The Canadian rock legend had just stepped away from the band earlier this year
April Wine founder and frontman Myles Goodwyn has passed away. The Canadian rock legend played final show with the group back in March. He was 75 years old.
Goodwyn’s passing was confirmed by his publicist, Eric Alper.
“Rest in peace Myles Goodwyn, the extraordinary singer, guitarist, writer, and guiding force of 2023 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee April Wine, who steered the band’s journey from its inception,” Canada’s Walk of Fame said in a statement. “His music, a driving factor behind over 10 million global sales, stands as a testament to his unparalleled talent. Myles’ unique voice and prolific songwriting have left an enduring legacy and as we bid farewell to a true icon, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the countless fans he moved.”
Goodwyn founded April Wine back in 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their career, the band sold over 10 million albums worldwide and racked up 11 Juno Award nominations. In 2010, April Wine were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Earlier this year, Goodwyn was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, an achievement he said was the proudest moment of his career.
“This one’s for me, and songwriting is what I care for most of all…. I think, probably, I stayed in the business because of songwriting,” Goodwyn told CBC News. “I’m not the greatest singer, the greatest guitar player. I’m not the greatest songwriter either, but I took great pride in being able to write songs that were popular.”
April Wine’s self-titled debut album arrived in 1972, featuring a fan favorite, “Fast Train.” They broke out with their sophomore effort, On Record. The album produced two hit singles – “Bad Side of the Moon, which gave the group a Top 20 hit, and “You Could’ve Been a Lady,” which hit No. 2 on the RPM 100 in Canada and No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America.
The group’s 1975 LP, Stand Back, was one of the better hard rock albums of the decade. First Glance (1979) features “Roller,” the crown jewel of their catalog, while the band’s 1981 outing, The Nature of the Beast, remains their finest hour. The multi-platinum album hit No. 48 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 24 on the Billboard 200, and No. 11 on the Canada Albums Chart.