| FireHouse | |
|---|---|
Busan Rock Festival on August 4, 2012
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | Glam metal, hard rock, heavy metal |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Epic, Pony Canyon |
| Associated acts | White Heat, Maxx Warrior |
| Members | C. J. Snare Bill Leverty Michael Foster Allen McKenzie |
| Past members | Perry Richardson Bruce Waibel Dario Seixas |
As the 1990s progressed, the band remained very popular in Asia, mainly in countries like Japan, Thailand, India, Malaysia, The Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. They also maintained popularity in South America and Europe.[1] FireHouse continued to release new material throughout the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, most of which has successfully charted in Japan. The band has also continued to tour internationally as of 2007, having participated twice in the annual Rock Never Stops Tour with other bands of the 1980s. FireHouse is estimated to have sold over 7 million albums worldwide since their debut.[3]
Originally composed of vocalist C. J. Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty, drummer Michael Foster, and bassist Perry Richardson, the band has maintained its original members with the exception of Richardson, who departed in 2000. Richardson was replaced three times before current bassist Allen McKenzie was given the position in 2004.[4]
History
Early beginnings
The history of FireHouse can be traced back to 1984, when Leverty's band White Heat needed a drummer. After over 20 auditions, current FireHouse drummer Michael Foster answered the ad and when Leverty was impressed by his skill, he quickly hired him. When the band wasn't on tour, Leverty and Foster would visit rock clubs, and it was at one of these clubs where they caught sight of a band called Maxx Warrior.[1] Singing for the band was C. J. Snare, and the band's bassist was Perry Richardson. Leverty and Foster were impressed with Snare's vocal ability, and became determined to unite the bands.[1] As soon as Maxx Warrior broke up, Leverty sent Snare some of his songs and asked him to sing on his tape. Foster and Leverty were again impressed, so they brought Snare in to be the band's lead singer for a show in Virginia several weeks later.[1]
Success in the 1990s
The band's self-titled debut in 1990, FireHouse, was met with much critical acclaim. The band won the American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band of 1991, Metal Edge Magazine's Best New Band of 1991, Young Guitar Magazine's Best Newcomer of 1991, and Music Life Magazine's reader's pop poll Best Newcomer of the Year 1992.[1] The band's first album sold over two million copies in the United States, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. The band's third and most successful single, "Love of a Lifetime," reached No. 3 and sold 500,000 copies. Other singles also charted including the harder-rocking "Don't Treat Me Bad" at No. 14. The first single from the album, "Shake & Tumble" enjoyed success on the radio and brought attention to the band, but it failed to chart on the Pop charts, although it did at Metal radio.[5] The album went on to become certified Gold in Canada, Singapore, and Japan.The band followed their impressive debut with Hold Your Fire in 1992. Although not as successful as its predecessor, Hold Your Fire produced three more hit singles and was certified Gold in the USA. To date, Hold Your Fire has soundscanned over 873,000 copies in the United States alone. It is estimated that the RIAA will certify Hold Your Fire as platinum in 2008.[1] Singles from Hold Your Fire included "Sleeping with You," "Reach for the Sky," and the ballad "When I Look Into Your Eyes." The latter single became a Top 40 hit in the United States.[5]
For the band's third album, aptly titled 3, they changed producers. Ron Nevison, who had served as producer for Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Europe, Heart, and many other groups, produced this album.[1] While the band's success had waned in the United States by 3's release in 1995, it brought them more success overseas than ever before. It was certified Gold in several Asian countries, giving the band an opportunity to tour in countries like India and Thailand. The lead single from the album, "I Live My Life for You," was the band's third Top 20 ballad in the United States.[5] Snare remarked that despite drastic changes in the industry, FireHouse was the only band of its genre that managed to have a Top 20 hit as late as 1995, without having to make drastic changes to their sound.[6] 3's follow-up, Good Acoustics, was a collection of acoustic arrangements of several of their greatest hits, as well as four new songs. Good Acoustics, produced by the band's guitarist Bill Leverty, went gold in six countries around the world including Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.[5] Tracks "In Your Perfect World", "You Are My Religion", and "Love Don't Care" became hits in many Asian countries. After the album's release, the band launched their second tour of Asia which ended in late 1996, which was followed by another tour of Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan in February 1997, including several sold out shows. The band returned to Southeast Asia in July and played an unprecedented 25 city sold out tour of Indonesia.[5]
After this time, the band, frustrated with their label's lack of promotion in the United States, asked to be released from their contract. However, they made a significant and important change, when they signed with Pony Canyon, from Japan. With the decline of popularity among rock acts of the 80s in the States, and their steady fame in Asia and elsewhere abroad, they agreed and released Category 5 with their new label. They toured heavily throughout Asia during 1998 and 1999, achieving great success with their album. They continued to tour heavily in the United States as well, performing on the first ever "Rock Never Stops Tour" all over America in 1998. This tour featured fellow 1980s rock bands including Slaughter and Quiet Riot. On April 22, 1999, FireHouse recorded a live show in Osaka, Japan and released it with the title Bring 'Em Out Live later that year.
2000 and beyond
In December 2004, FireHouse became the first major international rock band to play concert dates in northeast India.[8] The band's first Indian concert date was in Shillong, followed by two more dates in Dimapur, and Aizawl.[8] The band's first Indian date, in Shillong When the Maharaja of Tripura Kirit Pradyot Deb Burman invited them, took place in front of a sold out stadium crowd of over 40,000, setting a record for that city.[6] The band toured in 2005, 2006, and launched another tour in 2007 visiting states in the Midwest United States such as North Dakota and playing at several festivals including Rocklahoma.[9] In a March 2007 interview, when asked about the band's next album, guitarist Bill Leverty said "we plan on going into the studio this coming winter. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get all the songs together and record them for a spring/summer release."[3] Regarding the future of the band, C. J. Snare commented that "this has been an incredible, incredible career. To do something that you love, to be an artist, to be an entertainer and to actually go out there and have fans all over the world and be able to make a living at it... as long as that's perpetuated, I don't see any reason to ever stop."[6]
In 2011 the band released their ninth studio album titled Full Circle, which featured re-recorded versions of some of their older tracks.
Band members
Originally composed of vocalist C. J. Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty, guitarist Chip Tunstel, drummer Michael Foster, and bassist Perry Richardson, the band has maintained all of its original members with the exception of Perry Richardson, who departed in 2000 due to conflict. Richardson was initially replaced by Bruce Waibel, but Waibel left in 2003 to spend more time with his family. Dario Seixas was brought on board to play bass on the band's 2003 album Prime Time, but he parted ways with the band shortly after the album was released. Current bassist Allen McKenzie was given the position in 2004.[4]Guitarist Bill Leverty and vocalist C. J. Snare have both pursued solo careers, but neither have let their solo projects interfere with the band's studio and touring efforts. Leverty has released four solo albums; Wanderlust in 2004, Southern Exposure in 2007, Deep South in 2010, and Drive in 2013. When asked if he would ever tour in support of them, he said that it would be "extremely selfish" to do so while putting the band on hold.[10] Snare has released a Christmas single entitled "A Christmas Gift", another single with Liberty 'N Justice, "Do What You Believe", and is currently working on the 2012 release of his side project with English guitarist Chris Green. The Project is called "Rubicon Cross." Drummer Michael Foster has participated in Leverty's solo career by playing drums on all of his albums.
Current
- C. J. Snare - lead vocals, keyboards (1989–present)
- Bill Leverty - guitars (1989–present)
- Michael Foster - drums (1989–present)
- Allen McKenzie - bass guitar (2004–present)
Former
- Perry Richardson - bass guitar (1989–2000)
- Bruce Waibel - bass guitar (2000–2003)
- Dario Seixas - bass guitar (2003)
Discography
Studio albums
- FireHouse - August 21, 1990
- Hold Your Fire - June 16, 1992
- 3 - April 11, 1995
- Good Acoustics - October 8, 1996
- Category 5 - October, 1998
- O2 - November 7, 2000
- Prime Time - August 12, 2003
- Full Circle - June, 2011
Live albums
- Bring 'Em Out Live - December, 1999
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | US MSR | US A.C. | CAN | UK Singles[11] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Don't Treat Me Bad" | 19 | 16 | - | 35 | 71 | FireHouse |
| 1991 | "Love of a Lifetime" | 5 | - | - | 30 | 40 | |
| 1991 | "All She Wrote" | 58 | 25 | - | - | 56 | |
| 1992 | "Reach for the Sky" | 83 | 27 | - | - | 67 | Hold Your Fire |
| 1992 | "When I Look Into Your Eyes" | 8 | - | - | 20 | 65 | |
| 1992 | "Sleeping with You" | 78 | - | - | - | 40 | |
| 1995 | "I Live My Life for You" | 26 | - | 20 | 17 | 43 | 3 |
| 1995 | "Here For You" | 108 | - | - | - | - |
Video Albums
This album is also known as "Firehouse: Live in Japan 1991". It's available on VHS tape and in the DVD format.- Firehouse & Trixter: Live in Lafayette - 1991[14]
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