Survivor

Founded by former Ides of March guitarist and keyboardist Jim Peterik in 1978, the guitarist subsequently invited guitarist Drankie Sullivan and lead singer Dave Bickler to record an eponymous debut album. Featuring session musician Dennis Johnson on bass and Gary Smith on drums, the 1980 album spawned the Chicago hit single “Somewhere in America”. Bass player Stephen Ellis and drummer Marc Droubay were subsequently added to the lineup for the supporting tour and future releases.

Survivor earned their breakthrough upon being asked by Sylvester Stallone to write the soundtrack to “Rocky III” and returned with the smash hit single “Eye of the Tiger”. With arena-filling sound, a seductive opening riff and climatic prowess, the record spent six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and later won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance. The album “Eye of the Tiger” followed later in 1982, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and producing the singles “Ever Since the World Began” and “American Heartbeat”.

Unable to promote their third album due to lead singer Bickler’s vocal perils, 1983’s “Caught in the Game” was a commercial disappointment, peaking at No. 82 on the Billboard 200. By early 1984 Bickler was ordered to continue resting his throat, which resulted in him being replaced by former Target and Cobra frontman Jimi Jamison. The new singer's debut “The Moment of Truth” arrived in 1984, known as the theme song to the film “The Karate Kid”. Peaking at No. 63 the single paved the way for Jamison’s debut album “Vital Signs” in August 1984, representing a resurgence in popularity for the group. Spawning the No. 13 single “I Can’t Hold Back”, No. 8 “High on You”, and No. 4 “The Search is Over”, the record marked Survivor’s reluctance to become a one-hit-wonder band.

A year later the band contributed the song “Burning Heart” to the “Rocky IV” soundtrack, which later peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The full-length “When Seconds Count” followed in 1986, led by the single “Is This Love”, after which bassist Ellis developed a stomach ulcer and needed roadie Rocko Reedy to fill-in. A year later Survivor’s seventh studio album “Too Hot to Sleep” was released, which the band supported with an unusually modest tour. Following the album's release Survivor took a hiatus, however, ultimately returned in 2006 to issue their eighth full-length album “Reach”.