Bio 2011

Back in 1994, Mike Hooton placed an ad in Vancouver's weekly entertainment magazine the Georgia Straight.  The ad read “inexperienced guitarist looking for inexperienced band”. Many phone calls later Mike finally connected with singer/guitarist Darren Robinson. After discovering they had a similar passion for music and an experience level that matched.They embarked on a journey that would somehow become the musical juggernaut that is known and loved today as Gladyss Patches. 

Over the next few years the band played any gig that was offered to them. They even accepted an offer to be the house band at the Columbia Hotel located in Vancouver's beautiful downtown east side.During this time the bands songs evolved from garage band noise to well crafted power pop tunes. Gladyss would enter various studios including Greenhouse and Turtle Studios issuing several now hard to find recordings. 

After a line up change that welcomed Brad Laviolette on Bass and longtime friend Alex  Roque (Fallen Phoenix, The Thick Of It) on guitar and vocals into the fold, Gladyss was ready to move forward as 5 piece with a new heavier sound. During the fall of 99 they wrote and recorded their first full length disc Novelty in a jam room turned studio. Released in early 2000 the band hit the road in support and completed several Western Canadian and West Coast treks with the likes of Noise Therapy, Jar and The Las Vegas Crypt Keepers. 

By the end of 2000 the band had caught the attention of upstart Los Angeles based label NFE Records. The boys were sent back to Vancouver to write and record their next full length album. A Wish This Simple was released across the US and Canada in Sept 2001. Receiving positive radio support the band hit the road to promote the album. Gladyss criss crossed North America for the next year and a half sharing the stage with Tommy Lee, Nonpoint, Devin Townshend, Shocore and Skid Row. Upon returning home both Brad and Darren would leave the band for personal reasons. 

Feeling it was again time for a change the band split with their management, record label and recruitied another close friend Cam Jarvis (Nikki Hurst, Fallen Phoenix) to handle bass duties. With Alex now handling the vocals full time Gladyss would head back to the studio with Larry Anschell (Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Sum 41) recording some of the their strongest material yet. On a roll the guys headed straight to Greenhouse studios this time recording with Brian Howes (Puddle of Mudd, Hinder,DDT) and JVP (Hedley,Rev Theory). Both recordings were pressed in limited numbers and sold only at shows over the next few years .After hittin’ the road a few more times the band would play its last show in 2005, or it so it was thought.!

In early 2011 after an almost 6 year hiatus Alex, Mike, Cam and Jordan would take to the stage in Whistler BC! It was like no time had passed, the performance was explosive and even included a surprise appearance by original vocalist Darren Robinson. Armed with powerful tunes and an unparalleled work ethic Gladyss Patches is poised to write the next chapter in their storied career.