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Taking the name from the the battle cry “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!”,
the campaign slogan of U.S. President-to-be James K. Polk, who wanted
the border of the union up to the 54th parallel, 40th minute, to the southern
tip of Alaska, the Alternative-Rock band 54-40 was founded in 1980 in
Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA, by vocalist+guitarist Neil Osborne
and bass player Brad Merritt.
Two years later they recorded the 6-track EP "Selection", over
the next two years the band's line up evolved to a four-piece with new
members, second guitarist Phil Comparelli and drummer Darryl Neudorf;
in 1984 was released their debut full length album, "Set The Fire"
on Mo-Da-Mu.
54-40 made their debut for Reprise Records in 1986 with the self-titled
album which included a couple of collage Rock radio hits: "Baby Ran"
and "I Go Blind", the latter was covered by Hootie
& The Blowfish in the mid-'90s; during the recording sessions
Neudorf left to be replaced by Matt Johnson.
A year later they followed up with "Show Me", which yielded
two less successful singles: "One Day In Your Life" and "One
Gun"; the band supported the record with tour dates in the States.
1989 saw the release of "Fight For Love", their final album
for Warner Bros./Reprise; the band launched another tour which was highlighted
by an appearance at a festival show in Moscow.
In early 1991, 54-40 signed a new deal with Sony Canada and began working
on the next album; "Dear Dear" was fianally released in May
1992, "Nice To Luv You" was their first hit single, propelling
the album to platinum status in their homeland, this set contained three
more Rock-radio charting singles: "She La", "Music Man"
and "You Don't Get Away (That Easy).
"Smilin' Buddha Cabaret" arrived two years later, it scored
platinum sales and spawned three hit singles "Blame Your Parents",
"Assoholic" and "Ocean Pearl".
1996's "Trusted By Millions" also went platinum; the Canadian
band issued in mid-1998 "Since When" which featured the title-track
as the first single.
A year later 54-40 released the double-CD live set "Heavy Mellow",
which was followed, in August 2000, by their ninth studio effort, "Casual
Viewin'".
After more than 20 years of consistently creating some of Canada's most
recognizable and memorable classic alt-Rock, this prolific band returned
to the indie world and issued in December 2003 "Goodbye Flatland"
on Smilin Buddha.
In 2005, 54-40 returns to the Canadian Pop music landscape with a new
member, a new label and a brand new album, "Yes To Everything";
the new member is guitarist Dave Genn who replaces Phil Comparelli; the
first single off of the CD is "Easy To Love".
54-40 biography is an exclusive of 100xr.com
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