“Some bands you can see in any venue and enjoy the show. Trooper is one of those bands.” — The Retired Menace

Complete Timeline

• 1967

  Winter’s GreenOrigin

  Vancouver singer Ra (Ramon) McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith start playing together in Winter’s Green. The band cuts “Are You a Monkey” and “Jump in the River Blues” for Rumble Records. It’s the beginning of a partnership that lasts more than half a century.

• 1972

  ApplejackLineup

  Winter’s Green becomes Applejack. Drummer Tommy Stewart and bassist Harry Kalensky join. The band builds a strong following in the Vancouver area, which eventually catches the attention of Randy Bachman.

• 1975

  Bachman Signs Them — Applejack Becomes TrooperAlbumMilestone

  Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive signs the band to his Legend label and produces their self-titled debut, Trooper. Along with the deal comes the new name. The first single, “Baby Woncha Please Come Home,” reaches #45 in Canada, and the band tours the U.S. with BTO that same year.

• 1976

  Two for the Show — First Gold RecordAlbumHitLineup

  With Two for the Show, the band’s first record on MCA, Trooper goes Gold in Canada. The year yields three singles: “General Hand Grenade” (#14), “Two for the Show” (#32) and “Santa Maria” (#35). Keyboardist Frank Ludwig joins, and Doni Underhill takes over bass from Harry Kalensky.

• 1977

  Knock ‘Em Dead Kid — Platinum, and the AnthemAlbumHit

  Knock ‘Em Dead Kid goes Platinum. It carries “We’re Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)”, which charted modestly at #43 but became the band’s signature song, a staple at Canadian parties, weddings and sports events ever since.

• 1978

  Thick as Thieves — 2× Platinum, U.S. BreakthroughAlbumHit

  Thick as Thieves goes Double Platinum. “Raise a Little Hell” reaches #27 in Canada and #59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the band’s only significant American hit. “Round, Round We Go” (#22) and “Oh, Pretty Lady” (#42) also chart.

• 1979

  Flying Colors & Hot Shots — Record-Breaking YearAlbumRecordHit

  Flying Colors goes Double Platinum, with “The Moment That It Takes” (#14), “The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car” (#25) and “3 Dressed Up as a 9” (#24). The greatest-hits album Hot Shots follows and eventually reaches 6× Platinum, breaking the record for Canadian sales of a Canadian album at the time.

  Trooper mounts a national arena and stadium tour, and is widely regarded as the most popular Canadian rock band of the late 1970s. Rob Deans replaces Frank Ludwig on keyboards.

• Apr 1980

  Juno — Group of the Year · “Janine” Hits #7JunoHit

  Trooper wins the Juno Award for Group of the Year, and both Hot Shots and Flying Colors are nominated for Album of the Year. Later in 1980, “Janine” reaches #7, the band’s highest-charting single. It comes from their sixth studio album, a self-titled release often called the “Untitled” album.

• 1982

  Money Talks — Move to RCAAlbum

  After seven years with MCA, the band moves to RCA for Money Talks. Its single “Only a Fool” reaches #44. New wave and a changing radio landscape are squeezing the classic arena-rock acts.

• 1983–84

  Hiatus, Then the Club CircuitLineupTurning Point

  Tommy Stewart leaves in 1983 (replaced by Marc LaFrance), and the band goes on hiatus through 1983–84. When McGuire and Smith regroup, Trooper becomes a nightclub and roadhouse band. That move kept them working for the next four decades, at times playing as many as 100 shows a year across Canada.

• 1989

  The Last of the Gypsies — Gold ComebackAlbumHit

  Released on the band’s own label, Great Pacific Records. The Last of the Gypsies goes Gold and produces “Boy with a Beat” (#33) and “The Best Way (to Hold a Man)” (#70).

• 1991

  TenAlbumHit

  The tenth album (counting Hot Shots) is also the band’s last studio record. “The American Dream” reaches #26 in Canada.

• 1995–96

  The Long-Haul Lineup Takes ShapeLineup

  Keyboardist Gogo joins in 1995, followed by bassist Scott Brown in 1996. Both remain in the band today, and together they form the backbone that carries Trooper past its founders’ retirement.

• 1999

  SOCAN Classic AwardsHonour

  “We’re Here for a Good Time,” “Santa Maria” and “Two for the Show” each receive SOCAN Classic Awards for passing 100,000 radio plays. “Oh, Pretty Lady” follows in 2005.

• 2001

  Shot Spots — The Punk TributeTribute

  Visionary Records releases Shot Spots, on which 30 Canadian punk bands each cover a Trooper song. Rick Mercer provides the introduction.

• 2004

  Library and Archives CanadaLegacy

  McGuire and Smith donate 401 photographs and textual records to Library and Archives Canada. The band later donates its 32-foot logo sign to the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

• 2006

  Clayton Hill Takes the Drum StoolLineup

  Drummer Clayton Hill joins, completing the rhythm section still playing with the band today.

• 2010

  Olympics, Grey Cup, 35th AnniversaryTVCompilation

  On February 21, Trooper plays the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Victory Ceremony, broadcast on CTV and MuchMusic. On November 28, they play the 98th Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. Universal Music Canada releases Hits from 10 Albums and names Trooper one of Canada’s top five selling bands of all time.

• 2012

  SOCAN National Achievement AwardHonour

  McGuire and Smith receive the SOCAN National Achievement Award. Three more Classic Awards go to “Raise a Little Hell,” “General Hand Grenade” and “Janine.”

• Nov 2021

  The Founders RetireLineupTurning Point

  After more than 50 years together, Ra McGuire and Brian Smith announce their retirement. The band carries on with their encouragement and blessing. Steve Crane takes over lead guitar.

• 2023

  Canadian Music Hall of Fame · Canada’s Walk of FameHall of Fame

  Trooper is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on May 18, and into Canada’s Walk of Fame at Massey Hall, Toronto, on September 28.

• 2024

  Paul Laine Joins · BC Entertainment Hall of FameLineupHall of Fame

  Paul Laine becomes lead vocalist. On September 6, Trooper is inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, and a StarWalk star is unveiled outside Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom. Next to the Commodore stage is about as fitting a home as a Vancouver bar band could ask for.

Complete Discography

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