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

White RockB次元官网网址檚 Ra McGuire and Langley-based guitarist Brian B次元官网网址淪mittyB次元官网网址� Smith are retiring from performing with the band.

They recorded several chart-topping songs starting in the mid-1970s, including B次元官网网址淩aise A Little Hell,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭he Boys in the Bright White Sports Car.B次元官网网址�

The news was posted to the bandB次元官网网址檚 Facebook page Monday morning (Nov. 8), under the title ARRIVE. RAISE A LITTLE HELL. LEAVE.

B次元官网网址淩a and Smitty are officially retiring. TheyB次元官网网址檝e already been B次元官网网址榰nofficiallyB次元官网网址� retired for a year and a half, so theyB次元官网网址檝e just decided to continue not working, since theyB次元官网网址檝e realized that theyB次元官网网址檙e getting pretty good at it,B次元官网网址� the post reads.

B次元官网网址淭hey are both healthy and happy, theyB次元官网网址檝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. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a difficult decision and today marks a bittersweet and emotional turning point in their lives.

B次元官网网址淭hey send their love to all their fans, friends, and everyone with whom theyB次元官网网址檝e shared the joyous, rockinB次元官网网址�, love-filled cross-Canada party that is Trooper. They will sorely miss you all.B次元官网网址�

The post adds: B次元官网网址淏UT HOLD ON B次元官网网址� If youB次元官网网址檝e been looking forward to the next Trooper show, donB次元官网网址檛 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.B次元官网网址�

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 WinterB次元官网网址檚 Green, which evolved into Apple Jack before Trooper was formed.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on