The Arrows (Canadian band)

The Arrows
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresNew wave
Years active1981–1986
LabelsA&M Records

The Arrows were a Canadian 1980s new wave band.

Biography

The Arrows were formed in 1981 by vocalist Dean McTaggart and drummer Michael Sloski. Following the Daniel Lanois-produced independent song "Misunderstood", the band landed a deal with A&M Records.

With the help of producer/songwriter David Tyson, their 1984 debut album Stand Back was a national success, providing a top 40 hit with "Meet Me in the Middle".[1] The album sold well, and the band found themselves as the opening act on the UK leg of Chris de Burgh's 1984 tour.

Upon returning home, they went back to the studio for work on their second album The Lines Are Open, which saw its release in October 1985.[1] The singles "Heart of the City", "Talk Talk" and "Chains" all saw success in Canada, but pressures from management for a breakout hit were causing problems within the band, and following a cross-Canada tour, the group called it quits at the end of 1986.[1]

In 1995, a CD compilation Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows surfaced on a German import label that contained the majority of the tracks from their first two albums. Stand Back were re-issued on CD in 2011,[2] and The Lines Are Open was re-issued in 2013.[3]

Currently, McTaggart works as a songwriter and has written many hit songs for other artists such as "Heaven Help My Heart" by Wynonna, "Unsung Hero" by Terri Clark and co-written several hits by Amanda Marshall, most notably "Birmingham" and her Canadian AC No. 1 hit "Dark Horse".

Band members

1981 line up
  • Vocals - Dean McTaggart
  • Drums and Percussion - Michael Sloski
  • Keyboards - Gabor Szepesi
  • Bass - Hendrik Rilk
  • Guitars - Rusty McCarthy

1982 line up
  • Vocals - Dean McTaggart
  • Drums and Percussion - Michael Sloski
  • Keyboards - Rob Gusevs
  • Bass - Hendrik Rilk
  • Guitars - Rusty McCarthy
  • Saxophone - Earl Seymour

1984 line up
  • Vocals - Dean McTaggart
  • Keyboards - Ravi Mundi
  • Saxophone - Kevin Small
  • Trombone - Alex Stott
  • Key Guitar - Gemma Harrison
  • Guitars - Doug Macaskill (From Roxy)
with session musicians, including
  • Bass - Peter Bleakney and Howard Aye
  • Drums - Michael Sloski

1986 line up
  • Vocals - Dean McTaggart
  • Keyboards - Rob Gusevs
  • Saxophone - Earl Seymour
  • Guitars - Doug Macaskill
  • Bass - Glenn Olive
  • Drums - Bobby Economou

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums
  • Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows (1995)

Extended plays
  • Misunderstood (1982)

Singles
  • "Meet Me in the Middle" (1984)
  • "Say It Isn't True" (1984)
  • "Never Be Another One" (1984)
  • "Talk Talk" (1985)
  • "Heart of the City" (1986)
  • "Chains" (1986)

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 30/1. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  2. "Yesterrock Releases Arrows, The - Stand Back". Shop.strato.de. 2013.
  3. "Arrows, The - The Lines Are Open". Shop.strato.de. 2013.
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