Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

LOVERBOY

Canadian rock group formed in Vancouver '79 by songwriting partners Mike Reno (vocals, ex-Streetheart) and guitarist Paul Dean (ex-Moxy), recruiting session drummer Matt Frenette and locals Scott Smith on bass, Doug Johnson on keyboards. Eponymous debut LP '80 an immediate success in Canada, reached no. 13 USA LP chart; minor hits were "The Kid Is Hot Tonight', "Turn Me Loose' (top 40 in USA): MTV soon put their glossy, lightweight hard rock across: Get Lucky '81 incl. "Working For The Weekend'; video helped single to top 30, followed by "When It's Over', also top 30, with backing vocal by Nancy Nash; Keep It Up '83 emphasised reliance on rock'n'roll clichés of fast women and even faster cars: "Hot Girls In Love' (no. 11) made the point. MTV followed the band into the Mohave Desert to make video for no. 34 hit "Queen Of The Broken Hearts'; a lucky viewer won a competition and came along; the band won more airtime. Second and third albums went top 10; Lovin' Every Minute Of It '85 did not.