Gary Moffet is the guitarist who helped turn April Wine into a platinum-selling Canadian rock act.
He joined the band in 1973 and stayed through its entire arena-rock run.
Moffet played on eleven studio and live April Wine albums before the band’s 1984 breakup.
Decades later, he is still active in music, performing with a band led by his old April Wine drummer.
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Image: Electric Jewels (1973), Gary Moffet’s first album with April Wine.
📋 Table of Contents [+]
⚡ Key Takeaways
- Gary Moffet joined April Wine as guitarist and vocalist in 1973, alongside new drummer Jerry Mercer.
- His first album with the band was Electric Jewels, released in November 1973 on Aquarius Records.
- Moffet played guitar through April Wine’s platinum run, including Harder… Faster (1979), The Nature of the Beast (1981), and Power Play (1982).
- He left April Wine after its farewell tour ended on July 31, 1984, and declined to return when the band reformed in 1992.
- As of 2026, Gary Moffet performs with The JerryCo Band alongside former April Wine drummer Jerry Mercer.
Who Is Gary Moffet?
Gary Moffet is a Canadian guitarist, vocalist, and record producer from Montreal.
He is best known as the lead guitarist of April Wine from 1973 to 1984.
That eleven-year run covered the band’s entire platinum-selling, arena-rock era.
Moffet later built a second career as a music producer and arranger.
As of 2026, he remains active in music through The JerryCo Band.
Where Was Gary Moffet Born?
Gary Moffet was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1949.
Montreal in that era ran a dense, competitive rock and club circuit.
That same circuit produced several of Moffet’s future April Wine bandmates.
Drummer Jerry Mercer had already played in Montreal band Mashmakhan before joining April Wine alongside Moffet.
That bilingual, club-heavy scene pushed young musicians to play tight sets night after night.
It rewarded steady timekeeping over flash, a trait that later defined Moffet’s playing in April Wine.
No confirmed public record details Moffet’s specific bands before he moved into production work in the early 1970s.
What Did Gary Moffet Do Before Joining April Wine?
Before joining April Wine, Gary Moffet worked as a record producer at Aquarius Records.
Starting in 1971, he spent roughly 18 months developing a group called Allison Gross.
Moffet handled arrangements and vocal production on more than 25 demo tracks for that project.
That production work gave him studio experience before he ever played on an April Wine record.
Aquarius Records was also April Wine’s own label at the time.
That connection put Moffet in the right room when the band needed a new guitarist.
When Did Gary Moffet Join April Wine?
Gary Moffet joined April Wine in 1973 as guitarist and vocalist.
He came in alongside new drummer Jerry Mercer.
Founding members Jim Clench and Myles Goodwyn held auditions after guitarists David and Ritchie Henman left the band.
Goodwyn and Clench picked Moffet and Mercer to complete the new lineup.
The Henman brothers went on to form a separate band called the Dudes.
💡 Did You Know?
Brian Greenway also auditioned for April Wine’s guitar spot in 1973, but Myles Goodwyn chose Gary Moffet instead. Greenway later called Moffet “a far better choice at the time,” years before joining the band himself in 1977.
What Was Moffet’s First Album With April Wine?
Moffet’s first album with April Wine was Electric Jewels, released in November 1973 on Aquarius Records.
Electric Jewels was April Wine’s third studio album overall.
It was the first to feature the new Moffet and Mercer lineup.
The record included the tracks “Weeping Widow,” “Just Like That,” and “Lady Run, Lady Hide.”
Most of its songs were co-written by Myles Goodwyn and Jim Clench.
Electric Jewels set the template for the harder-edged sound April Wine built through the rest of the 1970s.
How Did April Wine’s Sound Change When Brian Greenway Joined?
April Wine’s sound thickened into a three-guitar attack once Brian Greenway joined in 1977.
Before that year, Moffet and Goodwyn carried the band’s guitar work as a smaller lineup.
Adding Greenway made April Wine a five-piece band for the first time.
The new lineup of Goodwyn, Greenway, Steve Lang, Moffet, and Mercer stayed stable for several years.
That lineup produced a run of gold and platinum albums into the early 1980s.
What Guitar Style Did Gary Moffet Bring to April Wine?
Gary Moffet built his reputation on tight rhythm guitar and steady tempo work.
Bandmates and fans have described him as the player who held April Wine’s arrangements together.
Moffet played a Fender Telecaster and a 1960s Fender Mustang through much of his April Wine years.
He also used acoustic guitars on the band’s quieter album tracks.
Moffet served as a principal arranger on The Nature of the Beast in 1981, according to Rick Keene Music Scene.
That arranging work helped shape one of April Wine’s biggest commercial records.
Onstage, his rhythm parts gave Brian Greenway and Myles Goodwyn room to trade leads once the band expanded to three guitars.
Critics have pointed to that interplay as the backbone of April Wine’s late-1970s arena sound.
Which Albums Did Moffet Play On With April Wine?
Moffet played guitar on eleven April Wine studio and live albums between 1973 and 1985.
The table below lists each release from his eleven years in the band.
| Album | Year |
|---|---|
| Electric Jewels | 1973 |
| Live! | 1974 |
| Stand Back | 1975 |
| The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazy | 1976 |
| Forever for Now | 1977 |
| Live at the El Mocambo | 1977 |
| First Glance | 1978 |
| Harder… Faster | 1979 |
| The Nature of the Beast | 1981 |
| Power Play | 1982 |
| Animal Grace | 1984 |
| One for the Road (live) | 1985 |
💡 Did You Know?
April Wine’s Live at the El Mocambo was recorded March 4 and 5, 1977, at the same small Toronto club where the Rolling Stones staged their own famous secret club show later that same year.
Why Did Gary Moffet Leave April Wine in 1984?
Gary Moffet left April Wine when the band went on hiatus after nearly a decade of constant touring and recording.
April Wine’s farewell tour ended on July 31, 1984.
The band had grown apart creatively after the Animal Grace album that same year.
Moffet had been in the lineup for the band’s entire platinum-selling run up to that point.
The live album One for the Road, released in 1985, captured material from that final tour.
Did Moffet Rejoin April Wine When It Reunited in 1992?
No, Gary Moffet declined to return when April Wine reformed in 1992.
Guitarist Steve Segal filled the guitar spot Moffet had held for eleven years.
Brian Greenway also rejoined the reformed lineup that year.
Moffet’s decision closed out his run as a full-time member of April Wine.
He had already been building a production career during the band’s hiatus.
Unlike Greenway, Moffet did not return to full-time touring once April Wine started playing shows again.
His path after 1984 ran through recording studios rather than tour buses.
What Did Moffet Do After Leaving April Wine?
After leaving April Wine, Gary Moffet shifted into full-time music production.
He worked as a producer, arranger, and composer for other artists.
Moffet continued that production career until retiring from it in 2000.
By his own account, his real musical passion runs toward blues and jazz rather than rock.
That preference shaped the projects he chose after his time in April Wine’s arena-rock spotlight.
What Is Moffet Doing Today?
Gary Moffet performs today with The JerryCo Band, led by former April Wine drummer Jerry Mercer.
Bassist Breen LeBoeuf rounds out that lineup.
In 2016, Moffet also joined Brian Greenway‘s side project, Brian Greenway’s Blues Bus.
That lineup pairs Moffet and Greenway with Craig Miller on harmonica and vocals, Mark Higden on drums, and Lloyd Dallaire on bass.
Both projects let Moffet return to the blues and jazz styles he has said he prefers.
💡 Did You Know?
In 2014, Gary Moffet was developing a stripped-down project called Alto Cantina with singer Bianca, built around just acoustic guitar, drums, and bass, with guest spots from harmonica player Jim Zeller and vocalist Nancy Martinez.
What Is Moffet’s Legacy in Classic Rock?
Gary Moffet’s legacy rests on eleven straight years anchoring April Wine’s guitar sound.
He was there for the band’s rise from a Montreal club act to a platinum-selling arena headliner.
His steady rhythm playing is one reason critics single out April Wine’s mid-1970s to early-1980s run as its creative peak.
That run produced “Roller” and the albums Stand Back, Harder… Faster, and Power Play.
Readers who want the full band history can find it on Classic Rock Artists’ Members of April Wine hub.
That page covers every era and lineup change across the band’s history.
People Also Ask
Who is Gary Moffet?
Gary Moffet is a Canadian guitarist, vocalist, and producer best known as the lead guitarist of April Wine from 1973 to 1984.
He played on eleven April Wine studio and live albums and later worked as a music producer before returning to performing with The JerryCo Band.
When did Gary Moffet join April Wine?
Moffet joined April Wine in 1973, brought in alongside drummer Jerry Mercer after founding guitarists David and Ritchie Henman left the band.
His first album with the band was Electric Jewels, released later that year.
Why did Gary Moffet leave April Wine?
Moffet left April Wine in 1984 when the band went on hiatus after its farewell tour ended on July 31 of that year.
He declined to return when April Wine reformed in 1992, and guitarist Steve Segal took his spot.
What guitar does Gary Moffet play?
Moffet played a Fender Telecaster and a 1960s Fender Mustang through much of his time in April Wine, along with acoustic guitar on quieter album tracks.
He also served as a principal arranger on the band’s 1981 album The Nature of the Beast.
Is Gary Moffet still alive?
Yes, Gary Moffet is still alive and active in music as of 2026.
He performs with The JerryCo Band alongside former April Wine drummer Jerry Mercer and has also played guitar in Brian Greenway’s Blues Bus since 2016.
Watch Gary Moffet-Era April Wine Live
Essential April Wine Albums Featuring Gary Moffet
Electric Jewels
1973
Gary Moffet’s first studio album with April Wine.
Home to “Weeping Widow” and “Just Like That.”
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Stand Back
1975
Moffet’s second album with the band.
Shows the tighter rhythm section he anchored.
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Harder… Faster
1979
Recorded during Moffet’s three-guitar era.
Home to “Sign of the Gypsy Queen.”
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Power Play
1982
One of Moffet’s last studio albums with April Wine.
Captures the band at its arena-rock peak.
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Gary Moffet’s eleven years of guitar work remain one of the foundations of April Wine’s classic rock sound.
Last updated: September 7, 2026