13 Engines

Canadian alternative rock band 13 Engines Toronto, Ontario, Canada Alternative rock 1985–1997 SBK/Capitol, EMI, Atlantic, Nocturnal Records John CritchleyGrant EthierJim HughesMike Robbins 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 and songwriter John Critchley,https://earofnewt.com/tag/john-critchley/ John Critchley Archives 24 August 2014 guitarist and songwriter Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier.Hendra Peter Always sharing and caring, Oct 18, 2017 https://www.thewhig.com/2017/10/18/always-sharing-and-caring thewhig.com The Kingston Whig Standard 2021-09-03 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 markets to embrace the band.13 Engines https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/t/#13%20Engines canpopencyclopedia.home.blog 14 March 2019 The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia 2021-09-03http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/T/13_Engines.html 13 Engines 2007-12-22 Canadian Pop Encyclopedia Canoe Inc. April 2026 medicmedicRobbins Ira 13 Engines https://trouserpress.com/reviews/13-engines/ trouserpress.com Trouser Press 1 January 2022 They spent a lot of time in Michigan and recorded their first two albums there--Before Our Time in 1987 and Byram Lake Blues in 1989; both were released by the UK label Nocturnal Records. One song from Byram Lake Blues, "Beached",13 Engines - Beached https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0yleoY7MjE youtube.com YouTube 1 January 2022 became a college hit and, in 1990, the band was signed to SBK Records in the United States and EMI in Canada. In 1991, 13 Engines released their major label debut, A Blur to Me Now, which was produced by David Briggs and John Hanlon.13 Engines - A Blur to Me Now, Full Album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCp0bndhKOA youtube.com YouTube 2021-09-03 The band received airplay for the album's singles "King of Saturday Night"King Of Saturday Night - 13 Engines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_CKCPUfyoo youtube.com YouTube 1 January 2022 and "Big Surprise".Big Surprise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KofgDOIn1uo youtube.com YouTube 1 January 2022 SBK dropped them soon afterward, although it did release an EP called Ignition which was the top singles from the band's next album. That album was 1993's Perpetual Motion Machine,Gibson Kevin A Clean Running Machine, March 1994 http://www.louisvillemusicnews.net/webmanager/index.php?WEB_CAT_ID=50&storyid=12496&headline=13_Engines_Perpetual_Motion_Machine&issueid=61 louisvillemusicnews.net Louisville Music News 2021-09-04 which was produced by Critchley and released on Atlantic Records."ArtistDirect" review of Perpetual Motion Machine This album 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."Now this is really Hip Another Roadside Attraction is speeding this way". Hamilton Spectator, July 22, 1993. The band also played festivals and toured with Blind Melon, The Watchmen, Moist and The Tea Party.13 Engines's Concert History https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/13-engines concertarchives.org Concert Archives 1 January 2022 They followed up in 1995 with Conquistador,13 Engines - Conquistador (Full Album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU0SN737EHA youtube.com YouTube 2021-09-04 which gave them another hit, "Beneath My Hand".13 Engines--Beneath My Hand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUpKwSnw9Cg youtube.com YouTube 1 January 2022 While the album is considered to be 13 Engines' finest work, it did not do well commercially."ArtistDirect" review of Conquistador In 1996, Nocturnal Records released the band's compilation album, Perfect Largeness: The Nocturnal Years. In June 1997, the band performed during NXNE, performing songs from a finished album. However, the album was never released and the band broke up that year. In 2017, the Canadian label Artoffact Records released Brave New Waves Session, an EP collecting a live performance from the radio program Brave New Waves. Post-breakup Following the break-up of 13 Engines, Critchley continued as a solo artist and, in 2000, recorded the album Crooked Mile.Carruthers Sean John Critchley - Crooked Mile https://www.allmusic.com/album/crooked-mile-mw0000699480 allmusic.com AllMusic 1 January 2022 Critchley, Ethier and HughesJim Hughes https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jim-hughes-mn0001608102 allmusic.com AllMusic 1 January 2022 went on to careers as producers. Discography Albums The Ikons (as The Ikons) (1986), Independent Before Our Time (1987), Nocturnal Records, Resonance (Europe) Byram Lake Blues (1989), Nocturnal Records A Blur to Me Now (1991), (SBK/Capitol) Perpetual Motion Machine (1993), Atlantic Records, SBK/Capitol, EMI Canada Conquistador (1995), EMI Canada, Nettwerk Records Perfect Largeness: The Nocturnal Years (Compilation) (1996), Nocturnal Records EPs Ignition (1993), SBK/Capitol, EMI Canada Brave New Waves Session (2017), Artoffact Records EPs & Singles "Beached" (1989), Nocturnal Records "Big Surprise" (1991), SBK/Capitol "King Of Saturday Night" (1991), SBK/Capitol "More" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records "Smoke And Ashes" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records "Bred In The Bone" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records "Beneath My Hand" (1995), EMI Canada "Personal Golam" / "Waterfall (1995), EMI Canada "Tailpipe Blues" (1995), EMI Canada "Slow" (1995), EMI Canada Compilation Inclusions Scoop This (1993), EMI Canada Heal It - A Canadian Compilation (1994), EMI Canada Have Not Been The Same: The CanRock Renaissance (2012), Pheromone Recordings For No Apparent Reason - Sweet Nothing (1987), X RecordsCompilation - For No Apparent Reason https://citizenfreak.com/titles/319313-compilation-for-no-apparent-reason Citizenfreak.com 29 May 2025 References Category:Canadian alternative rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 1985 Category:Alternative rock groups from Toronto Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1997 Category:1985 establishments in Ontario Category:1997 disestablishments in Ontario