Comprised of former Flying Burrito Brothers members Rick Roberts (vocals, guitar) and Michael Clarke (drums), former Spirit member Mark Andes (bass), guitarist Jock Bartley, guitarist/vocalist Larry Burett, and keyboard player David Muse, Firefall’s members largely met on tour with other bands or in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. Following Firefall’s formation in 1974, the group began performing in local clubs and bars, and produced a promotional demo tape in 1975.
A subsequent performance at The Other End in New York led the group to sign with Atlantic Records who issued Firefall’s self-titled debut album in May 1976. Led by the single “Livin’ Ain’t Livin’”, the record earned positive reviews and ultimately earned gold certification. The album’s second single, “You Are the Woman”, became a smash hit single reaching the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, following which the band toured in support of Fleetwood Mac.
Released in July 1977, the band’s sophomore album “Luna Sea” featured collaborations with Cuban percussionist Joe Lala and future Eagles member Timothy B. Schmit. Rising to No. 27 on the Billboard 200 and aided by the No. 11 single “Just Remember I Love You”, the record was once again followed by non-stop touring. Thanks to their touring with Fleetwood Mac who were at the peak of their success, Firefall also became extremely popular, however tensions had risen between the substance users in the group (Rick, Larry and Michael Clarke) and the non-substance users (Bartley, Andes and Muse).
The band’s third album “Elan” proved their most successful to date earning platinum certification, however following its release Firefall’s popularity began to dwindle. Despite attempts at changing the band’s sound, Firefall burned out, with Bartley forming Firefall Acoustic in 1994 for the album “Messenger”. Under the same moniker the group released the tribute album “Colorado to Liverpool: A Tribute to the Beatles” in 2007, following which Bartley continued to tour as Firefall alongside musicians Steven Weinmeister, Sandy Ficca, Bil Hopkins, and Chris Ball.
Orleans are the kind of band that one should respect whether you’re into their brand of Seventies pop-rock or not. The last two years or so of their career have been some of the most inspirational (By the way, how many bands who formed in the early two-thousands can say that with a straight face, let alone those who formed in the early seventies, as Orleans did?) in the face of great tragedy, as founding member, singer and guitarist Larry Hoppen took his own life after a long struggle with depression. After deciding that it was what he would have wanted the band to do, the remaining members of Orleans continued touring and have since been playing the best shows of their four decades in the music business. With far more vim and vinegar than is expected from a group of men in their sixties, each of their big hits, from Dance With Me to Still The One all the way through to Love Takes Time sound immaculate. Special mention must go to the bands harmonies, which can still send chills down any given spine at a hundred paces. Every show of theirs has had an extra significance since 2012 for obvious and understandable reasons, and as a band they’re better than ever. In all this is truly a show to see at the next chance you get and discover a band with far more to offer than history seems to remember. Highly recommended.
The first time we saw Firefall was probably over 20 years ago at an Arts and Crafts show in Irving, TX, and really liked them. Then the next time we saw them was at One World Theatre (OWT) here in Austin about three years ago. Although we enjoyed the concert, it seemed to me, that they had just "thrown together" the group w/o a lot of rehearsal. They were good, but not "great." On Friday night, they were "tight," and awesome. A thoroughly satisfying concert. OWT, please bring them back...