13 Engines

13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s.

Overview

Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students: vocalist John Critchley,^[2] guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier.^[3] They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986 before changing their name to 13 Engines. This name was a reference to the automobile industry in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, which were the first two markets to embrace the band.^[4]

13 Engines released two independent albums: Before Our Time in 1987 and Byram Lake Blues in 1989, before signing to SBK Records in the United States and EMI in Canada.^[4]

Their major label debut, 1991's A Blur to Me Now, gave the band airplay for the singles King of Saturday Night and Big Surprise. However, SBK dropped them soon afterward.^[4]

1993's Perpetual Motion Machine, produced by Critchley,^[5] was the band's breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles More, Bred in the Bone and Smoke & Ashes, and led to a spot on The Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction tour.^[4]

They followed up with Conquistador in 1995, which gave them another hit, Beneath My Hand.^[4] While the album is generally hailed as 13 Engines' finest work, it did not do well commercially^[6] and two members left the band. Critchley contemplated carrying on under the 13 Engines name, but elected to retire the band.

Post-breakup

Following the break-up of 13 Engines, Critchley continued as a solo artist and, in 2000, recorded an album with ex-13 Engines guitarist Scott Stevenson, Crooked Mile. Both Critchley and Ethier went on to careers as producers.

Discography

• Before Our Time (1987)
• Byram Lake Blues (1989)
• A Blur to Me Now (1991)
• Perpetual Motion Machine (1993)
• Conquistador (1995)

References