October 2, 2025

***30TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE ALERT***

“A rip-roaring ‘60s showband with deliciously memorable party songs.” - Trouser Press, New York

“Classic one-zit-wonder garage rock dressed up in punk attitude” - Calgary Herald

“Your album cover makes me hungry.” - random fan, 1996, Columbus, Ohio

Yeah, it’s (almost) been three decades long since our now-way-out-print “classic” LP “SELLING THE SIZZLE” came out on Mint (Canada), Lookout (USA), and Konkurrent Records (Europe) in February 1996.

The album was our band’s most “successful” (please define…) and features the singles “She Ain’t No Egyptian” and “Especially You”, along with occasional crowd faves like “To Serve, Protect and Entertain,” “Pick Em Up Truck,” and “I Need A Vacation.”

This winter, thanks to Lava Socks Records of El Cerrito, California, (same hometown as CCR, trivia fans) “SELLING THE SIZZLE” gets the DELUXE reissue treatment just in time for Xmas.

And the whole damn Sizzlin’ bbq gang got back together for this one: pop-punk producer extraordinaire Mass Giorgini remastered the party slab in bombastic style... Chris Appelgren from Lookout Records re-designed the jacket and unique gatefold cover... and Nardwuar even touched up his truly bizarre liner notes.

Available this winter on ketchup ‘n’ mustard splattered vinyl!! Pre-order now to make sure it’s under your vinyl lover’s tree / menorah / festivus pole.

BISHY BISHY!!

Formed when most of the members were still in high school in West Vancouver BC Canada, The Smugglers came of age during the grunge explosion, and came into their own in the pop-punk heyday of the mid-1990s while on Mint Records in their native land, and Lookout Records in the USA.

Releasing eight albums over the years of 1988-2004, the band’s booze-fuelled, sweaty, and famously energetic garage rock shows (complete with dancing and kissing contests) took them across Canada, the USA, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, the “Canadian Ambassadors of Rock ‘n’ Roll” collided with the Gruesomes, the Donnas, the Hives, Mudhoney, the Young Fresh Fellows, the Queers, Supersnazz, Fugazi, the Dwarves, thee Headcoats, the Mr. T Experience, the Mummies and many more. After a 13 year break, 2017 marked the return of the Smugglers in conjunction with lead singer Grant Lawrence’s award-winning book Dirty Windshields: the best and the worst of the Smugglers tour diaries and a string of select reunion shows in Berkeley, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Saskatoon, and Seattle.

 There are currently no further shows scheduled… but never say never… the Smugglers’ offspring (nine kids!) have still yet to see their dads rock out…

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music available from

Mint Records

Spotify

iTunes

music available from Lavasocks Records, Mint Records, Bandcamp, Spotify, and iTunes

2022  In The Hall of Fame – All Time Great Golds 30th anniversary gatefold vinyl reissue double LP – Lavasocks Records (USA)

2017  Dirty Windshields – The Soundtrack: The Best of the Smugglers – Mint Records
(Canada – digital release only)

2004  Mutiny in Stereo LP/CD – Mint / Lookout / Screaming Apple (Canada / USA / Germany)

2002  “Useless Rocker” 7″ picture disc – Supersonicrefridge Records (Italy)

2001  Smugglers / Mach Pelican split 7″ – Corduroy Records (Australia)

2000  Rosie – LP/CD – Mint / Lookout (Canada / USA)

1998  Growing Up Smuggler – A Ten Year Anniversary Live Album – LP/CD – Mint / Lookout /
Imposible / 1+2 (Canada / USA / Spain / Japan)

1997  Buddy Holly Convention – 7″/ CD EP – Mint / Lookout (Canada / USA)

1996  Selling the Sizzle – LP/CD – Mint / Lookout (Canada / USA)

1996  Summer Games – 7″/CD EP – Mint / Lookout (Canada / USA) [split w/Hi-Fives]

1995  Señor Pantsdown – 7″ EP – Rock and Roll Inc. (Spain)

1995  Whiplash! – 7″ – 1+2 (Japan)

1995  Talkin’ ‘Bout You – 7″ – Pin Up (Germany)

1994  Party Party Party Pooper! – 7″ EP – Mint (Canada)

1994  Wet Pants Club – LP/CD – Radiation (Spain)

1994  Gotta Gotta Gotta – 7″ – For Monsters (Italy) [split w/ the Hoods]

1994  Tattoo Dave – 7″ – Top Drawer (USA) [split w/ Bum]

1993  In the Hall of Fame – All Time Great Golds – CD – PopLlama (USA)

1992  At Germany – 7″ – Screaming Apple (Germany)

1992  Atlanta Whiskey Flats – LP – PopLlama (USA)

1991  At Marineland – 10″ LP – Nardwuar (Canada)

1990  Up and Down – 7″ – Nardwuar

Smugglers tracks on compilations

2004  “Lonely Christmas” on It’s a Team Mint Christmas Volume 2 – Mint

2003  “Larry Where Are You” on Lookout Freakout 3 – Lookout

2001  “Buddy Holly Convention”, “Rosie”, “Rock n’ Roll Was Never This Fun” on Team Mint 2 – Mint

2000  “Flying Buttress Of Love” on Lookout! Freakout – CD – Lookout

2000  “Alan Thicke” on My So Called Punk Rock Life – CD – Melted

1997  “Rock ‘n’ Roll Was Never This Fun” on All Punk Rods Gearhead magazine LP/CD – Gearhead / Lookout

1997  “Cans Of Love” on You’re Only As Good As The Last Thing You Did CD – Lookout

1997  “Keep On” and “Rock With The Smugglers Tonight!” on More Bounce To The Ounce” LP/CD – Lookout

1996  “Especially You” and “Elite Manilla” on Heide Sez CD – Lookout

1996  “To Serve, Protect And Entertain”, “She Ain’t No Egyptian” and “Barkerville” on Team Mint CD -Mint

1996  “She’s A Runaround” on Here Comes The Summer:  A Tribute To The Undertones – CD/LP – Squaretarget

1996  “B.A.B.E.” on En Guard For Thee – CD – Au Go Go

1995  “What Do You Want Me To Do” on Oh Canaduh – CD/LP – Lance Rock

1995  “Stop! Look! Listen!” on Skookum Chief Powered Teenaged Zit Rock Angst – CD/LP – Nardwuar

1995  “Amnesia” on 13 Soda Punx – CD/LP – Top Drawer / Munster

1995  “Supercar” on R.A.F.R. – CD – RAFR / Flipside

1995  “What’d I Do Wrong” on Upsalapalooza – CD – WMFU Records

1992  “Shes Got Everything” on Clam Chowder and Ice Versus Big Macs and Bombers – LP – Nardwuar

1989  “Revenge” on Oh God, My Moms On Channel Ten! – LP – Nardwuar

Contact: grantlawrence12@gmail.com

   

HIGH RES PHOTOS FOR DOWNLOAD:

“Rock n Roll Was Never This Fun” from “In the Hall of Fame” (LavaSocks Records, 2022 – reissue)

“Rosie” from “Rosie” (Mint / Lookout 2000)

“Death At Disneyland” from “Rosie” (Mint / Lookout 2000)

“Especially You” from “Selling the Sizzle” (Mint / Lookout 1996)

“Vancouver B.C.” from “In The Hall of Fame” (Popllama 1993)

“Shot Down” (1988)

“Rock n Roll Was Never This Fun” – full-length concert film / documentary by Mike Weiss shot in and around the New York area (1994)