Sunshyne and Seeds of Time Prism was the brainchild of musician-producer
Bruce Fairbairn and comprised members from two local Vancouver bands, Sunshyne and Seeds of Time. Fairbairn was originally a trumpet player in Sunshyne, a jazz-rock band, in the early 1970s. Around 1974, the band switched their format to blues-rock by recruiting guitarist
Lindsay Mitchell from Seeds of Time as their front man. The Seeds of Time were a blues-oriented group that had recently wound down after a mildly successful recording career in which they placed two songs in the Canadian Top 100 (
RPM Magazine): "My Home Town" reached No. 76 and "Crying the Blues" reached No. 90, both in 1971. Still operating under the name Sunshyne, Fairbairn then decided to pursue a recording contract for the band. After a year of trying, he was unsuccessful and in mid-1975 he approached former Sunshyne member
Jim Vallance for help in reworking the demos. Some changes were made. First, Vallance helped with new arrangements on two of Mitchell's songs and also began contributing some of his own at Fairbairn's request. Ron Tabak was recruited to replace Mitchell on lead vocals, while Mitchell remained as the guitarist and alternate songwriter. A set of five demo songs, two by Mitchell and three by Vallance, were then recorded and sent to record labels across Canada. An executive at GRT Records liked one of Vallance's songs, "Open Soul Surgery", and offered Fairbairn's project a recording contract in 1976.
Prism debut Over the next year, Fairbairn produced the group's debut album. At the time there was no fixed band line-up for the recording and Fairbairn employed various musicians from around the local Vancouver music scene. Tabak, Mitchell and Vallance were relative constants during the sessions: others who participated in the recording sessions included Steve Pugsley, Richard Christie, Peter Bjerring, Dave Calder, Tom and Jack Lavin, David Sinclair, Dave Pickell, John Hall and Graeme Coleman. Eventually, the group line-up "officially" coalesced into Ron Tabak (vocals), John Hall (keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals), Lindsay Mitchell (lead guitar, backing vocals),
Tom Lavin (rhythm guitar and bass), Ab Bryant (bass) and Jim Vallance (drums). The group was still known as Sunshyne at this point and Bryant had not actually played on any of the recording sessions, joining shortly after they were completed. By the time the album was completed, seven of its nine songs were written by Vallance, with one by Mitchell and one by Lavin. As the album was about to go into production, some changes were made to the credits. The label's management did not like the name "Sunshyne", so they released a pre-LP teaser single, "I Ain't Lookin' Anymore" with "Don't Let Me Find Out" as a
B-side, under the group name "Stanley Screamer". That moniker was not popular with the group, so after trying out several other names at local gigs (including "Under Construction"), the members settled on "Prism" as the band's new name. Also, Vallance decided to use a pseudonym, Rodney Higgs, for his work as the band's drummer and songwriter. As Prism's principal songwriter, Vallance was afraid that if the album failed and his real name was associated with it, he would never land another recording contract. By using the pseudonym, he could get around that problem. Finally, Fairbairn (horns) and Tom Keenlyside (saxophone) received credit as session musicians, with Fairbairn acting as road manager on US and Canadian tour dates. The others who played were not credited on the finished album as musicians but were listed in the credits in a section labelled "special thanks". The band was then taken on by
Bruce Allen, arguably the biggest rock music manager in Canada at the time. Although Ab Bryant appears on the back jacket, he had only been hired days before the photo was taken. But within a few months of the album's debut, Bryant exited the group to join the Rocket Norton Band, later joining
Chilliwack (and later still,
The Headpins). Lavin switched back to bass in Bryant's absence and Sunshyne's trombonist, Ralph Eppel, joined alongside adjunct members Bruce Fairbairn and Tom Keenlyside in Prism's horn section for their ensuing tour (with Vallance still drumming as "Rodney Higgs"). After the first leg of touring ended in late August 1977, Vallance resigned as drummer but remained as principal songwriter. Vallance did not enjoy the lifestyle of touring, preferring instead to write songs in his home studio. He was replaced with Seeds of Time alumnus Rocket Norton, who was also leading his own Rocket Norton Band at the time. Lavin was let go in December 1977 and went on to form the
Powder Blues Band, who in the next few years hit the Canadian charts with several singles and albums. was brought in as bassist, in January 1978, to replace Tom Lavin. On July 16, 1978 Prism played a show at
Royal Oak Music Theater in
Royal Oak, Michigan, that was broadcast by
Westwood One Radio and later appeared as a much sought after promo album.
1981–1984: Henry Small era At a show at the
Danforth Music Hall in Toronto on December 9, 1980, singer Ron Tabak's performance was so lackluster that he was fired by the band's manager
Bruce Allen in early 1981 at Capitol's insistence and the band's support. Various reasons cited were his drug and alcohol abuse, conflicts with other band members, several run-ins with the law and/or lack of songwriting ability. Vocalist
Henry Small (ex-
Scrubbaloe Caine and Small Wonder) was brought in after being recommended by his friend and former bandmate,
Paul Dean (of
Loverboy). The follow-up single "Turn on Your Radar" also charted at No. 64, becoming their fifth and final American charter. In 1981 Small, Mitchell, Harlow, and Norton were joined for touring by keyboardists Jamie Bowers (also rhythm guitar) and
David Stone (ex-
Rainbow). During another Christmas show at the Danforth Music Hall on December 14, 1981, the group was playing with fellow Canadian rockers
Klaatu. When Klaatu received a better response and most of the audience left before Prism had finished their set, the band realized that their new line-up was not being embraced by fans, so Mitchell, Harlow, Norton, Bowers and Stone, who were also chafing over Bruce Allen and Capital designating Henry Small in charge of musical direction and rehearsals in Los Angeles, decided to leave Prism by early 1982. Tabak decided to cycle to Harlow's home on Christmas Eve as a way to get some exercise. The roads were snow-covered, and he rode at night without a headlight and helmet and had consumed a large quantity of alcohol. On the way, near Kingsway and Earles Street, Tabak was struck by a passing vehicle, fell and hit his head on the pavement. He was taken by ambulance to
Burnaby Hospital where he abruptly became abusive and uncooperative, prompting staff to call Burnaby RCMP. Two constables arrested him, thinking he was under the influence of alcohol, and he was held in
Burnaby cells. He was later discovered unconscious in his jail cell and was rushed by ambulance to
Royal Columbian Hospital. A second examination discovered a blood clot had developed on the right side of his brain. Tabak died of an
aneurysm on Christmas Day 1984 before a pending neurosurgical operation could be performed. Previously discussed plans for a Prism reunion were canceled, out of respect for Tabak's death.
Legacy Tabak's death due to an undiagnosed brain bleed, along with that of British Columbia Ambulance Service Supervisor John Phillips in early 1985, led to changes that ultimately resulted in the creation of regional 'trauma centres' in the Lower Mainland (
Lions Gate Hospital,
Vancouver General Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital) as well as new, more stringent criteria for diagnosis and care of potential head injury patients. As in the case with both Tabak and Phillips, even if a patient was impaired by alcohol and even if they were combative, they were restrained and managed in hospital, rather than being arrested. As well, paramedics assessing a patient who presented as Tabak did (the clear history and evidence of him having hit his head on pavement and having been struck by a car) would take that patient directly to the closest trauma centre where specialized equipment and care were available, rather than simply to the closest hospital. This line-up toured live in 1988. Deutsch and Lorimer had previously performed Prism songs in their former band Simon Kaos, where they had been spotted by Prism guitarist Mitchell. Five years later, this same line-up released the first new Prism album in 10 years, 1993's
Jericho. Guest musicians on the album included
Bryan Adams,
Paul Janz and Marc LaFrance, with
Rick Springfield and
Randy Bachman (
Bachman–Turner Overdrive) contributing to the songwriting.
Present line-up and Big Black Sky In 1990, China White singer Rick Shermack, of Edmonton, had done a short tour substituting for Darcy Deutsch as lead vocalist with Prism, which he called not only an honour, but actually rather easy. "We were always playing their songs anyway, now here was my chance to blast out all those Prism hits I'd been covering for all those years with the guys who wrote them – an absolute blast". Rocket Norton left the band in 1994 to work in television and stage production and was replaced by drummer John Cody (who had already subbed for Norton on the road in 1992–1993 and played on the
Jericho album). But after Cody's departure in 1996 and a brief return in 1997 by Norton, Darrell Mayes (from the
Colin James Band) took over the drum chair before turning it over to Frank Baker circa 2000. Baker stayed on until he left to join
Trooper in 2003. Mayes then briefly returned, but he was replaced almost immediately by Gary Grace. Keyboardist Richard Sera (formerly with fellow Canadian rockers
Trooper) subbed for Andy Lorimer from 1991 to 1992 before Lorimer returned. But Lorimer left Prism again in 1996 and John Counsel was on keys until Andy returned for a final stint in 1999–2002. Steve Soucy then assumed the keyboard chair from 2002 to 2003, when Alfie Galpin took over for a year, followed by Johnny Ferreira (another Colin James player) in 2004. After singer Darcy Deutsch left Prism in 2003, Harlow assumed the lead singer position; and also assumed lead guitar when Lindsay Mitchell left in early 2005. Mitchell's departure left Prism once again with no original members. The band continued to tour in 2005 with a new line-up of Harlow, drummer Gary Grace (who had joined in 2003), Steve-O (keyboards, guitars, backing vocals), and bassist Michael Kaye (who was soon replaced by Tad Goddard). In 2006 Goddard left and Timothy B. Hewitt (bass, guitars, keyboards, backing vocals) came in for two years. By 2008, Prism consisted of Harlow, Gary Grace, Steve-O and Timothy B. Hewitt (bass, guitars, keyboards). This line-up released a new studio album called
Big Black Sky in July 2008. It featured mostly compositions by Harlow, with one track written by long-time ally Jim Vallance. At the end of 2008, Hewitt departed and Tad Goddard returned. In 2010 Prism's line-up was Allen Harlow (vocals, guitar, bass), Gary Grace (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Marc Gladstone (keyboards, backing vocals) and Tad Goddard (bass, backing vocals). Gladstone (ex-
Doug and the Slugs and a
Sweeney Todd reunion) was a cousin to Prism's original keyboardist John Hall. On August 19, 2016 the band was flying to a show in Ottawa when drummer Gary Grace began experiencing increasing chest and leg pains. After that evening's show, he was hospitalized immediately with a massive blood clot. Prism played the following night in
Halifax at the large outdoor Weir Rockin festival with drummer A.J. Chabidon from Harlequin, one of the other bands on the festival's bill. After this, former Prism drummer Frank Baker (currently with fellow Canadian rockers
Sweeney Todd) did the honors at the group's Deerfoot
Calgary show on August 27. One month and five days following the Ottawa incident, Grace returned to the concert stage at Edmonton's Century Casino Showroom playing to a sold-out crowd.
2015 reunion concert On May 22, 2015 a "Local Legends of Rock" concert, featuring Ab Bryant, John Hall, Al Harlow and Rocket Norton, was held in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver. At the concert, Harlow said, "Here's a disclaimer; This isn't the reunion of any one band, but it might be the reunion of 3 or 4 bands." A review of the concert titled it the "Prism / Jet / Seeds of Time Reunion Concert," with Sunshyne being an obvious candidate for the fourth band Harlow referred to. The concert included the Prism songs "Young and Restless", "Nickels and Dimes", "Take Me to the Kaptin", "You're Like the Wind" and "Spaceship Superstar."
2018–present On May 4, 2018 Prism took part in a "White Hat Ceremony" at a concert in Calgary making them official Citizens of Calgary. On November 23, 2020 former Prism keyboardist Steve Soucy died after a heart attack. On Valentine's Day 2022 Al Harlow released his debut solo album,
Now!. The album featured a co-write with Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. On September 28, 2023 Prism was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Allen Harlow, John Hall, Lindsay Mitchell, and Rocket Norton were present for the induction ceremony and they also included a framed picture of Ron Tabak. On October 21, 2023 Lindsay Mitchell, John Hall, Rocket Norton, Allen Harlow, Tad Goddard and Darcy Deutsch performed on stage for the first time ever together as Prism in support of Rocket Norton's
F**K Cancer benefit concert, in aid of Norton's struggle with cancer. Other acts, such as Headpins, Chilliwack, Lee Aaron, Trooper, Powder Blues Band, H.U.N.N., Doug and the Slugs, and Loverboy, also performed. Norton (real name Gary Wanstall) died in Vancouver on April 5, 2024, at the age of 73. In 2025 bassist Greg Cox replaced Tad Goddard in Prism's lineup. == Legacy ==