Honeymoon Suite: Canada's Enduring Hard Rock Export

Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian hard rock band that emerged from Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the early 1980s. The group achieved significant commercial success in their home country, earning multiple Juno Award nominations and several platinum and gold certifications for their melodic, radio-friendly rock anthems.

Early Career

Formed in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist Johnnie Dee and guitarist Derry Grehan, the band's name was inspired by the famous "honeymoon capital" of their hometown. Their initial breakthrough came in 1982 when they won a radio station contest in Toronto, which led to a recording contract and the release of their self-titled debut EP in 1983.

Breakthrough

The band's major breakthrough arrived with their 1984 full-length debut album, *Honeymoon Suite*, released on WEA Records in Canada and on Warner Bros. Records internationally. Fueled by the hit single "New Girl Now," which cracked the Top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the album eventually reached platinum status in Canada, establishing the group as a fixture on rock radio and music television channels like MuchMusic.

Key Tracks

New Girl Now - This driving rock track served as the band's first major single, introducing their sound to a wide North American audience and becoming a staple of mid-80s rock radio.

Feel It Again - A power ballad from their 1986 sophomore album *The Big Prize*, this song became one of their biggest hits, showcasing a more polished, anthemic side and receiving heavy rotation.

What Does It Take - Another standout from *The Big Prize*, this melodic rock track further solidified the band's popularity in Canada, where the album achieved double-platinum sales.

Bad Attitude - A harder-edged track from their 1988 album *Racing After Midnight*, it exemplified the band's glam metal-influenced sound during that era and remained a concert favorite.

The success of *The Big Prize* and subsequent tours kept Honeymoon Suite prominent through the late 80s. While shifting musical trends in the 1990s impacted their commercial reach, the band continued to record and perform, maintaining a loyal fanbase with albums like 1991's *Monsters Under the Bed* and later releases such as 2008's *Clifton Hill*. The core duo of Dee and Grehan has remained the consistent creative force, ensuring the Honeymoon Suite sound endures.

Fans of Honeymoon Suite's brand of melodic hard rock often appreciate the work of fellow Canadian acts like Loverboy, who shared a similar knack for catchy, keyboard-laced rock anthems. The driving guitar work also draws comparisons to Headpins, another successful Canadian rock group from the same period. Listeners who enjoy the accessible, radio-ready side of 80s rock might also explore Giuffria, known for their polished AOR style.