Big Wreck

Big Wreck was originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts by guitarist Ian Thornley, guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist Dave Henning and drummer Forrest Williams while they were students at the Berklee College of Music.[3] Henning and Doherty were previously part of the band Divine Right with lead singer Jim McDermott and drummer Dave Tuohy. The future Big Wreck lineup began jamming and playing gigs together under the name Still Waters in 1992 and officially formed the band in 1994. Unsatisfied with their name, they set out to choose a new official band name, and according to Thornley they settled upon the name Big Wreck after something went wrong during a rehearsal session and Doherty exclaimed the session was a “big wreck”. [4] Upon their formation Thornley was not the original singer of the band, but he became the singer after the band couldn't find one. After a few years of gigging in the Boston area and Toronto, the band got signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut album In Loving Memory Of... in 1997. In the US, their single "The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted)" reached the top ten on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart in early 1998.[5] Four months later, their follow-up single "That Song" reached the top 40 on that same chart.[5] The band found even bigger commercial success in Canada, scoring 4 top 40 hits on the Canadian Singles Chart. The band went on a 17-stop tour to publicize their releases.[6]

Big Wreck released their second album, The Pleasure and the Greed, in June 2001. Three singles were released, all of which failed to chart in the U.S.

In October of that year, the band played a special show at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Uzume Taiko Ensemble of drummers, guitarist Eric Johnson and The Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois and Robby Baker.[7]

The band broke up in 2002. Ian Thornley moved back to Toronto and formed the band Thornley. Brian Doherty moved to Camlachie, a small community near Sarnia, Ontario, where he taught guitar and prepared students for University or Conservatory entrance requirements. Doherty also went on to form the indie band Death of 8.[8]

In 2010, Doherty filled in as guitarist at a Thornley show, and that led to Doherty joining the band as a permanent member. A tour promoted as "An Evening with Thornley and Big Wreck" followed, and as a result of the tour's success, the band assumed the Big Wreck moniker, including the existing members of Thornley in the new Big Wreck.[3]

In secret, Big Wreck were working on reunion album which would later be announced as "Albatross." After recording the album, signing to Anthem, and departing from 604 Records in July 2011, drummer Christopher Henry left the group and was replaced with touring drummer Brad Park. In November 2011, Big Wreck released the lead single and title track off their upcoming album, "Albatross" their first single release in over ten years. The song received praise and chart success in both the US and Canada, eventually earning the band's first #1 hit.

On February 5, 2012, Big Wreck performed at the Sound Academy in Toronto for Canada's Official Super Bowl XLVI party. They also completed two tours that year, touring Canada from British Columbia to Ontario from April to July, then accompanying Theory of a Deadman for their Jingle Bell Rock tour from November to December, at which time Brad Park was replaced with Chuck Keeping on drums.

In 2014, the band released their fourth studio album, Ghosts. The album was released in Canada on June 10, 2014 and in the US in July. The album reached #5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and #4 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album was nominated for "Rock Album of the Year" at the Juno Awards of 2015.

In November 2016, Big Wreck released a new single "One Good Piece Of Me" from their upcoming album, Grace Street.

On January 5, 2017, after the recording of the Grace Street album, but prior to its release, guitarist Paulo Neta departed from Big Wreck. Ian Thornley wrote the following on Big Wreck's Facebook page:

Beloved Big Wreck fans, it’s with a heavy heart that we announce Paulo’s departure from the band. He has chosen to take a different path in his life and we stand behind his decision, and beside him for life. He is our brother and he will be missed greatly. There will always be room for him on any stage I play on. Ian & BW[9]

Grace Street was released on February 3, 2017. The band embarked on a 31-date tour in support of the album, with supporting act Ascot Royals.

In 2018, Big Wreck embarked on a 35-date North American tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of In Loving Memory Of..., in which they performed every song from the album at each show.[10] Attica Riots were the supporting act for the tour. The album was also physically reissued the same year featuring new artwork and two previously unreleased outtakes from the recording sessions, plus the album's first ever vinyl press.

On February 22, 2019, Big Wreck released a new single, "Locomotive", from their upcoming album, But For the Sun. In a promotional interview soon after, Ian Thornley revealed the titles of several other upcoming songs from the album, including "Follow Me," "Give Us a Smile," and "Found My Place."[11] On May 10, 2019, the band released a follow-up single, entitled "Too Far Gone."

Brian Doherty (born on April 2, 1968) died of lung cancer on June 5, 2019, at age 51.[12][13] The band performed their previously scheduled shows as a trio, with Chris Caddell joining the band later that year. On July 22, 2019, the band released a third single entitled "One More Chance," along with a release date and a tracklist of But For the Sun. The album was released on August 30, 2019. The band embarked on a 49-date tour in support of the record, with Texas King as the supporting act.

In 2021, Big Wreck announced their upcoming EP Big Wreck 7.1, the first of three EPs that will be released throughout 2022 and put together to make the band's seventh full-length album. The album will be supposedly self-titled. The lead single from the project "Bombs Away," was released on October 7, 2021. A second single "Fields," (featuring Daniel Greaves of The Watchmen, and Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent on backing vocals) was released on November 12, 2021. The first EP was released on November 19, 2021, and the band embarked a five-date tour of Ontario the following December, with supporting acts BRKN LOVE and Monster Truck. The band has also announced a second leg to this tour that will begin in March 2022. The band has yet to announce the release dates of the second and third EPs.

• Ian Thornley – lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards (1994–2002, 2010–present)
• Dave McMillan – bass guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
• Chris Caddell - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
• Sekou Lumumba – drums (2021–present)

• Brian Doherty – rhythm guitar, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals (1994–2002, 2010–2019; his death)
• Dave Henning – bass guitar, backing vocals (1994–2002)
• Forrest Williams – drums (1994–2002)
• Paulo Neta – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–2017)
• Christopher Henry - drums (2010-2011)
• Brad Park – drums (2011–2012)
• Chuck Keeping – drums (2012–2021)

• Bag of Tricks (2013)
• Big Wreck 7.1 (2021)