Survivor (band)
Survivor is a rock band formed in 1978 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 lead vocalist 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.
1978-1983 --- The Bickler Years
After 2 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. 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.
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). Due to its powerful songwriting and the emotional voice of new singer Jamison, "Vital Signs" is still praised by fans and critics alike as one of the best AOR albums of all time.
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, however, it didn't do very well, stopping at # 49.
During pre-production of their 7th album "Too Hot To Sleep" (1988), Ellis and Droubay decided to leave the band. The album presented a harder rocking Survivor, but failed to do any impression on the charts (# 187 US).
1989-2000 --- Years Of Confusion (Survivor vs. Jimi Jamison's Survivor)
After the disappointing sales of "Too Hot To Sleep", Petrik and Sullivan had no further plans with their band, but also did not want Jamison to record a solo album. Jamison nevertheless recorded "When Love Comes Down" and continued to tour as Survivor. Although Sullivan got back in the band for a South America tour, he left shortly afterward.
In 1993 Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with former lead singer Dave Bickler, released a new 'Greatest Hits' album with two new songs ("Hungry Years" and "You Know Who You Are") and toured extensively. 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. After years of processing, Jamison was granted the right to (also) use the name 'Survivor'.
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.
When the band tried to pull in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band permanently in 1996.
In 1999, Jimi Jamison released the album "Empires" under the name Jimi Jamison's Survivor (later re-released under his own name). It is heralded by many fans as a masterpiece of AOR.
2000-2005 --- Back On Track
In 2000, Bickler left the then Sullivan/Bickler-Survivor, resulting in Sullivan re-establishing a partnership with Jamison to head up the 'original' Survivor. 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. He provides the voice of the 'heavy-metal' ballad singer heard in the background of the ads.
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.
On July 14, 2006, it was announced that Jimi Jamison was leaving the band and Robin McAuley would replace him on lead vocals.
The current lineup is a mix of old and new members: Robin McAuley is on lead vocals, Frankie Sullivan is on guitar, Marc Droubay is on drums, and newcomers Chris Grove are on guitar/keyboards and Barry Dunaway is on bass.
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"Weird Al" Yankovic's hits 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 phenomenon 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
Albums
- Survivor (1980) #169 US
- Premonition (1981) # 82 US
- Eye of the Tiger (1982) # 2 US
- Caught In the Game (1983) # 82 US
- Vital Signs (1985) # 16 US
- When Seconds Count (1986) # 49 US
- Too Hot to Sleep (1988) #187 US
- Greatest Hits (1990)
- Greatest Hits (2) (1993)
- Empires (1999) (Jimi Jamison's Survivor)
- Reach (2006)
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
- "I'm Always Here" (1999) #95 Germany (Jimi Jamison's Survivor)
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