Interview by April Savoie / Photos by Dan Savoie Exclusive to RockStar Weekly
Prism is a Canadian rock band formed in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1976 by Bruce Fairbairn and Jim Vallance. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporates progressive rock and pop rock elements. Since its formation, Prism has released 10 studio albums and three compilations.
Prism achieved moderate international success in the early 1980s. In their homeland, the band achieved one number-one album on the Canadian Albums Chart and one number-one single on the Rock Tracks chart.
The original lineup consisted of session musicians brought together by Bruce Fairbairn. Drummer Jim Vallance and Bruce Fairbairn had a jazz rock band named Sunshyne. With the addition of Lindsay Mitchell and Ron Tabak, the band evolved into "Under Construction" (also briefly "Stanley Screamer"). The group finally changed its name to Prism when keyboardist John Hall joined, and manager Bruce Allen came on board. After signing with GRT Records, they released their debut album with a lineup of Ron Tabak, Lindsay Mitchell, Tom Lavin, John Hall, Ab Bryant and Jim Vallance, who both produced, and played drums under the name of "Rodney Higgs." Vallance did not want to tour though, so left and was replaced by Rocket Norton. Vallance did, however, contribute songs to the band's second album, See Forever Eyes.
In 1977, they released their self-titled album Prism (which contained the hits "Spaceship Superstar" and "Take Me to the Kaptin") after which Bryant left (he would later join Chilliwack), and Al Harlow was brought in as a new guitarist and bassist. The band subsequently issued See Forever Eyes (1978).
Armageddon was released in 1979, featuring some compositional input from the then largely unknown Bryan Adams. Capitol Records signed the band and Young and Restless was released in 1980.
After the greatest hits album All the Best From Prism, Prism signed on with Capitol Records, at which point Tabak was fired due to "lifestyle" issues, and vocalist Henry Small was brought in. They then released Small Change (1981). The lead single "Don't Let Him Know" became their first top 40 hit in America and a number-one single on Billboard's then-new Rock Tracks chart,[2] and the follow-up "Turn on Your Radar" also charted, becoming their fifth and final American hit. After Small Change, Mitchell, Harlow and Norton left Prism.
In 1982, the band's touring line up was Small, guitarist Paul Warren, bassist John Trivers, keyboardist Robyn Robbins, and Doug Maddick on drums.
Although the band technically "broke up" in 1982, Small assembled a new "group" featuring Bill Champlin, Richie Zito, Mike Baird (renowned session drummer who later toured with Journey), and backup vocalists Bobby Kimball (Toto) and Alan Pasqua. Together, this line-up released the album Beat Street under the Prism name in 1983.
Plans for a Prism reunion with Tabak were cancelled when he died on Christmas Day in 1984, one day after a brain hemorrhage he suffered from a cycling accident. According to one account, Tabak had been planning to spend Christmas with his Prism band-mate Harlow. On Christmas Eve at about 8 p.m., while riding his bicycle over to Harlow's residence, Tabak was struck by a passing vehicle and taken by ambulance to a local hospital. After an initial screening, however, physicians could not detect anything wrong with him, determining he was fit to be released. Tabak subsequently and abruptly became very combative, prompting the police to arrest him. While in his cell at the station, he became unconscious, upon which he was returned to the hospital. During this visit, a blood clot was discovered in his right cerebral hemisphere. Tabak never regained consciousness, and a pending neurosurgical operation never commenced.
In 1988, they reformed for another greatest hits album called Over 60 Minutes with...Prism, and five years later another new album, Jericho (1993), with Darcy Deutsch as vocalist, Harlow, Mitchell, Norton, and keyboardist Andy Lorimer.[4] Studio musicians included Bryan Adams, Paul Janz, Mark LaFrance, with Rick Springfield doing some of the songwriting.
The band continues to tour with Harlow playing lead guitar and performing lead vocals and current line-up: Gary Grace (drums), Steve-O (Guitars & Keys), Tad Goddard (Bass). In 2007, the band worked on a new studio album called Big Black Sky which was released in July 2008.
It was a long time coming for Big Black Sky.
What do you remember from the glory days of Prism with the gold albums, awards and big concerts?
I've heard a story that Prism was mistaken as Styx. Is that true?
How did you end up in Prism?
Ronnie was the original voice of Prism. What do you remember about him?
2010-07-20 03:28:21
|216.211.45.230|
terry
- sound
hey i could'nt get the sound to work on the harlow interview,i was courious to see what he had to say i'm old friend of ron's,i know alot of the REAL story behind the music,love your site..take care \terry
Prism is a Canadian rock band formed in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1976 by Bruce Fairbairn and Jim Vallance. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporates progressive rock and pop rock elements. Since its formation, Prism has released 10 studio albums and three compilations.
In 1988, they reformed for another greatest hits album called Over 60 Minutes with...Prism, and five years later another new album, Jericho (1993), with Darcy Deutsch as vocalist, Harlow, Mitchell, Norton, and keyboardist Andy Lorimer.[4] Studio musicians included Bryan Adams, Paul Janz, Mark LaFrance, with Rick Springfield doing some of the songwriting.
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