Long-rocking Canadian band will carry on without its founding singer and guitarist.

White Rock害羞草研究所檚 Ra McGuire and Langley-based guitarist Brian 害羞草研究所淪mitty害羞草研究所� Smith are retiring from performing with the band.

They recorded several chart-topping songs starting in the mid-1970s, including 害羞草研究所淩aise A Little Hell,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Boys in the Bright White Sports Car.害羞草研究所�

The news was posted to the band害羞草研究所檚 Facebook page Monday morning (Nov. 8), under the title ARRIVE. RAISE A LITTLE HELL. LEAVE.

害羞草研究所淩a and Smitty are officially retiring. They害羞草研究所檝e already been 害羞草研究所榰nofficially害羞草研究所� retired for a year and a half, so they害羞草研究所檝e just decided to continue not working, since they害羞草研究所檝e realized that they害羞草研究所檙e getting pretty good at it,害羞草研究所� the post reads.

害羞草研究所淭hey are both healthy and happy, they害羞草研究所檝e just decided that this is the best time to step back from the road and enjoy the life that this unplanned time-off has dropped them into. It害羞草研究所檚 been a difficult decision and today marks a bittersweet and emotional turning point in their lives.

害羞草研究所淭hey send their love to all their fans, friends, and everyone with whom they害羞草研究所檝e shared the joyous, rockin害羞草研究所�, love-filled cross-Canada party that is Trooper. They will sorely miss you all.害羞草研究所�

The post adds: 害羞草研究所淏UT HOLD ON 害羞草研究所� If you害羞草研究所檝e been looking forward to the next Trooper show, don害羞草研究所檛 despair. Ra and Smitty have given their blessing to the rest of the band and crew to carry on as Trooper without them! More on this soon.害羞草研究所�

The London-born Smith, 72, and McGuire, 71, were the only remaining original members of Trooper.

The two first played music together in the late-1960s in the band Winter害羞草研究所檚 Green, which evolved into Apple Jack before Trooper was formed.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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