Big Sugar

Big Sugar is a Canadian blues-rock band consisting of vocalist and guitarist Gordie Johnson, bassist Terry Wilkins, and drummer Al Cross. Their eponymous debut album was released in 1991.

In 1993, Big Sugar recorded the album Five Hundred Pounds with the help of guest musicians; including harmonica and tenor saxophonist Kelly Hoppe. They slowly built a reputation as an outstanding live band, and Five Hundred Pounds sold 10,000 copies in Canada on the strength of their live shows.

In 1995, the band released two EPs; Dear M.F., which featured a cover version of Traffic's "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and Ride Like Hell. Following the release of these EPs, Stich Wynston left the band and was replaced by Walter "Crash" Morgan.

In 1996, they released Hemi-Vision and the single "Opem Up Baby" was a notable first for the band, who recorded a French version of that song, "Ouvres-Toi Bébé", for radio stations in Quebec. The song gained widespread airplay in the province, and for their next album, 1998's Platinum-selling Heated, the band recorded a French version of each single they released; the French songs were collected on the 1999 EP Chauffe à bloc.

In 2000, the band released a dub album, Extra Long Life, under the name Alkaline. In 2001, Big Sugar released Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready? and a complete track-for-track French version, Brothers and Sisters, Êtes Vous Ready?. Both albums concluded with a blistering rendition of "O Canada".

The two-CD compilation Hit & Run, featuring a greatest hits disc and a live concert performance disc, was released in 2003.

The band reformed, playing at Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival in Whistler, B.C. on April 23, 2010 with tour dates through summer 2010. The band released a new studio album, Revolution Per Minute, in June 2011.