Myles Goodwyn Of April Wine Passed Away at 75

Rest in Peace Myles Goodwyn

Myles Goodwyn, the vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the Canadian rock band April Wine, has passed away at the age of 75.

Goodwyn co-founded April Wine in 1969 with brothers Ritchie and David Henman, and their cousin Jim Henman. Although their self-titled debut album in 1971 initially received limited attention, the band steadily gained popularity. Their fourth album, “Stand Back” in 1975, achieved double platinum status in Canada, and the subsequent LP, “The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy,” reached No. 1 in the country.

While the band achieved moderate success in the United States with the 1972 single “You Could Have Been a Lady” peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, it wasn’t until the early ’80s that they consistently connected with American audiences. April Wine’s 1981 album, “The Nature of the Beast,” became their most commercially successful in the U.S., selling over 1 million copies and producing their biggest hit, “Just Between You and Me,” which peaked at No. 21.

After disbanding in 1986, April Wine reunited in 1992, experiencing various lineup changes over the years. Goodwyn remained the constant presence and the only musician featured on all of the band’s releases. April Wine’s enduring success, totaling over 10 million albums sold worldwide, earned them a place in the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame.

How Myles Retired

Goodwyn faced health challenges throughout his life, notably collapsing in 2008 due to internal bleeding from years of alcohol abuse. Despite retiring from touring at the beginning of 2023 for health reasons, Goodwyn continued to contribute to the band’s creative endeavors.

In his retirement announcement, Goodwyn expressed gratitude for his career but acknowledged the necessity of stepping back from touring due to health concerns. April Wine continued without him on tour, with Goodwyn’s last performance occurring on March 2 in Nova Scotia.