Rock Wars should not be confused with Rock War.
| Genre: | variety |
| Starring: | Brad Giffen |
| Country: | Canada |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Location: | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Network: | CBC Television |
Rock Wars is a Canadian television variety series, which aired in 1985 on CBC Television.[1] A national "battle of the bands" competition, the series featured unsigned musical groups competing in a series of regional concerts held in various cities across Canada, with the winner of each episode advancing to another round of competition until the ultimate winner was named at a final concert staged in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Hosted by Brad Giffen,[2] the program aired on Friday nights as a companion to the network's music video series Good Rockin' Tonite. Judges over the course of the series included Keith Sharp of Music Express,[3] Samantha Taylor of CBC's Video Hits and CFNY-FM program director David Marsden.
The winner of the competition was to receive a half-hour CBC Television special devoted to the band,[3] as well as a cash prize of .[3]
The series was won by Tchukon, a funk and rhythm and blues band from Montreal, Quebec,[4] over finalists Eye Eye, HB Concept and Peter Mann and the Lonely. Other competitors over the course of the series included Monuments Galore,[5] The Instructions,[5] The Rage,[5] The Stilettos,[5] Eight Seconds, The Waiting,[3] Haywire,[3] Mad Shadows,[3] Steps Around the House,[3] Apple Viper, Zlatko and The Micah Barnes Band.
Tchukon later went on to win Best Vocal Group in the 1986 edition of the American series Star Search.[3]