Joe Grushecky
Encyclopedia
Joe Grushecky is an American
rock musician known for his work with the Iron City Houserockers
in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and for his works since the late the 1980s with his act Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers and his solo career. After his days with the Iron City Houserockers, he has continued to have moderate success, mainly in the Pittsburgh area.
. The band's first album was Love's So Tough
, released in 1979, and was a fair success. Their next album, Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!
(released in 1980), was a bigger success. Two more albums followed, Blood on the Bricks
in 1981 and Cracking Under Pressure
(1983 as The Houserockers). By 1984, the band wasn't selling many records anymore and they were dropped by MCA Records
. They broke up shortly thereafter.
After the breakup of the Iron City Houserockers, Grushecky returned home to Pittsburgh where he retook his teaching job (which he stll holds). He also began to sharpen his songwriting. He released a single entitled "Good Bye Steeltown". Finally, in 1989, he fully re-emerged with his new act, Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers.
Grushecky's first new album since the Iron City Houserockers days was Rock & Real, released in 1989. It would be followed by seven more albums, the most recent being 2009's East Carson Street. Additionally, he released two solo albums, Fingerprints (2002) and A Good Life (2006).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician known for his work with the Iron City Houserockers
Iron City Houserockers
The Iron City Houserockers were an American rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, led by singer/guitarist Joe Grushecky, that existed from 1976 until 1984...
in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and for his works since the late the 1980s with his act Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers and his solo career. After his days with the Iron City Houserockers, he has continued to have moderate success, mainly in the Pittsburgh area.
Biography
In 1976, Joe Grushecky, a high school special education teacher, started the Brick Alley Band. Grushecky's new band was a typical bar band. They signed to Cleveland International Records in 1977, who rechristened them the Iron City HouserockersIron City Houserockers
The Iron City Houserockers were an American rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, led by singer/guitarist Joe Grushecky, that existed from 1976 until 1984...
. The band's first album was Love's So Tough
Love's So Tough
Love's So Tough is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Released in 1979, the Iron City Houserocker's first album attempts to capture the presence of what was essentially a Pittsburgh bar band playing to a blue collar crowd every night...
, released in 1979, and was a fair success. Their next album, Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!
Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!
Have a Good Time but Get out Alive! is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Something of a heartland rock masterpiece, Have a Good Time but Get out Alive! was where the Iron City Houserockers showed just how good they could be with the right songs and producers...
(released in 1980), was a bigger success. Two more albums followed, Blood on the Bricks
Blood on the Bricks (Iron City Houserockers album)
Blood on the Bricks is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. A more restrained album than their previous two efforts, the album was produced by Steve Cropper instead of hard rock producers like Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!...
in 1981 and Cracking Under Pressure
Cracking Under Pressure
Cracking Under Pressure is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Cracking Under Pressure was the Iron City Houserockers' fourth and final album under the moniker and also their final album released under MCA. Veterans Ned E. Rankin and Marc Reisman had left the band and in their place...
(1983 as The Houserockers). By 1984, the band wasn't selling many records anymore and they were dropped by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. They broke up shortly thereafter.
After the breakup of the Iron City Houserockers, Grushecky returned home to Pittsburgh where he retook his teaching job (which he stll holds). He also began to sharpen his songwriting. He released a single entitled "Good Bye Steeltown". Finally, in 1989, he fully re-emerged with his new act, Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers.
Grushecky's first new album since the Iron City Houserockers days was Rock & Real, released in 1989. It would be followed by seven more albums, the most recent being 2009's East Carson Street. Additionally, he released two solo albums, Fingerprints (2002) and A Good Life (2006).
Iron City Houserockers
- Love's So ToughLove's So ToughLove's So Tough is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Released in 1979, the Iron City Houserocker's first album attempts to capture the presence of what was essentially a Pittsburgh bar band playing to a blue collar crowd every night...
, 1979 - Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!Have a Good Time but Get out Alive! is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Something of a heartland rock masterpiece, Have a Good Time but Get out Alive! was where the Iron City Houserockers showed just how good they could be with the right songs and producers...
, 1980 - Blood on the BricksBlood on the Bricks (Iron City Houserockers album)Blood on the Bricks is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. A more restrained album than their previous two efforts, the album was produced by Steve Cropper instead of hard rock producers like Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!...
, 1981 - Cracking Under PressureCracking Under PressureCracking Under Pressure is a studio album by the Iron City Houserockers. Cracking Under Pressure was the Iron City Houserockers' fourth and final album under the moniker and also their final album released under MCA. Veterans Ned E. Rankin and Marc Reisman had left the band and in their place...
, 1983 - Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City HouserockersPumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City HouserockersPumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City Houserockers is a compilation album by the Iron City Houserockers. Released in 1992 under Rhino Records, it was at that time the only Iron City Houserockers material available on compact disc Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the...
, 1992
Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers
- Rock & Real, 1989
- Swimming with the Sharks, 1991
- End of the Century, 1992
- American Babylon, 1995
- Coming Home, 1998
- Down the Road Apiece Live, 1999
- True Companion, 2004
- East Carson Street, 2009
Joe Grushecky solo
- Fingerprints, 2002
- Outtakes and Demos 1975-2003, 2006
- A Good Life, 2006