54-40

Formed in 1980 in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada, alternative / roots rock band 54‑40 emerged from the fringes of Vancouver’s punk and alternative scene to become one of Canada’s most enduring and influential rock bands. The group began when high‑school friends Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt, inspired by the energy of the local underground movement, joined forces with drummer Ian Franey after Osborne returned from a short stint at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. 54-40’s first live performance took place on December 8, 1980, the same day that former Beatle John Lennon was killed in New York. The band quickly began crafting music that blended punk urgency with melodic introspection. Their first recordings appeared on an independent compilation before they released their first EP, Selection, in 1982. The group’s line-up expanded with the addition of Phil Comparelli (guitar / trumpet) and then drummer Matt Johnson who would replace Franey. After the release of their debut album Set the Fire (1984), the group came to prominence with 1986’s self-titled album, which included the popular singles “Baby Ran” and “I Go Blind.” While they did not achieve a large amount of commercial success outside their home country, 54-40 landed in the Canadian Top 40 with the albums Fight for Love (1989), Dear Dear (1992), Trusted by Millions (1996), Since When (1998), and Casual Viewin’ (2000). They also scored several Top 40 singles including “Nice to Luv You” (1992), “She La” (1992), “Music Man” (1992), “Blame Your Parents” (1994), “Ocean Pearl” (1994), “Love You All” (1996), “Lies to Me” (1996), “Crossing a Canyon” (1996) and “Since When” (1998). Since 2000, the group’s releases haven’t been as commercially successful as their earlier album, but they’ve remained a popular live act. In January 2026, 54-40 released Porto, their first studio release since 2024’s West Coast Band.

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