You will find 鈥楾oday in B.C.鈥� podcasts on , , , and podcasts.

Host Peter McCully chats with Tom Hooper, who along with Kevin Kane and brother Chris played their first gig in junior high school, in Kelowna.

鈥淚 think it was 1978. My Grade 7 dance, my elementary school,鈥� said Hooper. 鈥淚 was in Grade 7 and Chris and Kevin were in Grade 9. We were playing some pretty cool music. Everything from 鈥楬onky Tonk Woman鈥� from the Stones to 鈥楯ust what I Needed鈥� by the Cars; a Matt the Hoople song, an Iggy Pop song. I think the teachers didn鈥檛 know what to expect of us.鈥�

The band鈥檚 breakthrough came with their critically acclaimed album Treehouse in 1987. The album featured the hit single 鈥楢ll the Things I Wasn鈥檛鈥� and showcased their ability to craft catchy melodies and poignant lyrics.

Grapes of Wrath鈥檚 music often explored introspective themes and featured rich harmonies that set them apart from other bands.

Hooper, a self-admitted Beatles nerd, says it was a 鈥減inch me moment鈥� when they were at Abbey Road Studios in London to mix their album These Days.

鈥淲e basically were put up the flat, which is attached to Abbey Road (Studios),鈥� he said. 鈥淚n fact, I was just playing a gig last night and I was telling the story of my bedroom in this flat. There鈥檚 a picture of the Beatles hanging out in this bedroom and Ringo standing on top of the fireplace mantel. And that was my room. And my courtyard window opened up to the Abbey Road Studios. It was pretty incredible.鈥�

One of the more successful Canadian bands of the 1980s and 1990s, The Grapes of Wrath are back out playing gigs in 2023.

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