The Watchmen are a
Canadian
Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...
rock band. They were one of the most commercially successful bands in Canada in the mid to late 1990s. During their peak years, the band had one platinum record (''
In the Trees'') and three more
gold record
Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...
s (''
McLaren Furnace Room'', ''
Silent Radar'',
and ''
Slomotion''). The band has toured Canada a number of times, were the opening act for
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as the Hip, was a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker (known as Bobby Baker until 1994), bassis ...
, and co-headlined a national tour with
Big Wreck
Big Wreck are a Canadian-American Rock music, rock band formed by Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1992. The band was rounded out with David Henning and Forrest Williams. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley pursued ...
.
History
The Watchmen first came together in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1988. Founding members were
Daniel Greaves, Joey Serlin, Sammy Kohn and Pete Loewen. After performing together for several years, they released an album, ''McLaren Furnace Room'', in 1992.
In 1994, Loewen left the band and was replaced by Ken Tizzard. That same year, the band released their second album, ''
In the Trees''. The album was certified Platinum in Canada and is the band's most successful album to date.
The band released the albums ''
Brand New Day'' and ''
Silent Radar'' in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
In 1999 the band performed as part of Humble & Fred Fest at
Fort York
Fort York is an early 19th-century military fortification in the Fort York neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort housed members of the British and Canadian militaries and defended the entrance to Toronto Harbour. The fort featu ...
in Toronto. Kohn had left the band when they recorded their 2001 album ''
Slomotion''; the percussion tracks were created electronically. A single from the album, "Absolutely Anytime" was in the Top Ten on the Canadian charts for several weeks. While touring to support the album, the band took on drummer Ryan Ahoff.
In 2003, the Watchmen announced their farewell tour and their intention to disband. They returned to Winnipeg to perform at a fundraiser for the
Israel national bobsleigh team.
In 2010, the Watchmen came together for a reunion show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. They have since continued to perform occasional shows across Canada. In May 2023, Daniel Greaves and Joey Serlin (working as Serlin Greaves) released an album entitled ''Sad Songs For Sale''.
The Watchmen are members of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
*''
Live Radar'' (1998)
*''
Last Road Trip Download Series'' (2004)
*''Live and in Stereo'' (2017)
Singles
References
External links
*
*
AllMusic Guide page*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watchmen, The
Musical groups established in 1988
Musical groups disestablished in 2003
Musical groups reestablished in 2008
Musical groups from Winnipeg
Canadian alternative rock groups
1988 establishments in Manitoba
2003 disestablishments in Manitoba
2008 establishments in Manitoba