CANADIAN ICONS PLATINUM BLONDE CELEBRATE 8x PLATINUM CERTIFICATION OF THEIR HIT ALBUM ALIEN SHORES
CANADIAN ICONS PLATINUM BLONDE CELEBRATE 8x PLATINUM CERTIFICATION OF THEIR HIT ALBUM ALIEN SHORES
BLONDES REUNITE WITH BILLY IDOL
AS SPECIAL GUEST ON THE REBEL YELL TOUR 2024 ACROSS CANADA THIS SUMMER
TOUR STARTS IN VANCOUVER ON JULY 30TH
TORONTO, ON – July 23, 2024 – Are you sitting comfortably… then we’ll begin! This year marks the 40th anniversary of seminal new wave band, Platinum Blonde’s debut album, Standing In The Dark. Rising up out of the club scene in Toronto, the then 3- piece – Mark Holmes (lead vocals, bass), Sergio Galli (guitar) and Chris Steffler (drums) scored mainstream status with top tracks “Doesn’t Really Matter,” “Standing In The Dark” and “Not In Love.” Making headlines, a free concert at Toronto’s City Hall drew over 30,000 caused a near riot with frenzied fans held at the barricades by police from crushing the stage.
In 1985, they were joined by a fourth member Kenny MacLean (bass / keyboards), the band released their sophomore album, Alien Shores. The album, which included chart topper #1 single, “Crying Over You,” “Situation Critical,” “Somebody Somewhere” and “Holy Water,” continues to get significant airplay and streams, has just reached 8x Platinum status in Canada! The band hits the road this summer with Billy Idol in stadiums across Canada (full tour dates below). Back in the mid 80’s, Platinum Blonde had opened for Billy Idol with dates including Massey Hall, and now invited to reunite for the forthcoming Rebel Yell Canada 2024 tour.
The band enjoyed several years of commercial success and amassed a dedicated fan base.
Their albums, Standing In The Dark and Alien Shores, were both recorded in the hallowed studios of Toronto’s notorious Metalworks. An important nod to Canadian royalty, Rush’s Alex Lifeson performed the blistering guitar solo on “Crying Over You.”
Platinum Blonde rose to prominence amidst the burgeoning music video era. Signed to Columbia Records / CBS Records, the band embraced the new frontier, provided by the rise of MTV and MuchMusic, creating a whole new dimension to their musical vision. Videos for their singles enjoyed week after week of heavy rotation, elevating the band from radio success to television sensation. Accolades included multiple JUNO Award nominations and in 1986 the band took home the Gemini Award for Video of the Year for “Crying Over You.”
Platinum Blonde recorded their 3rd album entitled Contact, which featured a new street funk sound with a horn section with tracks produced by Bernard Edwards, who had a Grammy with “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer, Power Station and Duran Duran. The band broke up for a time drifting apart and decided to get back together after the passing of Kenny MacLean and now look forward to the series of dates across Canada.
Throughout their career, Platinum Blonde has been recognized for their contributions to the Canadian music scene, and their legacy endures as one of the iconic bands of the 1980s Canadian rock landscape. In 2010 the band was inducted into the Music and Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame and in 2023 the band were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
July 30 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
August 1 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
August 2 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
August 5 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
August 6 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
August 9 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
August 10 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
August 14 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
August 16 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
August 19 – Québec City, QC – Videotron Centre
August 21 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre
August 23 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
August 25 – St. John’s NL – Mary Brown’s Centre
Contact: Live Nation / Ticketmaster for details
