Styx frontman". The London Free Press.
  6. ↑ "Sound Business: Studio Track". Billboard: 54. 3 April 1982.
  7. ↑ Chambers, Stuart (2002). Yes: An Endless Dream of '70S, '80s and '90s Rock Music. General Story. p. 91. ISBN 1894263472.
  8. ↑ InMusic (3–10): 20. 1990. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100232/soundtrack
  10. ↑ Krewen, Nick (7 November 1997). "Gowan's Healing Waters now a tribute to Diana". Waterloo Region Record.
  11. ↑ Spalding, Derek (25 June 2009). "Reinvented Wes plays Nanaimo Saturday". Nanaimo Daily News.
  12. ↑ Wilton, Lisa (27 January 2011). "The Lost Fingers knuckle down for hits". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Houle, Nicolas (12 March 2011). "Gowan: le retour de l'étrange animal". Le Soleil (in French). Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  14. ↑ Go, Justin (7 December 2010). "Styx singer Lawrence Gowan is still a strange animal". National Post.
  15. 1 2 Stevenson, Jane (10 July 2012). "Gowan just keeps on goin': Between fronting for Styx and a revived solo career, rocker stays busy". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Tamaki, Stacie (11 October 2012). "Hilarity ensues in an interview with Lawrence Gowan". The Flirty Blog. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Graham, Sandy. "Gowan – One Kilt One Name". cashboxcanada.ca. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  18. ↑ Iwasaki, Scott (12 May 2000). "Styx bringing its progressive rock to town". Deseret News.
  19. ↑ "Gowan Juno Summary". junoawards.ca. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  20. 1 2 Loewen, David. "Artist: Gowan, Lawrence". Canoe.ca. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  21. ↑ "SOCAN Awards honor songwriters". Waterloo Region Record. 16 November 1995.
  22. ↑ LeBlanc, Larry (5 December 1998). "SOCAN show marked by politics". Billboard 110 (49).
  23. ↑ Ricciuto, Tony (1 October 2008). "Success of Styx no grand illusion". Niagara Falls Review.
  24. ↑ "Lawrence Gowan". Scarborough Walk of Fame. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  25. ↑ Chronis, Grigoris (23 September 2004). "Gowan – Home Field (CD)". Metal Temple. Retrieved 3 April 2013.

External links

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