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Loverboy (Photo provided by Wolfson Entertainment)
Loverboy (Photo provided by Wolfson Entertainment)

Loverboy, REO Speedwagon & Styx bring tour to region

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Fri, Jan 14th 2022 04:20 pm

Loverboy has new single, ‘Release’; song & video celebrate loyalty of hard rock community with video that captures band past & present

“Like millions of others around the globe, we’re ready to rock again,” Loverboy guitarist/co-founding member Paul Dean said about a return to recording and the concert stage in 2022.

The band’s new single, “Release,” slated for release in mid-January on all digital streaming platforms, is a full-throttle rocker Dean had been working on. At first, it was intended for an unnamed metal band, which approached him as a songwriter/producer to work with them. But when that didn’t pan out, Dean decided to reach out to the other members of Loverboy to gauge their interest in recording it as their next single, which became “Release."

“It started out as a frustrated call to action, after months of lockdown, and morphed into a metal anthem about the loyalty and commitment of that audience,” Dean said. Lyrics were inspired by Sam Dunn’s 2005 documentary, “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey.”

“The communal aspect of heavy rock is almost like a religion,” Dean said. “I’ve always been a big metal fan; my son and I have seen many of those bands in concert.” 

He started with no music, just the phrase, “I need a release,” and eventually finished writing it, before soliciting the other members of Loverboy. That started with lead singer Mike Reno, who contributed vocals and some evocative lyrics such as “It’s a frontal attack/It’s a matter of fact.” And when he continues, “Thinkin’ bout me and you/Couldn’t stop if we wanted to/It’s a bond that can’t be broken/Never broken,” Reno could be talking about the long-term relationships within the band or with their own steadfast fans. Dean recorded Reno’s vocals in a single afternoon at Reno’s Vancouver home studio.

“Mike always provides that great energy,” Dean said. 

Doug Johnson then added his trademarked keyboard riffs.

"He’s such an amazing player and an essential part of the band,” Dean said.

Then, drummer Matt Frenette and bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve, who joined the band in 2001 when original member Scott Smith drowned in a boating accident, provided the foundation, making “Release” a potent Loverboy anthem in the style of past hits.

Working remotely, Frenette sent Dean seven different possible drum “takes” for the track.

“That was amazing,” Dean said. “It totally blew me away. And Matt was very helpful in putting the video together as well. He had some great ideas."

Dean added, “Looks like we’re finally going to get that ‘Release’ this January, when we play together live for the first time in nearly two years!”

Loverboy’s upcoming tour dates include Jan. 23 with Rick Springfield at the Ilani Cowlitz Ballroom in Ridgefield, Washington, and headlining shows March 3-4 in Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario. Loverboy will then join fellow rockers Styx and REO Speedwagon for the Live Nation promoted “Live & UnZoomed” tour that kicks off May 31.

Loverboy has four multi-Platinum albums, including the 4-million-selling “Get Lucky,” and a trio of double-Platinum releases in their self-titled 1980 debut, 1983’s “Keep It Up” and 1985’s "Lovin’ Every Minute of It." Their string of hits includes the arena-rock anthem “Working for the Weekend,” and staples “Lovin’ Every Minute of It,” “This Could Be the Night,” “Hot Girls in Love,” “Heaven in Your Eyes,” “Turn Me Loose,” “When It’s Over," “Heaven In Your Eyes” and “Queen of the Broken Hearts.”

Regional shows:

•(Loverboy only)

√ March 3 – Caesars Windsor – Windsor, Ontario

√ March 4 – Imperial Theatre Sarnia – Sarnia, Ontario

√ April 27 – Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games (Meridian Centre) – St. Catharines, Ontario

•(Full show)

√ Aug. 16 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto

√ Aug. 17 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs

√ Aug. 21 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wantagh

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