After several years of gigging in Boston and Cambridge, the band signed to a major label and released its debut album In Loving Memory of... in 1997. The single The Oaf was a major Top Ten hit for the band that year.
Due to Thornley's Canadian nationality, the band's biggest commercial success was actually in Canada rather than the United States. The album's subsequent singles, Blown Wide Open and That Song, were not as successful on the American charts as The Oaf had been, but in Canada they were both Top Ten hits.
In October of 2001, Big Wreck played a special show at Toronto's Roy Thompson Hall accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Uzume Taiko Ensemble of drummers, with The Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois and Robby Baker also making appearances.
The band's second album The Pleasure and the Greed (released in 2001) was marred by poor marketing and was not as big a hit as their debut album, especially in the United States. The band subsequently broke up a year later in 2002.
Thornley moved back to Toronto, launching the band Thornley. Doherty has gone on to be in the indie band Death of 8, but the other band members never emerged with new projects.
Ian and Brian rekindled their friendship, which lead to a reunion in 2011.
This reunion, however, would not include founding members Dave Henning and Forrest Williams.
Albatross, the band's third album, would be released on March 6, 2012, and would be Big Wreck's best charting album of all time, debuting at #5 on the Canadian albums charts, and would see its title track hit #1 on the Canadian Rock charts, which it would hold for six weeks straight. It would also spawn the singles Wolves and A Million Days, and would receive the CASBY award for "Favourite New Album" in 2012.
2014 would see the release of their fourth album, Ghosts, on the 10th of June. The album would debut at #5 on the Canadian Rock charts, and would go on to debut at #4 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, making it their highest charting album on that chart to date. Ghosts would come to spawn three singles: the name-sharing Ghosts, Come What May, and Hey Mama.
Big Wreck's fifth studio album, Grace Street, would see its release on February 3, 2017. The album would end up peaking at #5 on the Canadian Albums chart, much like Albatross and Ghosts. However, the lead single One Good Piece of Me would end up outperforming Ghosts (the song), with the track charting high on two separate charts within the first week of airplay. The other two singles that spawned from Grace Street were Digging In and You Don't Even Know.
On June 5, 2019, founding guitarist Brian Doherty would pass away after a battle with cancer. He was 51.
Big Wreck would release their sixth studio album, ...but for the Sun, on August 30, 2019. The band would end up dedicating the album to the late guitarist in memory of him. The album would see Locomotive, Too Far Gone, One More Chance and Alibi be the four singles to spawn, and would also see an in memoriam tour dedicated to Doherty.
...but for the Sun would be the last full-length album recorded with longtime drummer Chuck Keeping, as he would end up leaving the band in 2021 to focus on family life.
In the following years, Big Wreck would hire new drummer Sekou Lumumba (the former drummer for Ian Thornley's side project, Thornley) to replace Chuck Keeping, and would go on to release 3 EPs: 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3.
Pages, Big Wreck's 7th album, was released on November 24, 2023.
Discography:
Studio Albums
In Loving Memory Of... (1997)
The Pleasure And The Greed (2001)
Albatross (2012)
Bag of Tricks (Live, 2013)
Ghosts (2014)
Grace Street (2017)
...but for the Sun (2019)
Pages (2023)
EPs
7.1 (2021)
7.2 (2022)
7.3 (2023)
Members:
Ian Thornley (Vocals, Guitar, 1992 - present)
Chris Caddell (Rhythm Guitar, 2019 - present)
Dave McMillan (Bass Guitar, 2010 - present)
Sekou Lumumba (Drums, 2021 - present)
Past Members:
Brian Doherty (Guitar, 1992 - 2019 (d. June 5, 2019))
Paulo Neta (Guitar, 2010 - 2017)
Dave Henning (Bass Guitar, 1993 - 2002)
Forrest Williams (Drums, 1994 - 2002)
Brad Park (Drums, 2010 - 2012)
Chuck Keeping (Drums, 2012 - 2021)
Control
Big Wreck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel this feeling
Hooking up to back when
Theres a difference
Can tell the difference
Between history and regret
It's the same old world
And there's no one
To blame for why
We're all screwed up
You can bury your head
In a great big hole
Did you ever believe
That you were in control?
In control
I can be a picture
Be it with me
Beat it baby
Beat the monkey back down
It never feels
Like the real feeling
Dealing with the poor
hand me downs
It's the same old world
Where we grew up
And there's no one
To blame for why
They're all screwed up
You can bury your head
In a great big hole
Did you ever believe
That you were in control?
We're locked out of heaven
And its all my fault
You never noticed I had it
Til it starts to fall
Remember the boy
Who never grew up
They've put him away
And now he's all screwed up
He's swallowing pills
Knows when to say when
He gets to believe
He'll be just like them
It's the same old world
Where we grew up
And there's no one
To blame for why
They're all screwed up
You can bury your head
In a great big hole
Did you ever believe
That you were in control?
-Solos-
In Big Wreck's song "Control," the lyrics suggest a feeling of nostalgia and longing for the past while simultaneously acknowledging that the present is not quite what was expected. The singer is reflecting on the past and how it makes them feel, noting that they can distinguish between things that are part of their personal history and things they regret. Despite this introspection, they come to the realization that they are not in control of their lives and the world around them.
The chorus of the song creates a sense of resignation, as the singer acknowledges that they are living in the same old world they grew up in, that they and everyone else are screwed up, and that they cannot really do anything about it. The idea of burying one's head in a hole suggests a sense of helplessness and a desire to escape. The second verse introduces the idea of addiction as a coping mechanism and highlights the reality of poverty and the struggle to make ends meet.
The final verse brings up the story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, who has now been "put away" and is "all screwed up" and uses pills to cope. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the loss of innocence and the complications of adulthood. The song as a whole suggests that while we may not be able to control our circumstances, we can understand them and try to find a way to cope.
Line by Line Meaning
Every now and then
Occasionally, there are moments when
I can feel this feeling
I experience a specific emotion
Hooking up to back when
Relating to a past time or memory
Theres a difference
There is a distinction
Can tell the difference
Able to identify the difference
Between history and regret
Knowing the contrast between past events and a feeling of sadness or disappointment about them
It's the same old world
The world remains unchanged
Where we grew up
The location of our upbringing
And there's no one
No individual is responsible
To blame for why
Accountable for the reason
We're all screwed up
Every one of us is struggling or experiencing difficulties
You can bury your head
Ignorance or avoidance of a problem
In a great big hole
Completely removed from a situation
Did you ever believe
Have you ever thought
That you were in control?
You had power over a situation?
I can be a picture
I can appear a certain way
Be it with me
Be present alongside me
Beat it baby
Overcome a problem or negative emotion
Beat the monkey back down
Suppressing or eliminating a bad habit or addiction
It never feels
It consistently does not seem
Like the real feeling
As though it is not a genuine sentiment
Dealing with the poor
Coping with the negative aspects
hand me downs
Used or secondhand items
We're locked out of heaven
We are unable to reach a desirable or ideal state
And its all my fault
I am entirely responsible
You never noticed I had it
Unaware that I possessed something
Til it starts to fall
Until it begins to fail or deteriorate
Remember the boy
Recall the individual
Who never grew up
Who never matured or progressed
They've put him away
Placed in confinement or institution
And now he's all screwed up
Currently having issues or problems
He's swallowing pills
Taking medication or drugs
Knows when to say when
Aware of one's limit or boundary
He gets to believe
He has the chance to think
He'll be just like them
He will become like others with similar issues
In control
With power over the situation
Contributed by Victoria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dave lees
what a fantastic song ...I never get why these guys are so underrated
Ken Deater
@Fred Edish 🇨🇦✌🏼
Ken Deater
@Fred Edish 🇨🇦✌🏼
David Atch
Because they're Canadian.
Spencer Kaufman
every song they ever write this is the comment...
Teo Martino
I personally think all there songs are of greatness. I'll never get how Ian can throw those monster voacls over his guitar playing. Lots of guys can sing and play but Ians style? Sounds onorthdoxed.
Marc J
Perfect blend of "old school" and "new school" rock. If it were possible for Dire Straits, Alice In Chains, STP, Led Zeppelin, and ZZ Top to have a child...this is what it would sound like!
D Hagenaar
I love the feeling I get listening to Big Wreck. This is another solid tune with big vocals and guitar work. Primo!
Boggesh Zahim
It makes me think of the melancholy of a small town in the middle of nowhere
sydsdh
Thank you Big Wreck ! I discovered Thornley/Big Wreck a year ago and I am amazed at how addicted I am. The song writing, the voice, the talent of the band, the guitar playing ! . I thoroughly enjoy Every Big Wreck and Thornley album with every song being worthy with standouts like: LadyLike, That Song, The Oaf, Off and Running, Blown Wide Open, Overemphasizing, Broken Hands, Hey Mama, A Million Days, Wolves, This is Where my Heart is, Under the Lighthouse, Head in the Girl. Thornley: Failling to Pieces, Beautiful, Come Again, Underneath the Radar, Your Song, Make Believe, Man Overboard..... Amazing. These guys are the real thing - talented artists making real music. What more could you ask for in a rock band ?. Although I would love a mega stadium show - it would be amazing to see and hear their songs in a big production.
Please keep making great music and know that you are bringing music joy to a lot of rabid fans ! I write this because I love music and the joy it brings and I would love if every rock fan discovers Big Wreck. If you are a fan call your local radio station and request Big Wreck, write their management company (off their website) and ask for a local concert !... Cheers.