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Survivor (band)

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<tr><th>Country</th><td>United States</td></tr><tr><th>Years active</th><td>1977 - Present</td></tr><tr><th>Genres</th><td>Rock</td></tr><tr><th>Labels</th><td>Scotti Bros. Records</td></tr>

Survivor

Survivor is a rock band formed in 1977 by Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan. Dave Bickler, Gary Smith and Dennis Johnson were the other members until Smith and Johnson were replaced with Stephan Ellis and Marc Droubay. Before setting up Survivor, Peterik was the lead vocalist/guitarist of the band Ides of March.

The group's AOR (Album-oriented Rock) was very popular in the 1980s, especially in their native United States, where they charted several hit singles. They are best known for their hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme song for the motion picture Rocky III in 1982.

Other hit singles of the band are "Burning Heart" (US #2), "The Search Is Over" (#4 US), "High On You" (#8 US), "Is This Love" (#9 US), "I Can't Hold Back" (#13 US) and "American Heartbeat" (# 17 US).

After years of confusion regarding the ownership of the band's name and a change in line-up in the 90s, Survivor released a new studio album "Reach" on April 21, 2006.

Contents

[edit] 1977-1983 1993-2000-- The Bickler Years

After 3 years of playing in smaller clubs, Survivor released their first album "Survivor" in 1980. It reached #169 on the Billboard Album Chart and includes their first single "Somewhere In America" (# 70 US). "Rebel Girl" (# 103 US) was chosen as the second single. As it was a non-album track, the song was rare until 2004 when it was released on the "Ultimate Survivor" compilation album.

"Premonition", their second album, became popular with audiences in 1981. Many fans consider Premonition to be Survivor's best album. It peaked at # 82 on the Billboard Album Chart and gave the band their first hit Top 40 hit. "Poor Man's Son" (# 33 US) would become one of their trademark songs due to its street appeal. The second single of the album "Summer Nights" bowed at # 62.

Survivor's big breakthrough arrived in 1982 when they are asked by actor Sylvester Stallone to provide the theme song for his movie "Rocky III". Stallone had heard "Poor Man's Son" and wanted a song with a similar vibe. The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger". It had an enormous impact on the Billboard charts, peaking at # 1 and staying there for a total of seven weeks. It also topped the British Billboard charts. It was Top 40 for a total of six 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 Peoples Choice Awards and received an Academy Award nomination. Containing a smash hit and another Top 20 single with "American Heartbeat" (# 17 US), the album "Eye of The Tiger" stormed to a #2 peak on the US Album Chart.

Surprisingly, their next album "Caught In The Game" was a commercial disappointment. It stalled at # 82 on the US Album Chart and neither of the singles could repeat the success of "Eye of the Tiger," or make any impression on the charts ("Caught In The Game" - # 77 US, "The One That Really Matters" - # 74 US).

The band suffered another big blow before their next tour. Due to voice problems, lead singer Dave Bickler had to be replaced with Jimi Jamison, former member of the bands Target and Cobra.

[edit] 1984-1988 --- The Jamison 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 their 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 Back" (#13 US), "High On You" (#8 US) and "The Search Is Over" (#4 US).

In 1985, the band had another hit with "Burning Heart", the theme song of Rocky IV, when it peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100.

"When Seconds Count" was released in 1986 and included the hit "Is This Love" (#9 US). On the Billboard Album Chart the album peaked at # 49 but managed to sell over 500,000 copies and certified gold status.

During pre-production of their 7th album "Too Hot To Sleep" (1988), Ellis and Droubay were fired after ongoing problems with Jim Peterik and were replaced on 'Too Hot to Sleep' by studio session vets Mickey Curry on drums and Bill Synier on bass. Sullivan produced the effort with Frank Fillepetti. The album presented a harder rocking Survivor similar to the early days of the band. Unfortunately, Jimi Jamison's pop oriented crooning could not match the intensity of the music. On Survivor's rock recordings, Jamison paled in comparison to the vocal prowess of original singer Dave Bickler. Due to Jamison and a lack of promotion by the label, 'Too Hot To sleep' failed to make a dent on the charts (# 187 US).

[edit] 1989-2000 --- Years Of Confusion (Survivor vs. Jimi Jamison's Survivor)

After the disappointing sales of "Too Hot To Sleep", Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan deceided to put the band on hiatus indefinately. Jamison, disgruntled about not receiving two songwriting credits for " Burning Heart" & " Across The Miles" deceided to continue touring and playing Survivor songs with local musicians and then in 1990, at the urging of scotti bros. records deceided to record a solo album much to the dismay of Peterik and Sullivan. Jamison nevertheless recorded "When Love Comes Down" and continued to tour now billing his band as Survivor. After some success overseas touring in 1992 Sullivan contacted Jamison's mangagement and asked to be included on the tour and did 8-10 dates before leaving the group.

Soon after in late 1992 early 1993 Survivor was tapped to do a new and more extensive hits package but with 2 new songs. So for a short time Peterik,Sullivan and Jamison were reunited and in the studio to record new material for the new package and forthcoming world tour. After a broken contract talks Jamsion quit and went back on the road as Survivor and Jimi Jamisons' Survivor.

In spring 1993 Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with former 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. Due to the knowledge of Jamison also touring under the Survivor banner, Peterik and Sullivan filed a lawsuit against their former colleague for using their name.

Between 1993 and 1996 the Peterik/Sullivan/Bickler-Survivor recorded about 20 demos for a new album (the songs can be heard on the "Fire Makes Steel" bootleg) but fail to secure a record deal due to the ongoing litigation and trademark issues.

When the band tried to pull in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band permanently and abruptly and played his last show ever with Survivor on july 3rd 1996 at " The Eye In The Sky" fest in Lisle,IL. Survivor then replaced Peterik with composer and Keyboardist Chris Grove.

Soon after in 1997 Marc Droubay re-joined Survivor as drummer/percussionist and Stephen Eliis (bass) quit and was replaced by Billy Ozzello.

Survivor then went on to record more demo's 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). Also in late september 1999 Frankie Sullivan won ownership of the name Survivor and the on-going trademark battle was ended.

[edit] 2000-2005 --- Back On Track

In early 2000 Dave Bickler was fired severing the then Sullivan/Bickler-Survivor, resulting in Sullivan re-establishing a partnership with Jimi Jamison. With singer Jimi Jamison was back on board the band began recording new material for a future new album and had submitted the Peterik-Sullivan penned track " Velocitzed" for inclusion on the 2001 film sountrack to the Sly Stallone movie 'Driven' which was didn't make the cut. The band continued to retain their popularity, playing regular concerts in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Meanwhile, original Survivor vocalist David Bickler began collaborating in the successful 'Bud Light Presents: Real American Heroes/Real Men of Genius' radio-ads in the late 1990's and has continued to do them after his firing from Survivor in early 2000.

The "Real Men Of Genius" bud light ads are widely popular and have been now added to include TV spots that have aired on the 2006 Super Bowl and numerous other programs. A cd of many of the popular commericals was recorded with Bickler and sold over 100,000 copies in it's first month of release and is now available for purchase at budlight.com

[edit] 2006 -- A new 'original' Survivor album

On April 21, 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", have been considered to appear in the upcoming Rocky sequel Rocky Balboa. Six of the albums twelve songs were written and recorded in the 1990's with Dave Bickler on lead vocals (except "Never The Less" & " Talkin' Bout Love".

On July 14, 2006, it was announced that Jimi Jamison was leaving the band and Robin McAuley would replace him on lead vocals. The band is said to be going back into the studio and record brand new material for a new Survivor record featuring McCauley on lead vocals for a 2007 release says guitarist and co-founder Frankie Sullivan.

The current lineup is a mix of old and new members: Robin McAuley: lead vocals, Frankie Sullivan: guitar, lead and backing vocals, Marc Droubay : drums, longtime member Chris Grove on keyboards and Billy Ozzelloon bass guitar and backing vocals.

Grove, a classically trained pianist and composer, has been with the group over 10 years since he replaced Jim Peterik in july 1996 and is a co-writer on the song "Talkin' Bout Love" from the bands new album 'Reach'. Ozzello, a long time bassist for Survivor has returned to the group after Survivor parted ways with Bassist Barry Dunaway shortly after recording of the new album completed in late 2005. Ozzello, who also recorded a solo album in 1999, continues to write and record new material as well as record and tour extensively with Survivor.

[edit] Pop culture references

In 1984, singer/comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote & recorded a parody of Eye of the Tiger called: The Rye Or The Kaiser (Theme From Rocky XIII). It appears in the album "In 3-D" (1984), as well as in Yankovic's compilation: The Food Album.

In 2000, Jim Peterik threatened to sue CBS for using the name "Survivor" as the title of their hit reality show Survivor.

In 2004, a Starbucks television commercial debuted for their Double Shot espresso beverage. It featured the band Survivor following a man named Glenn, singing a modifed 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.

On the soundtrack album to the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2005), Ron states that he believes Survivor is "the best that ever was" and that "everyone else is an imitator" including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bach and Beethoven. He then goes on to point out that Survivor won't return his calls, which he understands because "They're Survivor and I'm not." He then introduces Who's That Lady by The Isley Brothers with the line "It's not Survivor, but it'll have to do."

The week of April 17, 2006, "It Takes Two", a soulful R&B Funk duet by teen vocal sensation Whitney Wolanin and Survivor vocal legend Jimi Jamison, reaches #9 with a bullett on the FMQB AC Top 40 radio airplay charts. More information at Whitney Wolanin Official Websiteand at Jimi Jamison Official Website

[edit] Albums

  • Survivor (1979) #169 US
  • Premonition (1980) # 82 US
  • Eye of the Tiger (1982) # 2 US
  • Caught In the Game (1983) # 82 US
  • Vital Signs (1984) # 16 US
  • When Seconds Count (1987) # 49 US
  • Too Hot to Sleep (1988) #187 US
  • Greatest Hits (1990)
  • Greatest Hits 2 (1993)
  • Empires (1999) (Jimi Jamison's Survivor)
  • Reach (2006)

[edit] Singles

  • "Somewhere In America" (1980) # 70 US
  • "Rebel Girl" (1980) #103 US
  • "Poor Man's Son" (1981) #33 US
  • "Summer Nights (1982) # 62 US
  • "Eye Of The Tiger" (1982) # 1 US
  • "American Heartbeat" (1982) #17 US
  • "The One That Really Matters" (1983) # 74 US
  • "Caught In The Game" (1983) # 77 US
  • "The Moment Of Truth" (1984) # 63 US
  • "I Can't Hold Back" (1984) #13 US
  • "High On You" (1985) #8 US
  • "The Search Is Over" (1985) #4 US
  • "First Night" (1985) # 53 US
  • "Burning Heart" (1985) #2 US
  • "Is This Love" (1986) #9 US
  • "How Much Love" (1987) # 51 US
  • "Man Against The World" (1987) # 86 US
  • "Didn't Know It Was Love" (1988) # 61 US
  • "Across The Miles" (1989) # 74 US

[edit] Compilations

  • Jim Jamison/Survivor Collection (1993)
  • Jim Jamison/Survivor Collection, Volume 2 (1994)
  • Prime Cuts: Classics Tracks (1999)
  • The Finest Selection - The Search Is Not Over Yet (2000)
  • Fire in Your Eyes: Greatest Hits (2001)
  • Ultimate Survivor (2004)
  • Extended Versions: The Encore Collection (2004)
  • Best of (2006) --- announced

[edit] External links

it:Survivor ja:サバイバー (バンド) nl:Survivor fi:Survivor sv:Survivor

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