Firehouse

FireHouse is an American glam metal band formed in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1989. The group builds its sound around hard rock and hair metal and becomes one of the more successful American hard rock acts of the early 1990s.

Career and recognition

FireHouse reaches mainstream success with singles such as “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “All She Wrote”. It is also known for its ballads “I Live My Life for You”, “Love of a Lifetime” and “When I Look Into Your Eyes”. In 1992, the band wins the American Music Award for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist, ahead of Nirvana and Alice in Chains.

The band’s popularity declines in the United States as the 1990s progress, but it remains especially popular in parts of Asia, including Japan, Thailand and Singapore. It continues releasing material through the late 1990s and early 2000s, with much of that work charting in Japan. FireHouse also continues to tour internationally and takes part in the annual Rock Never Stops Tour more than once alongside other 1980s bands.

Members

The original lineup consists of vocalist and keyboard player C.J. Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty, drummer Michael Foster and bassist Perry Richardson. Richardson leaves in 2000 after conflict and is replaced first by Bruce Waibel, then by Dario Seixas, who plays bass on Prime Time in 2003. Allen McKenzie joins on bass in 2004. The later lineup also includes Nate Peck on vocals, alongside Leverty, Foster and McKenzie.

Leverty and Snare both pursue solo work while remaining involved with the band’s recording and touring. Leverty releases the solo albums Wanderlust in 2004 and Southern Exposure in 2007, and Foster plays drums on both. Snare also works on a solo album, although it does not materialise. Snare dies in 2024.

Albums and touring

FireHouse’s studio albums include FireHouse (1990), Hold Your Fire (1992), 3 (1995), Good Acoustics (1996), Category 5 (1998), O2 (2000) and Prime Time (2003), along with the live release Bring ’Em Out Live (1999). The band is estimated to have sold more than 6 million albums worldwide.

In December 2004, FireHouse becomes the first major international rock band to play concert dates in northeast India, performing in Shillong, Dimapur and Aizawl. The Shillong show draws a sold-out crowd of more than 40,000. The band also tours in 2005, 2006 and 2007, including festival appearances such as Rocklahoma.