In 1980 brothers Rick and Mark Santers placed an advertisement for a bassist in the classified section of the Toronto Star newspaper. Rick Lazaroff responds and is asked to join SANTERS.
Rick Santers wrote the material for the band's debut album while on a winter tour in Quebec. The band rehearsed the new songs by day and played gigs at night. During a one week period the band recorded the album 'Shot Down In Flames' later that year.
In 1981 the song "Time After Time" won the Q107 Homegrown talent contest with the song getting placed on the station's compilation album. Interest grows for SANTERS product and 'Shot Down In Flames' is released in Canada (on Ready Records), France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The reaction is immediate and the album sailed up the import charts in England, Germany and Sweden.
The album's first single and promotional video for "You Turn Me On" was released giving the band radio and television exposure enough to warrant touring across Canada and the US.
In 1982 the band returned to the studio to record new material the result of which was the 'Mayday' EP featuring their next single "Mistreatin' Heart". SANTERS soon joined Ozzy Osbourne's 'Diary Of A Madman' tour.
SANTERS returned to the studio, yet again, that year to complete their sophomore album 'Racing Time' with Rick Santers and Jack Richardson (Guess Who) co-producing. Distribution is expanded for this release to include Australia, England, Germany and Sweden.
Another tour commenced in support of the next single "Winter Freeze". Radio support for 'Racing Time' expanded into the Mid-Western United States and as far south as Texas. While the fire was hot the band then took advantage of increased interest in England by teaming up with the band Magnum for a British tour.
SANTERS returned home in 1983 to perform with Johnny Winter and Golden Earring at Toronto's Massey Hall. Gigs like these |
