Harlequin to entertain Saturday at RRWT

Submitted by
Wayne Monson
Pacific Entertainment

Harlequin began as a Winnipeg circuit band from their inception in 1978. The nucleus of the band consisted of singer George Belanger, guitarist John Hannah and Gary Golden on keyboards, along with drummer David Budzak and Ralph James on bass. Within a year they were doing regular gigs across central and eastern Canada and were signed to Epic Records in 1979. Their debut album, VICTIM OF A SONG was produced by Jack Douglas and was released that fall, immediately making an impression with both the critics and the fans alike. “Sweet Things In Life” and “You Are The Light” both became instant radio staples across the country and Harlequin was rewarded with a debut gold record. Backed by the solid writing of other tracks like “Turn Around” and “Survive”, the rest was anything but filler.

After Hannah left to join Streetheart in 1980, Harlequin came back with LOVE CRIMES later that year. Fuelled by new guitarist Glen Willows, tracks like the singles “Innocence”, “Take This Heart” and “Thinking Of You” put to rest any fears that the group couldn’t function through problems like personnel changes. The band was now taking its straight-forward rock and roll message all across Canada.

It would be nearly two full years before their third record, ONE FALSE MOVE would hit the shelves. Back for his third consecutive stint behind the controls was Douglas and the fans’ wait was justified by Harlequin’s best effort yet. “I Did It For Love”, “Superstitious Feeling” and the ballad “Heart Gone Cold” pushed them to the elite status of only having three records, but all going gold. More touring across Canada and into the states and Europe followed for the next year or so.

Epic released a greatest hits package in the middle of band in-fighting in ‘84. Included was the new single “Take This Heart”. The label dropped them shortly thereafter. Before long the continual fighting in the band led to their breakup in ‘85. Epic contacted Belanger in ‘86 and arranged for the release of another hits package that year. RADIO ROMANCES came out later that year and featured a collection of their previous hits with a new track, “No Mystery” with a new band. Jorn Anderson was the new drummer, the new axeman was Randy Hiebert, Randy Booth on bass and Lou Pomanti on keyboards.

This turned out to be more cheesy marketing ploys as Epic again pulled the plug on them. With shattered dreams revisited, the band again disbanded in the middle of a mini tour in support of the new album.

Harlequin was never touted as a supergroup. Most people didn’t even know who the members were. Though unable to ride the wave of Canadian pop in the ‘80’s to further success, they did however crank out a lot of good, no-frills rock and roll. On the radio or live, they aimed to please ... and never disappointed.

Their official site is
http://www.highnorthrecords.com/bands/harlequin/index.html