Barstool Prophets
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada |
| Headquarters | Cornwall , Canada |
| Products | Albums, singles |
The Barstool Prophets emerged as a rock ensemble originating from Cornwall, Ontario, in 1989 and maintained their presence throughout the 1990s. The lineup featured Glenn Forrester on bass, vocalist and songwriter Graham Greer, guitarist Al Morier, and drummer Bobby Tamas. In 1995, The Georgia Straight hailed them as "one of the finest guitar-driven rock groups to surface in Canada since The Tragically Hip."
History
Initially performing under the name 'Wallflowers', they opted for a name change to prevent mix-ups with the American band of the same name. After moving to Ottawa for academic pursuits, they independently launched their debut album, Deflowered, in 1992. Their touring circuit included supporting acts like Odds, 54-40, Moist, and The Age of Electric, as well as opening for the Dave Matthews Band. The album achieved sales of 8,000 copies and helped cultivate a dedicated following.
In 1994, they secured a contract with Mercury Records and subsequently released Crank in 1995. This record produced two singles that reached the Canadian top 10: "Mankindman" and "Paranoia," both enjoying substantial airplay on MuchMusic. Additionally, "Paranoia" was included on the soundtrack of the 1995 motion picture Never Talk to Strangers. Their extensive touring schedule featured collaborations with Junkhouse and Headstones, alongside obtaining distribution within the United States. The single "Little Death (Oh Mary Mary)" propelled them to gold status with sales exceeding 50,000 units.
Their third studio effort, Last of the Big Game Hunters (1997), delivered three singles that charted within the top 20: "Last of the Big Game Hunters," "Upside Down," and "Friend of Mine." The band shared stages with leading Canadian rock acts including I Mother Earth, The Tea Party, Our Lady Peace, and Big Sugar.
Due to relentless touring schedules and challenges with their record label, the group dissolved in 1999. Following the split, Greer pursued solo projects releasing two albums titled Moonlight Graham and Graham Greer, while Morier produced three individual albums: Ensemble, Distance, and Images.
In 2015, Barstool Prophets reunited for a commemorative concert in Ottawa marking two decades since their first album's release. They continued performing select shows throughout 2016 and 2017, with their most recent appearance occurring in 2018.
Discography
Albums
- Birdman (1992, as 'Wallflowers'), Independent
- Deflowered (1993), Independent
- Crank (1995), Mercury Records (#63 Canada)
- Last of the Big Game Hunters (1997), Mercury Records
- Greatest Hits (2015), Stool Sample Music
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||||
| 1995 | "Mankind Man" / "Tell Me It's A Dream" | 34 | Crank | |
| "Paranoia" | 59 | |||
| 1997 | "Last of the Big Game Hunters" | 48 | Last of the Big Game Hunters | |
| 1998 | "Friend of Mine" | 30 | ||
| "—" indicates singles that did not enter charts. "×" signifies times when charts were unavailable or unarchived. | ||||