Frōzen Ghōst | |
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![]() Frōzen Ghōst | |
Background information | |
Origin | Toronto,Ontario, Canada |
Genres | AOR |
Years active | 1985 (1985)–1993 (1993) |
Labels |
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Past members |
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Frozen Ghost, stylized asFrōzen Ghōst, was aCanadianrock band formed in 1985 inToronto byArnold Lanni and Wolf Hassel, who were previously with the bandSheriff. The band received aJuno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year" in 1987.[1]
The group placed five songs in the Canadian top 40 between 1987 and 1992, including "Should I See" and "Head Over Heels". "Should I See", an anti-censorship song, also became a minor hit in theUnited States, reaching number 69 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles in1987. The video for that song was nominated at the1987 Juno Awards for "Best Video of the Year".
The group formed after Sheriff disbanded following a moderately successful run, during which they had reached the top 10 on the Canadian music charts with "When I'm With You". Sheriff rhythm guitarist/keyboardistArnold Lanni and bassist Wolf Hassel decided to form a new group.
On their first two albums,Frōzen Ghōst[2] andNice Place to Visit,[3] the band was a studio duo, with Lanni singing lead vocals and playing all the guitar and keyboard parts, in addition to being credited as the sole songwriter, while Hassel played bass and sang backing vocals. These first two albums featured guest musicians, such asDerry Grehan, lead guitarist ofHoneymoon Suite. On their final albumShake Your Spirit, there were three official additions to the band: John Bouvette, who was on drums and percussion, Sammy De Bartel on keyboards andPhil X who played the guitar and did some vocals.[4] Phil X was also credited on the albumNice Place to Visit for being a guitarist, but was not considered an official band member until the final album was released.
Frōzen Ghōst disbanded in 1993, following their final albumShake Your Spirit. During the time Frozen Ghost was an active band, Sheriff's 1983 hit "When I'm With You" (written by Lanni) was re-issued, and in 1989 the track became a #1 hit in the US. Though there were offers to reunite Sheriff, Lanni and Hassel declined. Other members of Sheriff instead went on to form the groupAlias, which experienced chart success in the 1990s.
Arnold Lanni would go on to become a successful producer for acts such asOur Lady Peace,Finger Eleven andThousand Foot Krutch.[5] Hassel would resurface in 1996 with the band Erin Cody and the Drum[6] and later appeared on a 2003 album byToronto-based blues musician Brian Gladstone.[7]
Hassel rejoined his former Sheriff bandmates,Freddy Curci andSteve DeMarchi on December 30, 2011 for an onstage performance by Curci and DeMarchi's post-Sheriff band,Alias, which led to his joining Alias as a permanent member in 2014.
In 2005, Warner Music Canada released the remastered compilation CDFrozen Ghost - The Essentials.[8]
Year | Song | CAN | US[9] | US Rock[10] | Album |
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1987 | "Should I See" | 27 | 69 | 4 | Frozen Ghost |
"Promises" | - | - | - | ||
1988 | "Yum Bai Ya" | 92 | - | - | |
"Round and Round" | 19 | - | 44 | Nice Place to Visit | |
"Pauper in Paradise" | 24 | - | - | ||
1989 | "Dream Come True" | 34 | - | - | |
1992 | "Head Over Heels" | 16 | - | - | Shake Your Spirit |
"Cry (If You Want To)" | 36 | - | - | ||
"Shine on Me" | 69 | - | - |