Back in 1990 during our teenage years religiously tuning into “Shadow Steven’s American Top 40” on Sunday nights, there was a song called “Don’t Treat Me Bad” that blasted into our eardrums. The band that owned the song - FireHouse! In what was a few stellar years, FireHouse took all before them. They won the American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band of 1991, Metal Edge Magazine's Best New Band of 1991 and Young Guitar Magazine's Best Newcomer of 1991. Their first album sold over 2 million, and our song "Love of a Lifetime" sold over 500,000 singles reaching #5 in the American charts. "Don't Treat Me Bad" went to #14. Their second album sold almost 1 million copies with "Reach for the Sky" getting into the top 20 and "When I Look Into Your Eyes" reaching #7.
Whilst the advent of grunge defeated many hard rock bands throughout the 90’s....FireHouse stood strong and never deviated from what they knew. The result - a further 6 albums of CLASSIC FireHouse, with their last “Prime Time” being one of their strongest ever.
Having just recently released his incredibly impressive instrumental album “Southern Exposure” and with a FireHouse tour of Japan with Night Ranger on the horizon, we were fortunate enough to catch up with FireHouse’s legendary guitarist Bill Leverty to have a chat about his new album and what’s in store for FireHouse in 2008.
You can check out all things Bill Leverty (including cool merch and music from Bill’s solo projects) and FireHouse at:
Well Bill it's nearly 20 years since you blasted onto the scene with "Don't Treat Me Bad", it must give you great satisfaction that FireHouse is still a legitimate touring and record making machine, not just only in the USA, but worldwide.
First, thank you so much for this interview and thanks to your readers for taking the time to read this. Yes, it's been a wonderful ride for 20 years, and FireHouse is still able to play music full-time. The really remarkable. We all dreamed that we'd be able to make a real career out of playing music, but the fact that the dream actually did come true and stay with us for so long is absolutely wonderful.
They definitely represent where I am artistically at the time of their release. I'm very proud of both albums. They do draw on my influences of the South, where I've lived pretty much my whole life. "Southern Exposure" is my first instrumental album, so I wanted to make sure that the songs were strong enough to stand up.
Listening to "Southern Exposure", one of the noticeable things is that you have created songs with very strong "hooks" that draw the listeners into the song. Our favourites being the majestic "How Many Ways" and the almost "Surfing With The Alien" kinda vibe of "Hang Six" and "The Valley Of The Kings". Was recording an instrumental album tougher than what you may of first imagined?
Thank you. Yes, this was quite a challenge for me probably because I've never done an instrumental album before, even though I've been very influenced by many instrumentalists. Instrumental music can be empty to the listener because there is no vocal, so the writer has to have melodies that really sing. I tried to make the guitar sing in all of these songs. When I get to the solo section, I can play some faster passages, but the majority of the album is based on melody.
For a complete list, please visit my website: www.leverty.com, but Jeff Beck, Steve Morse, Michael Schenker, Eddie Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth and Al DiMeola are some of my biggest influences. I also really like Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson.
Here is an opportunity to thank your "sponsors", "Grem USA”. You have your own guitar on the market the Bill Leverty Signature Grem Guitar. Here is your opportunity to tell us all how amazing this guitar is and a bit about Grem Guitars in general. Also, if you'd like to send us 2 to promote here in Australia please feel free ha ha
They are the most amazing guitars I've ever felt, played, and heard. My signature model is a neck-through-body purple heart wood with mahogany sides. The fret board is cochin rosewood. It has 24 frets and a Floyd Rose. The guitar is so solid and stable that it won't go out of tune. The tone ranges from extremely think, like that of a Les Paul, to that of a Strat tone. The pickups are DiMarzio. You can order one today through their website: www.gremusa.com.
I should also mention that I'm playing the Randall MTS Series amp on the “Southern Exposure” album. The MTS amps are the most innovative design of guitar amplification ever. The head holds three different preamp modules and they can be hot-swapped, while you play. Randall makes about 13 different modules that sound astounding. I used the "Blackface", "Plexi", and "Ultra" on this album. I couldn't be happier with this amp.
We're talking about getting the material together for a new album. I hope we can get one out by the end of 2008. We tour where ever they hire us. Our booking agent, ARM Entertainment, is in charge of that part of our business. I just keep a suitcase packed and ready to go when they give us the word. :)
In 1999 when travelling in Bali, Indonesia, a local cover band started playing "Love Of A Lifetime" in amongst the usual rock standards. Chatting to the band aftewards, they could tell me all about FireHouse, yet very little about more common bands like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Whitesnake. This has always baffled me and I am wondering if you have any theories as to why FireHouse was so huge in that part of the world??
I don't know why we caught on so well there, and not so well elsewhere in the world. The funny thing is that at a time when grunge was all anyone heard on the redio, FireHouse was extremely popular in Southeast Asia.
Australia has been experiencing something we never thought we would live to see. Ratt and Winger recently played shows to over a 1,000 people, Tesla played to over 700 people, Phil Lewis and his version of LA Guns came out, Bon Jovi just packed out stadiums, Eric Martin did some successful club shows, Mike Tramp has been playing regular shows ever since he based himself here and now Poison and Whitesnake along with Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss are playing a big 2 day festival in New Zealand. Over the years, what has been the general reputation/thoughts of Australia as a "rock nation"? Has FireHouse ever considered touring here?
We've always wanted to play in Australia, but never got the invitation by a promoter who would bring us down. Everyone I've talked to who has ever been there tells me that it's the greatest place in the world, but we haven't been offered a gig there that made fiscal sense yet. I hope we get to come over there and play soon
We were absolutely blown away in July when we travelled from Australia to "Rocklahoma" and saw FireHouse play. As we have both been fans for years it was beyond amazing how good you sounded! How much of a buzz was it playing in front of 40,000 rock fans and hear the reaction you received?
Back in the time of getting signed, with every band in spandex and teased hair trying to catch a deal how did FireHouse stand out and get that lucky break?
We put the emphasis on our songs. We just did our best to make sure that we had enough really good songs that a record company would feel confident in signing us.
Last one on FireHouse, you've never stopped touring over the years, is there any band that you've loved playing with and could happily say you'd stay on tour with forever?
If there's one song you've written/recorded over your career that you could proudly say "this is my all time favourite" what would it be and why?
That's a tough one. I really am fond of so many of them for different reason and different times. I think "Hold The Dream" is an inspirational song that I recently heard again that made me feel proud. I'm also really happy with my new instrumental album, "Southern Exposure" because it's fresh and very much of an interesting listen for me from start to finish.
You have recorded your own CD where you handled lead vocals, released an instrumental CD and tried your hand at producing other bands. What else does Bill Leverty have on his list to accomplish as far as music goes?
I'm not sure. I just want to keep making music and I want it to be the best that I can possibly make it. I have a lot of fun recording. I've also really enjoyed mixing other band's songs. Maybe I'll be able to do more mixing in the future in my spare time. Right now, I'm just taking it one day at a time.
You are easily one of the nicest guys in rock, always in touch with the fans and I remember back in the day I sent you a FireHouse coaster to sign and not only did you do that for me, you asked me to keep an eye out for one for you ha ha. How much do the fans play a part in what you do? PS: I'm still looking for a coaster for you.
And I'm still needing one to set my beer on! ;) Thanks so much for your many years of support. Hope to see you on tour... Bill
And that was “all he wrote”....many thanks to Bill for chatting to us!!!
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