October 4, 2023

Canada’s Rock of Fame Celebration

Photo credit: Barry Roden

Oct 02, 2023

Canada’s Rock of Fame celebration, alongside official partners Anthem Entertainment and Live Nation, was held at Toronto’s majestic Massey Hall on September 28th and, by all accounts, was an epic night of great musical performances, tributes and stories that ushered in a new chapter in how Canada honours its musical legacy. Thirteen of Canada’s best-loved rock bands and artists of the 1970s and ‘80s were inducted into Canada’s esteemed Walk of Fame as part of the organization’s 25th-anniversary celebrations.

Members past and present of April Wine, Chilliwack, Glass Tiger, Lee Aaron, Lighthouse, Loverboy, Max Webster, Michel Pagliaro, The Parachute Club, Platinum Blonde, Prism, Trooper and Rough Trade were honoured for their contributions to Canada’s musical heritage and their national and global success in an event that exceeded all expectations. It was such a hot ticket that it sold out within minutes of being put on sale months in advance.

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July 25, 2023

Rough Trade – Canada’s Walk of Fame 2023 Inductees

Rough Trade – A trailblazing, politically charged, punk-inspired New Wave rock band (Arts & Entertainment)

Rough Trade was formed in Toronto in 1974 by multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples and vocalist Carole Pope. Notorious for the openly sexual nature of their songs and the burlesque theatricality of their live performances — which often included bondage and sexual satire — the band was one of the first mainstream musical acts to include explicitly gay and lesbian references. Four-time JUNO Award winners Rough Trade are best known for the risqué, controversial hit single High School Confidential, which was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. Rough Trade The Musical, written by Pope and Kate Rigg and starring Chilina Kennedy, is being workshopped in New York. A documentary on Carole’s life based on her autobiography Anti Diva is in development with the CBC, produced by Michelle Mama and Gay Agenda.

In partnership with Anthem Entertainment Group and Live Nation, Rough Trade will be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame alongside 12 other Canadian music legends at Canada’s Rock of Fame on Sept 28 at Massey Hall in Toronto!

Canada’s Walk of Fame

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