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'No matter how happy you are, having a child instantly makes you 100 times happier. As soon as the child arrives, you instantly have 100 times more Love to give than you ever imagined possible.'- Alan, FTR, July 7th 2006.
Doyle is likely one of the most energetic guys in the band. He can always be found second from the left on stage jumping about with his cheeky smile, sweet green eyes, and his gorgeous long, brown hair flailing all around.
He's straight out of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, and a great lover of the Canadian Maritimes where he grew up. He was born Alan Thomas Doyle, May 17th of 1969 to Thomas and Regina Doyle, Thomas being a great lover and preserver of Traditional songs, and Regina being a piano player and teacher. This is why he learned his way around the ivories at a young age. He took up drums as a kid, and began strumming on his guitar about the age of thirteen.
He recalls that by the time he was in 10th grade, his High School band "First Attempt" played almost every school dance, which later brought on his hatred for dancing. He remembers also, that by graduation, his social-dance profile was near zero (except a few well-chosen waltzes). But Doyle's love for music and sports, plus his imminent good looks, always kept the rest of his profile intact.
Fellow band-mate Séan McCann once described Doyle as "One of the most self-absorbed, conceited people" he'd ever met, but dotted this by stating that Doyle was indeed very talented.
When he turned 18, he went straight up to St. John's to attend the Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he recieved his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and met up with the other lads in the band. Other band-mate Bob Hallett, and Séan McCann were already part of a group they'd named Rankin St, and quickly brought in Darrell Power to provide their bass. Fortunatly, Doyle knew Power and owned a van. This unlikely trade brought the four boys together, who immediatly chose to record an album in 1993. This album, Great Big Sea, which was incidently the first song on the record, and the name of a past Tidal wave, eventually and quickly found its way as the band name.
Having little money, no recognition, and much less a record company, they set off for a presonal tour of Germany and surrounding countries (which to this day I've yet to see the exact reason.) A few days into driving, the van died, which left the boys to push it off the road, and saddly wonder 'what to do next'. Though they've said that Power kept them in-line and laughing through the whole ordeal.
Doyle is a very talented and virtuous musician, playing both Acoustic and Electric guitar for the band, Bouzouki, Mandolin and Tenor-banjo. His all-natural voice is a tad bit short of range, but beautiful in every way.
To this day, Doyle and his Fair One, Joanne, live among the bustle of St. John's with the most adorable dog I've ever seen. Doyle enjoys a good game of golf more often then not, but his true life's love is the great Canadian sport of Hockey. He's been known and heard to root at least once for every single Canadian team, but we're carried to think he loves the Habs. His jersey reads 'St. John's Maple Leafs', and his position of choice is Goalie. He's said that it's statistically proven that Goalies get hurt a lot less often in sports, even when a puck is flying toward him at 90 m/h. We'll believe him.
Doyle is also known to be quite the storyteller, sometimes stretching the truth a bit to make tales more interesting, but always turning out with a laugh of emotion to prove, or try to prove, that it's the real-deal
He also states that he always makes the most mistakes at every show, but isn't truly bothered by it in the long run. He says the fans are so willing to let him make mistakes, and as a fan, I can only say that's very true. I love hearing mistakes. It's so terrible when a band jumps aboard, and plays everything flawlessly. It's fake, I think. We've heard the boys play things perfectly, but now we want to see them in their best element; naturality. Everyone makes mistakes, and Doyle's are what has kept his fans loyal.
I've never had a personal chat with Doyle, but it's been my dream ever since I was a kid in '93. People who've met him always remark on how incredibly charming he is, and how he can always make you smile even when you're feeling down.
Rock on, Alan.
Isn't he just the cutest thing?
-Quotes-
'The fight for Lord Stanley's Holy Grail...'
'I try not to suck at any time, but if I had to suck, I would rather do it Hollywood than Halifax.'
'Why are Canadians so surprised when Fall turns to Winter? It happens every year around this time, and we still stare through the window at the first sign of snow like the arrival of the apocalypse.'
'Man, I love the sound of the name of this town. THUNDER BAY is a friggin' cool name.'
'Yeha'
'It's Thanksgiving weekend. I'm off to run in the woods and give thanks that I can.'
'Please start playing hockey soon.'
'Yee-ha'
'After three newspapers and a Harry Potter movie (man, these flicks are scary, do kids really watch these?) ... '
On the Edmonton highway 'Man, this place is flat.'
In Las Cruces, New Mexico 'It seems odd to be watching ice hockey while sitting in the middle of the desert. I used to wonder why the southern NHL franchises have trouble generating interest and selling tickets, but sitting here by the opened window watching Danny lounge by the pool and tumbleweeds roll across the sand, it all becomes clear.'