Numerous drummers came and went until June of 1986, when Don Schmid joined to make it a permanent quartet. With the help of friend and local booking agent Robert Hodgins, the band cut its teeth on the prairie bar circuit. The combination of exciting live performances, well-received indie albums, and the continuous stream of demos caught the ear of Doug Chappell, President of Virgin Records, Canada, and with the help of managers Fraser Hill and Ed Smeall, The Pikes signed to the label on December 19, 1986.
In January 1987, the band began sessions at Metal Works Studio in Toronto with producers Rick Hutt and Fraser Hill, and they finished mixing at McClear Place Studios for what would become its first Virgin album, titled 'Big Blue Sky'. It was released in June of '87 and featured the singles "Teenland" and "Things I Do For Money", introducing the band to a wider audience and expanding the touring range to all parts of Canada and the USA.
Spring of 1988 saw The Pikes at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY. and later in Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec for the recording and mixing of 'Secrets of the Alibi'. The sophomore album had a more "live off the floor" feel, and the heavy airplay of single "Wait For Me" and "Hopes Go Astray" kept the band on the road virtually non-stop across the continent until the summer of '89.
Up to this point, the primary singers and songwriters were Jay and Merl, with the exception of some group compositions and "Hopes" written by Bryan. The Pikes third album Snow In June saw the blossoming of Bryan as a singer and writer, most notably for the hit single "She Ain't Pretty". In addition the album featured other hits, "Girl With A Problem" and "Kiss Me You Fool", and featured a star-studded cast of additional musicians - Garth Hudson, Crystal Taliefero, John Sebastian and Stan Szelest, as well as mixes by acclaimed engineers Bob Clearmountain and Hugh Padgham. Recording again in Bearsville and mixing at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, the Pikes spent almost six months working on the album, considered by many to be their finest.
After almost two years of touring to support Snow In June, the band began work on Neptune in July of '92 at A&M Studios in LA with Rob Jaczko as co-producer. Subsequent sessions continued at Metal Works in Toronto and Blue Jay Studio in Boston. From start to finish the album took exactly two months to record, mix and master¤ the fastest turnaround since their indie days- Released in November, Neptune featured the keyboard work of Ross Nykiforuk, also a native of Saskatoon and an on-stage addition for the Snow In June tour. Also featured were two duets with Margo Timmins of "Cowboy Junkies", one of which¤ "Worlds Away"¤ made its way onto an episode of the TV series "Due South". The album featured the singles "Twister", "Believe" and "Everything", and in December saw the band fly from one end of Canada to the other on a whirlwind tour promoting the record.
The spring of '93 saw the last tour for The Pikes, and the fifth and final album gig, recorded live during concerts in Montreal and Toronto. It featured 13 songs and showcased the raw energy the band always exhibited onstage.
The Northern Pikes played their final concert of this first era on July 2, 1993 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Their unofficial final recording session took place July 9, '93 in Don's "Fresh Vibe North" studio where Jay, Bryan, Don and Ross laid down the original tracks for the theme song to "Due South" written by Jay and Bryan. Shortly afterwards, the band disbanded.
However, in 1999, the band reformed to build a Greatest Hits package, called "Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993." On the subsequent tour to promote this album, the band decided to release a live work in 2000 ("Live"). This was followed by a studio album in 2001 ("Truest Inspiration"), and another in 2003 ("It's a Good Life"). A collaborative album with fellow Canadian artist Les Stroud followed-up in 2008. They've continued to tour over the past few years.
Twister
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I save my aggravation for a conversation on the phone
Anything can happen with these wicked lives we lead
Everything goes wrong
And then I come back begging on my knees
She spins my head around, just like a twister
She shakes me up when I shake down, just like a twister
Because your daddy was comin' home
Didn't want him findin' me somewhere I don't belong
Romeo and Juliet so perfect in the dark
No one could hear us
When we twist and turn ourselves apart
She rock and rolled me, just like a twister
She picked me up and throwed me,just like a twister
She moved me like a hurricane
So stay away from her mister
'Cause I love her, I love her, just like a twister
Nostalgia rules for fools like me
Who can't throw anything away
She acts much older than her age
Neither of us goin' grey
Tame the dragon deep inside
Never let him show
Always nice and so polite
But there's something I think you should know
She's mean and evil - tough and true
Just like a twister
She don't need me - she don't need you
Just like a twister
She's a sweet tornado Texas-style
So stay away from her mister
Because I love her, I love her
Just like a twister
The Northern Pikes' "Twister" is a song about the intense passion and turbulence of a romantic relationship. The singer saves his ammunition and frustration for when he returns home while the rocking rhythm and lyrics convey the tumultuous nature of a relationship with a twist that he can only compare to a twister. Attempting to keep their relationship secret from the girl’s father, the couple turned the lights down low and gave into passion in the dark. The girl is described as someone who rocks and rolls the singer like a twister, “picks him up, throwed him,” and moves like a hurricane, but loves her just the same.
The lyrics also suggest that the girl is a complex character, mean and evil, as well as tough and true, with an unapologetic Texas-style attitude. The nostalgia rules for the singer and the girl, who can’t throw away anything or anyone, are perfect for them. They don’t act their age, and neither of them is going gray, but the singer admits that there’s something you should know about her. Though mean and evil, the singer’s love for her is still as fierce and wild as a twister.
Line by Line Meaning
I save my ammunition for when I get back home
I keep my frustration and anger to myself until a more appropriate time to express it when I return home.
I save my aggravation for a conversation on the phone
I hold back my irritation and annoyance until I am able to talk about it through a call.
Anything can happen with these wicked lives we lead
We lead lives full of unpredictability and chaos where anything could occur.
Everything goes wrong
Displeasing events seem to happen in succession.
And then I come back begging on my knees
I end up apologizing or craving forgiveness on my knees due to the unfavorable consequences of my actions.
She spins my head around, just like a twister
She makes me feel dizzy with intense and overwhelming emotions, similar to how a tornado would make one feel disoriented.
She shakes me up when I shake down, just like a twister
When I am in a low and vulnerable state, she lifts me up, similar to how a twister would shake things up.
We turned the lights down low
To create a romantic atmosphere, we dimmed the lights.
Because your daddy was comin' home
We didn't want her father to catch me at her place.
Didn't want him findin' me somewhere I don't belong
I didn't want him to see me in a place that he would not approve of me being in.
Romeo and Juliet so perfect in the dark
We experienced a perfect and intense romantic moment together, reminiscent of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet drama.
No one could hear us
We spoke softly as we twisted and turned ourselves apart, such that nobody could hear us.
She rock and rolled me, just like a twister
She turned me around and shook me up with her passion, like how a twister would affect things in its path.
She picked me up and throwed me,just like a twister
She lifted me up and threw me around with the force of her love, just like how a twister could pick up things and throw them around.
She moved me like a hurricane
Her actions had a significant impact on me, like how a hurricane would move things out of place.
So stay away from her mister
I warn you to stay away from her.
'Cause I love her, I love her, just like a twister
Despite her being overwhelming and potentially dangerous, I cannot help but love her deeply, just like how a twister can be beautiful and captivating despite its destructiveness.
Nostalgia rules for fools like me
As a sentimental person, nostalgia often affects my decisions and actions negatively.
Who can't throw anything away
I find it difficult to let go of people or things that I have an attachment to.
She acts much older than her age
Despite her young age, she displays maturity beyond her years.
Neither of us goin' grey
We are both still young and youthful, with no signs of aging yet.
Tame the dragon deep inside
I need to control the inner turmoil and intensity that I feel within.
Never let him show
I keep this intense side of me hidden from others.
Always nice and so polite
I project a polite and well-mannered persona to the outside world.
But there's something I think you should know
Despite my calm exterior, there is a side of me that is intense and passionate.
She's mean and evil - tough and true
Although she can be cruel and unpleasant, she is nevertheless determined and unwavering in her convictions.
Just like a twister
Similar to how a twister is powerful and intimidating, she has an intense and forceful personality.
She don't need me - she don't need you
She is independent and self-sufficient, without relying on anyone else.
She's a sweet tornado Texas-style
Despite being destructive and overwhelming, she has a charm and sweetness that is unique to her and her Texan heritage.
Because I love her, I love her
Despite her flaws and challenging personality, my love for her remains constant and unshakeable.
Just like a twister
Similar to how I am captivated and enamored by a twister's beauty, I am similarly drawn to her despite her intense nature.
Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
James Grady
I finally got Neptune...and oh! there are more discs...jeez...if you had came to the south, you may have never left...you would have been absorbed...we love our rock and good music
Lee Broderick
Just like a TWIZZLER
James Grady
may I ask...what is your connection with the band?