Skip to content

54-40 to rock Peach Festival

After 36 years playing together there isn’t much, but maybe a tour in Italy, that Vancouver band 54-40 hasn’t accomplished.
8026794_web1_5440
Vancouver alternative rock band 54-40 will play Peach Festival Wednesday night at the Okanagan Lake Park starting at 9:30 p.m.

After 36 years playing together there isn’t much, but maybe a tour in Italy, that Vancouver band 54-40 hasn’t accomplished.

They alternative rock bad has had a dozen top 10 singles, platinum and gold record success, toured most of the world and their song, I go Blind, was covered by Hootie & the Blowfish and used on the television show Friends.

To top it off the iconic Canadian band was recently inducted into the hall of fame for both the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards and the Annual Independent Music Awards (The Indies).

Brad Merritt, original member and bassist for the band said it was an honour to receive both but that the Indies award struck a deeper chord with him and fellow bandmates.

“I would say that, not trying to be diplomatic here, they are both wonderful. It’s like completing the set as far as i’m concerned,” he said in response to a question regarding which induction meant more. “We’ve sold millions of records, had platinum records… We got the Indie. We started Indie and we are going to die Indie. We’re proud of our Indie heritage,” he said

Merritt said when told about the double induction two thoughts came into his mind.

“Wow, that’s great and it’s about time.”

Proud west coast musicians, Merritt said the band might have elevated to success even faster in the early days of their career if they had moved to Toronto for a few years.

The band was formed in 1981, releasing the first album in 1984 called Set the Fire. It wouldn’t be until the fifth album they reached platinum sales in 1992 for Dear Dear.

“There’s a strong Toronto east bias… Here your’e out of sight, out of mind. It’s about how many more opportunities you get to play,” he said.

But the band, who takes its name from the slogan ‘Fifty-four Forty or Fight!’ - relating to the Oregon boundary dispute - found places to play regardless and great success regardless of their geography.

Merritt says the success came from himself and Neil Osbourne (the two remaining founding bandmates) forming the band for the right reasons.

“It wasn’t about making money or becoming famous or being popular. We love music and wanted to create music and explore creativity.”

Rounding out the band is Matt Johnson, guitar, who joined in 1986 and Dave Genn, guitar, formerly of the Matthew Good band in 2005.

After years of working together the desire to create is still strong.

The band is currently working on it’s 14th album, which Merritt describes as eclectic.

“This was four years in the making. The songs are all strong, I think. You can tell that there was a lot that went into it,” he said.

The new album is expected to be released this fall.

This summer the band has been busy playing shows around the country.

They will play Penticton’s Peach Festival on Wednesday starting at 9:30 p.m. at Okanagan Lake Park.

The band last played Peach Festival in 2012 to one of the largest crowds in the festival’s history.

“I absolutely love Penticton and Okanagan. We go everywhere and that is definitely our favourite city into Okanagan,” he said.

Merritt has a long personal history with the city. His mother is a Penticton High graduate and he has many relatives still living in the area.

“My wife and I love going there. We are going a few days early to visit relatives and tour through the area. We buy lots of wine and just enjoy,” he said.

For more information on the band and hear one of the album’s new song visit www.5440.com.