Tom Hooper (bass, vocals)
Chris Hooper (drums)
Kevin Kane (guitar, vocals)
Vincent Jones (keyboards; 1990)
Brothers Tom and Chris Hooper met Kevin Kane in 1977 during their teens in Kelowna, British Columbia. Their first band was a punk combo called Kill Pigs which played faster than the singer could sing. From there, Kane and the Hoopers went on separate musical paths; Kane to art-rock group Empty Set and the Hoopers to Gentlemen Of Horror. The Gentlemen were popular playing in and around Vancouver and released a 7" single in 1980. During this time, Tom Hooper edited a local punk 'zine called 'Indecent Exposure', to which Kane and Chris Hooper contributed.
In April of 1983, after putting together a one-off show as cover band Honda Civic, the trio decided to work together musically again. From the Hooper family garage they began rehearsals and gained enough confidence to open for acts in Seattle and Vancouver as the newly christened Grapes Of Wrath (from the classic movie of the same name).
By raising money at flea markets and garage sales the act was able to record 4 songs with up-and-coming producer Greg Reely in July and August 1984. However, a chance live acoustic rendering of their songs by newly formed Nettwerk Records' Terry led to the band being signed and released the tracks as a self-titled EP in November 1984. The band played a farewell gig in hometown Kelowna, packed up Tom's station wagon and the Grapes Of Wrath moved to Vancouver.
In late summer of 1985, Nettwerk released the first album 'September Bowl Of Green', which dented college and alternative radio. Their first two videos "Misunderstanding" and "A Dream (About You)" were heavily rotated by MUCHMusic. This attention led to Nettwerk's negotiations with Capitol Records for a distribution deal and the band returned to the studio in May 1986 to remix "Misunderstanding" and "Love Comes Around" with Tom Cochrane. These remixes would be issued on the 'September Bowl Of Green' CD re-issue. The band continued playing live including a high profile show at the 2nd Annual Independent Music Festival in 1986.
Cochrane was sufficiently impressed enough to produce the band's sophomore effort 'Treehouse' which was released in October 1987.
Ex-Pere Ubu and Lounge Lizard/Golden Palomino drummer Anton Fier produced 'Now And Again' in Woodstock, New York, where the band lived in isolation for the first half of 1989. They record in an old haunted Catholic church called Dreamland Studios.
Now And Again featured newly added keyboardist Vincent Jones. Jones had toured with the band during 'Treehouse' and worked so well personally and musically that the band decided to add him permanently. Jones' contribution to the new album was augmented by legendary pedal steel player Sneeky Pete Kleinow (Flying Burrito Brothers) and keyboardist Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers/Rolling Stones).
Englishman John Leckie (XTC/Stone Roses/Posies) helmed 'These Days' which was recorded from December 1990 to January 1991 at Vancouver's Mushroom Studios. In February 1991, the band travelled to London and spent 3 weeks mixing at Abbey Road studios.
Musical and personal differences brought about the band's demise in 1992 with the departure of Kevin Kane. The Grapes Of Wrath's final show was Halloween 1992 in Vancouver.
Tom and Chris Hooper and Vince Jones have carried on as Ginger and re-signed to Nettwerk; Kevin Kane released a solo album in 1997 and has produced the likes of Superconductor and Zumpano.
In 1998, discussions began to reform the band. After a series of concerts, no word has surfaced about any new material from the quartet.
With notes from J.Nelson.
Singles
1984 The Grapes Of Wrath [EP] (Nettwerk)
1985 Misunderstanding/A Dream (Nettwerk/EMI)
1985 Love Comes Around/Breaks My Heart (live) (Nettwerk/EMI)
1987 Peace Of Mind/So Many Times (Nettwerk/EMI)
1987 O Lucky Man/Seems Like Fate (Nettwerk/EMI)
1987 Backward Town/Run You Down (Nettwerk/EMI)
1989 All The Things I Wasn't/I Can Tell (Nettwerk/EMI)
1989 Do You Want To Tell Me?/Backward Town (Acoustic) (Nettwerk/EMI)
1989 What Was Going Through My Head/Let Me Roll It (Nettwerk/EMI)
1989 The Most/Stay (Nettwerk/EMI)
1991 I Am Here/All The Time (Nettwerk/EMI)
1991 You May Be Right/Down So Close (Nettwerk/EMI)
1991 A Fishing Tale/Peace Of Mind (live)(Nettwerk/EMI)
Albums
1985 September Bowl of Green (Nettwerk/EMI)
1986 September Bowl of Green (Nettwerk/EMI)
[re-issue with "If I Needed Someone" removed]
1987 Treehouse (Nettwerk/EMI)
1989 Now And Again (Nettwerk/EMI)
1991 September Bowl of Green [CD re-issue] (Nettwerk/EMI)
[w/ 3 tracks from 'Grapes Of Wrath EP' and two remixes]
1991 These days (Nettwerk/EMI)
1994 Seems Like Fate 1984-1992 (NETTWERK/EMI) [with 2 previously unreleased tracks]
Video
1985 Misunderstanding
1985 A Dream
1987 Peace Of Mind
1987 O Lucky Man
1987 Backward Town
1989 All The Things I Wasn't
1989 Do You Want To Tell Me?
1989 What Was Going Through My Head
1991 I Am Here
1991 You May Be Right
1991 A Fishing Tale
1991 I Am Here (extended video)
1994 Those Days [full-length]
Compilation Tracks
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