2020 - A Year of "70s," Another Birthday

 

This year has arguably been dreary for many, but in the world of rock, a year of 70th birthdays. From Peter Gabriel, to would-have-been Steely Dan's Walter Becker, to Peter Frampton, today another star marks seventy years of existence - Jim Peterik.

A massive career

Born James Michael Peterik in the western Chicago suburb of Brewyn, Peterik formed a band in 1964 with his classmates, which two years later became The Ides of March. The name refers to the 74th day of the Roman Calendar (3/15), at a friend's suggestion. IoM had hits with You Wouldn't Listen, Vehicle, and LA Goodbye before disbanding in 1973, but are most remembered for Vehicle, which by late May 1970, reached #2 on the Bilboard Charts, and is the fastest-selling Warner Bros. song on record.

After IoM, Peterik formed the short-lived Jim Peterik Band, but in 1978, he met guitarist Frankie Sullivan and eventually, vocalist Dave Bickler to form the band Survivor, whose 1982 hit The Eye of The Tiger, is considered their signature song and features as the theme of the 1983 film Rocky III.

Not just his own songs..

Folks, it's important to remember that Peterik made many chart-topping hits, including Eye of The Tiger, Burning Heart, and The Search is Over with Survivor; however, Peterik is also responsible for penning many Southern Rock hits, including 38 Special's Rockin' into the Night, Hold on Loosely, and Caught up in You.

Peterik is also responsible for writing several Lynyrd Skynyrd songs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Legacy of Davorin Popovich and Indexi

Image
In the former Yugoslavia, there were many successful artists, but one of the most important, and even overlooked sometimes, was a popular band called Indexi (The Indeces). They had an awesome lead singer. The late, great Davorin Popovich today is remembered for has raspy, tenor voice - to me, a bit comparable to Burton Cummings of The Guess Who fame. Over the years, he has earned various nicknames such as Dacho and Pimpek. They were the seeds for other bands. Formed back in 1962, Indexi set the stage for what is now known as the Sarajevo School of Pop Rock - a movement that would live for the next three decades (a la before the Yugoslav wars). Their name, by the way, is the plural of Index - a student's gradebook. Each student was expected to record and maintain their own grades. The core  members, aside from Popovich, consisted of late guitarist Slobodan Bodo Kavachevich and bass player Fadil Redzich (pronounce "dz," like "s" in "risotto)."
Read more

Jimmy Stokley and Exile

Image
  Although of minor significance, today is 35 years since we lostJimmy Stokley of Exile. A little known Kentucky band, Exile is perhaps only known for their 1978 hit Kiss You All Over . In the 80s, the band shifted to more of a country sound, and has not made any noteable chart hits since. A Jagger-like frontman Born James Carr Stokley on October 18, 1943, Stokley joined The Fascinations in 1963, who then became Jimmy Stokley and The Exiles, featuring future Exile guiarist J.P. Penington  Jimmy Stokley and The Exiles, were, towards the end of the decade, shortened to simply The Exiles, before the plural form was dropped in the mid 70s, becoming Exile. Interestingly, Stokley's attire and attitude on stage led to many calling him the American Mick Jagger. One hitters In 1978, Exile issued their LP Mixed Emotions  through Warner Bros. records. The record features the disco-ey hit Kiss You All Over , written by producer Mike Chapman (also notorious for working with Blondie). Despite co
Read more

Bijelo Dugme - Former Yugoslavia's Greatest Rock Band

Image
In today's blog post, we will examine perhaps one of the GREATEST rock bands of the former Yugoslavia. Bijelo Dugme (The White Button), which by sound is largely influenced by the heavy metal likes of Deep Purple, Zeppelin, and Sabbath; however in culture, they were most simillar to the Beatles. In fact, there was a Dugmeania in the former Yugoslavia in the late 70s akin to Beatlemania in the US in the 60s. The brainchild of the band was a young man named Goran Bregovich, aka Brega. He was born on 3, 22, 1950 in Sarajevo to a Serbian mother and a Croatian father. At some point, his mother enrolled him into a music school with violin as a chosen instrument, but around twelve he was expelled showing lack of interest. Consequently, his mother bought him a guitar in his early teenage years. Brega's first bands were high school bands. He played bass guitar for Beshtije (The Beasts). At a  br in 1969, Bregovich met Zeljko Bebek who was part of a band called Kodeksi (The Codexes)
Read more