Arrows

Websites:  No
Origin: Toronto, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

The Arrows were a Canadian new wave pop band fronted by powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Dean McTaggart, the group’s founding force and only constant member. Active from the early to mid-1980s, the band carved out a distinctive niche in Canada’s synth-tinged rock scene with their emotionally charged lyrics, radio-ready hooks, and polished production.

Formed in Toronto in 1981, the original lineup released their debut single “Treat Her Right” backed with “Come On Up.” Early sessions were tracked at the legendary Grant Avenue Studios in Hamilton and produced by a then-rising Daniel Lanois, whose ambient leanings added depth to their Misunderstood EP in 1982. That four-song release, featuring contributions from players like Earl Seymour on sax and Rusty McCarthy on guitar, captured the band’s early blend of urgency and sophistication.

By 1984, The Arrows had signed to A&M Records and teamed with producer David Tyson, who would become a longtime collaborator with McTaggart. The result was Stand Back, a sleek, tightly crafted album that spawned the national hit “Meet Me in the Middle,” which cracked the Canadian Top 40. The band’s rising profile earned them a slot supporting Chris de Burgh on his UK tour that same year, widening their international exposure.

Following that momentum, The Arrows released their second full-length album The Lines Are Open in 1985. Singles like “Talk Talk,” “Chains,” and “Heart of the City” reinforced the group’s knack for anthemic choruses and urban themes. Despite critical praise and solid domestic chart performance, mounting pressures for a crossover hit took a toll. After wrapping a cross-country tour, The Arrows quietly disbanded at the end of 1986.

In the years that followed, McTaggart transitioned into a successful songwriting career. He co-wrote a string of hits for artists including Amanda Marshall (“Birmingham,” “Dark Horse”), Terri Clark (“Unsung Hero”), and Wynonna (“Heaven Help My Heart”), among others.

Though their catalog was compact, The Arrows’ output remains a bright chapter in Canadian 1980s pop. A German import compilation Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows was released in 1995, and both Stand Back and The Lines Are Open were reissued on CD in the 2010s, rekindling interest in the band’s shimmering, synth-infused legacy.
-Robert Williston

1981 lineup
Dean McTaggart: vocals
Rusty McCarthy: guitar
Hendrik Rilk: bass
Gabor Szepesi: keyboards
Michael Sloski: drums, percussion

1982 lineup (Misunderstood EP)
Dean McTaggart: vocals
Rusty McCarthy: guitar
Hendrik Rilk: bass
Rob Gusevs: keyboards
Michael Sloski: drums, percussion
Earl Seymour: saxophone

1984 lineup (Stand Back LP)
Dean McTaggart: vocals
Doug Macaskill: guitar
Rob Gusevs: keyboards
Earl Seymour: saxophone

With session musicians:
Peter Bleakney: bass
Howard Ayee: bass
Michael Sloski: drums
Gary Craig: drums
Matt Zimbel: percussion
David Tyson: keyboards, backing vocals
Al Van Wart: backing vocals
Eddie Schwartz: backing vocals

1985 lineup (The Lines Are Open LP)
Dean McTaggart: vocals
Doug Macaskill: guitar
Rob Gusevs: keyboards
Earl Seymour: saxophone
Glenn Olive: bass
Bobby Economou: drums

With session musicians:
Vernon Dorge: alto saxophone
Rick Waychesko: trumpet
Steve McDade: trumpet
Memo Acevedo: percussion
David Tyson: backing vocals
Charity Brown: backing vocals
David Blamires: backing vocals
John Rutledge: backing vocals
Sharon Lee Williams: backing vocals