April Wine - Rebirth

Rebirth

In 1988 Myles Goodwyn moved back to Canada from his home in the Bahamas. Almost immediately he began to be hounded as to whether there would be an April Wine reunion. Talks started slowly with other members. Some were interested but other commitments were getting in the way. An April Wine reunion was almost written off. But by 1992, April Wine returned to the stage, starting with a sold out concert in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. The band consisted of Goodwyn, Greenway, returning drummer Jerry Mercer and bassist Jim Clench, who hadn't played with the band since 1975. Filling out the act was third guitarist Steve Segal. The band yet again enjoyed cross-border touring success.

In 1993 the band released the first "true" April Wine album in a decade, titled Attitude. It was certified gold in Canada soon after its release. Segal remained with the band through one more studio release, 1994's Frigate. The band would release another album in 2001, entitled Back to the Mansion. Also in 2001, the band's song 'Roller' was featured in the movie 'Joe Dirt'. Then in 2003 they released the live album called Greatest Hits Live 2003. In 2004 Silverline released April Wine's first DVD-A called From the Front Row ... Live!. From 2001 to 2004 their live shows were filled out with the multi-talented Carl Dixon (formerly of the bands Coney Hatch, and The Guess Who) on guitars, keyboards and backing vocals.

April Wine entered into its thirty-seventh year as a band in 2006. On October 31, 2006, Aquarius Records released April Wine Rocks!, a brand new compilation of April Wine favourites, including a bonus live tune. A new album, entitled Roughly Speaking, was released on November 28, 2006.

By the end of 2006, Clench had departed from April Wine for the second time, and was replaced by bassist Breen LeBoeuf in January 2007. A year later, Mercer announced his retirement, and was scheduled to perform his final show with April Wine in Calgary Alberta, ringing in the 2009 new year. Mercer's final scheduled show, however, was cancelled due to bad weather. Mercer was replaced by drummer Blair Mackay in January 2008.

In 2010, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, with Myles Goodwyn and Brian Greenway accepting. The ceremony was held during the Juno Awards April 18, 2010 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

On November 3, 2010, former bassist Jim Clench died in a Montreal hospital after a battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

LeBoeuf left April Wine in July 2011 and was replaced by Richard Lanthier from the Yes tribute band called Close to the Edge. Mackay left April Wine in March 2012 and was replaced by Roy Nichol who had performed with the Stacey Thorn Band, then Sam Hill, and most recently Spare Partz.

April Wine continues to tour across Canada annually, and also plays festivals in Europe and in the United States, with the group now consisting of Goodwyn, Greenway, Lanthier, and drummer Roy Nichol.