Breen’s career began in Toronto in 1969 when he signed on as lead vocalist with progressive jazz/rock group Chimo. The band appeared on the Toronto production of Festival Express, with Janis Joplin headlining and Mashmakhan featured, with Jerry Mercer on drums.

 

Breen went on to record and perform with several Toronto based groups, including Southcote, Roadhouse, Motherlode, New City Jam Band, Studebaker Hawk and Brutus.

 

In 1978 he migrated to Montréal to join the francophone cult group Offenbach. He continued to play on and off with the group for three decades. Along the way, he wrote and recorded three solo albums all while participating in many other projects, from stage musicals to rock groups, including the Buzz Band, with Jerry Mercer on drums. He toured with Celine Dion from 1987 to 1990, often singing duets with the mega star.

 

In the fall of 2006, his good friend Jerry Mercer called to ask if he’d be interested in joining April Wine. Breen stayed on with the band for nearly five years.

 

For the past four years, Breen has been recording and touring with the LeBoeuf-Deschamps rock show.

 

When the opportunity arose to play with Jerry again, Breen jumped in without the slightest hesitation. Since his first gig sharing the stage with Mashmakhan in 1970, Jerry Mercer has been one of Breen’s major inspirations in Canadian Rock Music.