The Northern Pikes

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For the fish, see Northern Pike

The Northern Pikes
Background information
Origin	Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Genre(s)	Rock
Years active	1984–1993,1999-present
Label(s)	Virgin Records
Website	http://www.thepikes.com
Members
Bryan Potvin Jay Semko Merl Bryck Don Schmid
Former members
Glen Hollingshead

The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock band formed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members were Bryan Potvin, Jay Semko, Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead. Hollingshead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Don Schmid in 1986. The band was active until 1993 and subsequently reunited in 1999.

The Northern Pikes released two independent EPs before being signed to Virgin Records in 1986. Their first album for the label, Big Blue Sky, included "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album Secrets of the Alibi contained two more Canadian hits "Wait for Me" and "Hopes Go Astray".

Their 1990 album, Snow in June became their biggest seller in Canada and the US. That album's single, "She Ain't Pretty", was the band's biggest hit. An innovative music video for that song received heavy play on MuchMusic and was nominated for a Juno Award.

In 1992, the band released Neptune. After touring to support the album, they announced their retirement as a group in July 1993.

In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring. They have since released three independent albums, including a live one aptly titled Live, with promises of more to come.