Sheriff (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Sheriff was a rock group from Canada that operated during the early to mid-1980s, gaining widespread recognition for their 1982 track "When I'm with You," which reached the top position on the Billboard charts following its reissue in 1989.
Biography
Originating in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, Sheriff consisted of lead singer Freddy Curci, guitarist Steve DeMarchi, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Arnold Lanni, bassist Wolf Hassel, and drummer Ric Dowhan (who was later succeeded by Rob Elliott). Their only full-length album, Sheriff (1982), included the Canadian Top 40 single "You Remind Me" and "When I'm with You," which originally peaked at No. 8 in Canada and No. 61 in the United States in 1983. Upon its 1989 re-release, the song climbed to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The band parted ways in 1985 due to internal conflicts. Subsequently, Lanni and Hassel established Frozen Ghost, achieving Canadian chart success with songs like "Should I See," which reached No. 69 in the U.S.
Renewed attention for "When I'm With You" emerged when radio personalities Jay Taylor from Las Vegas and Gabe Baptiste of KRXY started playing the track, prompting Capitol Records to issue it again. This led to its ascent to the top of the U.S. charts in February 1989. Attempts by Curci and DeMarchi to bring Sheriff back together did not succeed; instead, they formed Alias alongside former members of Heart. Alias produced two significant hits in the early 1990s: "Waiting for Love" and the No. 2 hit "More Than Words Can Say."
Lanni and Hassel continued their work with Frozen Ghost until that group disbanded in 1993.
Later years
In 2009, Curci and DeMarchi revived Alias with a new lineup, releasing their long-delayed second album after seventeen years. They remain active under the Alias name, performing live.
Arnold Lanni shifted his focus to music production, collaborating with prominent Canadian bands such as Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, and Simple Plan.
During an Alias performance on December 30, 2011, original Sheriff bassist Wolf Hassel joined Curci and DeMarchi on stage for the first time in over two decades, playing a complete set including "When I'm with You." This event led to Hassel officially joining Alias as a permanent member in 2014.
Studio albums
- Sheriff (1982)
- Sheriff Live (Promo Only) (1983)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | US | |||
| 1982 | "You Remind Me" | 28 | — | Sheriff |
| 1983 | "When I'm with You" | 8 | 61 | |
| 1988 | "When I'm with You" (re-release) | 29 | 1 | Single only |
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart. | ||||