Monday, June 03, 2002 6:43:23 AM
Rock 'n' Roll Artists A-Z...Firefall
http://www.firefall.com/
http://members.aol.com/JINGLEBOY2/FRONT6.HTML
FIREFALL
As dusk enveloped the spectacular vistas of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, a huge pile of wood lay stacked at the edge of a high cliff. Nature lovers from far corners of the work gathered on the Valley floor, waiting till dark when the woodpile was torched and slowlykpushed off the cliff, the burning logs forming a blazing cascade down the mountain's stony face.
The image of the primitive light show, staged at Yosemite for tourists, stuck in Florida-born Rick Roberts' mind for a long time. Then, in l973, as he and his new Colorado-based band were about to play their first gig but still needed a name, the image flashed back: Firefall.
Two decades later, that seems an expecially dead-on handle for the country-flavored rock'n'roll band that carried the torch of musical forebears such as The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Flying Burrito Brothers into the mid-'70s and beyond.
For the better part of the next decade, Firefall burned it at both ends, musically and personally, and then appeared to flame out---at least on record. By 1983, they'd cut eight albums (scoring gold for the first three, with the third going on to platinum-plus), and put 11 singles on the charts.
EFALL:
Greatest Hits is especially for the many fan who've been asking for a collection of the band's best-known songs, and wondering if they'll ever hear any new Firefall music. We've gathered all their hit 45s and a handful of the choicest LP tracks, plus a new, previously unreleased Firefall recording penned by co-founder Jock Bartley--"RUN RUN AWAY."
D - H O T P R E - H I S T O R Y
Firefall's connection to the pioneering country-rock bands is at once direct, convoluted, and fascinating. The group's roots can be traced back to late l967, when country-rock godfather Gram Parsons bailed out of his International Submarine Band and took off with Rober MCguinn, Chris Hillman, and their flock in The Byrds.
In October l968, after recording the group's prototypical country-rock LP SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (Columbia), Parsons refused to tour in segregated South Africa, and flew the coop. A few months later, McGuinn and Hillman discovered their manager had been ripping them offf, and Hillman split, too.
By December '68, Parsons and Hillman were airborne once again, this time piloting The Flying Burrito Brothers. The new fivesome also featured occasional Byrds steel guitar player Sneaky Pete Kleinow, and the bassist and drummer from Parsons' old International Submarine Band, Chris Ethridge and John Cornea.
Within a few months, the Burritos boasted a third ex-Byrd when Corneal was replaced by Michael Clarke, who'd most recently been with Doug Dillard and Gene Clark's band. And later in'69, guitarist Bernie Leadon, ex-Hearts & Flowers and Dillard & Clark, became a Burrito.
After rolling the first two Burritos albums, Parsond decided he'd had his fill; he exited and dropped out of sight for a while. He was replaced in the mis-1970 by guitarist/singer/writer Rick Roberts, who had sung (uncredited) on The Byrds' UNTITLED LP (Columbia) earlier that year.
With Roberts in the Burritos fold, they recorded The Flying Burrito Bros., their album (released in June '71, by A&M), and Last of the Red Hot Burritos, the fourth and final new LP (February '72, A&M). But like the first two, the last two were praised to high heaven by the critics, and ignored like hell by record buyers. So after three years and four stiff albums, the band members were fed up with the whole Burritos enchilada.
Most of the key players on the West Coast/Colorado country-rock circuit had crossed paths many times by then. They'd jammed and sung informally, sat in with each other's groups, and written songs together. They'd caroused with the womenfolk, told many a tall tale, and shared mass quantites of controlled substances (thus making "Rocky Mountain high" a double entendre). Career-wise, they also shared the acute frustration of repeated, unconsummated flirtation with the Success Goddess.
The whole scene was taking on incestuous undertones. To paraphrase the summer '71 Stephen Still hit, it was time to change partners.
Bernie Leadon had been the first of the last red-hot Burritos to burn out---in mid-'71, after the third album's lukewarm reception. He shipped out with Glenn Frey (ex-Longbranch Pennywhistle with J.D. Souther). Don Henley (ex-Shiloh), and Randy Meisner (ex-Stone Canyon Band with Rick Nelson) in Linda Ronstadt's band. A few months later, the guys mutinied, jumped ship, and re-christened themselves Eagles.
Pedal steel player Al Perkins (another Shiloh alum) and Hillman went from The Burritos on down the road to Manassas, Stills' post-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young monster blues/rock/country/Latin party band. After that, Perkins and Hillman teamed up with J. D. Souther and Richie Furay (ex-Buffalo Springfield, ex-Poco) in The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band.
Clarke, after eight nearly non-stop years flying with The Byrds, diddling with Dillard & Clark, and farting around with The Burritos, bagged the whole business and headed to Hawaii for an extended vacation. And final Burritos member Kenny Wertz, Rober Bush, and Byron Berline splintered off to become Country Gazette.
E F I R E F A L L I G N I T E S
Rick Roberts, by the early '70s based in Colorado and signed with one of Stills' song publishing compaines, celebrated his post-Burritos freedom by recording a solo album, Windmills, in l972. That May, a song he'd written with Stills and Hillman, "It Doesn't Matter," became a #61 solo 45 for Stephen.
Later that year, Roberts was in New York City to play a gig, and coincidentally, so was Gram Parsons. He'd resurfaced and hit the road with a show that included Emmylou Harris and The Fallen Angels. Kansas-born Jock Bartley, coming off a stint with Zephyr (replacing Tommy Bolin as lead guitarist on the album Sunset Ride), had been hired in Boulder as a singer/guitarist for The Fallen Angels. Like Parsons, Roberts was impressed by Bartley's lead and slide work.
In mid-September 1973, after recording a pair of brilliant solo LPs (G.P. and Grievous Angel, the latter not yet released at that time), Parsons died, supposedly of heart failure; the circumstances remain shrouded in mystery.
Back in Boulder, Bartley ran into Roberts, who by then had cut another solo album, She Is A Song, and the duo began performing together. Encouraged by their audiences and peers--and vowing to avoid the mistakes made with theior previous outfits--the two decided to build a better rock'n'roll band.
Roberts and Bartley rounded up Philadelphia-born bassist/singer Mark Andes, who'd been a major figure on the SoCal (Topanga Canyon) rock scene during the late '60s - early '70s with bands like Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne. Andes had plugged out and was living in the mountains outside Boulder, but was coaxed out of retirement. He brought jazz as well as rock elements to the new band's sound.
Larry Burnett was a Washington, D.C.-based singer/writer/guitarist Roberts had met while performing in The Nation's Captital a few years earlier. When Roberts contacted him in '73 to see if he was free to join Firefall, Burnett had been driving a cab to make ends meet. Rick sent him a one-way plane ticket west; Larry parked the hack, packed his sack, and never looked back.
Roberts, Bartley, Andes, and Burnett then auditioned several local drummers, but none had world-class chops or experience. Finally, Roberts called up his former Burritos bandmate Michael Clark, who was hired on the spot, over the phone. When Clarke landed back in Colorado and assumed Firefall's drum trhone, the lineup wasd ready to gig.
The band woodshedded in Colorado clubs for more than a year, mainly around Boulder and Aspen. They worked on writing new tunes and honing a powerful, guitar-driven rock/pop/country style, which put equal emphasis on strong melodies and sophisticated multi-vocal harmonies. They recorded a demo tape produced by Chris Hillman and began shopping it to several major labels.
In early 1975, after CSNY's mammoth 1974 tour and latest divorce, Stills put a new group together, and signed a solo deal with Columbia. They cut the Stills album, and for the six-week supporting tour that summer, Stephen added Roberts to the band on guitar.
CONFLAGRATION
Firefall's big break came unexpectedly, at around the same time. A few months after splitter up with J. D. Souther and Richie Furay, Chris Hillman hit the road with a backup band that included Firefall's Bartley, Andes, and Roberts. By the time they were scheduled to play The Other End in NYC, Hillman became ill and could not complete the tour. Firefall flew in it's other two members from Colorado to finish the engagements. Atlantic A&R reps caught the show and quickly offered the group a multi-album contract.
History
1976 - FIREFALL first album released. It goes gold in three months, quicker than any previous Atlantic Records album to date. The single "You Are The Woman" rockets into the Top 10 and a number of songs receive saturation FM radio airplay. The new band tours with the likes of the Doobie Bros., Fleetwood Mac, the Band (for their last tour), and the Beach Boys.
1977 - FIREFALL second album, "Luna Sea" is certified gold behind the smash hit "Just Remeber I Love You". Continued non-stop touring with groups like Lynard Skynard, Marshall Tucker, Kenny Loggins, Heart, etc. They appear on such national TV shows as "Midnight Special" and "Austin City Limits".
1978 - FIREFALL third album goes gold then platinum behind the smash hit "Strange Way". The band becomes Fleetwood Mac's opening band of choice during the "Rumors" tour - the biggest summer show was in front of 125,000 people in Austin , Texas. TV includes "American Bandstand" and "Solid Gold".
1979 - FIREFALL fourth album "Undertow" is released, opening the way for the band's first major headlining tour. They play to sold out Japanese audiences on a package with the Beach Boys, Heart & Firefall.
1981 - Original band breaks up. Jock Bartley becomes owner of the name and bandleader, reforming the band.
1982 - FIREFALL seventh album, "Break of Dawn" released on Atlantic Records, featuring such guest artists as Stephen Stills and David Sanborn. The single "Always" reaches the Top 40.
1984 - The single "Runaway Love" is released off the eight album, "Mirror of the World". The song's video is briefly played on MTV. For the following number of years, the band tours constably.
1991 - Rhino Records releases the first album, "FIREFALL" on CD.
1992 - "FIREFALL Greatest Hits" CD released by Rhino Records that features all their many Top 10 and Top 40 hit songs, plus at least on from each of their eight albums and one new song, "Run Run Away" by Jock Bartley about the victims of child abuse.
1993 - Written for the victims of the '93 Flood and played on the radio for the first time six days after it was written, the song "When The River Rises" recieves very much acclaim and midwestern airplay. It is used by CNN and other netword behind flood coverage. A portion of the publishing proceeds goes to flood relief.
1994 - FIREFALL "Messenger" CD released on Redstone Records.
1995 - Rhino Records releases FIREFALL's 2nd, 3rd and 4th albums on CD.
1996 - FIREFALL play benefit concert for Special Olympics hosted by Arnold Swartzenegger and Clint Eastwood. Tour Europe early winter.
1997 - FIREFALL returns to Paris, France in early autumn to headline "West Coast Music Festival" at Disney Paris with Ambrosia, Stephen Bishop and Big House
Firefall I (1974 - 1976)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals - b. 1950, Florida - formerly with The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals - b. Kansas - formerly with Zephyr and Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels.
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals - b. Washington, D.C.
Mark Andes - bass/vocals - b. February 19, 1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - formerly with The Marksmen, The Red Roosters, Spirit, Western Union, Canned Heat, and Jo Jo Gunne.
Michael Clarke - drums - b. June 3, 1944, New York City, New York; d. December 19, 1993, Treasure Island, Florida - formerly with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Album:
"Firefall" (1976) -
Single:
"You Are the Woman"
Firefall II (1976 - 1980)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals
Mark Andes - bass/vocals
Michael Clarke - drums
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/harmonica/synthesizer
Albums:
"Luna Sea" (1977) - Single:
"Just Remember I Love You"
"Elan" (1978) - Single: "Strange Way"
"Undertow" (1980) - Single: "Headed for a Fall"
Mark Andes later joins Heart.
Firefall III (1980 - 1981)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/synthesizer/vocorder
George Hawkins - bass/vocals
Tris Imboden - drums
Album:
"Clouds Across the Sun" (1980) - Single: "Staying with It"
Firefall IV (1982)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals - formerly with Game (with guitarist George Terry, who was later member of Eric Clapton's touring band).
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals - formerly with Roger McGuinn.
Session Musicians...
Album:
"Break of Dawn" (1982) - Single: "Always"
Firefall V(1983)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/synthesizer/vocorder
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Greg Overton - bass
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals - formerly with Roger McGuinn.
Firefall VI (1983)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Greg Overton - bass
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals
Album:
"Mirror of the World" (1984) - Single: "Runaway Love"
Firefall VII (1983 - 1985)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Firefall VIII (1985 - 1986)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Firefall IX (1986)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
Firefall X(1986 - 1987)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Firefall XI (1988 - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Firefall XII ( ? - ? )
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Firefall XIII ( ? - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Album:
"Messenger" (1994)
Firefall XIV ( ? - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
...others?
Compilations:
"The Best Of Firefall" (1981)
"Greatest Hits" (1992)
Rick Roberts solo:
"Windmills" (1972)
"She is a Song" (1973)
Chuck Kirkpatrick (aka, Chuck Crane) solo:
"Crane" (1978) - Single: "Oh Dancer"
Discography
http://www.firefall.com/discography.html
]
Breaking Clay Makes My Day!
http://www.firefall.com/
http://members.aol.com/JINGLEBOY2/FRONT6.HTML
FIREFALL
As dusk enveloped the spectacular vistas of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, a huge pile of wood lay stacked at the edge of a high cliff. Nature lovers from far corners of the work gathered on the Valley floor, waiting till dark when the woodpile was torched and slowlykpushed off the cliff, the burning logs forming a blazing cascade down the mountain's stony face.
The image of the primitive light show, staged at Yosemite for tourists, stuck in Florida-born Rick Roberts' mind for a long time. Then, in l973, as he and his new Colorado-based band were about to play their first gig but still needed a name, the image flashed back: Firefall.
Two decades later, that seems an expecially dead-on handle for the country-flavored rock'n'roll band that carried the torch of musical forebears such as The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and The Flying Burrito Brothers into the mid-'70s and beyond.
For the better part of the next decade, Firefall burned it at both ends, musically and personally, and then appeared to flame out---at least on record. By 1983, they'd cut eight albums (scoring gold for the first three, with the third going on to platinum-plus), and put 11 singles on the charts.
EFALL:
Greatest Hits is especially for the many fan who've been asking for a collection of the band's best-known songs, and wondering if they'll ever hear any new Firefall music. We've gathered all their hit 45s and a handful of the choicest LP tracks, plus a new, previously unreleased Firefall recording penned by co-founder Jock Bartley--"RUN RUN AWAY."
D - H O T P R E - H I S T O R Y
Firefall's connection to the pioneering country-rock bands is at once direct, convoluted, and fascinating. The group's roots can be traced back to late l967, when country-rock godfather Gram Parsons bailed out of his International Submarine Band and took off with Rober MCguinn, Chris Hillman, and their flock in The Byrds.
In October l968, after recording the group's prototypical country-rock LP SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (Columbia), Parsons refused to tour in segregated South Africa, and flew the coop. A few months later, McGuinn and Hillman discovered their manager had been ripping them offf, and Hillman split, too.
By December '68, Parsons and Hillman were airborne once again, this time piloting The Flying Burrito Brothers. The new fivesome also featured occasional Byrds steel guitar player Sneaky Pete Kleinow, and the bassist and drummer from Parsons' old International Submarine Band, Chris Ethridge and John Cornea.
Within a few months, the Burritos boasted a third ex-Byrd when Corneal was replaced by Michael Clarke, who'd most recently been with Doug Dillard and Gene Clark's band. And later in'69, guitarist Bernie Leadon, ex-Hearts & Flowers and Dillard & Clark, became a Burrito.
After rolling the first two Burritos albums, Parsond decided he'd had his fill; he exited and dropped out of sight for a while. He was replaced in the mis-1970 by guitarist/singer/writer Rick Roberts, who had sung (uncredited) on The Byrds' UNTITLED LP (Columbia) earlier that year.
With Roberts in the Burritos fold, they recorded The Flying Burrito Bros., their album (released in June '71, by A&M), and Last of the Red Hot Burritos, the fourth and final new LP (February '72, A&M). But like the first two, the last two were praised to high heaven by the critics, and ignored like hell by record buyers. So after three years and four stiff albums, the band members were fed up with the whole Burritos enchilada.
Most of the key players on the West Coast/Colorado country-rock circuit had crossed paths many times by then. They'd jammed and sung informally, sat in with each other's groups, and written songs together. They'd caroused with the womenfolk, told many a tall tale, and shared mass quantites of controlled substances (thus making "Rocky Mountain high" a double entendre). Career-wise, they also shared the acute frustration of repeated, unconsummated flirtation with the Success Goddess.
The whole scene was taking on incestuous undertones. To paraphrase the summer '71 Stephen Still hit, it was time to change partners.
Bernie Leadon had been the first of the last red-hot Burritos to burn out---in mid-'71, after the third album's lukewarm reception. He shipped out with Glenn Frey (ex-Longbranch Pennywhistle with J.D. Souther). Don Henley (ex-Shiloh), and Randy Meisner (ex-Stone Canyon Band with Rick Nelson) in Linda Ronstadt's band. A few months later, the guys mutinied, jumped ship, and re-christened themselves Eagles.
Pedal steel player Al Perkins (another Shiloh alum) and Hillman went from The Burritos on down the road to Manassas, Stills' post-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young monster blues/rock/country/Latin party band. After that, Perkins and Hillman teamed up with J. D. Souther and Richie Furay (ex-Buffalo Springfield, ex-Poco) in The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band.
Clarke, after eight nearly non-stop years flying with The Byrds, diddling with Dillard & Clark, and farting around with The Burritos, bagged the whole business and headed to Hawaii for an extended vacation. And final Burritos member Kenny Wertz, Rober Bush, and Byron Berline splintered off to become Country Gazette.
E F I R E F A L L I G N I T E S
Rick Roberts, by the early '70s based in Colorado and signed with one of Stills' song publishing compaines, celebrated his post-Burritos freedom by recording a solo album, Windmills, in l972. That May, a song he'd written with Stills and Hillman, "It Doesn't Matter," became a #61 solo 45 for Stephen.
Later that year, Roberts was in New York City to play a gig, and coincidentally, so was Gram Parsons. He'd resurfaced and hit the road with a show that included Emmylou Harris and The Fallen Angels. Kansas-born Jock Bartley, coming off a stint with Zephyr (replacing Tommy Bolin as lead guitarist on the album Sunset Ride), had been hired in Boulder as a singer/guitarist for The Fallen Angels. Like Parsons, Roberts was impressed by Bartley's lead and slide work.
In mid-September 1973, after recording a pair of brilliant solo LPs (G.P. and Grievous Angel, the latter not yet released at that time), Parsons died, supposedly of heart failure; the circumstances remain shrouded in mystery.
Back in Boulder, Bartley ran into Roberts, who by then had cut another solo album, She Is A Song, and the duo began performing together. Encouraged by their audiences and peers--and vowing to avoid the mistakes made with theior previous outfits--the two decided to build a better rock'n'roll band.
Roberts and Bartley rounded up Philadelphia-born bassist/singer Mark Andes, who'd been a major figure on the SoCal (Topanga Canyon) rock scene during the late '60s - early '70s with bands like Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne. Andes had plugged out and was living in the mountains outside Boulder, but was coaxed out of retirement. He brought jazz as well as rock elements to the new band's sound.
Larry Burnett was a Washington, D.C.-based singer/writer/guitarist Roberts had met while performing in The Nation's Captital a few years earlier. When Roberts contacted him in '73 to see if he was free to join Firefall, Burnett had been driving a cab to make ends meet. Rick sent him a one-way plane ticket west; Larry parked the hack, packed his sack, and never looked back.
Roberts, Bartley, Andes, and Burnett then auditioned several local drummers, but none had world-class chops or experience. Finally, Roberts called up his former Burritos bandmate Michael Clark, who was hired on the spot, over the phone. When Clarke landed back in Colorado and assumed Firefall's drum trhone, the lineup wasd ready to gig.
The band woodshedded in Colorado clubs for more than a year, mainly around Boulder and Aspen. They worked on writing new tunes and honing a powerful, guitar-driven rock/pop/country style, which put equal emphasis on strong melodies and sophisticated multi-vocal harmonies. They recorded a demo tape produced by Chris Hillman and began shopping it to several major labels.
In early 1975, after CSNY's mammoth 1974 tour and latest divorce, Stills put a new group together, and signed a solo deal with Columbia. They cut the Stills album, and for the six-week supporting tour that summer, Stephen added Roberts to the band on guitar.
CONFLAGRATION
Firefall's big break came unexpectedly, at around the same time. A few months after splitter up with J. D. Souther and Richie Furay, Chris Hillman hit the road with a backup band that included Firefall's Bartley, Andes, and Roberts. By the time they were scheduled to play The Other End in NYC, Hillman became ill and could not complete the tour. Firefall flew in it's other two members from Colorado to finish the engagements. Atlantic A&R reps caught the show and quickly offered the group a multi-album contract.
History
1976 - FIREFALL first album released. It goes gold in three months, quicker than any previous Atlantic Records album to date. The single "You Are The Woman" rockets into the Top 10 and a number of songs receive saturation FM radio airplay. The new band tours with the likes of the Doobie Bros., Fleetwood Mac, the Band (for their last tour), and the Beach Boys.
1977 - FIREFALL second album, "Luna Sea" is certified gold behind the smash hit "Just Remeber I Love You". Continued non-stop touring with groups like Lynard Skynard, Marshall Tucker, Kenny Loggins, Heart, etc. They appear on such national TV shows as "Midnight Special" and "Austin City Limits".
1978 - FIREFALL third album goes gold then platinum behind the smash hit "Strange Way". The band becomes Fleetwood Mac's opening band of choice during the "Rumors" tour - the biggest summer show was in front of 125,000 people in Austin , Texas. TV includes "American Bandstand" and "Solid Gold".
1979 - FIREFALL fourth album "Undertow" is released, opening the way for the band's first major headlining tour. They play to sold out Japanese audiences on a package with the Beach Boys, Heart & Firefall.
1981 - Original band breaks up. Jock Bartley becomes owner of the name and bandleader, reforming the band.
1982 - FIREFALL seventh album, "Break of Dawn" released on Atlantic Records, featuring such guest artists as Stephen Stills and David Sanborn. The single "Always" reaches the Top 40.
1984 - The single "Runaway Love" is released off the eight album, "Mirror of the World". The song's video is briefly played on MTV. For the following number of years, the band tours constably.
1991 - Rhino Records releases the first album, "FIREFALL" on CD.
1992 - "FIREFALL Greatest Hits" CD released by Rhino Records that features all their many Top 10 and Top 40 hit songs, plus at least on from each of their eight albums and one new song, "Run Run Away" by Jock Bartley about the victims of child abuse.
1993 - Written for the victims of the '93 Flood and played on the radio for the first time six days after it was written, the song "When The River Rises" recieves very much acclaim and midwestern airplay. It is used by CNN and other netword behind flood coverage. A portion of the publishing proceeds goes to flood relief.
1994 - FIREFALL "Messenger" CD released on Redstone Records.
1995 - Rhino Records releases FIREFALL's 2nd, 3rd and 4th albums on CD.
1996 - FIREFALL play benefit concert for Special Olympics hosted by Arnold Swartzenegger and Clint Eastwood. Tour Europe early winter.
1997 - FIREFALL returns to Paris, France in early autumn to headline "West Coast Music Festival" at Disney Paris with Ambrosia, Stephen Bishop and Big House
Firefall I (1974 - 1976)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals - b. 1950, Florida - formerly with The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals - b. Kansas - formerly with Zephyr and Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels.
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals - b. Washington, D.C.
Mark Andes - bass/vocals - b. February 19, 1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - formerly with The Marksmen, The Red Roosters, Spirit, Western Union, Canned Heat, and Jo Jo Gunne.
Michael Clarke - drums - b. June 3, 1944, New York City, New York; d. December 19, 1993, Treasure Island, Florida - formerly with The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers.
Album:
"Firefall" (1976) -
Single:
"You Are the Woman"
Firefall II (1976 - 1980)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals
Mark Andes - bass/vocals
Michael Clarke - drums
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/harmonica/synthesizer
Albums:
"Luna Sea" (1977) - Single:
"Just Remember I Love You"
"Elan" (1978) - Single: "Strange Way"
"Undertow" (1980) - Single: "Headed for a Fall"
Mark Andes later joins Heart.
Firefall III (1980 - 1981)
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Larry Burnett - guitar/vocals
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/synthesizer/vocorder
George Hawkins - bass/vocals
Tris Imboden - drums
Album:
"Clouds Across the Sun" (1980) - Single: "Staying with It"
Firefall IV (1982)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals - formerly with Game (with guitarist George Terry, who was later member of Eric Clapton's touring band).
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals - formerly with Roger McGuinn.
Session Musicians...
Album:
"Break of Dawn" (1982) - Single: "Always"
Firefall V(1983)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
David Muse - keyboards/sax/flute/synthesizer/vocorder
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Greg Overton - bass
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals - formerly with Roger McGuinn.
Firefall VI (1983)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Greg Overton - bass
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals
Album:
"Mirror of the World" (1984) - Single: "Runaway Love"
Firefall VII (1983 - 1985)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Scott Kirkpatrick - drums/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Firefall VIII (1985 - 1986)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Firefall IX (1986)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
Firefall X(1986 - 1987)
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Chuck Kirkpatrick - guitar/keyboards/vocals
John Sambataro - keyboards/guitar/vocals
Bob Gaffney - bass
Steve Hadjapolous - keyboards/flute/sax
Sandy Ficca - drums
Firefall XI (1988 - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Firefall XII ( ? - ? )
Rick Roberts - guitar/vocals
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Firefall XIII ( ? - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
Mark Oblinger - guitar/vocals
...others?
Album:
"Messenger" (1994)
Firefall XIV ( ? - ? )
Jock Bartley - guitar/vocals
Sandy Ficca - drums
...others?
Compilations:
"The Best Of Firefall" (1981)
"Greatest Hits" (1992)
Rick Roberts solo:
"Windmills" (1972)
"She is a Song" (1973)
Chuck Kirkpatrick (aka, Chuck Crane) solo:
"Crane" (1978) - Single: "Oh Dancer"
Discography
http://www.firefall.com/discography.html
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