Rush is a rock trio that was formed in a Toronto suburb in 1968. The band went through some member changes until 1974, when the definitive trio of singer Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart was formed. The band enjoyed some success during the 1970s, but their 1981 album "Moving Pictures" gave the band their biggest hits and established them as a rock force in the '80s. Songs like "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight" both came from that album, which reached number three in America on the Billboard chart and went quadruple platinum. Rush has received many awards, including Jam! Music's 2000 online poll, in which Rush was voted by fans to be "Best Canadian Musicians of All Time."
The self described "power rock" band Triumph was formed in Mississauga, Ontario, in 1975. The band consisted of Rik Emmet on guitar and vocals, drummer Gil Moore and bassist and keyboard player Mike Levine. Guitarist Rick Santers joined the group in 1985. One of Triumph's biggest hits in the '80s included "Magic Power" from the 1981 album "Allied Forces." The 1986 album "The Sport of Kings" brought them two hit singles in the United States, with "Somebody's Out There" and "Just One Night." In 1983, "Never Surrender" sold over a million copies in the U.S.
Loverboy became one of the 1980s' quintessential video rock glam bands. The band formed in Calgary in 1979. Frontman Mike Reno and guitarist Paul Dean were joined by keyboard player Doug Johnson, drummer Matt Frenette and bassist Scott Smith. Loverboy was introduced to Americans in 1979 when they opened for the rock band Kiss. Their debut album, "Loverboy," was then released in 1980, spawning huge hit singles such as "Turn Me Loose," "When It's Over" and the classic "Working for the Weekend." They went on to have other hit albums in the '80s, including "Get Lucky" and "Lovin' Every Minute of It." In 2005, Loverboy was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Men Without Hats formed as a group in Montreal in 1979. The group is credited by some to have helped pioneer the synthesized "electro-pop" music style in Canada. Vocalist Ivan Doroschuk enlisted his brother Stefan to play guitar and his brother Colin to play keys. The group was rounded out by keyboardist Allan McCarthy. The group's 1983 debut album, entitled "Rhythm of Youth," sold a million copies and topped Canadian, British and American charts. The single "Safety Dance" was in the top ten in 20 countries and spawned an immensely successful video as well as being nominated for a Grammy award. Other albums from the group included 1985's "Freeways" and 1987's "Pop Goes the World."