When arena rock band Loverboy first debuted, no one in America wanted them. The Canadian band, comprised of Mike Reno, 70, Paul Dean, 79, Doug Johnson, 67, Matt Frenette, and the late Scott Smith, first formed in 1979 and was rejected by every major label until Columbia Records Canada scooped them up in 1980. When they released their self-titled debut album that same year in Canada, they sold over 1 million copies that summer alone. The album made its way to the U.S. in November and ended up selling 2 million copies. We’d bet our lives more than a few U.S. executives were kicking themselves.
And truthfully, anyone who underestimates them now, 44 years after their 1981 hit “Working for the Weekend” from their second album, would be sorely mistaken. While some may assume an ’80s rocker couldn’t hold a candle to their former selves, Reno and the gang proved the naysayers wrong with a recent performance.
In the clip, Reno belts out their 1985 hit “Lovin’ Every Minute of It,” which unironically, fans certainly seemed to be.
Loverboy Fans Were More Than Impressed With Their Akron, Ohio Gig
Though Reno may have ditched his signature red hot pants, the entertainer hit high notes with ease as the band, who added Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve in 2001, shredded the instrumentals. The praise poured in.
“Saw them 3 times in the 80’s! Love them! They still sound good,” declared one longtime fan.
“Still sound good. Better than most bands from the ’80s,” conceded another fan.
What Is Loverboy Doing Today?
The band has remained largely intact, with only a brief breakup from 1988 to 1991. Their most recent new music was released in 2017, featuring three singles: “Hurtin’,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “Stop the Rain.” They currently have live shows scheduled across the U.S. through November 21, and will set sail on the Rock Legends Cruise departing February 23 from Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Live performance has always been the band’s true calling card. As Reno shared in a statement on their website:
“When we do live shows these days, I notice the songs have come to a better place,” says Reno. “We’re playing them a little differently, but the catalyst is still the same. We live these songs—they’re part of our DNA, and they’re part of a lot of people’s DNA. They send us a lot of love and we end up loving them back, so it’s just a big love-fest, really.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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