{"title":"Strike Force","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"strike-force","title":"Strike Force","description":"\u003cp\u003eA CANADIAN GEM \/ FIRST TIME ON CD - EXTENSIVE BOOKLET \/ FULLY REMASTERED. Strike Force (originally called Toys) was founded in 1981 by drummer Pete Paillé, bassist Mario LeBlanc, guitarist Ray Doucet and the singer Stephane Moïse. When Ray and Stephane decided to leave the band for personal reasons, Pete and Mario went all around the bars near Montreal, trying to find their missing prospect, a guitar player. Mario had decided at the time, that he would be able to keep the singer mic hot. Eventually they saw a young blond guy named Romy Belanger and knew right away that they had their man. He was not only good on the fret board, but he could sing too. The power trio didn’t last long, because they decided to add keyboard\/rhythm guitarist Mike Pitre in early '83 to fill out their sound. The Band played covers in bars and clubs throughout the province of Quebec, travelling in their own school bus. Mario and Romy started writing together, and \"Step over the line\" was their very first collaboration. They recorded a demo of that song straight from the mixing board. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat demo got them a record deal with Globe Records. they also gave a cassette copy to a guy at the local radio station, and that thing played so often everybody knew the lyrics! So, they pretty much toured all the time, going from town to town and writing more songs. These songs were recorded and by exceptional luck, their demo had been given to renowned Quebec producer Ben Kaye, and he wanted to meet and see the band live. Once they had enough material, they went to Detroit, Michigan to record, in what was once the original Motown Studios, The Sound Suite Studio. The sessions were held in early October of '83. They played their asses off for months on end, but Pete the drummer’s health was deteriorating. Pete had been diagnosed with leukaemia at 17 and he passed away a few days before his comeback from pneumonia and complications brought on by the leukaemia. Sylvain LaTendresse came aboard during this time and the replacement drummer became a full-time member. The road is tough, but the scene in '84 was also tough on bands. Tensions were building within the band as well. Mario and Mike wanted to play a heavier style of music and they were thinking about hiring a singer. Romy, who didn’t really like the idea, and who’d just got married, decided that it was time for him to change his style of living and quit the band for good a few weeks later.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bad Reputation","offers":[{"title":"CD.","offer_id":50400420331851,"sku":"2179452","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Strike_Force__Strike_Force_7fc393c1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726512526"},{"product_id":"made-to-rock","title":"Made To Rock","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe original lineup of Strike Force consisted of Pierre Paillé on drums, Mario Leblanc on bass, Romy Bélanger on guitar, and Michel Pitre on keyboards and guitar. The band recorded their first album in Detroit. Unfortunately, drummer Pierre Paillé died of leukemia at the age of 20. Strike Force rolled up their sleeves and decided to continue on their path. With their new drummer, Sylvain Latendresse, the second incarnation of Strike Force hit the road again. After touring throughout the province of Quebec, Mario Leblanc and Michel Pitre took a new musical direction. Their repertoire became a little heavier, reflecting the classic hard rock sound of the mid-1980s. Guitarist Romy Bélanger, uninterested in this change, left the band. In 1985, the third incarnation of Strike Force appeared. With a new guitarist, Marc Tousignant, and a talented singer, Miguel Garcia, the band gave a big concert near Montreal. In the audience were Pop Rock director Géo Giguere and Contours Production director Alain Paré. The show was a success, the crowd went wild, and producer Alain Paré, impressed, invited the band to participate in the Rock Tour 85. The band performed in some thirty major concert halls and arenas. Once again, bad luck struck Strike Force: guitarist Marc Tousignant also left the band. He was replaced by virtuoso Mario “Smurf” Lessard. This final lineup would be the last until the band broke up at the end of 1988. When the band had a chance to rest a bit, they usually spent their free time in a Montreal recording studio called Studio 1913. It was during this period that the band composed the original songs that ended up on their second album, Made to Roc. All that remained was to find a recording contract. Unfortunately, years of endless touring had worn the band down. No longer having the energy to continue their adventure, the band decided to split up, turning down offers from record labels. Forty years later, the damage has been repaired with the release of this treasure that had been buried for too long.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bad Reputation","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":53739008098635,"sku":"R3642-7112","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/StrikeForce-MadeToRock.jpg?v=1761579791"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/strike-force.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}