Big Wreck
Encyclopedia
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 officially joined Thornley. The band continues to tour as "Ian Thornley and Big Wreck".
, guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist Dave Henning and drummer Forrest Williams, who met as students at the Berklee College of Music
. After several years of gigging in Boston and Cambridge
, the band signed to a major label and released its debut album In Loving Memory Of...
in 1997. The single "The Oaf" was a major Top Ten
hit for the band that year.
Perhaps because Ian Thornley is Canadian, the band's biggest commercial success was in Canada rather than the United States (see MAPL system). The album's subsequent singles, "That Song" and "Blown Wide Open", were not as successful on the American charts as "The Oaf", but both charted well in Canada.
In October 2001, Big Wreck played a special show at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall
accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
and the Uzume Taiko Ensemble of drummers, with The Tragically Hip
's Paul Langlois
and Robby Baker and guitarist - as they shared the same manager, Bernie Breen from Bernie Breen Music Management, as well as Eric Johnson
also making appearances.
(released in 2001) was marred by poor marketing and was not as big of a hit as their debut album, especially in the United States. The band broke up a year later.
Thornley moved back to Toronto, launching the band Thornley
. Doherty is now living in Camlachie, a small community near Sarnia, Ontario
, where he teaches guitar and prepares students for University or Conservatory entrance requirements. Doherty also went on to form the indie band Death of 8, but the other band members have not yet emerged with new projects.
According to a March 10, 2010 article on Blabbermouth.net—Dave Henning will be the bassist for (former Guns N' Roses guitarist) Slash's solo touring band.
Hard rock band Submersed
and American Idol
winner David Cook
have both cited the band as an influence.
According to a March 26, 2010 article on Blabbermouth.net, "Todd Kerns (SIN CITY SINNERS, STATIC IN STEREO, AGE OF ELECTRIC) has replaced Dave Henning (BIG WRECK) on bass in former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash's touring band. The rest of the group consists of rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck (WEEZER, GREEN DAY), drummer Brent Fitz (ALICE COOPER, VINCE NEIL) and vocalist Myles Kennedy from ALTER BRIDGE."
as "An Evening with Thornley and Big Wreck".
In November 2011, Big Wreck released their first single since 2002, Albatross. The song is the lead single to the band's upcoming album of the same name.
Ian Thornley
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...
in 1994. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley went onto a successful solo career with his own 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...
. In 2010, Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty reunited for a cross-Canada tour, playing both Big Wreck and 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...
songs. Doherty then officially joined Thornley. The band continues to tour as "Ian Thornley and Big Wreck".
Formation and In Loving Memory Of...
The band was formed in Boston, Massachusetts by vocalist Ian ThornleyIan Thornley
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...
, guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist Dave Henning and drummer Forrest Williams, who met as students at the 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...
. After several years of gigging in Boston and Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, the band signed to a major label and released its 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....
in 1997. The single "The Oaf" was a major Top Ten
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hit for the band that year.
Perhaps because Ian Thornley is Canadian, the band's biggest commercial success was in Canada rather than the United States (see MAPL system). The album's subsequent singles, "That Song" and "Blown Wide Open", were not as successful on the American charts as "The Oaf", but both charted well in Canada.
In October 2001, Big Wreck played a special show at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located at 60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Opened in 1982, its circular architectural design exhibits a sloping and curvilinear glass exterior. It was designed by Canadian...
accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
and the Uzume Taiko Ensemble of drummers, with The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
's Paul Langlois
Paul Langlois
Paul Langlois is the name of:*Paul Langlois , member of Canadian Parliament* Paul Langlois , Canadian musician* Paul Langlois , Oxyrotin Clothing]...
and Robby Baker and guitarist - as they shared the same manager, Bernie Breen from Bernie Breen Music Management, as well as Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
also making appearances.
The Pleasure and the Greed, breakup, and other projects
The band's second album The Pleasure and the GreedThe 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...
(released in 2001) was marred by poor marketing and was not as big of a hit as their debut album, especially in the United States. The band broke up a year later.
Thornley moved back to Toronto, launching the 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...
. Doherty is now living in Camlachie, a small community near Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
, where he teaches guitar and prepares students for University or Conservatory entrance requirements. Doherty also went on to form the indie band Death of 8, but the other band members have not yet emerged with new projects.
According to a March 10, 2010 article on Blabbermouth.net—Dave Henning will be the bassist for (former Guns N' Roses guitarist) Slash's solo touring band.
Hard rock band Submersed
Submersed
Submersed was an American rock band from Stephenville, Texas. They disbanded in 2008.-History:Submersed was signed to Wind-up Records, and worked with Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti on its debut studio album, In Due Time, which featured the singles "You Run", "Hollow", and the title track...
and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
winner David Cook
David Cook (singer)
David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
have both cited the band as an influence.
According to a March 26, 2010 article on Blabbermouth.net, "Todd Kerns (SIN CITY SINNERS, STATIC IN STEREO, AGE OF ELECTRIC) has replaced Dave Henning (BIG WRECK) on bass in former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash's touring band. The rest of the group consists of rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck (WEEZER, GREEN DAY), drummer Brent Fitz (ALICE COOPER, VINCE NEIL) and vocalist Myles Kennedy from ALTER BRIDGE."
Reunion and Albatross
In 2010 Ian and Brian rekindled their friendship which led to Brian filling in for a Thornley show, and then joining the band as they naturally reconnected as musicians. This led the band to tour with Thornley's bandThornley (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...
as "An Evening with Thornley and Big Wreck".
In November 2011, Big Wreck released their first single since 2002, Albatross. The song is the lead single to the band's upcoming album of the same name.
Albums
| Year | Title | Peak positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
CRIA |
||
| 1997 | 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.... |
48 | 2X Platinum |
| 2001 | 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... |
10 | |
| 2012 | Albatross Albatross Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes . They range widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific... |
||
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
CAN Alt. RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
CAN Rock Canadian rock/alternative chart The Canadian rock/alternative chart was first published on June 11, 1995 by RPM magazine under the name Alternative 30. The song which held the number-one spot on this first chart was "More Human than Human" by White Zombie... |
US Mod |
US Main |
|||
| 1997 | "The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted) The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted) "The Oaf" is the first single by Big Wreck from the band's debut studio album, In Loving Memory Of.... The song was very successful in Canada and the United States, charting well in both countries. It is the band's highest charting single in their history.... " |
21 | 3 | 24 | 9 | In Loving Memory Of... | |
| 1998 | "That Song That Song "That Song" is the second single by Big Wreck from the band's debut album, In Loving Memory Of.... While not achieving the same success as the band's debut single "The Oaf", "That Song" did chart well in Canada, peaking at #31 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart. The song is also featured on the... " |
31 | 7 | — | 32 | ||
| "Blown Wide Open" | 52 | 8 | — | — | |||
| "Under the Lighthouse" (Canadian single only) | 12 | — | — | — | |||
| 2001 | "Inhale" | — | × | × | — | — | The Pleasure and the Greed |
| "Ladylike" (Canadian single only) | — | × | × | — | — | ||
| 2002 | "Knee Deep" (Canadian single only) | — | × | × | — | — | |
| 2011 | "Albatross" | — | 24 | 17 | — | — | Albatross |