Streetheart (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Streetheart is a rock ensemble from Canada that began in Regina, Saskatchewan, before establishing itself in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are best known for their renditions of songs like "Here Comes the Night" and the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb," as well as original tracks such as "What Kind of Love is This."
History
The origins trace back to keyboardist Daryl Gutheil and bassist Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve, who initially created Witness Inc. in Regina. After moving to Winnipeg, vocalist Kenny Shields became part of the group. Renamed Wascana for a period, the band adopted the name Streetheart in 1977, adding guitarist Paul Dean and drummer Matt Frenette. Their early discography includes Meanwhile Back in Paris... (1978) and Under Heaven Over Hell (1979). Following these releases, Frenette departed to collaborate with Dean in Loverboy. Guitarist John Hannah contributed to subsequent albums: Under Heaven Over Hell (1979), Quicksand Shoes (1980), and Drugstore Dancer (1980). In 1980, Streetheart was honored with the Juno Award for Most Promising Group of the Year.
Their 1979 disco-infused cover of "Under My Thumb" attracted widespread attention. From 1980 through 1983, they produced multiple albums including Quicksand Shoes, Drugstore Dancer, Action: Best of Streetheart (1981), the self-titled Streetheart (1982), Dancing with Danger (1983), and the live double album Live After Dark (1983). These works collectively earned six gold and four platinum certifications across Canada. The band dissolved in 1983; however, previously unreleased material was issued on Buried Treasure (1984).
Streetheart’s legacy influenced other musicians; for instance, Frehley's Comet recorded "Dancing with Danger" (1988), while Hardline covered "Hot Cherie" (1992). During their peak years, Streetheart toured alongside major Canadian groups such as Chilliwack, Rush, Toronto, Harlequin, Max Webster, Aldo Nova, April Wine, and Headpins, as well as American bands including Sammy Hagar, Styx, Kansas, Blue Öyster Cult, and AC/DC.
The band garnered several accolades throughout their career, including a Juno Award, two Ampex Golden Reel Awards, and a Chimo Award bestowed by Music Express Magazine. In 2008, they issued a comprehensive two-CD collection titled ...Read All About It - The Hits/Anthology.
In 2017, lead vocalist Kenny Shields faced emergency heart surgery that resulted in tour cancellations and a postponed farewell performance at Winnipeg Classic RockFest. Shields passed away on July 21, 2017, bringing a close to Streetheart’s chapter.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Meanwhile Back in Paris... |
|
| Under Heaven Over Hell |
|
| Quicksand Shoes |
|
| Drugstore Dancer |
|
| Streetheart |
|
| Dancing with Danger |
|
| Buried Treasure |
|
Live albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Live After Dark |
|
| One Night One Take |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| Action: The Best of Streetheart |
|
| Over 60 Minutes with... Streetheart |
|
| The Essentials |
|
| ...Read All About It - The Hits / Anthology |
|
| 40 Vol. I (1977-2017 — 40 Years of Rock and Roll — Vol. I) |
|
| 40 Vol. II (1977-2017 — 40 Years of Rock and Roll — Vol. II) |
|
| Life. Legacy. Music. |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart position |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | |||
| "Look at Me" | 1978 | — | Meanwhile Back in Paris... |
| "Action" | — | ||
| "Here Comes the Night" | 1979 | 60 | Under Heaven Over Hell |
| "Hollywood" | |||
| "Under My Thumb" | 20 | ||
| "Draggin' You Down" | 1980 | 78 | Quicksand Shoes |
| "Jokes on You" | — | ||
| "Tin Soldier" | 1981 | — | Drugstore Dancer |
| "Teenage Rage" | — | ||
| "What Kind of Love is This" | 1982 | 22 | Streetheart |
| "One More Time" | |||
| "Look in Your Eyes" | 1983 | — | |
| "Snow White" |
— | ||
| "Comin' True" |
— |
Dancing with Danger |
Band members
- Kenny Shields – lead vocals (founding member; active 1977–2017; deceased)
- Daryl Gutheil – keyboards (founding member; active from 1977 to present)
- Paul Dean – guitar (founding member; tenure from 1977 to 1979)
- Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve – bass guitar (founding member; periods active 1977–1983 and resumed from 2019 onward)
- Matt Frenette – drums (founding member; active between 1977 and 1979)
- John Hannah – guitar (1979–1981)
- Bob (Herb) Ego – drums (1979–1983)
- Marshall B Beer – keyboards
- Jeff Neill – guitar (tenures from 1981 to 1984 and again from 2003 to present)
- Billy Carmassi – drums (1983)
- Bruce Crump – drums (1983–1984)
- Lou Petrovich – guitar (1990s)
- Brent Fitz – drums (1993–1996)
- Blair DePape – bass guitar (1998–2006)
- Tim Sutton – drums (2005–2016)
- Bruce "Jake" Jacobs – bass guitar (2007–2016)
- Dylan Thomas Hermiston – drums
- Paul McNair – lead vocals (since 2018)
- David Langguth – drums (2019)
- Chris Sutherland – drums (from 2020 to present)
External links
- Biography of Kenny Shields & Streetheart — Detailed account of the band’s founder and lead vocalist Kenny Shields (archived March 3, 2016)
- Kenny Shields & Streetheart — Official site for Kenny Shields & Streetheart (archived March 2017)
- CanadianBands.com profile
- Canadian Pop Encyclopedia profile