Our Lady Peace was one of the most popular Canadian rock bands of the 1990s and early 2000s. Formed in 1992 in Toronto, Ontario, the band was originally composed of guitarist Mike Turner, bassist Chris Eacrett, drummer Jeremy Taggart and vocalist Raine Maida. Over the course of their career, Our Lady Peace released eight studio albums, won numerous Juno Awards, and sold millions of albums worldwide. However, after nearly 20 years together, the band went on hiatus in 2011 and has only released sporadic new music since then. So what exactly happened to cause one of Canada’s most successful rock bands to fade from the limelight?
Early Success
Our Lady Peace burst onto the Canadian rock scene in 1994 with their debut album Naveed featuring hit singles like “Starseed” and “The Birdman”. Propelled by Raine Maida’s unique vocal style, the album went platinum in Canada. Their 1997 follow up Clumsy became a hit across North America, achieving diamond status in Canada and going platinum in the US. It featured smash singles like “Superman’s Dead” and “Clumsy” that showcased the band’s alternative rock sound. Our Lady Peace solidified their status as rock superstars in Canada and made major inroads in the US market.
Mainstream Popularity
The band’s commercial peak came with their 2000 album Spiritual Machines. Featuring production from the legendary Bob Rock, it spawned more hit singles like “In Repair”, “Life” and “Right Behind You (Mafia)”. The album debuted at #1 in Canada and cracked the Billboard Top 30 in the US. Our Lady Peace had now become mainstream stars and were touring arenas. They consolidated their popularity with the 2002 album Gravity featuring songs “Somewhere Out There” and “Innocent”. It also topped the charts in Canada and broke the Top 20 in the US.
Mike Turner’s Departure
In December 2001, lead guitarist Mike Turner abruptly left the band prior to a hometown performance in Toronto. His departure was reportedly due to personal differences with frontman Raine Maida over the band’s musical direction. Turner felt the band’s pop leanings starting with Spiritual Machines were too much of a departure from their edgier early material. For the next 8 years, Our Lady Peace continued on as a quartet with Raine Maida handling all the guitar duties in the studio and on tour. Mike Turner later formed the band Crash Karma.
Declining Sales
Despite their strong early 2000s sales, Our Lady Peace’s commercial fortunes started to decline in the latter half of the decade. Their 2005 effort Healthy in Paranoid Times only reached #30 in Canada and sold a fraction of earlier albums in the US. The 2009 album Burn Burn was another disappointment, stalling at #13 in Canada and barely cracking the Billboard Top 200. Lead single “All You Did Was Save My Life” struggled to gain traction. While the band could still draw well at Canadian festivals and shows, their heyday was clearly behind them.
Hiatus
After supporting Burn Burn with a 2010 cross-Canada tour, Our Lady Peace decided to take an extended break. They cited wanting to spend more time with family as a major factor in the hiatus. Raine Maida released a solo album in 2011 while Mike Turner soldiered on with Crash Karma. Besides a one-off show in 2012, the band would be inactive for the next four years. Fans wondered if they would ever reunite.
Brief Reunion & Duncan Coutts
In November 2014, Our Lady Peace announced they were returning with a new album called Drop Me in the Water and an extensive Canadian tour. Founding bassist Chris Eacrett had retired from touring and was replaced by Duncan Coutts of Canadian band The Lowest of the Low. While fans were glad to see the band back, the comeback album didn’t exactly set the world on fire. It debuted outside the Top 10 in Canada while failing to crack any US charts. Subsequent albums like 2017’s Somethingness and 2020’s Spiritual Machines II met a similar fate.
Touring & Occasional New Music
Despite declining album sales and only a modicum of new music, Our Lady Peace have continued to be a staple of the Canadian touring circuit over the past decade. They still play arenas and festivals across the country on a regular basis. Die-hard fans come out to hear the hits from peak era albums like Clumsy and Spiritual Machines. However, the lack of mainstream radio hits has reduced Our Lady Peace from platinum-selling rock stars to a well-respected touring legacy act. They recently supported Canadian legends Simple Plan on an arena tour across Canada.
Lineup Changes
Aside from Duncan Coutts replacing original bassist Chris Eacrett, Our Lady Peace have undergone more lineup changes recently. In 2018, founding drummer Jeremy Taggart left the band prior to a tour with I Mother Earth. He was replaced by Jason Pierce. Then in 2019, Steve Mazur took over lead guitar duties from Raine Maida, who injured his hand. The band now consists of Raine Maida, Duncan Coutts, Jason Pierce and Steve Mazur – half original members and half new recruits.
What’s Next?
It’s hard to say what the future holds for Our Lady Peace. They just passed their 30th anniversary as a band and original members Raine Maida and Duncan Coutts still appear committed. However, with record sales drying up and alternative rock no longer dominating mainstream rock radio, it’s an uphill battle to regain their past popularity. Most fans just seem grateful the band is still together and touring occasionally. Barring an unexpected comeback hit, Our Lady Peace seem destined to coast on 1990s and early 2000s nostalgia playing to their still devoted fanbase.
In Summary
Our Lady Peace went from Canadian rock heroes to a faded legacy act due to:
- Early mainstream success in Canada and US
- Mike Turner’s departure signaling internal conflict
- Declining album sales in the 2000s
- An extended 4 year hiatus from 2010 to 2014
- Occasional new music and constant touring since reuniting
- Recent lineup changes replacing original members
While no longer the platinum-selling, arena-headlining act of their prime, Our Lady Peace has settled into a respectable role as a veteran alt-rock group with a selective touring schedule and dedicated Canadian fanbase. Their story shows how even hugely popular bands struggle to sustain mainstream relevance over decades in the fickle music industry.
Key Members Timeline
| Member | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Raine Maida | Lead Vocals | 1992 – Present |
| Duncan Coutts | Bass, Vocals | 2014 – Present |
| Mike Turner | Guitar | 1992 – 2001 |
| Jeremy Taggart | Drums | 1992 – 2018 |
Peak Era Album Sales
| Album | Year | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Clumsy | 1997 | 1 million+ (Canada) 500,000+ (US) |
| Spiritual Machines | 2000 | 600,000+ (Canada) 250,000+ (US) |
| Gravity | 2002 | 400,000+ (Canada) |
Post-Peak Album Sales Decline
| Album | Year | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy in Paranoid Times | 2005 | 40,000 (Canada) |
| Burn Burn | 2009 | 10,000 (Canada) |
| Somethingness | 2017 | 5,000 (Canada) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Our Lady Peace experienced a meteoric rise to fame in Canada and success in America during the 1990s and early 2000s. However, various factors like lineup changes, artistic conflicts, declining album sales, and long hiatuses caused them to slowly fade from mainstream popularity and revert to heritage act status. They are unlikely to ever reach their prior commercial heights again, but Our Lady Peace still maintains a loyal fanbase who cherishes their classic hits and appreciates the band soldiering on into their third decade.