Haywire

Haywire began as a Charlottetown group working out a hard-driving rock sound. Paul MacAusland, Marvin Birt, David Rashed, Ronnie Switzer and Scott Roberts founded the band in 1981, and their early momentum came from competition wins and a self-financed EP, Haywire, issued in 1985 and selling over 5,000 copies in the Maritimes. Their sound later turned harder and more guitar-driven, a shift that alienated some of their early listeners.

Their debut, Bad Boys (1986), went platinum in Canada and its title track reached the Top 40. Don't Just Stand There (1987) followed, also platinum, and included Dance Desire, their highest charting hit, which won best song at the World Popular Song Festival in Japan. Nuthouse (1990), recorded in Norway with producer Bjorn Nessjo, was remixed by the band after they disliked the final mix. Get Off (1992) drew critical praise but little label support, and after a long dispute the group declined to re-sign with Attic. Haywire received the Music Prince Edward Island Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and an ECMA lifetime honour in 2011. They tour and are preparing a new album, while former drummer Ron LeBlanc died in 2022.