The summer of 害羞草研究所�77 changed April Wine guitarist害羞草研究所檚 Brian Greenway害羞草研究所檚 life.

Greenway was living in Montreal, working a steady part-time forklift job, and playing occasionally in another band.

害羞草研究所淚 was unemployed as a musician, working a steady job versus the security of a being a musician,害羞草研究所� he said with a laugh.

Greenway previously played with the drummer of April Wine at the time, Jerry Mercer, in a Quebec-based band called Mashmakhan.

害羞草研究所淚 knew them. They always carried people with them, singers or the keyboard player. They said they wanted to try and add me. I played keyboard, sang and played guitar. So in the summer of 害羞草研究所�77 I started with them on a trial basis. I remember just thinking 害羞草研究所榞eeze, I hope they say yes, I can stay on,害羞草研究所� and they did and the rest is history so to speak.害羞草研究所�

With the addition of Greenway害羞草研究所檚 raspy voice and the band now having a three guitar attack, April Wine curated a distinctive edge that has stood the test of time.

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The first album with Greenway, the seventh for April Wine, pushed band into a new rock and roll stratosphere.

First Glance (Roller, Get Ready for Love, Right Down To It) was the first to reach Gold record status outside Canada and prompted bands including Rush, Journey and Styx to request April Wine to open their shows in the U.S.

害羞草研究所淚 wish I could remember a lot more of it. We did a lot of hits. It really started happening on the stage. Nine months is kind of gone. We were in a different town everyday,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t was the party days. We had the best time we can害羞草研究所檛 remember.害羞草研究所�

April Wine would release five more albums between then and 1986 when they took a hiatus. The Nature of the Beast in 1981 was the height of their commercial success earning certified Platinum in the U.S. and reaching No.24 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The record included songs Just Between You and Me, which became April Wine害羞草研究所檚 most successful single in the U.S. and Canada, and the moderately successful, but crowd pleasing cover of Sign of the Gypsy Queen.

During the hiatus, Greenway released a solo album Serious Business.

April Wine would come back together in 1992, releasing four more albums.

There害羞草研究所檚 talk the iconic band will release a 50th anniversary record next year.

Greenway said he plays 20 to 30 shows a year with April Wine and also performs as a one-piece band playing guitar, singing and using drum pedals at a friend害羞草研究所檚 restaurant in Montreal. In addition, he also heads up the five-piece Blues Bus band with former April Wine bandmate guitar player Gary Moffet (1973-1984).

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害羞草研究所淲e play songs you forgot you loved. It keeps me playing and active during the week. I害羞草研究所檝e been doing it two years now. I害羞草研究所檝e learned so much more about guitar from playing acoustic,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 want to go away and fortunately the reputation of April Wine helps with other projects. Good music is good music. Live music is slowly disappearing.害羞草研究所�

Greenway said that害羞草研究所檚 one of the reasons Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Peach Festival is so special.

He couldn害羞草研究所檛 remember if he害羞草研究所檇 ever played the free family festival, but knew he害羞草研究所檇 played Penticton several times.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 remember if we害羞草研究所檝e done Peach Fest but we害羞草研究所檝e done lots of different fests, all the food group festivals,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a pretty part of the world.害羞草研究所�

Free concerts provide a chance to connect with fans and maybe make some new ones, he said.

害羞草研究所淵ou tend to get a lot of people out at those kinds of things. A lot of them sometimes don害羞草研究所檛 know who they are going to see. They are just going to see a free show, but at the same time you can attract fans. You can get kids when they are younger and brand them into April Wine, just kidding,害羞草研究所� he said with a laugh.

April Wine plays the Penticton Peach Festival Thurs., Aug. 9.