The Firm (rock band)
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The Firm were an English rock supergroup comprising ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, ex-Uriah Heep drummer Chris Slade, and Roy Harper bass player Tony Franklin. Formed in 1984, the band—although having a distinguished pedigree (and thus qualifying as a supergroup)—had only mediocre album sales, although they did have sellout tours. Page originally wanted former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and fretless bass virtuoso Pino Palladino in the group; however, Bruford was contracted to another label and Palladino had tour commitments with singer Paul Young.
Both Page and Rodgers refused to play any material from their former bands and instead opted for a selection of songs from both their solo albums and new songs which were heavily infused with a soulful and more commercially accessible sound, courtesy of Franklin's fretless bass guitar underpinning and understated song structure. Although refusing to play old material, the last track from The Firm, "Midnight Moonlight", was originally an unreleased song by Led Zeppelin entitled "The Swan Song". The recording of the track led critics to believe that Page had begun to run out of ideas. In subsequent press interviews, Page had indicated that the band was never meant to last more than two albums. After the band split, Page and Rodgers returned to solo work while Chris Slade joined AC/DC and Franklin teamed up with guitarist John Sykes in Blue Murder.
Contents |
[edit] Members
- Jimmy Page -- Lead guitar of Led Zeppelin
- Paul Rodgers -- Vocals
- Tony Franklin -- Bass, keyboards
- Chris Slade -- Drums and percussion
[edit] Films, DVDs
- The Firm Live at Hammersmith 1984 (1984) (limited release video)
- Five From the Firm (1986)
[edit] Official tours
- Europe (November 29, 1984 - December 9, 1984)
- United States (February 28, 1985 - May 11, 1985)
- United Kingdom (May 18, 1985 - May 22, 1985)
- United States (March 14, 1986 - May 28, 1986)
[edit] Albums
- The Firm (1985) #17 US
- Mean Business (1986) #22 US
[edit] Singles
- "Radioactive" (1985) #28 US
- "Satisfaction Guaranteed" (1985) #73 US
- "All The King's Horses" (1986) #61 US
| Led Zeppelin |
|---|
| Jimmy Page · Robert Plant · John Paul Jones · John Bonham |
| Discography - (Category) |
| Studio albums: Led Zeppelin · Led Zeppelin II · Led Zeppelin III · Image:Zoso.svg (Led Zeppelin IV) · Houses of the Holy · Physical Graffiti · Presence · In Through the Out Door Live albums: The Song Remains the Same · BBC Sessions · How the West Was Won |
| Films |
| The Song Remains the Same · Led Zeppelin DVD |
| Other |
| Peter Grant · Richard Cole · Swan Song Records · The Yardbirds · XYZ · The Firm · Page and Plant · Strange Sensation · Bootlegs ∙ Concerts ∙ Songs |
| Bad Company |
| Members |
|---|
| Paul Rodgers • Mick Ralphs • Boz Burrell • Simon Kirke • |
| Brian Howe• Robert Hart • Steve Price • Felix Krish • Rick Wills • Dave Colwell • Jaz Lochrie • Mark Wolfe |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Bad Company • Straight Shooter • Run With the Pack • Burnin' Sky • Desolation Angels • Rough Diamonds • Fame and Fortune • Dangerous Age • Holy Water • Here Comes Trouble • Company of Strangers • Stories Told & Untold • Merchants of Cool |
| Live albums: What You Hear Is What You Get • Live in Albuquerque 1976 |
| Films and videos: Merchants of Cool • Inside Bad Company 1974-1982 |
| Compilation albums: 10 from 6 • The Original Bad Company Anthology • Merchants of Cool |
| Free |
| Members |
|---|
| Paul Rodgers • Paul Kossoff • Andy Fraser • Simon Kirke |
| Discography |
|
Studio albums: - Tons of Sobs • Free • Fire and Water • Highway • Free at Last • Heartbreaker |
|
Live albums: - Free Live! |
|
Compilation album: - The Free Story • The Best of Free • Free And Easy, Rough And Ready • Completely Free • The Best of Free: All Right Now • Molten Gold: The Anthology • Free: All Right Now • Songs of Yesterday • Chronicles • |
