Loverboy

Loverboy Artistfacts

  • 1979-
    Paul DeanGuitar, vocals1979-
    Doug JohnsonKeyboards1979-
    Mike RenoLead vocals1979-
    Scott SmithBass1979-2000
    Mike FrenetteDrums1979-
    Ken "Spider" SinnaeveBass2000-
  • Paul Dean came up with the band's name while flipping through a fashion magazine in 1979. What started as "Covergirl" became "Coverboy" and, finally, "Loverboy."
  • The band maintained its original lineup until 2000, when original keyboardist Scott Smith died in a sailing accident.
  • The band's hit "Working For The Weekend" was featured in a Saturday Night Live skit. In the skit, Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze did an elaborate dance-off for a position as a Chippendale's dancer - "Working for the Weekend" was the backing music.
  • In our interview, Paul Dean explained that the first show the band performed was as an opening act for KISS. Said Dean: "We weren't tight. The bass player was looking at me, a little confused. And this was in front of 15,000 rabid KISS fans. But it was a good show."
  • Paul Dean credits Jim Kale, bass player from The Guess Who, with helping him learn to be a serious songwriter. The musician advised him to tie his lyrics together into something meaningful, rather than just string together phrases.
  • "Working for the Weekend," written by Paul Dean, was originally called "Waiting for the Weekend." Mike Reno suggested the change.
  • Loverboy released four Platinum albums - over a million copies sold for each.
  • The founding members were Paul Dean and Mike Reno. The pair met in a warehouse, where Dean was jamming with a new band. Reno stopped by with a mutual friend, belted out a few songs, and the two decided to collaborate formally on the spot.

Comments: 1

  • Allen S. from Medicine Hat AbI saw you in Medicine Hat maybe 80/81! One of the most memorable Concerts I had been to , it was Loverboy and Prism. Is Paul Dean from the Windermere Valley? Fan of Great Canadian Bands. Love your tunes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.