By the spring of 1970, April Wine had relocated from Halifax to Montreal and were making a self-titled album for Aquarius Records. This first album established Myles Goodwyn as a composer with the song "Fast Train" receiving much airplay throughout Canada and becoming the main reason April Wine was able to record a second album. In the fall of 1971, original member Jim Henman left the band and was replaced by Montreal native Jim Clench.
Famed producer Ralph Murphy worked with the group on their second album, titled 'On Record'. Murphy's mission was to give April Wine a major international hit, and he came very close to doing just that. The album pushed the band into the North American public spotlight for the first time. You Could Have Been a Lady, originally recorded in England by Hot Chocolate, was a phenomenal hit for April Wine. This song provided the band with a #1 hit in Canada and allowed them to crack Billboard's Top 30 in the USA where it remained for 11 weeks. On Record also included another notable tune; a cover of Elton John's Bad Side Of The Moon.
Following the Gold success of the second album it was clear that April Wine had the chance to become one of Canada's most significant rock bands. Ralph Murphy would be back to produce the follow up album but there would be changes in the band. By the completion of Electric Jewels a new April Wine would emerge. This band would no longer include the Henman brothers.
Early in 1973 the two remaining members, Myles Goodwyn and Jim Clench, faced the dilemma of taking the band to the next level. After a few auditions Jerry Mercer and Gary Moffet joined the band and April Wine became a tighter, flashier band. The two new members helped to complete album number three; Electric Jewels. This album remains a fan favorite with such classic songs as Weeping Widow, Just Like That and Lady Run Lady Hide. It provides a great example of the writing talents of Goodwyn and Clench. The following spring the band hit the road with a national tour called The Electric Adventure. This tour was the first to use dramatic lighting and pyrotechnic displays as an integral part of their show, a feature that would prove to be extremely popular during their international stardom and would lend influence to various emerging artists, Garth Brooks for one.
Forever For Now, the band's sixth album, included a Canadian music milestone for the band; the best selling Canadian single the band ever released. Both the single, You Won't Dance With Me, as well as the album reached critical acclaim with the single reaching Gold and the album reaching Gold then Platinum in Canada.
Many people consider Stand Back to be one of the band's greatest accomplishments. This album provided the hits Tonight Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love and I Wouldn't Want To Lose Your Love but the non-hits were even more remarkable. Songs like Cum Hear The Band, Slowpoke, Don't Push Me Around and Oowatanite helped push Stand Back to Double-Platinum status in Canada.
With the release of The Whole World's Goin' Crazy, Steve Lang had replaced Jim Clench on bass guitar. This album made April Wine the first Canadian band to achieve Platinum advance sales orders and included another April Wine classic in the ballad Like A Lover, Like A Song.
Forever For Now, the band's sixth album, included a Canadian music milestone for the band; the best selling Canadian single the band ever released. Both the single, You Won't Dance With Me, as well as the album reached critical acclaim with the single reaching Gold and the album reaching Gold then Platinum in Canada.
Following the release of Live At The El Mocambo a fifth member was added to the band. Brian Greenway joined the lineup for the summer 1977 tour and gave the group some added flexibility. Brian could sing, write and play harmonica but his greatest contribution to April Wine was on guitar. Since Myles was a surprisingly skilled keyboard player it was invaluable to have a third guitar player and April Wine could now create arrangements for three guitars which would develop into the group's trademark power rock image during the following years.
The band's seventh studio album would prove to be the group’s turning point. It was the third single from First Glance that made April Wine an international success. Radio listeners in Flint Michigan made Roller a top request number. This single was eventually a Top 30 hit in the U.S.A. and First Glance became the band's first Gold record outside of Canada. Roller remained on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for 11 weeks while First Glance stayed on Billboard's 200 Album chart for 11 weeks as well. 1979 proved to be a very good year for Canadian Wine indeed.
Major artists such as Rush, Journey and Styx requested that April Wine open their shows in the United States. American audiences were finally being exposed to this "new" band called April Wine. Canada's best kept secret was finally out in the open.
It was a confident group that recorded Harder...Faster in the summer of 1979. The album featured the hardest rock that April Wine had ever recorded. This album included such powerful songs as I Like To Rock, which American radio embraced, and Say Hello which went to the top of the charts in Canada. The popularity of these songs helped keep the album on Billboard's 200 Album charts for a whopping 40 weeks! Harder...Faster helped the group collect more Gold and Platinum awards on both sides of the border.
The first months of 1980 saw April Wine touring as Nazareth's opening act throughout the United States. In city after city promoters remarked on the powerful pairing of the bands. Most felt that the show would be a better draw if April Wine headlined. The time had finally come for April Wine to take top billing outside of Canada. A decade of hard work had finally paid off.
The group's ninth studio album, The Nature Of The Beast, became April Wine's greatest success. Released in January of 1981, the first single Just Between You and Me broke Billboard's Top 20 and remained on the their Hot 100 Singles chart for 16 weeks. The same song hit position number 11 on Billboard's Album Rock Track chart and charted for an incredible 10 weeks. Later that year the millionth copy of the album was sold in the U.S.A. and April Wine had finally attained international "Platinum" status. The song Crash And Burn was even featured in an NBC Movie of the Week! The album remained on Billboard's 200 Album chart for 34 weeks peaking at the 26th position. The album went on to claim more awards for the group as it collected Gold and Platinum on both sides of the border and Double Platinum in Canada.
During the 1980's April Wine had the strongest concert repertoire ever and the demand for appearances had never been greater. They were in demand in Canada, the United Sates, England and Germany. In fact it seemed their popularity was traveling more than they were. There was the feeling that the band could tour forever.
Whether writing the songs, producing them, or promoting them, Myles Goodwyn had been working against some kind of "deadline" for the last three years with no significant time off. He needed a break... so he took one. After a hiatus of 18 months, during which the band recorded Power Play with such cutting edge hits as Anything You Want You Got It and Enough is Enough, the band was ready to tour again. The 1982 Power Play tour was the largest tour April Wine had ever attempted. It incorporated the most elaborate stage the band had ever used. Their return to Canada, after two years away, saw them sell out shows across the country. Yes the band was welcomed home with open arms but Power Play, even though successful, did not meet with the critical international acclaim that the group's previous two albums enjoyed. Both Enough Is Enough and If You See Kay charted on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks and remained there for a number of weeks but Enough Is Enough only remained on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart for 8 weeks. However the album itself peaked Billboard's 200 Album chart at 37 and remained on the chart for a strong 20 weeks, still a phenomenal accomplishment, but perhaps not enough for this perfectionist band from Canada.
With the release of Animal Grace, the group's eleventh undertaking, things took a turn for the worse. This Could Be The Right One entered the charts very quickly but stalled just as abruptly. The album had taken an extremely long time to record and a rift had begun to form in the band.
In a move that seemed to symbolize the distance between Myles and the band, he and his family moved to the Bahamas. The group would get together once more for a farewell tour of Canada. The tour was a bittersweet one, with the die-hard fans realizing what lay ahead. A twelfth studio album was released that featured only two remaining members of the group; Myles and Brian. The rest had decided to go their separate ways.
In late 1988 Myles moved back to Montreal and started to receive phone calls from the United States about the possibility of a new April Wine album. The demand was there and Myles had already been talking to the other band members about a possible reunion. In July of 1992 April Wine played its first concert in 8 years to a sold out audience in the Canadian province of Manitoba. For the balance of that summer they played to sold out shows right across Canada. The band was welcomed home again!
The demand south of the border was strong as well. The band was selling out shows across the States with 20,000 people coming out to see them in San Antonio, Texas. In fact St. Louis, Missouri ended up adding a second show and the scalpers in Las Vegas were getting a high dollar for the valued tickets.
In 1992 the band consisted of Myles Goodwyn, Brian Greenway, Jerry Mercer, Jim Clench and Steve Segal. The group’s thirteenth studio album, Attitude, was released in 1993. It was their first studio release in 10 years. Attitude went Gold in Canada, driven by the hit If You Believe In Me. Segal remained with the band for the 1994 release of studio album number fourteen; “Frigate”.
1995 saw Steve Segal leave April Wine. April Wine returned to their roots as a 4 piece Rock band with 2 guitars, bass and drums as they were when they first started out in 1969.
From 1995 to 2000 April Wine continued to tour Canada and the USA doing 80-100 shows a year playing to their ever growing legions of fans.
The studio album, “Back To The Mansion” released in 2001 was April Wine's 15th studio album and first new release since 1994, and featured original members Myles Goodwyn (vocals, guitars and keyboards), Brian Greenway (guitars, vocals), Jim Clench (bass, background vocals), Jerry Mercer (drums).
“April Wine Live 2003” was released in spring of 2003 and featured the band’s live
stage show. It was recorded in Kitchener Ontario. It also featured Carl Dixon on keyboard,vocals and guitar who had joined the band for 3 tours.
June of 2004 saw April Wine travel to Sweden to be part of “Sweden Rock 2004”
They shared the stage with HEART, FOGHAT, UFO and many others.
In 2006 April Wine celebrated their 37th anniversary together with the release of their 16th studio album, “Roughly Speaking”. (Released November 21st 2006)
Jim Clench left the band in January of 2007. He was replaced by Breen LeBoeuf, a talented Bassist and Singer, and a longtime friend of Jerry and Brian. Breen brings the experience of his many years as a member of the legendary Quebec rock band “Offenbach” with him to April Wine. The fans accepted Breen right from the first show
at Higher Ground in Burlington Vermont in February of 2007.
In November 2008, April Wine signed with ARM Entertainment of St. Paul, MN. as the April Wine’s agency in the USA. Roger Anderson and his company have been booking many shows for the band in the USA to the delight of American fans. S.L. Feldman & Associates continues to represent April Wine in Canada.
Late 2008 also saw the departure of Jerry Mercer from the band. About to turn 70 years of age in April of 2009, Jerry decided to retire. Jerry had been the driving drumming force of April Wine for 35 years!
Blair Mackay joined April Wine as the new drummer in January 2009. Blair has a Master of Music degree in performance, and like Breen, was accepted by the fans right from the first show, coincidentally at Higher Ground in Vermont.
In March of 2009, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They also received The Lifetime Achievement Award for being part of Canadian Music History for 40 years.
On April 18th of 2010 at the Juno Awards, April Wine will be inducted in to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
2010 sees the band continue their hectic pace touring both the United States and Canada to acclaimed reviews. They continue to satisfy fans with a live mix of straight ahead rock n' roll and power ballads, an April Wine mainstay.
In 2010, April Wine enters into their 40th year as a band ... quite an accomplishment for any rock n' roll band!
21st Century Schizoid Man
April Wine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door
Twenty first century schizoid man
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Death seed blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man
The lyrics of April Wine's song "21st Century Schizoid Man" describe a world full of chaos, violence, and madness. The first stanza portrays a terrifying world of neuro-surgeons continuously seeking more, addicted to the excitement and danger of their jobs, often leading to lethal consequences. The paranoia is also symbolically present at the door of this century's schizoid man, emphasizing how the world has become an inhospitable place where people are scared of themselves, others, and their environment.
The second stanza depicts a world where politicians have failed their citizens, causing devastation instead of peace, mainly through unnecessary wars that have led to countless innocent lives being taken. The haunting image of "innocents raped with napalm fire" brings to attention the horrors of war and the impact it has on the innocents. The phrase "twenty first-century schizoid man" acts as a reminder that while society has progressed, people remain scarred by their greed for power, domination, and the accumulation of wealth.
Lastly, the third stanza portrays the bleakness of the human condition, with the death of human morality and the lack of compassion and care for people in need. Blind human greed seems to rule over everything, leading to poets' starving children, who are left to suffer and die needlessly. The final line, "nothing he's got he really needs," sums up the human condition today, where people have become so woefully detached from reality that they have lost sight of what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Cat's foot iron claw
A description of the singer's perception of the world as harsh and oppressive.
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
Medical professionals who are obsessed with finding solutions to unpredictable mental health conditions.
At paranoia's poison door
The notion that paranoia can lead to toxic behaviour or reactions.
Twenty first century schizoid man
A reference to the modern man as being disconnected from reality and emotionally unstable.
Blood rack barbed wire
A gruesome image that represents the violence and brutality of war.
Politicians' funeral pyre
A metaphorical statement regarding political corruption and the negative impact it has on society.
Innocents raped with napalm fire
The horror and tragedy of war and the innocent lives that are destroyed in the process.
Twenty first century schizoid man
A repetition of the chorus that reinforces the idea of modern man as unstable and disconnected from reality.
Death seed blind man's greed
A metaphor for the destructive and selfish behaviour of man, even when faced with the consequences of their actions.
Poets' starving children bleed
A criticism of society's failure to support the arts and its disregard for the most vulnerable members of society.
Nothing he's got he really needs
A statement on the insatiable greed of man and the futility of material wealth.
Twenty first century schizoid man
A repetition of the chorus that reinforces the idea of modern man as unstable and disconnected from reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Robert Fripp, Michael Rex Giles, Greg Lake, Ian Mcdonald, Peter John Sinfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
phactreerat
First time I heard this version, and wow. Shame on my local radio stations for never playing this when it came out.
Tireshredderjoe
Yeahhhh! April Wine underrated
phactreerat
@Doug Wheeler We in Detroit used to have KSHE sister station like 40 years ago WABX
Doug Wheeler
KSHE 95 in STL used to play this version once in awhile in the old days
Mitch Martin
They do a great job on this complex song. I have seen AW no less than 10 times and anybody growing up in Canada and particularly the East knows how popular AW was in the 70s and 80s.
Mickey Edwards
It was this version that led me to King Crimson. Well worth the time... both bands are awesome.
Thomas Hornback
The Midwest, especially Michigan, loved this band. My first live Rock and Roll show. They blew Nazareth out of the water.
Dennis Mohican
I grew up in Texas, saw alot of concerts from '77 to '94.. And I had no idea at first alot of these bands were Canadian! lol.. I saw April Wine open for some band.. Not sure.. Then I've seen them with the headliners like Pat Travers, maybe not the top band everytime but my god they were damn good. Saw them with UFO and Triumph together, I think Triumph was headlining.. No matter, April Wine always kicked ass! Even saw Max Webster a few times.. lol goot Canadian Rock!!!
So I've seen AW (hawhaw) a few times!!! Excellent band. So cool to see all these old vids!!!!!
DeNNis (RaWR!)
58 yrs
ATX
woreoutdrummer
Hell yeah! A bag of good smoke, April Wine live....many good memories of the good times to be had then.
S Squared
I can only say this was fucking fantastic...I've been a Crimson fan since their inception and have never heard any group pull off 21st as well as these guys did...kudos...