 Many point to Billy Squier as early-'80s rock personified --
an era when he and many of his peers tempered hard rock with pop melodicism --
and by adding just the right amount of posing and posturing for the newly
constructed MTV set, he scored a string of arena rock anthems and power ballads.
But Billy Squier did not enjoy overnight success as it took many years and
several failed bands before he hit paydirt as a solo artist. Born on May 12,
1950, in Wellesley Hills, MA, Billy Squier began playing piano and guitar at an
early age, but didn't become serious with music until discovering Eric Clapton
(via the renowned British guitarist's stints with John Mayall & the
Bluesbreakers and Cream) in the late '60s and deciding to pursue music
full-time. After playing in several local bands in the Boston area, Billy Squier
spent the early '70s relocating back and forth between Boston and New York City,
during which time he contributed to a troupe that combined music with poetry
(called Magic Terry & the Universe), attended the Berklee College of Music, and
played in a pair of rock groups (N.Y.C.'s Kicks, which included future New York
Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan, and Boston's the Sidewinders).
But it wasn't until Billy Squier's next band, Piper, that the
singer/guitarist fronted a group that inked a recording contract, issuing a pair
of underappreciated albums for A&M (1976's self-titled debut and 1977's Can't
Wait), before splitting up. Undeterred, Billy Squier soldiered on as a solo act,
issuing his solo debut, Tale of the Tape, in 1980, which spawned a moderate rock
radio hit with "You Should Be High Love," setting the stage perfectly for his
big commercial breakthrough. Looking to the bombastic rock of early Led Zeppelin
for inspiration, Billy Squier's sophomore release, Don't Say No, became a
monster hit on the strength of the Zep carbon copy "The Stroke," as well as such
other rock radio staples as "In the Dark," "My Kinda Lover," and "Lonely Is the
Night," all of which enjoyed heavy rotation on the newly founded MTV, helping
Billy Squier expand his audience even further.
Billy Squier's hit parade continued with 1982's Emotions in
Motion, another big release that spawned an additional monster radio/MTV hit
with "Everybody Wants You," as Billy Squier supported the album with a tour of
U.S. arenas (with an up-and-coming Def Leppard opening). But on his next
release, the 1984 Jim Steinman-produced Signs of Life, Billy Squier hit a snag
in his career. Although the album was another sizeable U.S. hit, the video for
the album's single, "Rock Me Tonite," alienated some of Billy Squier's hardcore
rock following, as the singer was filmed flamboyantly prancing around his
apartment in time to the music (and in a moment of great delight, ripping off
his shirt) -- resulting in the clip often being considered one of the most
inadvertently hilarious videos of all time.
Billy Squier continued to issue albums throughout the '80s
(including such titles as 1986's Enough Is Enough and 1989's Hear & Now), but it
wasn't enough to prevent his audience from moving on to such younger, similarly
styled acts as Bon Jovi and Mtley Cre, as the hits eventually dried up. Billy
Squier continued to release albums in the '90s (1991's Creatures of Habit,
1993's Tell the Truth, and 1998's Happy Blue), but the hard rock audience, who
became more interested in such unpretentious rockers as Nirvana, had deemed the
majority of '80s rockers pass. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
Contact Grabow for more information or to book Billy Squier
for your next corporate or private event.
|
