Biography
Also known as The Payolas, this late 70's Vancouver, British Columbia based pub punk band was signed to Miles Copeland's IRS label and released their debut EP "Introducing" in 1980 and had the track Jukebox featured on the I.R.S Greatest Hits Vols. 2 & 3 dbl LP in 1981. Later efforts were less rambunctious, characterized by frontman Paul Hyde's moody vocals, as the group toned down their approach to a more AOR sound, and moved over to mothership label A&M. In 1983, they won several Canadian Juno awards, after the release of the Mick Ronson produced album 'No Stranger To Danger". It included the song "Eyes Of a Stranger" one of their best known songs, also appearing in the soundtrack of US teen film Valley Girl featuring Nicolas Cage.
The Payolas soon released "Hammer on a Drum" (also produced by Ronson, with the Payolas) to more commercial and popular acclaim. The band now consisted of co-founding guitarist Bob Rock (often doubling on guitar and bass), Hyde, Chris Taylor on drums and new keyboardist Christopher Livingston.
Read full biography ↓
The Payloas eventually split in 1986 and Hyde and guitarist Bob Rock released an album on Capitol Records entitled "Under the Volcano" as Rock & Hyde, they toured, and had three minor Canadian hit singles before they ended up going their separate ways.
Winnipeg born Guitarist Bob Rock went on to produce Metallica's best selling albums and several other records by big name bands including David Lee Roth, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, the Cranberries, American Hi-Fi, Bryan Adams, Tal Bachman, Bon Jovi, and The Cult.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.