Arrows

Websites:  No
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Biography:

The Arrows was a Canadian new wave band active during the 1980s (and not to be confused with the British band 'Arrows').

Biography
The Arrows were formed in 1981 by vocalist Dean McTaggart, the group's only consistent member. They recorded a single ("Treat Her Right" b/w "Come On Up") in 1981. The following year, the group issued a 4 song mini-album called Misunderstood which was recorded at Grant Avenue Studios and produced by Daniel Lanois.

In 1984, the band landed a deal with A&M Records. With the help of producer David Tyson, who also became McTaggart's frequent writing partner, the Arrows' 1984 debut album Stand Back was a national success in Canada, providing a top 40 hit with "Meet Me in the Middle". The album sold well, and the band found themselves as the opening act on the UK leg of Chris de Burgh's 1984 tour.

Upon returning home, they went back to the studio for work on their second album The Lines Are Open, which saw its release in October 1985. The singles "Heart of the City", "Talk Talk" and "Chains" all saw success in Canada, but pressures from management for a breakout hit were causing problems within the band, and following a cross-Canada tour, the group called it quits at the end of 1986.

In 1995, a CD compilation Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows surfaced on a German import label that contained the majority of the tracks from their first two albums. Stand Back were re-issued on CD in 2011, and The Lines Are Open was re-issued in 2013.

McTaggart continued with his songwriting career, writing hit songs for artists such as "Heaven Help My Heart" by Wynonna, and, as co-writer, "Unsung Hero" by Terri Clark[11] and several hits by Amanda Marshall, notably "Birmingham" and her Canadian AC No. 1 hit "Dark Horse", which also became a hit for Mila Mason.

Band members
1981 line-up
This line-up recorded the 1981 debut single "Treat Her Right" b/w "Come On Up"

Vocals - Dean McTaggart
Drums and Percussion - Michael Sloski
Keyboards - Gabor Szepesi
Bass - Hendrik Rilk
Guitars - Rusty McCarthy
1982 line-up
This line-up recorded the 1982 4-song mini-album Misunderstood.

Vocals - Dean McTaggart
Drums and Percussion - Michael Sloski
Keyboards - Rob Gusevs
Bass - Hendrik Rilk
Guitars - Rusty McCarthy
Saxophone - Earl Seymour
1984 line-up
This line recorded the 1984 album Stand Back.

Vocals - Dean McTaggart
Guitars - Doug Macaskill
Keyboards - Rob Gusevs
Saxophone - Earl Seymour
With session musicians:
Bass - Peter Bleakney, Howard Ayee
Drums - Michael Sloski, Gary Craig
Percussion - Matt Zimbel
Keyboards, Vocals – David Tyson
Backing Vocals – Al Van Wart, Eddie Schwartz
1985 line-up
This line recorded the 1985 album The Lines Are Open.

Vocals - Dean McTaggart
Keyboards - Rob Gusevs
Saxophone - Earl Seymour
Guitars - Doug Macaskill
Bass - Glenn Olive
Drums - Bobby Economou
With session musicians:
Alto Saxophone - Vernon Dorge
Backing Vocals - Charity Brown, David Blamires, John Rutledge, Sharon Lee Williams, David Tyson
Percussion - Memo Acevedo
Trumpet - Rick Waychesko, Steve McDade