Blue Peter (band)
Canadian new wave band known for 'Don't Walk Past' and MTV success.
Blue Peter was a Canadian new wave synthpop band formed in 1978 in Markham, Ontario, by guitarist/songwriter Chris Wardman and lead singer Paul Humphrey. The band gained prominence in the early 1980s with their album *Falling* and the hit single 'Don't Walk Past', whose music video received significant airplay on MTV in the United States despite the band's lack of American record distribution. Blue Peter opened for major international acts such as the Police and Simple Minds, and their work earned them CASBY Awards, including Single of the Year in 1982 and Male Vocalist of the Year in 1984.
- origin
- Markham, Ontario, Canada
- years_active
- 1978–1985 (with reunions in 2006 and later)
- genre
- New wave synthpop
- founders
- Chris Wardman and Paul Humphrey
- notable_single
- 'Don't Walk Past'
- key_album
- Falling (1983)
- label
- Ready Records
Lore & Background
Blue Peter was founded as a high school band by Chris Wardman and Paul Humphrey in the late 1970s. The initial lineup included bassist Geoff McOuat and drummer Ron Tomlinson, who recorded the band's first EP, *Test Patterns for Living*, in 1979. After lineup changes—Mike Bambrick replacing Tomlinson in 1980, and Rick Joudrey replacing McOuat—the band released their first full-length album, *Radio Silence*, in 1980. Difficulties with record labels led them to briefly release material on their own label, including 'Chinese Graffiti' in 1981, before returning to Ready Records in 1982 for the *Up To You* EP, which included that single and won a CASBY Award for Single of the Year.
Reader's Guide
Blue Peter's significance lies in their ability to achieve international visibility through music video innovation despite limited American distribution. The video for 'Don't Walk Past', directed by Rob Quartly and inspired by *Blade Runner*, was ranked No. 85 on MuchMusic's top videos of the century list and played on MTV, helping the band reach audiences beyond Canada. Their album *Falling* was their most successful and ranked 24th on CFNY's Top 83 of '83. The band's legacy includes influencing Canadian new wave and synthpop, and their music continued to be celebrated through compilations and reunions. Paul Humphrey's death in 2021 marked the end of an era for the band, which had periodically performed and reissued material in the 2000s.
Did You Know?
- The music video for 'Don't Walk Past' was inspired by the film *Blade Runner*.
- Blue Peter opened for the Police at 'The Police Picnic '83' in Toronto.
- The band won a CASBY Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1984 for Paul Humphrey.
- Despite no American record distribution, 'Don't Walk Past' was played on MTV in the United States.
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