Big Wreck
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Ian Thornley, Brian Doherty |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
Area served | Canada, United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, live performances |
Big Wreck is a rock ensemble with Canadian-American roots, established in 1992 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty. The original members also included David Henning and Forrest Williams. Following their split in 2002, Thornley embarked on a solo venture with his band Thornley. The duo reunited in 2010 for a cross-country Canadian tour, presenting songs from both Big Wreck and Thornley. Resuming activity under the Big Wreck name, they launched their third studio album, Albatross, in 2012, and subsequently released Ghosts (2014), Grace Street (2017), ...But for the Sun (2019), 7 (2023), and The Rest of the Story (2025).
Origins as Still Waters and In Loving Memory Of... (1992–2000)
While attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, guitarist Ian Thornley joined forces with guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist Dave Henning, and drummer Forest Williams to form what would become Big Wreck. Prior to this, Henning and Doherty had collaborated in the band Divine Right. Initially performing under the name Still Waters beginning in 1992, they adopted the Big Wreck moniker in 1994 following an incident during rehearsal. When attempts to find a lead vocalist failed, Thornley assumed vocal duties. In early 1995, the group recorded a six-track demo including "Overemphasizing," which was later reworked for their debut album.
After several years performing around Boston and Toronto, Big Wreck secured a deal with Atlantic Records and released their first album, In Loving Memory Of..., in 1997. In the United States, their single "The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted)" climbed into the top ten on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart in early 1998; the follow-up single "That Song" entered the top 40. The band found even greater commercial success within Canada, scoring four top 40 singles on the Canadian Singles Chart and supporting their releases with a 17-date tour.
Second album The Pleasure and the Greed, dissolution, and subsequent ventures (2000–2003)
In June 2001, Big Wreck released their sophomore album titled The Pleasure and the Greed. Although three singles were issued from this album, none managed to chart in the United States.
October 2001 saw the band perform at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall alongside the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Uzume Taiko drummers, guitarist Eric Johnson, as well as members of The Tragically Hip, including Paul Langlois and Robby Baker.
By early 2003, Big Wreck had disbanded. Ian Thornley relocated back to Toronto where he established his own band named Thornley. Meanwhile, Brian Doherty settled near Sarnia, Ontario in Camlachie, where he taught guitar and formed an indie rock group called Death of 8.
Reunion period: Albatross release and Bag of Tricks EP (2010–2014)
In 2010, Brian Doherty rejoined Ian Thornley as a touring guitarist during the Tiny Pictures tour. Following a successful joint tour billed as "An Evening with Thornley and Big Wreck," they revived the Big Wreck name by integrating Thornley's existing lineup.
Working discreetly on new compositions, Big Wreck recorded the album Albatross. After signing with Anthem Records and parting ways with 604 Records in July 2011, drummer Christopher Henry left the band and was succeeded by Brad Park. November 2011 marked the release of "Albatross," their first single in over ten years. This track garnered critical praise and achieved chart success across Canada and the U.S., becoming Big Wreck's inaugural number one hit.
On February 5, 2012, Big Wreck performed at Toronto's Sound Academy during Canada's official party for Super Bowl XLVI. That year they completed two significant tours: a Canadian tour spanning April to July and supporting Theory of a Deadman on their Jingle Bell Rock tour from November through December. During this timeframe, Brad Park was replaced on drums by Chuck Keeping. On June 25, 2013, they released their debut EP titled Bag of Tricks, which included live recordings from the Albatross Tour alongside a cover of The Cars' "Good Times Roll." This EP was made available exclusively as a digital download.
Ghosts and Grace Street (2014–2018)
Big Wreck's fourth studio album, Ghosts, arrived in 2014, entering the Canadian Albums Chart at number five and reaching number four on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album received a nomination for "Rock Album of the Year" at the Juno Awards of 2015.
Ahead of their subsequent album, Grace Street, the band released the single "One Good Piece Of Me" in November 2016. Before the album's official release on February 3, 2017, guitarist Paulo Neta parted ways with Big Wreck. Ian Thornley publicly acknowledged Neta's departure, highlighting continued mutual respect and support.
Following the album launch, Big Wreck embarked on a 31-date tour promoting Grace Street, with Ascot Royals serving as the opening act.
20th anniversary tour, Brian Doherty's death, ...But for the Sun (2018–2020)
In 2018, Big Wreck marked two decades since In Loving Memory Of... by undertaking a 35-date North American tour featuring live performances of the entire album. Attica Riots joined as supporting acts. That year also saw a reissue of the album in physical formats, including refreshed artwork, two previously unreleased tracks, and its inaugural vinyl edition.
The band unveiled "Locomotive" on February 22, 2019, as the lead single from their forthcoming album ...But for the Sun. Following singles "Too Far Gone" (May 10) and "One More Chance" (July 22) were released alongside announcements detailing the album’s tracklist and release date. The full album was launched on August 30, 2019, succeeded by a comprehensive 49-date tour with Texas King providing support.
On June 5, 2019, guitarist Brian Doherty passed away due to lung cancer. Despite this loss, Big Wreck continued performing as a trio until Chris Caddell joined later that year.
7 (2020–2023)
Early in 2021, Big Wreck revealed they were creating new material following ...But for the Sun, recording fifteen tracks intended for phased releases instead of a conventional album format—reflecting Ian Thornley’s perspective on contemporary music consumption. Around this period, longtime drummer Chuck Keeping amicably exited to prioritize family commitments and was succeeded by Sekou Lumumba, who had previously played with Thornley.
During summer 2021, the band collaborated with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger to release two singles: "Middle of Nowhere" and "Ought to Be." "Middle of Nowhere" became their highest-charting Canadian single since "Albatross," peaking at number four. These songs showcased a stylistic evolution toward a more pop-oriented sound reminiscent of Thornley’s early-2000s work and represented Keeping's final contributions. Additionally, they issued the Bag of Tricks EP on limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day.
On October 7, 2021, Big Wreck announced 7.1, the first installment in a trilogy of EPs—followed by 7.2 and 7.3—planned for individual release before being compiled into their seventh full-length album. The lead single "Bombs Away" premiered that day; November saw the release of "Fields," featuring Daniel Greaves and Ian D'Sa. The 7.1 EP was released on November 19, 2021, accompanied by news of a 15-date Canadian tour. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this initial leg was postponed until spring 2022; BRKN LOVE and Monster Truck were announced as supporting acts. This campaign marked their final partnership with Warner Music Canada before transitioning to independent distribution through their own label, Big Wreck Music.
On March 4, 2022, Big Wreck released a cover of Sting's "Russians" via Bandcamp to support the UNHRC during the Russo-Ukrainian War, donating all proceeds from sales. The third single from the series, "Spit It Out," debuted on Canadian radio on May 6, 2022. On June 1, they revealed details about 7.2, offering multiple pre-order options including a bonus track and entry into a contest for a turntable plus an exclusive EP pressing. Alongside this announcement came the single "Better Off"; 7.2 officially dropped on June 17. To promote it further, Big Wreck performed at various festivals and summer events.
The fifth single titled "Fear & Cowardice" was released on September 30 accompanied by a video featuring live footage from Ian Thornley's milestone 50th birthday concert at The Horseshoe Tavern. On November 24, bassist Dave McMillan confirmed that 7.3 would be released on March 24, 2023. Pre-orders opened alongside the sixth single "Melody & Sound" on March 10; 7.3 was launched as scheduled together with a cassette compilation combining all three EPs.
Big Wreck supported the entire 7 project with an extensive tour spanning over sixty dates across Canada and the United States throughout 2023. Supporting acts included The Standstills, Texas King, Vilivant, and Daniel Greaves. On February 29, 2024, they officially issued 7 as a complete collection available in triple vinyl gatefold packaging, triple CD sets, and cassette formats—bringing this release cycle to a close.
Pages, The Rest of the Story, Thornley reunion, and Record Store Day (2023–present)
On May 24, 2023, Ian Thornley revealed studio clips of Big Wreck working on a sequel to 7 with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who had previously co-produced Albatross and Ghosts alongside longtime engineer Eric Ratz. The band unveiled their fourth studio EP, Pages, on October 4, 2023, which includes 6 out of 17 newly recorded tracks completed within a two-week period. Released on November 24, 2023, the EP was supported by a 29-date North American tour featuring Texas King and Daniel Greaves. Throughout 2024, Big Wreck sustained their touring efforts to promote the EP and its lead single "Summerlong," which emerged as the band's most commercially successful song to date. The EP highlighted a broadened sound palette incorporating new wave and progressive pop elements, prominently featuring synthesizers and gated drum effects. During a summer Q&A session, Ian Thornley confirmed that the remaining 11 tracks from these sessions will comprise their eighth full-length album, titled The Rest of the Story, scheduled for release in 2025. Additionally, Pages earned a nomination for Best Rock Album at the Juno Awards of 2025.
In May 2024, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Thornley's album Come Again, the group briefly resurrected the Thornley moniker for the first time in over a decade. Former guitarist Paulo Neta rejoined as an occasional touring member. They performed two exclusive Canadian concerts focusing solely on Thornley’s repertoire, including seldom-performed songs. The album was remastered and reissued across streaming platforms with previously unreleased bonus content and received its inaugural vinyl pressing. Following this, the ensemble reverted to performing under the Big Wreck name and announced two March 2025 shows billed as Big Wreck & Thornley, where they presented both catalogs by effectively opening for themselves.
Chosen as Canada's ambassadors for Record Store Day 2025, Big Wreck issued a deluxe anniversary edition of Albatross, marking its first-ever vinyl release and featuring unreleased tracks.
On May 19, 2025, the band cleared their social media accounts and launched a countdown on their website concluding on May 23. That day saw the worldwide release of "Believer," the first single from The Rest of the Story. The second single, "Holy Roller," followed on July 18 alongside the official announcement of the album's release date set for October 24, 2025.
Current
- Ian Thornley – lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards (1992–2003, 2010–present)
- Dave McMillan – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
- Paulo Neta – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–2017; touring member 2024–present)
- Chris Caddell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
- Sekou Lumumba – drums (2020–present)
Former
- Brian Doherty – rhythm guitar, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals (1992–2003, 2010–2019; deceased)
- Dave Henning – bass guitar, backing vocals (1992–2003)
- Forrest Williams – drums (1992–2003)
- Brad Park – drums (2011–2013)
- Chuck Keeping – drums (2013–2020)
Tours
- In Loving Memory of Tour (1997–1999)
- The Pleasure and the Greed Tour (2001–2002)
- An Evening with Ian Thornley and Big Wreck (2010)
- Albatross Tour (2012–2013)
- Ghosts Tour (2014)
- Summer Tour 2016
- Grace Street Tour (2017)
- In Loving Memory Of...20th Anniversary Tour (2018)
- Summer Tour 2018
- But for the Sun Tour (2019)
- 7 Tour (2021–2023)
- North American Tour 2023
- Summerlong Tour 2024
Studio albums
| Release Year | Album Name | Highest Chart Rankings | Sales Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | US Heatseekers | Canada | ||
| 1997 | In Loving Memory Of... | 48 | 31 | 2× Platinum |
| 2001 | The Pleasure and the Greed | 10 | — | |
| 2012 | Albatross | 5 | 25 | Gold |
| 2014 | Ghosts | 5 | 4 | Gold |
| 2017 | Grace Street | 5 | 8 | |
| 2019 | ...But for the Sun | 5 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 7 | — | — | |
| 2025 | The Rest of the Story | — | — | |
Demos & EPs
- Big Wreck - Demo (1995)
- Bag of Tricks - Live EP (2013)
- 7.1 - EP (2021)
- 7.2 - EP (2022)
- 7.3 - EP (2023)
- Pages - EP (2023)
Singles
rowspan=2 |2001 2002 2011 rowspan=3 |2014 2017 rowspan=4 2019 rowspan=6 2021 rowspan=6| Year Released | Song Title | Top Chart Positions Achieved | Corresponding Album | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN Alternative |
CAN Rock |
US Modern Rock |
US Mainstream Rock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | "The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted)" | 21 | 3 | 24 | 9 | In Loving Memory Of... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | "That Song" | 31 | 7 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Blown Wide Open" | 31 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Under the Lighthouse" ** | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Inhale" |
13 |
The Pleasure and the Greed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ladylike" ** |
× |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Knee Deep" ** |
× |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Albatross" | 71 | 2 | 1
× 31 |
Albatross |-
rowspan=2 |2012 |
"Wolves"
98 11 4 × × | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A Million Days"
× 35 8 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ghosts"
× 3 8 × × colspan= "2" rowspan= "3" | Ghosts |- |
"Come What May"
× — — × × |- |
"Hey Mama"
× — — × × |- rowSpan=2 2016 |
"One Good Piece of Me"
× 4 6 × × colspan= "2" rowspan= "3" | Grace Street | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Digging In"
× — 35 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You Don't Even Know"
× — — × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Locomotive"
× 31 3 × × colspan= "2" rowspan= "4" | ...But For the Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Too Far Gone"
× — 42 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One More Chance"
× 51 11 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Alibi"
× — — × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Middle of Nowhere" (feat. Chad Kroeger)
× 75 2 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ought to Be"
× — — × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bombs Away"
× 60 12 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fields"
× — — × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Spit It Out"
× — 46 × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Better Off"
× — — × × | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
"Fear & Cowardice" × — 28 × × |
- "Melody & Sound" × — — × × - "Full Display" × — — × × - "Bail Out" × — 20 × × - "Summerlong" × 34 19 × × - rowSpan=4 |
Believer |
× |
41 |
3 |
× |
× |
colspan=2 rowSpan=4 |
The Rest of the Story |
- Holy Roller × — — × × - Around × — — × × - Dog With A Gun × — — × × - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- "**" indicates singles that were released solely as promotional tracks in Canada.
- The symbol "—" denotes that the track did not enter the charts.
- "×" signifies either the absence of a chart at that time or unavailability of archival data.
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted)" | 1997 | Not disclosed |
| "That Song" | 1998 | |
| "Blown Wide Open" | Ulf | |
| "Inhale" | 2001 | Not disclosed |
| "Ladylike" | ||
| "Knee Deep" | 2002 | |
| "Albatross" | 2011 | Micha Dahan |
| "Control" | ||
| "Wolves" | 2012 | |
| "A Million Days" | ||
| "Ghosts" | 2014 | Brad Conrad & George Vale |
| "Come What May" | ||
| "Hey Mama" | Tyler Tasson | |
| "One Good Piece of Me" | 2016 | Nikki Ormerod |
| "You Don't Even Know" | 2017 | Not disclosed |
| "Too Far Gone" | 2019 | Mike Regis |
| "One More Chance" | ||
| "Locomotive" | Ian Keteku | |
| "Alibi" | 2020 | Adam Jones |
| "Fear & Cowardice" | 2022 | |
| "Believer" | 2025 | Justin Alexis |
| "Holy Roller" | Alex McFarland |