Brighton Rock (band)

The band was formed in 1982 in Niagara Falls by guitarist Greg Fraser and bassist Stevie Skreebs, along with vocalist Gerry McGhee, keyboardist Martin Victor and drummer Mark Cavarzan. Initially, the band's name was Heart Attack. After their song "Breakin' Down The Barricade" was included in CILQ's 1984 Q107 Homegrown compilation, {{cite web |title=Various – Q-107 Homegrown Volume Six |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/7790351-Various-Q-107-Homegrown-Volume-Six |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=6 March 2022}} they changed their name to Brighton Rock and released the EP Brighton Rock the following year.

They signed to WEA for their 1986 debut album, Young, Wild and Free, which was produced by Michael Wagener with pre-production assistance from Jack Richardson.{{cite web |title=Guitarist Greg Fraser recalls...Nov 2021 |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/guitarist-greg-fraser-recalls-what-led-brighton-rock-to-disband-in-1992/ |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=27 November 2021 |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=7 March 2022}}{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=81}} By this time, Martin Victor had left to join a band called Buxx, and been replaced on keyboards by Johnny Rogers. Young, Wild and Free spawned the Canadian hit singles "We Came to Rock" and "Can't Wait for the Night". The album charted at No. 82 in Canada and was certified gold in 1989.

In 1988, Brighton Rock released the album Take a Deep Breath, which was produced entirely by Richardson.{{cite web |title=Brighton Rock – Take A Deep Breath |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/457535-Brighton-Rock-Take-A-Deep-Breath |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 March 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Ladano |first1=Mike |title=REVIEW: Brighton Rock – Take a Deep Breath (1988) |url=https://mikeladano.com/2014/08/08/review-brighton-rock-take-a-deep-breath-1988/ |website=mikeladano.com |date=8 August 2014 |publisher=Mike Ladano |access-date=7 March 2022}} This was the band's most commercially-successful album. In Canada, it peaked at #22 and was #11 on the Top 50 Cancon Albums of '89. Its singles, "One More Try", "Hangin' High & Dry" and "Can't Stop the Earth from Shakin'" charted at #38, #77 and #65. Following its release, the band toured the UK for the first time.{{cite web |title=Guitarist Greg Fraser recalls...Nov 2021 |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/guitarist-greg-fraser-recalls-what-led-brighton-rock-to-disband-in-1992/ |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=27 November 2021 |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=7 March 2022}}

While writing for their next album, the band realized that they no longer needed keyboards. McGhee stated, "We didn't feel that keyboards were part of us anymore. There's really no place for them in our musical direction."{{cite journal | author=Masters, Drew| title= M.E.A.T. Magazine| date=August 1991}} Fraser noted: "We definitely did not want to repeat ourselves on that record, and keyboards were becoming too polished sounding for what was being released at the time. A lot of tougher sounds were becoming more popular with the likes of Guns N' Roses, and Skid Row, and keyboards were considered uncool, and wimpy. Most of the new songs I was writing did not lend themselves to keyboards."{{cite web |title=Guitarist Greg Fraser recalls...Nov 2021 |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/guitarist-greg-fraser-recalls-what-led-brighton-rock-to-disband-in-1992/ |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=27 November 2021 |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=7 March 2022}} Rogers left the band and replaced for touring purposes by a second guitarist, Greg Bioleau, who had played in McGhee's first band, The Rockers.

At the Juno Awards of 1990, Brighton Rock was nominated as Most Promising Group of the Year--the award went to The Tragically Hip.

In 1991, Brighton Rock released the album Love Machine. The album didn't chart, but the single "Hollywood Shuffle" earned the #6 spot on the Cancon: To Watch chart. The band toured Ontario to support the album, then broke up. Their last show was at the Toronto nightclub Spectrum in June 1992. As Fraser explained, they were suffering from a combination of burn-out from an exhausting touring schedule,{{cite web |title=Touring History |url=https://brightonrock.ca/backstage/touring-history/ |website=brightonrock.ca |publisher=Brighton Rock |access-date=7 March 2022}} and frustration at not being able to break into the US market. They had fired their manager and couldn't find someone who could help them move to the next level. McGhee decided to move to Los Angeles; {{cite web |title=Guitarist Greg Fraser recalls...Nov 2021 |url=https://sleazeroxx.com/guitarist-greg-fraser-recalls-what-led-brighton-rock-to-disband-in-1992/ |website=sleazeroxx.com |date=27 November 2021 |publisher=Sleaze Roxx |access-date=7 March 2022}} Fraser joined Helix.{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/interview-with-former-brighton-rock-helix-guitarist-available|title=Interview With Former BRIGHTON ROCK, HELIX Guitarist Available|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=November 13, 2019}} At the Juno Awards of 1992, Love Machine was nominated as Hard Rock Album of the Year.

The band regrouped for a reunion tour in 2001, releasing the live album A Room for Five Live in 2002.{{cite web |title=Brighton Rock – A Room For Five - Live |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4788442-Brighton-Rock-A-Room-For-Five-Live |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 March 2022}} In 2006 a greatest hits package was released titled The Essentials.{{cite web |title=Brighton Rock – The Essentials |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10298044-Brighton-Rock-The-Essentials |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 March 2022}} In 2007, Fraser and Skreebs formed a band called Fraze Gang and released the album Fraze Gang in 2008.{{cite web |title=Fraze Gang – Fraze Gang |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9936254-Fraze-Gang-Fraze-Gang |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 March 2022}}{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/former-brighton-rock-members-to-make-live-debut-with-fraze-gang-this-week-audio-samples-available-on-myspace|title=Former BRIGHTON ROCK Members To Make Live Debut With FRAZE GANG This Week; Audio Samples Available On MySpace|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=November 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/fraze-gang-official-release-dates-for-updated-debut-album-confirmed-cover-art-revealed-now-available-for-pre-order|title=FRAZE GANG - Official Release Dates For Updated Debut Album Confirmed; Cover Art Revealed, Now Available For Pre-Order|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=November 13, 2019}} A Brighton Rock EP called Don't Call Us was announced for release in 2009, but it did not materialize.{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/brighton-rock-guitarist-greg-fraser-weve-got-an-offer-to-do-rocklahoma-2010|title=BRIGHTON ROCK Guitarist Greg Fraser - "We've Got An Offer To Do Rocklahoma 2010"|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=November 13, 2019}}

The band regrouped again Thursday October 30, 2008, at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto for a benefit concert for fellow Canadian rocker Carl Dixon who was injured in a car crash.{{Cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/carl-dixon-benefit-show-more-live-footage-of-brighton-rock-russ-dwarf-and-helix-available|title=CARL DIXON Benefit Show - More Live Footage Of BRIGHTON ROCK, RUSS DWARF And HELIX Available|website=Bravewords.com|access-date=November 13, 2019}} In 2013, they played the Firefest X Festival in England,{{cite web |title=Firefest X Festival |url=http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/worldwide_reports/firefest-x-festival.htm |website=metal-temple.com |publisher=Metal Temple |access-date=7 March 2022}} and released the single and video for “Creatures of the Night”, a re-imagining of the Kiss classic, for the fundraising album A World With Heroes (A Kiss Tribute For Cancer Care).{{cite web |title=A World With Heroes (A Kiss Tribute For Cancer Care) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6619527-Various-A-World-With-Heroes-A-Kiss-Tribute-For-Cancer-Care |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=7 March 2022}}

Brighton Rock has since played a couple of shows every year.{{cite web |last1=Sadzak Hebert |first1=Sue |title=Brighton Rock - We Came To Rock, 11/13/15 |url=http://www.musiclifemagazine.net/brighton-rock-we-came-to-rock-a-rare-show-at-the-rockpile-111315/ |website=musiclifemagazine.net |date=20 November 2015 |publisher=MusicLife Magazine |access-date=7 March 2022}}

Their last live shows were as part of the 2019 Monsters of Rock Cruise in Jamaica.{{cite web |title=Touring History |url=https://brightonrock.ca/backstage/touring-history/ |website=brightonrock.ca |publisher=Brighton Rock |access-date=7 March 2022}} Also in 2019, Brighton Rock released a new song, "End of Time".

On August 25, 2020, Gerry McGhee died of cancer.{{cite web| url=http://bravewords.com/news/brighton-rock-singer-gerry-mcghee-passes-away-from-cancer| title=Brighton Rock singer Gerry McGhee passes away from cancer| date=26 August 2020| website=BraveWords.com}} In the same year, Fraser had recorded a studio album with a new band, Storm Force.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Albums

• Young, Wild and Free (1986), WEA
• Take a Deep Breath (1988), WEA
• Love Machine (1991), WEA
• A Room for Five Live (2002), Z Records
• The Essentials (2006, compilation), Warner Music

EPs

• Brighton Rock (1985), Flying Fist Records
• Hangin' High & Dry (1988), WEA

Singles

• "Breakin' Down The Barricade" (1984, as Heart Attack)
• "Can't Wait For The Night" (1986)
• "Change Of Heart" (1986)
• "We Came To Rock" / "Young, Wild And Free" (1987)
• "One More Try" / "Shootin' For Love" (1988)
• "Hangin' High & Dry" (1988)
• "Unleash The Rage" (1989)
• "Can't Stop the Earth from Shaking" (1989)
• "Hollywood Shuffle" (1991)
• "Creatures of the Night" (2013)
• "Shootin' For Love" (2014, re-release)
• "End of Time" (2019)

Compilation inclusions

• Q-107 Homegrown Volume Six (1984, as Heart Attack), RCA
• Be Naughty Be Hair Metal (2010), Rhino Entertainment
• A World With Heroes (A Kiss Tribute For Cancer Care) (2013), MSPVS.org

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Former members

• Greg "Fraze" Fraser – guitar (1982–1992, 2001–2020)
• Steve "Stevie" Skreebs – bass guitar (1982–1992, 2001–2020)
• Johnny Rogers – keyboards, piano, guitar (1985–1991, 2001–2020)
• Mark Cavarzan – drums, percussion (1982–1992, 2001–2020)
• Gerry McGhee – vocals (1982–1992, 2001–2020; died 2020)
• Martin Victor – keyboards (1982–1985)

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Former touring members

• Greg Boileau – guitar (1991–1992)
• Derek McGowan - guitar (2002)

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Timeline

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.brightonrock.ca/}}
• {{Discogs artist|Brighton Rock}}

{{Brighton Rock}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1982 establishments in Ontario

Category:1992 disestablishments in Ontario

Category:Canadian hard rock musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 1982

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1992

Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2001

Category:Musical groups from Niagara Falls, Ontario