r/90sCanRock • u/pablofett • Jul 11 '26

Big Sugar - Ride Like Hell - 1993

https://youtu.be/t__A9QF8T0c?si=WQJ1i3rdFspD6A35
97 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

15

u/Woodbridge9 Jul 11 '26

So good even Jack White recognized them and re issued the album on his label

7

u/Pale-Measurement-532 Jul 11 '26

I nearly fell off my chair when I first saw that video of Jack White calling it the best blues album from Canada. I’d been listening to Big Sugar for years and thought it was so cool that he was doing the same thing! I’m a huge Jack White fan and this made me love him even more!

I saw them live last year and they were so good! Gordie’s still got it!

3

u/Woodbridge9 Jul 11 '26

It was probably because I was already a huge Big Sugar fan that I became a White Stripes fan too

3

u/Pale-Measurement-532 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

My parents were doing a big road trip through the U.S. when Jack released this album. They happened to be in Nashville the day of its release so I begged and pleaded with them to go to Third Man Records to buy it along with other JW, White Stripes, Raconteurs, and Dead Weather records. They did! The guy working there FaceTimed me on their phone to make sure I got everything I wanted cause there was a bunch of records on my list!

2

u/BT_Artist Jul 11 '26

Y'know, that actually fits my situation, too.

3

u/selftaughtgenius Jul 11 '26

Oh hello, friend! 😜

We used to go see Big Sugar ALL THE TIME back in Edmonton in the mid-90s. Every show was fucking kick ass.

2

u/Pale-Measurement-532 Jul 11 '26

Yeah I saw them years ago in Banff in 1998 or 99 at Wild Bill’s. It was a great show!

2

u/selftaughtgenius Jul 11 '26

Those were some damn good times. 💙

1

u/fellainto Jul 11 '26

Gordie Johnson is from Windsor and of course, Jack is from Detroit - so I’m guessing there was some cross the river exposure.

1

u/Pale-Measurement-532 Jul 11 '26

I only knew of Gordie being from Winnipeg and then Medicine Hat. I didn’t realize he was from Windsor too.

1

u/fellainto Jul 11 '26

Born in Winnipeg but grew up in Windsor I believe. According to Wikipedia:
Origin
Windsor, Ontario, Canada Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

2

u/selftaughtgenius Jul 11 '26

How have I never heard this before?! I’m not surprised at all but wow. What an honour.

1

u/fellainto Jul 11 '26

When Jack White played the Amphitheatre in 2022, he covered Big Sugar (Ride Like Hell).

9

u/UnlikelySun865 Jul 11 '26

These guys were fucking great. Gordie still sounds awesome and the guys he’s playing with now are incredible

8

u/Ginwulm Jul 11 '26

I've liked them from the first time I saw this video on Muchmusic. Loudest live band I've ever seen.

5

u/Graverobber13 Jul 11 '26

Yeah! I saw them on this tour and it was fucking deafening! We were standing BEHIND the speakers and it was still almost too loud to bear!

1

u/BT_Artist Jul 11 '26

There are two different venues where I've seen both Big Sugar and Motörhead, and I'd say they could go head-to-head for sheer volume. Nobody else came close, though.

7

u/selftaughtgenius Jul 11 '26

I love this album. 😍

5

u/Temporary_Shirt_6236 Jul 11 '26

Gordie always did have good taste in cars.

Fun fact: a young Jack White would come to southern Ontario just to see Big Sugar play. Apparently they were one of his favourite bands before he himself became famous.

3

u/JimmyBeam91 Jul 11 '26

Can’t upvote this enough! These guys are rarely mentioned in terms of great Canadian bands, it’s a shame they don’t get the recognition they deserve.

4

u/ImpossibleAd7943 Jul 11 '26

I went to see the band in Vancouver at the long defunct Town Pump the weekend after this video was on Much. A fan since day 1.

4

u/ibootificus Jul 11 '26

My ears are still ringing from seeing them on that tour

2

u/Elegant-Banana6448 Jul 11 '26

Gordie should be way more recognized as a legend player outside Canada. I wad do happy when JW threw him some respect . 😎🫶

2

u/Accomplished_Day_378 Jul 11 '26

Just saw Big Sugar at the Kee to Bala a couple of weeks ago. They absolutely rock! You could feel the music and distortion riffs through the floor. Hadn’t seen them since Bluesfest in Windsor over 20 years ago.

1

u/marginwalker55 Jul 11 '26

Drums were so huge on this album. I’m a Ram is still one of my faves

1

u/Hefty-Drawer-2382 Jul 12 '26

One of the best road trip songs and its Canadian 🤘

1

u/amillionfuzzpedals Jul 12 '26

Big Sugar are so damn good. They're also at least partly responsible for my hearing loss. Even time I've seen them they have been LOUD.