From playing their first show at the Smilin' Buddha Cabaret in 1981 to being inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame this fall, 54-40 has gone on quite a run during its 30-year existence.
It would've been crazy at the group's outset to say the band would still be going three decades later, says bassist and co-founder Brad Merritt.
"As far as I could see this whole thing going was, if we were lucky enough open up for the Subhumans at the Commodore Ballroom and make $150," says Tsawwassen's Merritt.
The band has gone on to crank out hits like I Go Blind, Ocean Pearl, One Day in Your Life and Since When as well as produce over a dozen albums, their most recent effort being last year's Lost in the City.
The group, which consists of Neil Osborne (who graduated from South Delta Secondary along with Merritt in 1978), Matt Johnson and Dave Genn, recently got inducted into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
That was a big honour, Merritt says, adding it's very gratifying to mentioned in the same breath as the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive.
The band closed out the awards show at the Yukon Arts Centre with a live per-formance.
54-40 has plans for shows in January and February and then some theatre dates across Canada beginning in April.
"It's been absolutely fantastic and we hope to keep it going as long as we can.
The thing is, we're at the stage now where we don't take it for granted. Every time we get together its kind of a celebration and who knows where it's going to take us," says Merritt.
"The thought has occurred to both Neil and I that this isn't going to last forever and we've had a good run and we'll just see," he says. "We'll just see what's next."
For more on the group visit www.5440.com.
BY DAVE WILLIS [email protected]
