Rhiannon Hendricks
Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian rock band formed in the early 1980s in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The band's name is a nod to the fact that Niagara Falls is known as the honeymoon capital of the world. The band has had a successful career spanning several decades, with their self-titled debut album released in 1984 featuring four charting hits in Canada. They have toured extensively and continue to release new music, with their most recent single released in 2020. The band has undergone some lineup changes over the years, but founding members Johnnie Dee and Derry Grehan have remained at the helm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Formation year | 1981 or 1982 |
| Place of origin | Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada |
| Genre | Rock, Hard rock |
| Founding members | Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, Ray Coburn, Gary Lalonde, Dave Betts |
| Current members | Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, Dave Betts, Gary Lalonde, Peter Nunn |
| Former members | Brad Bent, Mike Lengyell, Rob Preuss, Brian Brackstone |
| Status | Active |
| Years active | 1982-present |
| Labels | WEA Canada, Koch Records, Frontiers Records, Warner |
| Awards | Juno Award for Group of the Year (1986) |
| Notable singles | "New Girl Now", "Feel It Again", "Still Lovin' You" |
| Latest single | "Find What You're Looking For" |
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What You'll Learn
Founding members and early years
Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian rock band formed in 1981 or 1982 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The band's name is a nod to the fact that Niagara Falls is known as the honeymoon capital of the world. The band was originally formed by Johnnie Dee (vocals, guitar) and Derry Grehan (guitar, keyboards, vocals). Dee and Grehan are considered the principal and founding members of the band and they met when they were introduced by manager Stephen Prendergast in 1982. They soon recruited Grehan’s former Steve Blimkie and The Reason bandmate Dave Betts on drums, along with an anonymous keyboard player and bassist.
In 1983, the line-up changed, with Dee on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Derry Grehan on lead guitar, and Dave Betts on drums. Various keyboard players and bassists came and left during this time, but the band's first single, "New Girl Now", won an unsigned band contest put on by Toronto radio station Q107. This led to them signing with WEA Canada. The song was written by Derry's brother, Dermot Grehan. In 1983, they decided to enter the Homegrown Contest put on yearly by Toronto’s Q107-FM radio station, so Prendergast approached his friend and producer Tom Treumuth to produce the song for them.
Personnel conflicts eventually arose, and the keyboardist was replaced with Ray Coburn. Although a session player named Brian Brackstone played bass on the album, the band soon found themselves a permanent bassist named Gary Lalonde. Coburn was replaced by Rob Preuss in 1986. The band's spirited, commercial style, supported by the then-new promotional medium of music videos, brought them success quickly.
In 1984, they released their self-titled debut album, which led to four top-ten hits in Canada: "New Girl Now", "Burning In Love", "Wave Babies", and "Stay In the Light". "New Girl Now" was also their first single to reach the top 50 in the United States. Their follow-up album, The Big Prize, was equally successful in Canada, with four more hits: "Feel It Again", "What Does It Take", "Bad Attitude", and "All Along You Knew".
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Line-up changes
Honeymoon Suite was formed in 1981 or 1982 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, by lead vocalist Johnnie Dee and guitarist Derry Grehan. The band's name was inspired by the fact that Niagara Falls is known as the "honeymoon capital" of North America.
Over the years, the band has undergone several line-up changes, with Dee and Grehan remaining the principal and founding members. In 1983, the line-up changed, with Dee on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, and new recruits Derry Grehan on lead guitar and Dave Betts on drums. Various keyboard players and bassists came and left during this time.
In 1986, keyboardist Ray Coburn was replaced by Rob Preuss. Coburn had joined the band in 1983, replacing an anonymous keyboard player. The band's bassist was also replaced with Gary Lalonde, formerly of the band Toronto, in 1983.
In 2007, the band reunited with a classic line-up of Dee, Grehan, Coburn, Lalonde, and Betts. This line-up toured extensively throughout Canada in 2007 and 2008. However, only Dee and Grehan appeared on the new 2008 CD Clifton Hill. In 2009, the band parted ways with Coburn once again, and he was replaced by Peter Nunn.
The band's most recent line-up includes Dee (lead vocals), Grehan (guitars, keyboards, background vocals), Betts (drums), Lalonde (bass), and Nunn (keyboards). This line-up released a new single, "Tell Me What You Want," in 2019, and another single, "Find What You're Looking For," in 2020. They also announced a new studio album, "Alive," which was set to be released in 2020.
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Notable songs and albums
Honeymoon Suite's self-titled debut album was released in June 1984 and featured four charting hits in Canada: New Girl Now, Burning In Love, Wave Babies, and Stay In the Light. "New Girl Now" was also the band's first single to reach the top 50 in the United States. Their follow-up album, 'The Big Prize', was released on Valentine's Day in 1986 and was equally successful in Canada, with four hits: Feel It Again, What Does It Take, Bad Attitude, and All Along You Knew.
In 1988, the band released 'The Singles', which included their previous hits and some new material. This was followed by 'Lethal Weapon Soundtrack Collection' in 1991, a compilation album featuring various artists. In 2003, they released 'Essential Music Videos: '80s Rock', another compilation with various artists.
In 2004, Johnnie Dee, one of the principal members of Honeymoon Suite, released a solo album called 'Songs in Dee', which featured backing by the other members of Honeymoon Suite and guest musicians such as Kim Mitchell and Rik Emmett. In 2006, the band released 'Feel It Again: An Anthology', a compilation of their hits.
In 2007, the band reunited with a classic line-up and toured extensively throughout Canada. In 2008, they released a new CD, 'Clifton Hill', produced by Tom Treumuth, which marked a return to their musical sound from the '80s. In 2016, they released a 9-track EP called 'Hands Up' on the PledgeMusic website, their first new music in 8 years.
In 2019, Honeymoon Suite released the single "Tell Me What You Want" on YouTube, followed by another single, "Find What You're Looking For", in 2020. In 2024, the band released their latest album, 'Alive', through Frontiers Music.
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Touring and live performances
Honeymoon Suite, the Canadian rock band, has had an extensive touring history, performing in their home country and internationally. The band was formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and started gaining recognition after winning an unsigned band contest by Toronto radio station Q107 with their song "New Girl Now".
Early Touring Years:
In the early 1980s, Honeymoon Suite began touring Canada and the United States, often as an opening act for prominent artists. They consistently headlined club gigs and supported acts such as Billy Idol, April Wine, Laura Branigan, Jethro Tull, The Kinks, and Bryan Adams. Their energetic performances and commercial style, coupled with the promotional power of music videos, quickly gained them a dedicated fan base.
International Breakthrough:
1985 marked a significant year for the band as they started to headline gigs across Ontario and expanded their reach throughout Canada. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1984, achieved platinum sales status in Canada, and their second album, "The Big Prize," was also a commercial success, going platinum in Canada and gaining traction in the US market. This success propelled them to international stages, making their European debut in 1986 and appearing in Japan the same year, participating in the Yamaha Song Festival in Tokyo.
Reunion and Recent Years:
In the late 2000s, the classic line-up of Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, Ray Coburn, Gary Lalonde, and Dave Betts reunited and embarked on extensive tours across Canada in 2007 and 2008. They released a new album, "Clifton Hill," in 2008, which harkened back to their ''80s sound. In 2009, they continued their tour in Canada and select cities in the Northeastern United States. However, Ray Coburn left the band again in September 2009, and Peter Nunn rejoined in his place. Honeymoon Suite continued to perform at festivals and released new music sporadically in the following years. In 2016, they released a 9-track EP, "Hands Up," and were scheduled to perform at the Rockingham Festival in the UK in 2017 but cancelled their appearance. They released new singles in 2019 and 2020, and their latest studio album, "Alive," was set to be released in 2020.
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Awards and recognition
Honeymoon Suite, the Canadian rock band formed in 1982, has had a successful career spanning decades. The band has achieved several awards and nominations, solid sales figures, and a dedicated fan base.
The band's self-titled debut album, released in June 1984, was a commercial success in Canada, spawning four charting hits: "New Girl Now" (which also reached the top 50 in the US), "Burning In Love", "Wave Babies", and "Stay In the Light". This early success led to a nomination for the 'Most Promising Group' Juno Award in 1984, showcasing their potential.
Honeymoon Suite's extensive touring and energetic live performances further solidified their reputation. In 1985, they were recognised with an award at the Juno Awards, and their first album achieved platinum sales status in Canada. The band continued to build on this momentum, with their second album released on Valentine's Day in 1986.
The year 1986 proved to be a significant one for Honeymoon Suite in terms of awards and recognition. They won a gold award for 'Best Live Act' at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo, showcasing their dynamic stage presence. Additionally, they were honoured with the prestigious 'Group Of The Year' Juno Award, cementing their success in the music industry.
Honeymoon Suite has continued to perform and release music over the years, maintaining their presence in the industry. They toured Canada extensively in 2007 and 2008, showcasing their enduring appeal to fans. In 2009, they performed at Firefest 6 in Nottingham, England, and in 2016, they released new music after an eight-year hiatus with the 9-track EP "Hands Up". While they cancelled their scheduled appearance at the Rockingham Festival in 2017, the band has continued to pursue new opportunities and connect with their dedicated fan base.
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Frequently asked questions
Honeymoon Suite is still together and making music. The band's most recent releases are the singles "Tell Me What You Want" in 2019 and "Find What You're Looking For" in 2020.
After their debut album in 1984, the band toured Canada and the US, opening for acts like Billy Idol, April Wine, and Bryan Adams. They released their second album, "The Big Prize", in 1986, which featured four hits in Canada.
In the 2000s, the band reunited with a classic line-up and toured Canada in 2007 and 2008. They released a new CD, "Clifton Hill", in 2008, and continued touring in 2009. However, they parted ways with original keyboardist Ray Coburn in September 2009.
