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OFFICIAL SURVIVOR BIOGRAPHY
It’s Survivor members, Frankie Sullivan (guitars, vocals) and Robin McAuley (leadvocals), that keep the signature Survivor sound that the world fell in love with, alive and touring!
Survivor was formed in the cold Chicago winter of 1977 by Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik. By the end of 1978, Survivor was signed to a record deal with Scotti Bros. Records. Under patronage of John Kalodner, then head of A&R for Atlantic Records, Survivor went into the studio to cut their first self-titled album. This record, released in 1980 with the single “Somewhere in America,” did moderately well and started to build a loyal base of fans.
After touring for 8 months, the band went back into the studio. The result of those sessions, PREMONITION, is considered by many fans to be their favorite Survivor record. The album was released in 1981 with the singles, “Poor Man’s Son” and “Summer Nights.” This record improved on the first album’s success, although still not the big breakout the band was looking for – that was to come with the 1982 release of EYE OF THE TIGER. The title song for this record was expressly written for “Rocky III,” which brought the band national attention. “Eye of The Tiger” spent seven weeks at the 1 spot on the U.S. charts. The song won a Grammy®, an Oscar® nomination and
was voted “Best New Song” by the Peoples Choice Awards. Immediately following the record, the band toured extensively performing in sheds and stadiums.
1983 found Survivor back in the studio at work on CAUGHT IN THE GAME, which received critical acclaim and AOR airplay. It was after this that Dave Bickler, vocalist since 1978, decided to leave the band and was replaced by Jimi Jamison in 1984.
Frankie Sullivan and Dave Bickler in 1999
Photo by M. Hanley
Survivor’s next album, VITAL SIGNS, was released and achieved multi-Platinum status with a string of hit singles that kept Survivor on the charts for over 40 weeks in ‘84 and ’85. It was their established AOR airplay and Billboard Top 20 hits--I Can’t Hold Back,” “High on You” and “The Search is Over,” which reached 2 on the Hot 100--that kept Survivor at the top of the record and concert business.
While the band continued to tour worldwide, they managed to take time out to record “Burning Heart”, the title track for “Rocky IV.” The song went all the way to 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, propelling the soundtrack album to multi-Platinum status. It was 1987 before Survivor had time to stop and make another record. WHEN SECONDS COUNT contained yet another Top Ten single, “Is This Love,” which stayed in the Top 10 for several weeks.
In 1988 Survivor released their seventh album, TOO HOT TO SLEEP. Although not the huge commercial success of some of their other efforts, it is still considered by many critics and fans alike to be one of Survivor’s best.
Photo by Denise Martin
Shortly after this release, the group decided to pursue various solo projects. Frankie continued in the studio writing and recording with many different artists, most recently with Eddie Money for his 1999 release, “Ready Eddie,” in which Frankie produced as well as wrote and performed.
Fast forward to 2006, when former McAuley Schenker Group (MSG) frontman Robin McAuley replaced Jim Jamison as the new lead vocalist for Survivor. The band had crossed paths with McAuley here and there over the years, but it was finally the right time for them to join forces.
As Sullivan explains, “I first met Robin in 1988 when my good friend and Grammy® Award-winning engineer, Frank Filipetti, felt in his gut that Robin and I would be really comfortable together and that meeting would lead to great times and great music. Frank had just completed working on MSG’s ANYTIME album, which included the Top Ten hit ‘Anytime,’ which Robin wrote. At the same time, Frank was mastering Survivor’s TOO HOT TO SLEEP. It was some twist of fate, though I will tell you Frank Filipetti has one great gut!”
Since the split of McAuley Schenker Group in the early 90’s, Robin had been keeping busy: he re-recorded “Free Ride” with Edgar Winter, which ran as a jingle for Buick Cars nationwide for almost two years straight; he performed on several tribute records for such bands as Kiss, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Faces, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks; he recorded the song “Teach Me How To Dream,” which was produced and written by David Foster, for the movie “If Looks Could Kill”; and he made a solo album, BUSINESS AS USUAL, which was co-written with Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan.
When we made the decision to replace Jamison,” remembers Sullivan, ”I had no idea what we would do. Then it hit me--Robin McAuley! Is he available? How can he possibly be available?! Can I be lucky yet again in my career to work with such a talented singer? Well, the short answer, he was available, we gave him the songs of a set list we would perform, he came to the Windy City and blew our socks off! Robin is a pure pleasure to work with and he’s such a great person. With Robin, what you see is what you get. And boy do you get it!”
This is assured to put the bite back into the tiger and the Survivor camp is ready to break loose from its cage. “I’m very excited at this opportunity to sing for Survivor,” says McAuley. “I can only hope the Survivor fans give me a fighting chance. Frankie and I have worked together in the past I am extremely excited to start writing with him again and playing with a great bunch of guys. This new Survivor promises to be full of energy, and with such a stable of awesome tunes to pick from, who knows what each show will
bring. I’m ready!”
Drummer Marc Droubay adds, "We have played the same set list for five years. Having a singer of Robin's caliber allows us to change up the set list and give the fans the opportunity to hear songs live they have asked to hear for years! Songs they have never heard live before."
Marc Droubay in 1999
Photo by M. Hanley
“So we embark on a totally new Survivor,” says an ecstatic Sullivan. “One that for the first time in many years is based on music and performing. Robin loves the fans and is no doubt one of the best front men I have ever known! I guess it's the luck of two Irishmen, McAuley/Sullivan finally taking its place in time and where it belongs, making music and making fans happy!”
After several greatest hits packages have been released worldwide, there is now a great Survivor record currently in the making!
A BIG Congratulations! to SURVIVOR on a great performance on
"Dancing With The Stars" April 3, 2007!
SEE THE VIDEO HERE!
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