Скачать или смотреть Firefall Founding Guitarist Jock Bartley talks to Joe Viglione on Visual Radio's Pop Explosion

Firefall Founding Guitarist Jock Bartley talks to Joe Viglione on Visual Radio's Pop Explosion

From the publicist:
The band will be releasing a new album entitled Friends & Family 2 on May 23 on Sunset Blvd Records.

Friends & Family 2 features Firefall’s takes on hits by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, the Beach Boys, and Kenny Loggins, with special guests including Wynonna Judd, Buffalo Springfieldco-founder Richie Furay, and former Elton John/Hall & Oates bassist Kenny Passarelli.

It will contain songs by Stephen Stills (“Love the One You’re With”), America (“I Need You”), and Eddie Money (“Shakin’”). Other acts with particularly strong Firefall associations receive tributes on both Friends & Family volumes, such as the Byrds (whose “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” appears on Volume 2), The Flying Burrito Brothers (“Christine’s Tune”), Dan Fogelberg (“Longer”), and Fleetwood Mac (“Go Your Own Way”).

It’s the follow-up release to the first Friends & Family album which was released in 2023 on Sunset Blvd Records, which contained 13 songs of Firefall’s versions of songs by artists they both love and have a history with including songs by the Beach Boys, Lynryd Skynyrd, Spirit, Dan Fogelberg, Loggins & Messina amongst others.

Firefall formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. The band was founded by Rick Roberts, who had been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and guitarist Jock Bartley, who had been the late Tommy Bolin's (James Gang/Deep Purple) replacement in the band Zephyr.

The band’s trademark melodic mix of soothing rock, country and pop has stood the test of time, resulting in great critical acclaim and big-time chart success.

The band's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman", peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard charts in 1976. Other hits included "Just Remember I Love You" (#11 in 1977), "Strange Way” (#11 in 1978), "Cinderella" (#34 in 1977), "Headed for a Fall" (#35 in 1980), and "Staying with It" (#37 in 1981).

The group’s roots can be directly traced back to the middle 60s music of The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. Roberts, who’d been a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers and Bartley, who’s been a member of Gram Parson’s band, met in 1973 and hit if off musically and personally.

The result was the eventual formation of Firefall, which included Andes (former member of 60s rock innovators Spirt, 70s rockers Jo Jo Gunne and Heart), drummer Michael Clarke (best known as the original drummer in The Byrds) and sax/flute keyboardist David Muse.

The band’s self-titled debut was released in 1976 and was an immediate smash, leading to world tours with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ELO and The Band, amongst others.

Firefall’s next two albums, Luna Sea (1977) and Elan (1978) were also critically acclaimed, sold massively well and charted high on both the Billboard Top 200 and the Adult Contemporary charts.

Bartley has remained the band’s sole constant member over the years, as the band has continued to tour and maintain the credibility and legacy of Firefall while doing so.

Inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2015, the current version of the band has been touring steadily since 2014, much to the delight of the band’s loyal audience.