[5] Harem Scarem was formed in 1987 by guitarist Pete Lesperance and singer Harry Hess, formerly of Blind Vengeance who had recorded two heavy metal albums in the 1980s.

[6] The initial Harem Scarem lineup was completed by Darren Smith (drums) and Mike Gionet (bass).

The album includes guest appearances by fellow Canadian stars such as Ray Coburn of Honeymoon Suite, Carl Dixon of Coney Hatch and Paul MacAusland of Haywire.

The following year, Harem Scarem was able to gain some notoriety when eight songs from their debut album Harem Scarem were predominantly featured in the Canadian teen series Degrassi Junior High, and Degrassi High's farewell TV movie, School's Out.

Mood Swings featured the recorded vocal debut of drummer Smith on the song "Sentimental Blvd".

The next two albums, Karma Cleansing (which was released as Believe in Japan) and Big Bang Theory, saw Harem Scarem 'modernizing' their sound.

Barry Donaghy also made his lead vocal debut with Harem Scarem on "Sometimes I Wish" from Big Bang Theory.

Pete Lesperance made his recorded lead vocal debut on the song "Trip" from the self-titled Rubber CD.

They made a music video for "Sunshine", which had actors that looked like Jay and Silent Bob, and parodied movies which were released around that time, such as American Pie.

On July 19, 2007, lead singer Harry Hess announced that Harem Scarem "will make one more studio record, and then after 20 years we have decided to move on to other things".

Regarding the breakup and a possible reunion, Creighton Doane said: There were no falling outs [sic] or personality problems, it was more a matter of time.

People were getting busy with other projects and I think it just became one of those things where lives go on and you want to do something else...Go out while it’s not a complete mess and you’re still making good music.Maybe there’ll be a great opportunity for a reunion, who knows?

''[10]On June 21, 2010, Frontiers Records announced a new studio project called First Signal featuring ex-Harem Scarem members Harry Hess and Darren Smith.

In December 2012, it was announced that a reunited Harem Scarem would headline the 10th Firefest festival in Nottingham, UK in October 2013.

Harry Hess had been approached by Firefest's promotor to perform the Mood Swings album in its entirety for its twentieth year anniversary.

[12] On September 9, 2014, Harry Hess and Pete Lesperance announced they would be recording the band's thirteenth studio album (total not including Mood Swings II), entitled Thirteen.

[13] In 2014, Darren Smith emerged as the lead vocalist for former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee's new band, Red Dragon Cartel.

[14] In March 2017 it was disclosed that to mark their 30th year Harem Scarem's 14th studio album, United, would be released by Frontiers Records on May 12.

The 11-track album featured Harry Hess (lead vocals, keyboards), Pete Lesperance (guitars, bass, keyboards), long-time drummer Creighton Doane, and backing vocals from original drummer Darren Smith (who played live drums for the band on tour dates).

On 16 January 2021 on their official Facebook page the band teased that work had started on their 16th studio album.

On 7 February 2022 on the band's Facebook page it was revealed that the fourth First Signal album Closer to the Edge would be released on 8 April 2022.

The package included a 180-gram purple LP, a CD with five bonus acoustic tracks, and numerous other items of physical and digital memorabilia and similar.

The tour includes a single night (27 April) at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy.