Long-rocking Canadian band will carry on without its founding singer and guitarist.

White Rock含羞草研究社檚 Ra McGuire and Langley-based guitarist Brian 含羞草研究社淪mitty含羞草研究社� Smith are retiring from performing with the band.

They recorded several chart-topping songs starting in the mid-1970s, including 含羞草研究社淩aise A Little Hell,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社淭he Boys in the Bright White Sports Car.含羞草研究社�

The news was posted to the band含羞草研究社檚 Facebook page Monday morning (Nov. 8), under the title ARRIVE. RAISE A LITTLE HELL. LEAVE.

含羞草研究社淩a and Smitty are officially retiring. They含羞草研究社檝e already been 含羞草研究社榰nofficially含羞草研究社� retired for a year and a half, so they含羞草研究社檝e just decided to continue not working, since they含羞草研究社檝e realized that they含羞草研究社檙e getting pretty good at it,含羞草研究社� the post reads.

含羞草研究社淭hey are both healthy and happy, they含羞草研究社檝e just decided that this is the best time to step back from the road and enjoy the life that this unplanned time-off has dropped them into. It含羞草研究社檚 been a difficult decision and today marks a bittersweet and emotional turning point in their lives.

含羞草研究社淭hey send their love to all their fans, friends, and everyone with whom they含羞草研究社檝e shared the joyous, rockin含羞草研究社�, love-filled cross-Canada party that is Trooper. They will sorely miss you all.含羞草研究社�

The post adds: 含羞草研究社淏UT HOLD ON 含羞草研究社� If you含羞草研究社檝e been looking forward to the next Trooper show, don含羞草研究社檛 despair. Ra and Smitty have given their blessing to the rest of the band and crew to carry on as Trooper without them! More on this soon.含羞草研究社�

The London-born Smith, 72, and McGuire, 71, were the only remaining original members of Trooper.

The two first played music together in the late-1960s in the band Winter含羞草研究社檚 Green, which evolved into Apple Jack before Trooper was formed.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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