Chris Walter via Getty Images
It's been a big few months for Canadian music legend Bryan Adams. In addition to celebrating his 55th birthday last fall, Adams released his twelfth studio album, "Tracks of My Years," a chart-topping mix of covers and new material.
Now Adams is bringing his epic back catalogue of hits out on a giant Canadian tour beginning this week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his classic rock record "Reckless." (Yep, that's the one with "Heaven," "Summer of '69," "It's Only Love" and "Run To You."
To get you pumped for Bryan Adams’ guaranteed-to-be-awesome upcoming concert in a city near you, here’s a look at 25 things you (probably) didn't know about the Canadian music icon. Hopefully it helps up your super fan game while killing time in the beer line.
Bryan Adams Facts
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1. Bryan Adams actually quit school when he was just 16 years old to pursue music and convinced his mom to let him spend his college savings on a grand piano instead.
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3. Bryan Adams' fourth album "Reckless" was a Canadian sales juggernaut. It was actually the very first album by a Canadian artist to sell a million copies in Canada. It was also huge internationally, selling five million copies in the U.S. alone. (credit:Patrick AVENTURIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
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6. In addition to music, Adams is also a successful photographer. His work has been published in British Vogue, L'uomo Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, Interview magazine and i-D . He also has shot big money ad campaigns for Guess Jeans, Sand, Converse, Montblanc, John Richmond, Fred Perry, and more recently for Escada. (credit:DIETER NAGL via Getty Images)
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9. Adams was originally going to call his second album "Bryan Adams Hasn't Heard of You Either" in 1981 because of the critical indifference he received for his first. His record label wasn't thrilled about his sense of humour and convinced him to change it. He went with "You Want It You Got It" instead, and established his sound on that record. (credit:Getty Images)
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10. Adams released a book of his photography last November called "Wounded: The Legacy of War." In his photos, Adams captured portraits of young British soldiers that suffered life-changing injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan or during training for war. With the release, Adams hoped to "reveal the sheer grit and bravery of the victims who, despite personal sacrifice, live each day with continued vim, vigour and dignity." This past Remembrance Day, an exhibition was held in London displaying the war photographs he's taken over the past four years.
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11. Bryan Adams was once rumoured to have had an affair with the late Princess of Wales. Adams' ex-girlfriend Cecilie Thomsen claims that he dated Diana back in 1996 when she separated from Prince Charles. He also may have written his 1985 song “Diana” about his longing for her years before. (credit:Tim Graham via Getty Images)
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12. Bryan Adams has been nominated for a whopping 58 Juno awards in his career so far. He has won 18 times, with the highlights including Best Male Artist in 2000, Male Vocalist of the Year in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1997. (credit:Toronto Star Archives via Getty Images)
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14. Adams is a proud Canadian, but lives in the UK. He lives in Chelsea, London with his longtime girlfriend Alicia Grimaldi and their two daughters. They also have a home in Paris. (credit:Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library via Getty Images)
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16. Adams says the most memorable collaboration of his career was when he recorded "It's Only Love" with Tina Turner. According to Adams, "Working with Tina Turner was amazing. I used to go to see her in the clubs when I was in my late teens, early 20s before she hit the big time. It was incredible to watch her. It was such a privilege to have sung with her, especially since I was only 24 at the time." (credit:Frederic REGLAIN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
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19. Bryan Adams been named a Member of the Order of Canada and Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian culture. Adams also has a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood and on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto as a charter member. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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21. In his career so far, Adams has been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards. He has only won once for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for "Everything I Do, I Do For You" from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" in 1992. (credit:SGranitz via Getty Images)
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25. Bryan Adams owns a recording studio in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver called The Warehouse. He originally had a home recording studio but in 1991 he restored the oldest brick building in the city to house his new digs. As well as recording his own music there, the studio has hosted everyone from AC/DC, Avril Lavigne, and Billy Talent to Nickelback, Stars, and Tragically Hip. (credit:The Warehouse)
Day On The Green Concert 1981 - Oakland CA(13 of36)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 12: Bryan Adams performs at a Day On The Green at the Oakland Colusium on October 12, 1981 in Oakland California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) (credit:Tim Mosenfelder via Getty Images)
Photo of Bryan Adams(14 of36)
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1985: Photo of Bryan Adams (Photo by Lisa Haun/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Lisa Haun via Getty Images)
Hamming it up: Music star Bryan Adams hams it up at Bellair Cafe.(15 of36)
CANADA - SEPTEMBER 19: Hamming it up: Music star Bryan Adams hams it up at Bellair Cafe. (Photo by Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:Mike Slaughter via Getty Images)
Peter Carrette Archive Collection(16 of36)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 15: Canadian singer songwriter Bryan Adams performs on stage during the Amnesty International 'A Conspiracy of Hope' tour at Giants Stadium on June 15, 1986 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images) (credit:Peter Carrette Archive via Getty Images)
Mob scene: Canadian pop star Bryan Adams (in sunglasses), who wrote lyrics for Tears Are Not Enough,(17 of36)
CANADA - FEBRUARY 11: Mob scene: Canadian pop star Bryan Adams (in sunglasses), who wrote lyrics for Tears Are Not Enough, is mobbed by fans and media as he enters a Toronto recording studio yesterday to join other top stars in singing the benefit song for Ethiopian famine relief. The event went so smoothly, organizers say the record could be out within two weeks. (Photo by David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images) (credit:David Cooper via Getty Images)
Photo of Bryan ADAMS(18 of36)
UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Bryan ADAMS (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) (credit:Fin Costello via Getty Images)
Photo of Bryan ADAMS(19 of36)
UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Bryan ADAMS; Posed portrait of Bryan Adams (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) (credit:Fin Costello via Getty Images)
Photo of Bryan Adams(20 of36)
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1983: Photo of Bryan Adams (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (credit:Larry Hulst via Getty Images)
Bryan Adams(21 of36)
Bryan Adams performs on stage at The Wall Concert Berlin 20th July 1990. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) (credit:Michael Putland via Getty Images)
Photo of Bryan ADAMS(22 of36)
UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: Photo of Bryan ADAMS (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns) (credit:Mick Hutson via Getty Images)
Bryan Adams in 1985(23 of36)
1991’s “Waking Up The Neighbors,” one of Adams’ most popular albums, caused a lot of controversy when it was released because the CRTC didn’t consider it a Canadian album. That meant it received limited airplay on Canadian radio in favour of “real Canadian” content. The CRTC felt that since Adams co-produced the album with British producer and songwriter Mutt Lange and recorded it outside of Canada for the most part, it didn’t qualify as being Canadian content. Adams fought the CRTC on the movement and it eventually led to Canadian content rules being broadened. Way to go Bry. (credit:A&M)
Bryan Adams in 1987(24 of36)
Singer Bryan Adams, 1987 (credit:Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Bryan Adams In 1992(25 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 1994(26 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2000(27 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2001(28 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2004(29 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2006(30 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2007(31 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2009(32 of36)
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Bryan Adams In 2011(33 of36)
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Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado in 2010(34 of36)
Portuguese-Canadian singer Nelly Furtado (L) and Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams perform at BC Place during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver on February 12, 2010. AFP PHOTO / DDP / MICHAEL KAPPELER (Photo credit should read MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bryan Adams in 2012(35 of36)
Bryan Adams performs on stage in Bratislava on July 28, 2012. (credit:SAMUEL KUBANI/AFP/GettyImages)
Prince Harry Views 'Wounded: The Legacy Of War' Photography Exhibition(36 of36)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Photographer Bryan Adams and HRH Prince Harry attend the private view of 'Wounded: The Legacy of War' at Somerset House on Remembrance Day, November 11, 2014 in London, England. The photography exhibition by Bryan Adams of young wounded servicemen and women from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts opens to the public on Wednesday 12th November and runs until Sunday 25th January 2015. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (credit:Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images)
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