Survivor (band)
Encyclopedia
Survivor is an American
rock
band
formed in Chicago
in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR
sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States
. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger
", the theme song for the motion picture Rocky III
(US #1 for 6 weeks). Singles like "Burning Heart
" (US #2), "The Search Is Over
" (US #4), "High on You
" (US #8), "Is This Love" (US #9) and "I Can't Hold Back
" (US #13) continued to chart in the mid-1980s.
The band tweaked its musical direction in 1988 with the release of the slightly heavier Too Hot to Sleep
, but the album barely reached the Billboard 200
in the United States. Because of this, the band split. Singer Jimi Jamison
later toured as 'Survivor' in the mid-1990s, to the chagrin of the rest of the band. Jamison re-united with the band's other members in 2000 and the band released Reach in 2006, but Jamison left the band after its release and was replaced by Robin McAuley
. The band was continuing to tour with McAuley into 2011.
A sudden announcement on Nov 13 2011 by Robin McAuley on his Facebook page reveals he has now left Survivor. A further announcement on 18th November confirms that Jimi Jamison has rejoined the band and plans are being made to tour in 2012.
, Gary Smith and Dennis Keith Johnson initially came together in 1977 as The Jim Peterik Band after Peterik had released an album, Don't Fight the Feeling, on Epic Records the previous year. Then in 1978, at the urging of tour manager Rick Weigand, Peterik hooked up with Frankie Sullivan
, brought in singer Dave Bickler
and Survivor was born. Peterik was previously the lead vocalist–guitarist for the band The Ides of March. After playing in small clubs for several years, Survivor was signed by Atlantic Records
A&R
executive John Kalodner
. The group's first album, the self-titled Survivor
, was released on the Atlantic subsidiary Scotti Bros.
in early 1980, but the album produced no Top 40 singles, and did not achieve the level of success that the band had hoped for.
In 1981 Johnson and Smith had schedule conflicts with their other projects, so they were replaced by Stephan Ellis and Marc Droubay in time for the band's follow-up album, Premonition. It charted higher, achieving popularity with American
audiences and giving the band its first Top 40 single, "Poor Man's Son
." The album also showed off Bickler's range as a vocalist with its second single, "Summer Nights."
In 1982 Survivor's breakthrough arrived when actor Sylvester Stallone
asked them to provide the theme song for his movie Rocky III
. Stallone had heard their single "Poor Man's Son
" and wanted a song similar to it. The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger
". The new song featured a faster tempo while still incorporating the stylish, nearly identical power chords. It had an enormous impact on the Billboard charts
, peaking at #1 and remaining there for a total of six weeks. It also topped the British
charts. It was in the Top 40 for a total of 18 weeks and was Australia
's #1 single for four weeks. The song won the band a Grammy Award
, was voted "Best New Song" by the People's Choice Awards
, and also received an Academy Award nomination. The album of the same title, Eye of the Tiger
, was released by the band later in 1982 and contained another Top 40 hit in the United States
, "American Heartbeat" (#17 US). The album went on to chart at #2 in the United States.
In 1983 Survivor tried to duplicate the success of Eye Of The Tiger with their next release Caught in the Game
. The album turned out to be a commercial disappointment, stalling at #82 on the Billboard 200
in the United States
. The album's only single, the title track, peaked at #77. The band suffered another setback in late 1983 when lead singer Dave Bickler
suffered voice problems and was forced to leave. In early 1984 he was replaced by Jimi Jamison
of the bands Target and Cobra.
In 1984 singer–comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic
wrote and recorded a parody of "Eye of the Tiger" called: "Theme from Rocky XIII". It appears in his album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
, as well as in Yankovic's compilation, The Food Album
(where it was renamed "Theme from Rocky XIII (The Rye or the Kaiser)").
" (#13 U.S.), "High on You
" (#8 U.S.), and "The Search Is Over
" (#4 U.S.). In late 1985, the band had another hit with "Burning Heart
", a song from the Rocky IV
soundtrack, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1986. When Seconds Count
was released in October 1986 and included the hit "Is This Love" (#9 U.S.). On the Billboard Album Chart the album peaked at #49 but still managed to sell over 500,000 copies and reached certified Gold status.
During pre-production of their seventh album, Too Hot to Sleep
(1988), Ellis and Droubay were replaced by studio session vets Mickey Curry
(drums) and Bill Syniar (bass). Sullivan produced the effort with Frank Fillipetti. Though the album presented a harder-rocking Survivor, similar to the sound in the band's early days, Too Hot to Sleep failed to make a dent on the charts (#187 US). There were, reportedly, a few live dates done by the band during this period (including a stint as opening act for Cheap Trick
on "The Flame" Tour of North America) that included Syniar on bass and Kyle Woodring
on drums.
In spring 1993 Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with original lead singer Dave Bickler, released a new 'Greatest Hits' album with two new songs ("Hungry Years" co-written by Bickler and "You Know Who You Are") and embarked on a world tour with Bill Syniar and Kyle Woodring returning on bass and drums. Klem Hayes took over on bass later in 1993 after Syniar departed. As Jamison was also touring under the Survivor banner, Peterik and Sullivan filed a lawsuit against their former colleague for using the name.
From 1993 to 1996 the trio (Peterik, Sullivan, and Bickler) recorded about 20 demos for a new album (the songs can be heard on the Fire Makes Steel bootleg
) with session musicians. They failed to secure a record deal due to the ongoing litigation and trademark issues. In 1994 Hayes departed and the bass chair was filled, first by Randy Riley (1994–1995), then by Billy Ozzello (1995–1996).
When the band tried to move in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band, playing his last show with Survivor on July 3, 1996 at 'The Eye in the Sky' fest in Lisle, Illinois
. Survivor replaced Peterik with composer–keyboardist Chris Grove. Peterik returned to recording and touring with The Ides of March and also formed the group Pride of Lions
. In the fall of 1996 bassist Stephan Ellis and drummer Marc Droubay rejoined Survivor but Ellis quit again by early 1999 and was replaced by Gordon Patriarca who only played about a half a dozen shows before Billy Ozzello was brought back. Survivor then went on to record more demos for a record deal, including "Rebel Girl '98" and the Frankie Sullivan solo album cut, "Lies".
In 1999 Jimi Jamison released the album Empires under the name "Jimi Jamison's Survivor" (later re-released under his own name). In late September 1999 Sullivan won ownership of the name "Survivor", thereby ending the ongoing trademark battle.
film Driven
. However, it did not make the cut. Later that year, the band threatened to sue CBS
for using the name "Survivor" as the title of their hit reality show Survivor
.
In 2003 Randy Riley returned to replace Billy Ozzello.
In 2004 a Starbucks
television commercial debuted for their Double Shot espresso
beverage. It featured the band following a man named Glen, singing a modified version of "Eye of the Tiger" while he did his day-to-day tasks. This commercial has gained a number of fans and was nominated for an Emmy Award
. Meanwhile, original Survivor vocalist David Bickler began collaborating on the successful Bud Light Real Men of Genius
radio ads in the late 1990s and 2000s. The "Real Men of Genius" Bud Light ads are widely popular and include TV spots aired on the 2006 Super Bowl, among others. A CD package containing many of the popular commercials was recorded with Bickler selling over 100,000 copies in its first month of release.
Barry Dunaway
took over bass chores for the band on the road in 2005. But by early 2006 Billy Ozzello was back again. In April 2006 Survivor released a new album called Reach. Consisting of mostly new songs, it also includes some re-recordings from the "Fire Makes Steel" sessions. Two of the album's songs, "Reach" and "Fire Makes Steel", had been considered for inclusion in the 2006 Rocky sequel Rocky Balboa
but were not included, nor did they appear on the 2006 album Rocky Balboa: The Best Of Rocky.
Six of the album's twelve songs were written and recorded in the 1990s with Dave Bickler on lead vocals (except "Never The Less" and "Talkin' Bout Love"). On July 14, 2006 it was announced that Jamison was leaving the band and that Robin McAuley
would replace him on lead vocals.
The band continues to play regularly in North America
, Europe
and Asia
. They performed "Eye Of The Tiger" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars
on April 3, 2007. And on October 10, 2008, "Eye" was used to introduce Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin
at a rally in west-central Ohio. An appearance by them in Rochester, MN drew over 17,000 people on July 12, 2009.
Frankie Sullivan produced the second album of the critically acclaimed band Mecca led by singer–songwriter Joe Vana. Coincidentally, he replaced Jim Peterik who produced the first Mecca album. The album is due out in the second half of 2010 on Frontiers Records.
On November 15, 2011, Jimi Jamison announced his return to Survivor. The new lineup of Jamison (vocals), Frankie Sullivan (guitar), Marc Droubay (drums), Billy Ozzello (bass) and Walter Tolentino (keyboards/guitar) announced they would begin working on a new album, expected for release in 2012.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR
Arena rock
Arena rock is a term used to describe rock music that utilised large arena venues, particularly sports venues, for concerts or series of concerts linked in tours...
sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
", the theme song for the motion picture Rocky III
Rocky III
Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's...
(US #1 for 6 weeks). Singles like "Burning Heart
Burning Heart (song)
-Jimi Jamison version:Jimi Jamison re-released a live version of "Burning Heart" on his album Empires.- Track listing :CD single# "Burning Heart" - 3:50# "Burning Heart" - 3:51# "Burning Heart" - 6:00...
" (US #2), "The Search Is Over
The Search Is Over
"The Search Is Over" is a 1985 Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at #4, originally recorded by Survivor. Former Survivor vocalist and songwriter Jim Peterik told Songfacts: "It wasn't about my life as much as a friend of mine who had a girlfriend - really a play pal throughout their growing up years -...
" (US #4), "High on You
High on You (song)
"High on You" was Survivor's second hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #8 in April 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is the story of a man who becomes intoxicated not on a substance, but on a romantic partner....
" (US #8), "Is This Love" (US #9) and "I Can't Hold Back
I Can't Hold Back
"I Can't Hold Back" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #13 in December 1984 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also peaked at #1 for three weeks on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.The song was featured in...
" (US #13) continued to chart in the mid-1980s.
The band tweaked its musical direction in 1988 with the release of the slightly heavier Too Hot to Sleep
Too Hot to Sleep
Too Hot to Sleep is the seventh album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts...
, but the album barely reached the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States. Because of this, the band split. Singer Jimi Jamison
Jimi Jamison
Jimmy Wayne "Jimi" Jamison is a rock vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer for the band Survivor from 1984–1989 and 2000-2006.- Further biography :...
later toured as 'Survivor' in the mid-1990s, to the chagrin of the rest of the band. Jamison re-united with the band's other members in 2000 and the band released Reach in 2006, but Jamison left the band after its release and was replaced by Robin McAuley
Robin McAuley
Robin McAuley is an Irish rock vocalist known mostly for his work in McAuley Schenker Group and before that Grand Prix recording 2 albums...
. The band was continuing to tour with McAuley into 2011.
A sudden announcement on Nov 13 2011 by Robin McAuley on his Facebook page reveals he has now left Survivor. A further announcement on 18th November confirms that Jimi Jamison has rejoined the band and plans are being made to tour in 2012.
Early years
Founding Survivor members Jim PeterikJim Peterik
Jim Peterik is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the band Survivor and as vocalist and songwriter of the hit song "Vehicle" by The Ides of March...
, Gary Smith and Dennis Keith Johnson initially came together in 1977 as The Jim Peterik Band after Peterik had released an album, Don't Fight the Feeling, on Epic Records the previous year. Then in 1978, at the urging of tour manager Rick Weigand, Peterik hooked up with Frankie Sullivan
Frankie Sullivan
Frankie Sullivan, Frankie M. Sullivan III, is an American guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for being a founding member of the band Survivor, and has been the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1977.Along with former bandmate, keyboardist/vocalist Jim Peterik,...
, brought in singer Dave Bickler
Dave Bickler
Dave Bickler is an American vocalist, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Survivor from 1977–1983. His distinctive vocal was featured on the #1 U.S. hit "Eye of the Tiger". In addition to his wide vocal range, his street-wise image included a trademark beret...
and Survivor was born. Peterik was previously the lead vocalist–guitarist for the band The Ides of March. After playing in small clubs for several years, Survivor was signed by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive John Kalodner
John Kalodner
John David Kalodner is a retired American A&R executive. His achievements included signing Foreigner, AC/DC, Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins to Atlantic Records in the seventies....
. The group's first album, the self-titled Survivor
Survivor (Survivor album)
Survivor is the eponymous debut album by the American rock band Survivor, released in 1979. It is the group's only album with drummer Gary Smith and bassist Dennis Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by A&R executive John Kalodner, were not without difficulties...
, was released on the Atlantic subsidiary Scotti Bros.
Scotti Brothers Records
Scotti Brothers Records was a California-based record label founded by Tony and Ben Scotti in 1974. Their first success was releasing albums from teen pop star Leif Garrett. They later helped launch the careers of Felony, Survivor, and "Weird Al" Yankovic...
in early 1980, but the album produced no Top 40 singles, and did not achieve the level of success that the band had hoped for.
In 1981 Johnson and Smith had schedule conflicts with their other projects, so they were replaced by Stephan Ellis and Marc Droubay in time for the band's follow-up album, Premonition. It charted higher, achieving popularity with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
audiences and giving the band its first Top 40 single, "Poor Man's Son
Poor Man's Son
"Poor Man's Son" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1981 album Premonition. The song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Sylvester Stallone heard the song and then asked the band to write and perform a similar song for his 1982 movie, Rocky...
." The album also showed off Bickler's range as a vocalist with its second single, "Summer Nights."
In 1982 Survivor's breakthrough arrived when actor Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
asked them to provide the theme song for his movie Rocky III
Rocky III
Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's...
. Stallone had heard their single "Poor Man's Son
Poor Man's Son
"Poor Man's Son" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1981 album Premonition. The song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Sylvester Stallone heard the song and then asked the band to write and perform a similar song for his 1982 movie, Rocky...
" and wanted a song similar to it. The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
". The new song featured a faster tempo while still incorporating the stylish, nearly identical power chords. It had an enormous impact on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, peaking at #1 and remaining there for a total of six weeks. It also topped the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charts. It was in the Top 40 for a total of 18 weeks and was Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's #1 single for four weeks. The song won the band a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, was voted "Best New Song" by the People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
The People's Choice Awards is an American awards show recognizing the people and the work of popular culture. The show has been held annually since 1975 and is voted on by the general public. The People's Choice Awards air on CBS and are produced by Procter & Gamble and Survivor magnate Mark Burnett...
, and also received an Academy Award nomination. The album of the same title, Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger (album)
Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III....
, was released by the band later in 1982 and contained another Top 40 hit in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, "American Heartbeat" (#17 US). The album went on to chart at #2 in the United States.
In 1983 Survivor tried to duplicate the success of Eye Of The Tiger with their next release Caught in the Game
Caught in the Game
Caught in the Game is the fourth album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1983. It features guest appearances by Mr. Mister's Richard Page and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin....
. The album turned out to be a commercial disappointment, stalling at #82 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The album's only single, the title track, peaked at #77. The band suffered another setback in late 1983 when lead singer Dave Bickler
Dave Bickler
Dave Bickler is an American vocalist, best known as the lead singer for the rock band Survivor from 1977–1983. His distinctive vocal was featured on the #1 U.S. hit "Eye of the Tiger". In addition to his wide vocal range, his street-wise image included a trademark beret...
suffered voice problems and was forced to leave. In early 1984 he was replaced by Jimi Jamison
Jimi Jamison
Jimmy Wayne "Jimi" Jamison is a rock vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer for the band Survivor from 1984–1989 and 2000-2006.- Further biography :...
of the bands Target and Cobra.
In 1984 singer–comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
wrote and recorded a parody of "Eye of the Tiger" called: "Theme from Rocky XIII". It appears in his album "Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D
"Weird Al" Yankovic in 3-D is the second studio album by American signer-songwriter "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on February 28, 1984, by Rock 'n Roll Records. The album was one of many produced by former The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer...
, as well as in Yankovic's compilation, The Food Album
The Food Album
The Food Album is a compilation CD of songs by "Weird Al" Yankovic that features songs about food. A similar compilation, The TV Album, was released in 1995 and featured some of his songs about television shows...
(where it was renamed "Theme from Rocky XIII (The Rye or the Kaiser)").
The hit years
After recording "The Moment of Truth" (#63 US), the theme song of the box office smash hit The Karate Kid (1984), the band recorded its first album with Jamison. Vital Signs gave the band a massive comeback, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Album Chart with the hits "I Can't Hold BackI Can't Hold Back
"I Can't Hold Back" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #13 in December 1984 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also peaked at #1 for three weeks on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.The song was featured in...
" (#13 U.S.), "High on You
High on You (song)
"High on You" was Survivor's second hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #8 in April 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is the story of a man who becomes intoxicated not on a substance, but on a romantic partner....
" (#8 U.S.), and "The Search Is Over
The Search Is Over
"The Search Is Over" is a 1985 Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at #4, originally recorded by Survivor. Former Survivor vocalist and songwriter Jim Peterik told Songfacts: "It wasn't about my life as much as a friend of mine who had a girlfriend - really a play pal throughout their growing up years -...
" (#4 U.S.). In late 1985, the band had another hit with "Burning Heart
Burning Heart (song)
-Jimi Jamison version:Jimi Jamison re-released a live version of "Burning Heart" on his album Empires.- Track listing :CD single# "Burning Heart" - 3:50# "Burning Heart" - 3:51# "Burning Heart" - 6:00...
", a song from the Rocky IV
Rocky IV
Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
soundtrack, which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1986. When Seconds Count
When Seconds Count
When Seconds Count is the sixth album from American rock band Survivor, and the second featuring vocalist Jimi Jamison. The album included the hit single, "Is This Love", which peaked at #9 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1987. The album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 album...
was released in October 1986 and included the hit "Is This Love" (#9 U.S.). On the Billboard Album Chart the album peaked at #49 but still managed to sell over 500,000 copies and reached certified Gold status.
During pre-production of their seventh album, Too Hot to Sleep
Too Hot to Sleep
Too Hot to Sleep is the seventh album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts...
(1988), Ellis and Droubay were replaced by studio session vets Mickey Curry
Mickey Curry
Michael Timothy Curry is an American drummer. He is best known for his long-term collaboration with the singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, although he has also worked with Hall & Oates, Cher, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Sam Phillips, Tom Waits, The Cult, Steve Jones and...
(drums) and Bill Syniar (bass). Sullivan produced the effort with Frank Fillipetti. Though the album presented a harder-rocking Survivor, similar to the sound in the band's early days, Too Hot to Sleep failed to make a dent on the charts (#187 US). There were, reportedly, a few live dates done by the band during this period (including a stint as opening act for Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
on "The Flame" Tour of North America) that included Syniar on bass and Kyle Woodring
Kyle Woodring
Kyle Woodring was a studio and concert drummer living in the Chicago, Illinois area. Born and raised in Mason, Michigan...
on drums.
1989–2000: work on greatest hits album
After the disappointing sales of Too Hot to Sleep, Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan decided to put the band on hiatus indefinitely. Jamison decided to continue touring and playing Survivor songs with local musicians. He subsequently recorded a solo album in 1991. Jamison continued to tour, now billing his band as 'Survivor' or 'Jimi Jamison's Survivor'. After some success touring overseas in 1992, Sullivan contacted Jamison's management and asked to be included on the tour; he performed on eight to ten dates before leaving the group. Soon after, in late 1992–early 1993, Survivor was tapped to do a new and more extensive hits package with two new songs. For a short time Peterik, Sullivan, and Jamison were reunited in the studio to record new material for the new package and forthcoming world tour. After broken contract talks, Jamison quit and went back on the road again as 'Jimi Jamison's Survivor'.In spring 1993 Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with original lead singer Dave Bickler, released a new 'Greatest Hits' album with two new songs ("Hungry Years" co-written by Bickler and "You Know Who You Are") and embarked on a world tour with Bill Syniar and Kyle Woodring returning on bass and drums. Klem Hayes took over on bass later in 1993 after Syniar departed. As Jamison was also touring under the Survivor banner, Peterik and Sullivan filed a lawsuit against their former colleague for using the name.
From 1993 to 1996 the trio (Peterik, Sullivan, and Bickler) recorded about 20 demos for a new album (the songs can be heard on the Fire Makes Steel bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
) with session musicians. They failed to secure a record deal due to the ongoing litigation and trademark issues. In 1994 Hayes departed and the bass chair was filled, first by Randy Riley (1994–1995), then by Billy Ozzello (1995–1996).
When the band tried to move in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band, playing his last show with Survivor on July 3, 1996 at 'The Eye in the Sky' fest in Lisle, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Lisle is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,930 at the 2011 census, and estimated to be 23,135 as of 2008. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor...
. Survivor replaced Peterik with composer–keyboardist Chris Grove. Peterik returned to recording and touring with The Ides of March and also formed the group Pride of Lions
Pride of Lions
Pride of Lions is a melodic rock group fronted by former Survivor guitarist/keyboardist Jim Peterik and vocalist Toby Hitchcock. Formed in 2003, the group, according to Peterik is "my vision of the best elements of the great melodic rock era of the 80’s, updated of course with more modern...
. In the fall of 1996 bassist Stephan Ellis and drummer Marc Droubay rejoined Survivor but Ellis quit again by early 1999 and was replaced by Gordon Patriarca who only played about a half a dozen shows before Billy Ozzello was brought back. Survivor then went on to record more demos for a record deal, including "Rebel Girl '98" and the Frankie Sullivan solo album cut, "Lies".
In 1999 Jimi Jamison released the album Empires under the name "Jimi Jamison's Survivor" (later re-released under his own name). In late September 1999 Sullivan won ownership of the name "Survivor", thereby ending the ongoing trademark battle.
2000–2006: Release of a new album
In early 2000, Bickler was fired, severing the then Sullivan–Bickler Survivor and resulting in Sullivan's reestablishment of a partnership with Jamison. The band then began recording material for a new album. The Peterik–Sullivan-penned track "Velocitized" was set for inclusion on the soundtrack to the Sylvester StalloneSylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
film Driven
Driven
Driven is a 2001 film directed by Renny Harlin and starring Sylvester Stallone, who also wrote and produced. It centers on a young racing driver's effort to win the ChampCar World Series...
. However, it did not make the cut. Later that year, the band threatened to sue CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
for using the name "Survivor" as the title of their hit reality show Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
.
In 2003 Randy Riley returned to replace Billy Ozzello.
In 2004 a Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
television commercial debuted for their Double Shot espresso
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
beverage. It featured the band following a man named Glen, singing a modified version of "Eye of the Tiger" while he did his day-to-day tasks. This commercial has gained a number of fans and was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
. Meanwhile, original Survivor vocalist David Bickler began collaborating on the successful Bud Light Real Men of Genius
Real Men of Genius
Real Men of Genius is a series of advertisements, primarily 60-second American radio spots, for Bud Light beer. The campaign was originally created by Bob Winter, a copywriter at DDB Chicago....
radio ads in the late 1990s and 2000s. The "Real Men of Genius" Bud Light ads are widely popular and include TV spots aired on the 2006 Super Bowl, among others. A CD package containing many of the popular commercials was recorded with Bickler selling over 100,000 copies in its first month of release.
Barry Dunaway
Barry Dunaway
Barry Dunaway is an American rock bass guitarist who has previously played with Whiteface , Pat Travers, Yngwie Malmsteen, Saraya and Survivor .- References :...
took over bass chores for the band on the road in 2005. But by early 2006 Billy Ozzello was back again. In April 2006 Survivor released a new album called Reach. Consisting of mostly new songs, it also includes some re-recordings from the "Fire Makes Steel" sessions. Two of the album's songs, "Reach" and "Fire Makes Steel", had been considered for inclusion in the 2006 Rocky sequel Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa (film)
Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...
but were not included, nor did they appear on the 2006 album Rocky Balboa: The Best Of Rocky.
Six of the album's twelve songs were written and recorded in the 1990s with Dave Bickler on lead vocals (except "Never The Less" and "Talkin' Bout Love"). On July 14, 2006 it was announced that Jamison was leaving the band and that Robin McAuley
Robin McAuley
Robin McAuley is an Irish rock vocalist known mostly for his work in McAuley Schenker Group and before that Grand Prix recording 2 albums...
would replace him on lead vocals.
2007–present
According to Frankie Sullivan, and revealed at Survivormusic.com on March 5, 2010, an album of new original music is to be released around April. The CD will be titled "Re-Entry", which is also one of the tracks. An official announcement is expected soon. As of 2010, the lineup was a mix of old and new members: Robin McAuley (vocals), original member/songwriter Frankie Sullivan (guitar/vocals), longtime members Marc Droubay (drums) and Billy Ozzello (bass) and newcomer Mitchell Sigman (keyboards/guitar).The band continues to play regularly in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. They performed "Eye Of The Tiger" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
on April 3, 2007. And on October 10, 2008, "Eye" was used to introduce Republican Vice Presidential candidate and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
at a rally in west-central Ohio. An appearance by them in Rochester, MN drew over 17,000 people on July 12, 2009.
Frankie Sullivan produced the second album of the critically acclaimed band Mecca led by singer–songwriter Joe Vana. Coincidentally, he replaced Jim Peterik who produced the first Mecca album. The album is due out in the second half of 2010 on Frontiers Records.
On November 15, 2011, Jimi Jamison announced his return to Survivor. The new lineup of Jamison (vocals), Frankie Sullivan (guitar), Marc Droubay (drums), Billy Ozzello (bass) and Walter Tolentino (keyboards/guitar) announced they would begin working on a new album, expected for release in 2012.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Survivor Survivor (Survivor album) Survivor is the eponymous debut album by the American rock band Survivor, released in 1979. It is the group's only album with drummer Gary Smith and bassist Dennis Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by A&R executive John Kalodner, were not without difficulties... |
169 |
| 1981 | Premonition | 82 |
| 1982 | Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger (album) Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III.... |
2 |
| 1983 | Caught in the Game Caught in the Game Caught in the Game is the fourth album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1983. It features guest appearances by Mr. Mister's Richard Page and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin.... |
82 |
| 1984 | Vital Signs | 16 |
| 1985 | Live In Tokyo | — |
| 1986 | When Seconds Count When Seconds Count When Seconds Count is the sixth album from American rock band Survivor, and the second featuring vocalist Jimi Jamison. The album included the hit single, "Is This Love", which peaked at #9 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1987. The album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 album... |
49 |
| 1988 | Too Hot to Sleep Too Hot to Sleep Too Hot to Sleep is the seventh album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts... |
187 |
| 2006 | Reach | — |
Compilations
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Greatest Hits (original 10-track version) |
| 1993 | Greatest Hits Greatest Hits (Survivor album) Greatest Hits is a 1993 compilation album by the American rock band Survivor. It featured two new songs recorded with original lead vocalist Dave Bickler, who left the band in 1983 due to vocal issues... |
| 1998 | Prime Cuts: The Classic Tracks |
| 2000 | Survivor Special Selection |
| 2001 | Fire In Your Eyes: Greatest Hits |
| 2004 | Ultimate Survivor |
| 2004 | Extended Versions: The Encore Collection (live) |
| 2006 | The Best Of Survivor |
| 2009 | Playlist: The Very Best Of Survivor |
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US MSR Mainstream Rock Tracks Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue... |
US A.C. | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "Somewhere in America Somewhere in America "Somewhere in America" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first single ever released by the band, from their 1979 self-titled debut album Survivor. The song peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.-External links:*... " |
70 | — | — | — | Survivor Survivor (Survivor album) Survivor is the eponymous debut album by the American rock band Survivor, released in 1979. It is the group's only album with drummer Gary Smith and bassist Dennis Johnson. The recording sessions, overseen by A&R executive John Kalodner, were not without difficulties... |
| "Rebel Girl" | 103 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| 1981 | "Poor Man's Son Poor Man's Son "Poor Man's Son" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1981 album Premonition. The song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Sylvester Stallone heard the song and then asked the band to write and perform a similar song for his 1982 movie, Rocky... " |
33 | — | — | — | Premonition |
| 1982 | "Summer Nights Summer Nights (Survivor song) "Summer Nights" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the second single from their 1981 album, Premonition, and peaked at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.... " |
62 | — | — | — | |
| 1982 | "Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger "Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites... " |
1 | 1 | 27 | 1 | Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger (album) Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III.... /Rocky III Rocky III Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's... soundtrack |
| "Ever Since the World Began" / (Lock-Up) soundtrack | — | — | — | — | Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger (album) Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III.... |
|
| "American Heartbeat" | 17 | — | — | — | ||
| "The One That Really Matters" | 74 | — | — | — | ||
| 1983 | "Caught in the Game" | 77 | 16 | — | — | Caught in the Game Caught in the Game Caught in the Game is the fourth album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1983. It features guest appearances by Mr. Mister's Richard Page and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin.... |
| 1984 | "I Never Stopped Loving You" | 104 | — | — | ||
| "The Moment of Truth" | 63 | — | — | — | Karate Kid soundtrack | |
| "I Can't Hold Back I Can't Hold Back "I Can't Hold Back" is a song recorded by the band Survivor. It was the first hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #13 in December 1984 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also peaked at #1 for three weeks on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.The song was featured in... " |
13 | 1 | — | — | Vital Signs | |
| 1985 | "High on You High on You (song) "High on You" was Survivor's second hit single from their 1984 album Vital Signs. The song peaked at #8 in April 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is the story of a man who becomes intoxicated not on a substance, but on a romantic partner.... " |
8 | 8 | — | — | |
| "The Search Is Over The Search Is Over "The Search Is Over" is a 1985 Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at #4, originally recorded by Survivor. Former Survivor vocalist and songwriter Jim Peterik told Songfacts: "It wasn't about my life as much as a friend of mine who had a girlfriend - really a play pal throughout their growing up years -... " |
4 | — | 1 | — | ||
| "First Night" | 53 | — | — | — | ||
| "Burning Heart Burning Heart (song) -Jimi Jamison version:Jimi Jamison re-released a live version of "Burning Heart" on his album Empires.- Track listing :CD single# "Burning Heart" - 3:50# "Burning Heart" - 3:51# "Burning Heart" - 6:00... " |
2 | 11 | — | 5 | Rocky IV Rocky IV Rocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise... soundtrack |
|
| 1986 | "Is This Love" | 9 | 27 | 25 | — | When Seconds Count When Seconds Count When Seconds Count is the sixth album from American rock band Survivor, and the second featuring vocalist Jimi Jamison. The album included the hit single, "Is This Love", which peaked at #9 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1987. The album reached #49 on the Billboard 200 album... |
| 1987 | "How Much Love How Much Love How Much Love is a song by American rock band Survivor. It was the opening track and the second single released from their 1986 album When Seconds Count.... " |
51 | — | — | — | |
| "Man Against The World Man Against the World Man Against The World is a song by American rock band Survivor. It was the fourth track and the third single released from their 1986 album When Seconds Count. The song was originally to be included on the soundtrack to the 1985 film Rocky IV but was cut... " |
86 | — | — | — | ||
| 1988 | "Didn't Know it Was Love" | 61 | 40 | — | — | Too Hot to Sleep Too Hot to Sleep Too Hot to Sleep is the seventh album from rock band Survivor, released in 1988. It was a relative commercial disappointment, reaching only #187 on the Billboard album charts... |
| 1989 | "Across the Miles" | 74 | — | 16 | — | |
| 2007 | "Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger "Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites... " (2007 re-entry) |
— | — | — | 47 | Eye of the Tiger Eye of the Tiger (album) Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It features the title track, which is the theme song of the film Rocky III.... /Rocky III Rocky III Rocky III is a 1982 American film that is the third installment in the Rocky film series. It is written and directed by and stars Sylvester Stallone as the title character, with Carl Weathers as former boxing rival Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith as Rocky's trainer Mickey, and Talia Shire as Rocky's... soundtrack |
See also
- American rockAmerican rockAmerican rock is rock music from the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and country music, and also drew on folk music, jazz and classical music. The creation of American rock music was highly influenced by the British Invasion of the American pop...
- Music of the United StatesMusic of the United StatesThe music of the United States reflects the country's multi-ethnic population through a diverse array of styles. Among the country's most internationally-renowned genres are hip hop, blues, country, rhythm and blues, jazz, barbershop, pop, techno, and rock and roll. The United States has the...
- List of best-selling music artists
External links
- Survivor official site
- Frankie Sullivan official site
- Jim Peterik official site
- Jimi Jamison official site
- Starbucks Glen TV Ad TRY-official site