Bob Seger Turns 75
One of Detroit's finest and one of the biggest names in Heartland Rock has turned 75 today. With his powerful, raspy voice, Seger has become one of the biggest names in roots and heartland rock today.
He's an Ann Arborite!
Born Robert Clark Seger at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Seger and his family moved to Ann Arbor when he was five; however, due to his parent's constant arguments, Seger was left with the rest of his family as his parents relocated to California. Despite this, Seger was exposed to music at an early age thanks to his talented father who was a medical technician at (you guessed it) the Ford Motor Company.
Seger's first band was formed in 1961, a trio called the Decibels. It was with them that Seger wrote and recorded his first official hit, The Lonely One. It received significant airply especially in the Detroit area.
Taking a few "baby steps."
Seger, in the mid 60s joined Doug Brown and the Omens as a guitarist and backup (but occassional lead) singer. During this time, he hooked up with his long-term manager, Edward "Punch" Andrews.
As Bob Seger and the Last Herd, Seger recorded East Side Story, which was a failure for the Underdogs - a band Seger was commissioned to write songs for. Seger's take on East Side Story sold 50,000 copies, and led to a recording contract from Cameo-Parkway, but it was short-lived.
The Bob Seger System
Seger soon got a deal with Capitol Records (the big Detroit daddy, Motown, had offered him a deal for more money, but Seger felt Capitol was more appropriate for his genre). At the request of Capitol, the Last Herd became The Bob Seger System. Although the politics-heavy, 2+2 = ? went unnoticed, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man was Seger's first national hit.
Seger Rides Solo
After putting out two more records, the Bob Seger System disbanded in 1970. Seger's major label solo debut, 1971's Brand New Morning was a commercial failure. His second solo LP, 1973's Back in '72 featured the studio version of his future live hit Turn the Page about the struggles and pressure of being on tour. This record was the first of his long-time relationships with the Muscle Schoals Rhythm Section, backing vocalist Shaun Murphy, and saxophonist Alto Reed, which leads into...
The Silver Bullet Band
Although many may not consider them a former entity, Seger's Silver Bullet Band became the backbone of his career around the mid 70s. The first lineup featuring guitarist Drew Abbott, drummer Charlie Allen Martin, bass player Chris Campbell (still current), keyboardist Rick Mansasas, and another current, saxophonist Alto Reed, real name Thomas Neal Cartmell.
Their 1974 debut, Seven, featured the hit Get Out of Denver. This continued with 1975's Beautiful Loser featuring Katmandu, the title track combined with Travelin Man, and a cover of Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits.
In September 1975, Seger and the Silver Bullet Band played two nights at Detroit's Cobo Hall. This was captured and issued six months later on Live Bullet. Today it's considered one of the finest live albums ever. The live rendition of his 1973 song Turn the Page also became a hit and was later covered by Metalica, replacing, of course, the saxophone with electric guitar licks.
The 1976 LP Night Moves featured the title track as Seger's signature song. It was a top-10 hit. The album's other single, Mainstreet, an ode to Ann Arbor's Ann St, became a top 40 hit as well, coming it at #24 in 1977. Night Moves was Seger's first top 10 record.
Since then, Seger has issued numerous albums such as 1978's Stranger in Town, and 1980's, Against the Wind. The former featured another one of Seger's signature songs, Old Time Rock'n'Roll, while the latter featured Eagles Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmidt on backing vocals.
A Cult Following
In the 80s and beyond, Seger has reallly been considered a cult artist. Don Brewer, of Grand Funk fame, joined the Silver Bullet Band in 1980 as did Brewer's bandmate, Craig Frost in 1983. Seger contributed to the Risky Business soundtrack and released a rebound album, 1986's LIke a Rock, which became popular in Chevy commercials, but otherwise Seger has not had matched success of the 70s and early 80s.
He's an Ann Arborite!
Born Robert Clark Seger at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Seger and his family moved to Ann Arbor when he was five; however, due to his parent's constant arguments, Seger was left with the rest of his family as his parents relocated to California. Despite this, Seger was exposed to music at an early age thanks to his talented father who was a medical technician at (you guessed it) the Ford Motor Company.
Seger's first band was formed in 1961, a trio called the Decibels. It was with them that Seger wrote and recorded his first official hit, The Lonely One. It received significant airply especially in the Detroit area.
Taking a few "baby steps."
Seger, in the mid 60s joined Doug Brown and the Omens as a guitarist and backup (but occassional lead) singer. During this time, he hooked up with his long-term manager, Edward "Punch" Andrews.
As Bob Seger and the Last Herd, Seger recorded East Side Story, which was a failure for the Underdogs - a band Seger was commissioned to write songs for. Seger's take on East Side Story sold 50,000 copies, and led to a recording contract from Cameo-Parkway, but it was short-lived.
The Bob Seger System
Seger soon got a deal with Capitol Records (the big Detroit daddy, Motown, had offered him a deal for more money, but Seger felt Capitol was more appropriate for his genre). At the request of Capitol, the Last Herd became The Bob Seger System. Although the politics-heavy, 2+2 = ? went unnoticed, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man was Seger's first national hit.
Seger Rides Solo
After putting out two more records, the Bob Seger System disbanded in 1970. Seger's major label solo debut, 1971's Brand New Morning was a commercial failure. His second solo LP, 1973's Back in '72 featured the studio version of his future live hit Turn the Page about the struggles and pressure of being on tour. This record was the first of his long-time relationships with the Muscle Schoals Rhythm Section, backing vocalist Shaun Murphy, and saxophonist Alto Reed, which leads into...
The Silver Bullet Band
Although many may not consider them a former entity, Seger's Silver Bullet Band became the backbone of his career around the mid 70s. The first lineup featuring guitarist Drew Abbott, drummer Charlie Allen Martin, bass player Chris Campbell (still current), keyboardist Rick Mansasas, and another current, saxophonist Alto Reed, real name Thomas Neal Cartmell.
Their 1974 debut, Seven, featured the hit Get Out of Denver. This continued with 1975's Beautiful Loser featuring Katmandu, the title track combined with Travelin Man, and a cover of Tina Turner's Nutbush City Limits.
In September 1975, Seger and the Silver Bullet Band played two nights at Detroit's Cobo Hall. This was captured and issued six months later on Live Bullet. Today it's considered one of the finest live albums ever. The live rendition of his 1973 song Turn the Page also became a hit and was later covered by Metalica, replacing, of course, the saxophone with electric guitar licks.
The 1976 LP Night Moves featured the title track as Seger's signature song. It was a top-10 hit. The album's other single, Mainstreet, an ode to Ann Arbor's Ann St, became a top 40 hit as well, coming it at #24 in 1977. Night Moves was Seger's first top 10 record.
Since then, Seger has issued numerous albums such as 1978's Stranger in Town, and 1980's, Against the Wind. The former featured another one of Seger's signature songs, Old Time Rock'n'Roll, while the latter featured Eagles Don Felder and Timothy B. Schmidt on backing vocals.
A Cult Following
In the 80s and beyond, Seger has reallly been considered a cult artist. Don Brewer, of Grand Funk fame, joined the Silver Bullet Band in 1980 as did Brewer's bandmate, Craig Frost in 1983. Seger contributed to the Risky Business soundtrack and released a rebound album, 1986's LIke a Rock, which became popular in Chevy commercials, but otherwise Seger has not had matched success of the 70s and early 80s.
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