Big Wreck


Big Wreck is a Canadian-American rock band formed by Ian Thornley and Donald Forrest Williams in Boston, Massachusetts in 1994. They disbanded in 2002 and Ian Thornley pursued a solo career with his own band Thornley. In 2010, Ian Thornley and Brian Doherty reunited for a cross-Canada tour, playing both Big Wreck and Thornley songs. In 2012, under the name Big Wreck, the band released their third studio album, Albatross. The band has since released the albums Ghosts in 2014, Grace Street in 2017, and ...But For the Sun in 2019.

History

Formation, band name, ''In Loving Memory Of...''

Big Wreck was originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts by guitarist Ian Thornley, guitarist Brian Doherty, bassist Dave Henning and drummer Forrest Williams while they were students at the Berklee College of Music. Henning and Doherty were previously part of the band Divine Right with lead singer Jim McDermott and drummer Dave Tuohy. The future Big Wreck lineup began jamming and playing gigs together under the name Still Waters in 1992 and officially formed the band in 1994. Unsatisfied with their name, they set out to choose a new official band name, and according to Thornley they settled upon the name Big Wreck after something went wrong during a rehearsal session and Doherty exclaimed the session was a “big wreck”. Upon their formation Thornley was not the original singer of the band, but he became the singer after the band couldn't find one. After a few years of gigging in the Boston area and Toronto, the band got signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut album In Loving Memory Of... in 1997. In the US, their single "The Oaf " reached the top ten on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart in early 1998. Four months later, their follow-up single "That Song" reached the top 40 on that same chart. The band found even bigger commercial success in Canada, scoring 4 top 40 hits on the Canadian Singles Chart. The band went on a 17-stop tour to publicize their releases.

''The Pleasure and the Greed'', breakup, other projects

Big Wreck released their second album, The Pleasure and the Greed, in June 2001. Three singles were released, all of which failed to chart in the U.S.
In October of that year, the band played a special show at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall accompanied by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Uzume Taiko Ensemble of drummers, guitarist Eric Johnson and The Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois and Robby Baker.
The band broke up in 2002. Ian Thornley moved back to Toronto and formed the band Thornley. Brian Doherty moved to Camlachie, a small community near Sarnia, Ontario, where he taught guitar and prepared students for University or Conservatory entrance requirements. Doherty also went on to form the indie band Death of 8.

Reunion, ''Albatross''

In 2010, Doherty filled in as guitarist at a Thornley show, and that led to Doherty joining the band as a permanent member. A tour promoted as "An Evening with Thornley and Big Wreck" followed, and as a result of the tour's success, the band assumed the Big Wreck moniker, including the existing members of Thornley in the new Big Wreck.
In November 2011, Big Wreck released their first song in ten years, "Albatross". The song was released as the lead single of their 2012 album of the same name. The song achieved chart success in both the US and Canada.
On February 5, 2012, Big Wreck performed at the Sound Academy in Toronto for Canada's Official Super Bowl XLVI party. They also completed two tours that year, touring Canada from British Columbia to Ontario from April to July, then accompanying Theory of a Deadman for their Jingle Bell Rock tour from November to December.

''Ghosts'' and ''Grace Street''

In 2014, the band released their fourth studio album, Ghosts. The album was released in Canada on June 10, 2014 and in the US in July. The album reached #5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and #4 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. The album was nominated for "Rock Album of the Year" at the Juno Awards of 2015.
In November 2016, Big Wreck released a new single "One Good Piece Of Me" from their upcoming album, Grace Street.
On January 5, 2017, after the recording of the Grace Street album, but prior to its release, guitarist Paulo Neta departed from Big Wreck. Grace Street was released on February 3, 2017.
Ian Thornley wrote the following on Big Wreck's Facebook page:

ILMO anniversary tour, Brian Doherty's death, ''But For the Sun''

In 2018, Big Wreck embarked on a 35-date North American tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of In Loving Memory Of..., in which they performed every song from the album at each show. The album was also reissued the same year featuring new artwork and two previously unreleased outtakes from the recording sessions, plus the album's first ever vinyl press.
On February 22, 2019, Big Wreck released a new single, "Locomotive", from their upcoming album, But For the Sun. Ian Thornley revealed the titles of several other upcoming songs from the album, including "Follow Me," "Give Us a Smile," and "Found My Place." On May 10, 2019, the band released a follow-up single, entitled "Too Far Gone."
Brian Doherty died of lung cancer on June 5, 2019, at age 51. The band performed their previously scheduled shows as a trio, with Chris Caddell joining the band later that year. On July 22, 2019, the band released a third single entitled "One More Chance," along with a release date and a tracklist of But For the Sun. The album was released on August 30, 2019.

Members

Current

Studio albums

Extended plays

Music videos