A rocker at heart and a pioneer of the Canadian music industry, Michel Pagliaro—affectionately known as Pag by his fans—helped shape the history of both Francophone and Anglophone rock in Canada, driven by his unmatched authenticity and boundless passion.

Born in Montréal on November 9, 1948, he emerged as an iconic figure in the 1970s and has carried that same intensity through the decades, guided by a constant search for the perfect sound and the most resonant words. 

In 1969, he recorded the song J’ai marché pour une nation, considered one of the first true Québécois rock anthems. 

In 1971, he recorded his first English-language album. In 1971, he recorded his first English-language album, marking the beginning of his national recognition with standout tracks like Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy, Rainshowers, and Some Sing, Some Dance, all of which achieved widespread success. 

In honour if Rock of Fame Induction

On September 28th, Rough Trade will be honoured at Canada’s Rock of Fame Induction, as part of a once in a lifetime celebration of the most influential rock legends from the 70’s and 80’s. 13 of Canada’s most coveted bands and artists will be honoured as part of Canada’s Walk of Fame 25^th anniversary celebrations. 

To mark this very special occasion, The Phoenix Concert Theatre welcomes Rough Trade in concert, on Friday, September 29th, presented by boom 97.3. The evening will feature Rough Trade as well as many special guests, including Hawksley Workman and Chilina Kennedy. 

Rough Trade was formed in Toronto in 1974 by multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples and vocalist Carole Pope. Known for their openly sexual songs and burlesque theatricality of their live performances, Rough Trade was one of the first mainstream musical acts to include explicitly gay and lesbian references. They were groundbreaking and trailblazing, empowering generations to express their sexuality and love regardless of their orientation.