Blackfoot (band)
Encyclopedia
Blackfoot is a Southern rock
musical ensemble
from Jacksonville
, Florida
organized during 1970. Though they are primarily a Southern rock band, they were known also as a hard rock
act.
They had a number of successful albums during the 1970s and early 1980s, including Strikes
(1979), Tomcattin' (1980) and Marauder (1981).
The original team disbanded by late 1985, though not before former Uriah Heep
band's keyboardist/songwriter Ken Hensley
had joined the group during their last two years together.
and Greg T. Walker met former New York City
native Charlie Hargrett in Jacksonville and organized the band Fresh Garbage with Ron Sciabarasi for keyboards, Rick for drums and vocals, Greg for bass and Hargrett for lead guitar, playing mostly at The Comic Book Club on Forsyth Street.
That autumn, Sciabarasi left Fresh Garbage and lead guitarist Jerry Zambito (ex-Tangerine) joined as a new band, Hammer, was organized with Medlocke performing lead vocals (playing almost no guitar); Greg T. Walker for bass and backup vocals; Jakson Spires, from Tangerine, for drums and backup vocals; DeWitt Gibbs, also from Tangerine, for Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes for electric piano, and backup vocals; and Hargrett for lead guitar. They soon relocated to Gainesville, Florida
to be the house band of Dub's, a well-known topless bar on the outskirts of town.
About the beginning of 1970, the band relocated to Manhattan
after a friend, who was working in a music publishing company, told her boss about the band and he had them move to New York City.
During the early spring of the same year, the band, after learning of another band on the West Coast named Hammer, decided to change their name to Blackfoot to represent the American Indian
heritage of Walker, Spires and Medlocke (Spires is part Cherokee
, Medlocke part Sioux
, and Walker part Eastern Creek, a Florida Indians tribe). When the band failed to acquire a contract as a result of their relocation, Gibbs quit the band and Medlocke began playing rhythm guitar full time.
During the spring of 1971, Medlocke and Walker accepted an offer to join Lynyrd Skynyrd
and Blackfoot ended for a time. There was a brief attempt to regroup during 1972, but Medlocke quit again and Walker joined The Tokens
, who soon changed their name to Cross Country. Hargrett remained in the north, living in Hackettstown, New Jersey
. During August 1972 Blackfoot's old friend and roadie, John Vassiliou, visited Hargrett with Reidsville, North Carolina bassist Lenny Stadler from the band Blackberry Hill. Hargrett decided to relocate to North Carolina and invited Medlocke, who'd quit Lynyrd Skynyrd by this time, to reform Blackfoot with Stadler for bass guitar and Jakson Spires for drums. Danny Johnson (later with the bands Derringer
and Steppenwolf
), from a Louisiana
group, Axis, was employed as second guitarist. But Medlocke soon decided to be both main vocalist and guitarist again, so Johnson was employed only briefly.
During the summer of 1973, Stadler quit the band after a tumor was discovered on one of his lungs (it later dissolved). But Stadler decided to leave secular music to join a gospel group. He eventually became a Methodist minister. Greg T. Walker
was invited to rejoin at this juncture.
By 1974 the band had returned their base of operations to the Northeast (Northern New Jersey) and Medlocke developed nodes on his vocal cords and temporarily lost his voice. Another singer, Patrick Jude, was brought into the band. After a brief time, Medlocke was able to sing again and Jude was dismissed. Soon afterward, Medlocke and Walker sent producers/session players Jimmy Johnson
and David Hood
a copy of Blackfoot's material. Johnson and Hood had worked with Medlocke and Walker in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
when they were there recording with Lynyrd Skynyrd. No Reservations was released by the company Island Records during 1975 as part of a deal organized by Blackfoot's then manager Lou Manganiello, and their second record album, Flying High, was vended by Epic Records
company during 1976. Both record albums were produced by Johnson and Hood.
' manager, Butch Stone, who hired them as the backing group for one of his clients, Ruby Starr
, who had been a backup singer for Black Oak but was now becoming self-employed. After the stint with Ruby ended during 1978, they met Brownsville Station
manager Al Nalli and his partner Jay Frey, who got them a contract with the company Atco Records
.
Blackfoot Strikes, produced by Al Nalli and engineered by Brownsville Station drummer Henry Weck, was recorded in Nalli's basement studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan
and was completed by January 1979. It was destined to be the band's most commercially successful effort. The song "Train, Train", written by Rickey's grandfather, "Shorty" Medlocke, became their first success and best known song. "Highway Song" proved to be another success for them later that year.
The group toured frequently during 1979; late during the year they opened for the band The Who
at the Silverdome
in Pontiac, Michigan
while developing their next album, Tomcattin, which was released during 1980. They went on to release the album Marauder during 1981 and Highway Song Live during 1982.
(ex-Uriah Heep
) was contacted and agreed to join during 1983 in time for their next record album, Siogo. But the poor sales for Siogo had the band thinking they might have to "modernize" for the new MTV
generation. It was thought that perhaps Hargrett with his "biker type" appearance might not be appropriate for television. Hargrett reluctantly decided to end his employment with the band during January 1984 and was not present for their next album, Vertical Smiles, which had been recorded in Atlanta with former Yes
band's engineer Eddie Offord
. This album was rejected by Atco. But the revamped version, which was released finally during October 1984, also failed to sell well.
Ken Hensley, not accustomed to Blackfoot's intense tour schedule, quit by late 1984 and was replaced by former Axe
band's singer/guitarist "Bobby" Barth. But by December 1985, with their popularity waning and good-quality engagements becoming few, the band decided to quit. During February 1986 the Blackfoot company was dissolved. Medlocke decided to continue with a new team that included Doug "Bingo" Bare (keyboards, synthetics, backup vocals), Jerry "Wizzard" Seay (from Mother's Finest
, bass guitar, backup vocals) and Harold Seay (drums, percussion). For their 1987 album Rick Medlocke and Blackfoot (released by the Wounded Bird company), the new group was attempting a more radio-style 1980s rock music sound. Many of the group's fans were not all that happy with the changes.
During 1988, Wizzard and Seay quit and Gunner Ross (drums, percussion), bassist Mark Mendoza
and Neal Casal
(guitar) were employed. Mendoza quit by the end of the year and Rikki Mayr (ex-Lizzy Borden
band) began playing bass for the band during early 1989.
By 1992, Medlocke had revamped the team yet again and hired three other players: Benny Rappa (drums, percussion), Mark Woerpel (an ex-Whiteface
guitarist who had done some studio
work for Medlocke for earlier albums) and Tim Stunson for bass guitar. Another new album, After the Reign, was released during 1994 by the company Wildcat and, like Medicine Man, had something of the band's old style. During 1994, also, the Rhino Records collection Rattlesnake Rock N' Roll: The Best of Blackfoot was released.
By 1996, Blackfoot was: Medlocke, Stet Howland
, John Housley (from Ragady Ann) for lead and rhythm guitar and Bryce Barnes (from Edwin Dare) for bass guitar. That same year, Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd, this time as a guitarist. But he continued to tour with Blackfoot honoring all dates booked through 1997, then disbanded the group to concentrate on Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour, a 1983 concert recording, was released during early 1998, and EMI
released Live during 2000, also culled from the band's heyday.
and Charlie Hargrett. Medlocke was not available, so the lead vocals role was given to Bobby Barth. During March 2005, Spires died suddenly of an aneurysm
, but the band decided to persevere. In compliance with the will of Spires, Austria
n drummer Christoph Ullmann was hired as the new drummer.
During 2006, the band toured and was joined by Southern Rock All Stars's Jay Johnson (the son of Jimmy Johnson, their original co-producer) for guitar and vocals after Barth was sidelined for a shoulder
and neck operation. Barth resumed performing later that year. During November 2006, Ullman left to return to Austria and was succeeded by Mark McConnell. During April 2007, Blackfoot dismissed Johnson. That year, the band toured and consisted of bassist Walker, Hargrett, Barth and drummer Michael Sollars. Later that year a live DVD
was released. Duiring 2009, Scott Craig was employed as drummer.
During the spring of 2010 Barth was forced to undergo emergency back surgery. Former guitarist Mike Estes was then employed for lead vocals/guitar and Kurt Pietro replaced Scott Craig for drums.
In the summer of 2011, Charlie Hargrett left the band. His replacement was Randy Peak.
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
musical ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
organized during 1970. Though they are primarily a Southern rock band, they were known also as a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
act.
They had a number of successful albums during the 1970s and early 1980s, including Strikes
Strikes (album)
Strikes is the third album by Southern rock band Blackfoot, released during 1979. That album has received from the RIAA a platinum certification in April 1986.-Track listing:# "Road Fever" – Medlocke/Spires...
(1979), Tomcattin' (1980) and Marauder (1981).
The original team disbanded by late 1985, though not before former Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
band's keyboardist/songwriter Ken Hensley
Ken Hensley
Kenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
had joined the group during their last two years together.
Early years
During the spring of 1969, Rickey MedlockeRickey Medlocke
Rickey Medlocke is an American musician best known as the frontman/guitarist for the southern rock band Blackfoot and, more recently, as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd...
and Greg T. Walker met former New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
native Charlie Hargrett in Jacksonville and organized the band Fresh Garbage with Ron Sciabarasi for keyboards, Rick for drums and vocals, Greg for bass and Hargrett for lead guitar, playing mostly at The Comic Book Club on Forsyth Street.
That autumn, Sciabarasi left Fresh Garbage and lead guitarist Jerry Zambito (ex-Tangerine) joined as a new band, Hammer, was organized with Medlocke performing lead vocals (playing almost no guitar); Greg T. Walker for bass and backup vocals; Jakson Spires, from Tangerine, for drums and backup vocals; DeWitt Gibbs, also from Tangerine, for Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes for electric piano, and backup vocals; and Hargrett for lead guitar. They soon relocated to Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
to be the house band of Dub's, a well-known topless bar on the outskirts of town.
About the beginning of 1970, the band relocated to Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
after a friend, who was working in a music publishing company, told her boss about the band and he had them move to New York City.
During the early spring of the same year, the band, after learning of another band on the West Coast named Hammer, decided to change their name to Blackfoot to represent the American Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
heritage of Walker, Spires and Medlocke (Spires is part Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
, Medlocke part Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
, and Walker part Eastern Creek, a Florida Indians tribe). When the band failed to acquire a contract as a result of their relocation, Gibbs quit the band and Medlocke began playing rhythm guitar full time.
During the spring of 1971, Medlocke and Walker accepted an offer to join Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
and Blackfoot ended for a time. There was a brief attempt to regroup during 1972, but Medlocke quit again and Walker joined The Tokens
The Tokens
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
, who soon changed their name to Cross Country. Hargrett remained in the north, living in Hackettstown, New Jersey
Hackettstown, New Jersey
Hackettstown is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 9,724. The town is located in the eastern most region of the Lehigh Valley....
. During August 1972 Blackfoot's old friend and roadie, John Vassiliou, visited Hargrett with Reidsville, North Carolina bassist Lenny Stadler from the band Blackberry Hill. Hargrett decided to relocate to North Carolina and invited Medlocke, who'd quit Lynyrd Skynyrd by this time, to reform Blackfoot with Stadler for bass guitar and Jakson Spires for drums. Danny Johnson (later with the bands Derringer
Derringer
The term derringer is a genericized misspelling of the last name of Henry Deringer, a famous 19th-century maker of small pocket pistols. Many copies of the original Philadelphia Deringer pistol were made by other gun makers worldwide, and the name was often misspelled; this misspelling soon became...
and Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
), from a Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
group, Axis, was employed as second guitarist. But Medlocke soon decided to be both main vocalist and guitarist again, so Johnson was employed only briefly.
During the summer of 1973, Stadler quit the band after a tumor was discovered on one of his lungs (it later dissolved). But Stadler decided to leave secular music to join a gospel group. He eventually became a Methodist minister. Greg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker is an American bassist who played with Southern US country rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd between 1970 and 1971.He later moved on with fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd member Ricky Medlocke to form rock outfit Blackfoot....
was invited to rejoin at this juncture.
By 1974 the band had returned their base of operations to the Northeast (Northern New Jersey) and Medlocke developed nodes on his vocal cords and temporarily lost his voice. Another singer, Patrick Jude, was brought into the band. After a brief time, Medlocke was able to sing again and Jude was dismissed. Soon afterward, Medlocke and Walker sent producers/session players Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (musician)
Jimmy Johnson is an American a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section that was attached to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for a period in the 1960s and 1970s, and later was the a founder of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio located at first on 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield, Alabama and at...
and David Hood
David Hood
David Hood , is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame....
a copy of Blackfoot's material. Johnson and Hood had worked with Medlocke and Walker in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
when they were there recording with Lynyrd Skynyrd. No Reservations was released by the company Island Records during 1975 as part of a deal organized by Blackfoot's then manager Lou Manganiello, and their second record album, Flying High, was vended by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
company during 1976. Both record albums were produced by Johnson and Hood.
Mid 1970s
By late 1975, the group was living back in Gainesville, Florida. During 1977 they communicated with Black Oak ArkansasBlack Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade...
' manager, Butch Stone, who hired them as the backing group for one of his clients, Ruby Starr
Ruby Starr
Ruby Starr was born Constance Henrietta Mierzwiak in Toledo, Ohio. Starr started performing at the age of nine under the stage name Connie Little and later joined Ruby Jones in 1969. In 1971 they were signed to Curtom Records and recorded their first album, Ruby Jones...
, who had been a backup singer for Black Oak but was now becoming self-employed. After the stint with Ruby ended during 1978, they met Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station (band)
Brownsville Station was a rock band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda , Mike Lutz , T.J. Cronley , and Tony Driggins...
manager Al Nalli and his partner Jay Frey, who got them a contract with the company Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
.
Blackfoot Strikes, produced by Al Nalli and engineered by Brownsville Station drummer Henry Weck, was recorded in Nalli's basement studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
and was completed by January 1979. It was destined to be the band's most commercially successful effort. The song "Train, Train", written by Rickey's grandfather, "Shorty" Medlocke, became their first success and best known song. "Highway Song" proved to be another success for them later that year.
The group toured frequently during 1979; late during the year they opened for the band The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
at the Silverdome
Silverdome
The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania built in 1984. The Silverdome was built at an estimated cost of A$4 million, as the Tasmanian Government "proposed a world class facility" to replace the run down velodrome in the Launceston suburb of St...
in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
while developing their next album, Tomcattin, which was released during 1980. They went on to release the album Marauder during 1981 and Highway Song Live during 1982.
1980s
During the early 1980s the "southern rock" genre was considered passe by the pop music press, so the band began attempting to change their style somewhat. They decided to add keyboards to the group once again. Organist Ken HensleyKen Hensley
Kenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
(ex-Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
) was contacted and agreed to join during 1983 in time for their next record album, Siogo. But the poor sales for Siogo had the band thinking they might have to "modernize" for the new MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
generation. It was thought that perhaps Hargrett with his "biker type" appearance might not be appropriate for television. Hargrett reluctantly decided to end his employment with the band during January 1984 and was not present for their next album, Vertical Smiles, which had been recorded in Atlanta with former Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
band's engineer Eddie Offord
Eddie Offord
Eddy Offord is a former record producer and recording engineer, who worked on some of the most famous progressive rock albums of the 1970s, often at London's Advision Studios. He is especially well known for his work with the groups Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Yes. ELP wrote a tribute to Offord with...
. This album was rejected by Atco. But the revamped version, which was released finally during October 1984, also failed to sell well.
Ken Hensley, not accustomed to Blackfoot's intense tour schedule, quit by late 1984 and was replaced by former Axe
Axe (band)
Axe is a hard rock band from Florida, USA, formed in 1979. Not to be confused with Chicago based band AXE the band, consisting of Ron Sammons, Mike Bayless, Rick Turco, Joey Martinez, Brad Harris, and Matt Ketchum.- Biography:...
band's singer/guitarist "Bobby" Barth. But by December 1985, with their popularity waning and good-quality engagements becoming few, the band decided to quit. During February 1986 the Blackfoot company was dissolved. Medlocke decided to continue with a new team that included Doug "Bingo" Bare (keyboards, synthetics, backup vocals), Jerry "Wizzard" Seay (from Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest is a funk rock band founded in Atlanta, Georgia by Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock in the early 1970s. The group charted with the singles "Fire" , "Baby Love" , "Don't Wanna Come Back" , "Love Changes" , and "Piece Of The Rock" in the mid to late 1970s.-History:Mother's Finest...
, bass guitar, backup vocals) and Harold Seay (drums, percussion). For their 1987 album Rick Medlocke and Blackfoot (released by the Wounded Bird company), the new group was attempting a more radio-style 1980s rock music sound. Many of the group's fans were not all that happy with the changes.
During 1988, Wizzard and Seay quit and Gunner Ross (drums, percussion), bassist Mark Mendoza
Mark Mendoza
Mark "The Animal" Mendoza is the bassist of the American heavy metal band, Twisted Sister. He joined the band on October 31, 1978, after he left The Dictators. He also briefly played in Blackfoot in early 1990s.Mendoza played the bass guitar on all of Twisted Sister's major label releases...
and Neal Casal
Neal Casal
Neal Casal is an American songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and photographer who has maintained an acclaimed solo career as well as playing guitar for The Cardinals.-1990 - 1999:...
(guitar) were employed. Mendoza quit by the end of the year and Rikki Mayr (ex-Lizzy Borden
Lizzy Borden (band)
Lizzy Borden is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. Lizzy Borden is also the name of the band's lead vocalist.-History:Lizzy Borden specializes in the shock rock style originated by artists such as Alice Cooper and Kiss...
band) began playing bass for the band during early 1989.
1990s
During 1990 a new album, Medicine Man, was released by the independent Loop company.By 1992, Medlocke had revamped the team yet again and hired three other players: Benny Rappa (drums, percussion), Mark Woerpel (an ex-Whiteface
Whiteface (band)
Whiteface was an Atlanta-based pop-rock-funk band formed in the late `70's. Its members were technically-proficient and each was a lead vocalist, giving the band an incredible vocal harmony sound...
guitarist who had done some studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
work for Medlocke for earlier albums) and Tim Stunson for bass guitar. Another new album, After the Reign, was released during 1994 by the company Wildcat and, like Medicine Man, had something of the band's old style. During 1994, also, the Rhino Records collection Rattlesnake Rock N' Roll: The Best of Blackfoot was released.
By 1996, Blackfoot was: Medlocke, Stet Howland
Stet Howland
Stet Howland is a Professional drummer, was born August 14, 1958 is from Plymouth, Massachusetts graduated high school in 1978 from Duxbury High School. Started playing drums at age 7, he has been teaching and playing for a living since age 13...
, John Housley (from Ragady Ann) for lead and rhythm guitar and Bryce Barnes (from Edwin Dare) for bass guitar. That same year, Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd, this time as a guitarist. But he continued to tour with Blackfoot honoring all dates booked through 1997, then disbanded the group to concentrate on Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour, a 1983 concert recording, was released during early 1998, and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
released Live during 2000, also culled from the band's heyday.
2000s
During 2004 a second resurrection of Blackfoot occurred with initial members Jakson Spires, Greg T. WalkerGreg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker is an American bassist who played with Southern US country rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd between 1970 and 1971.He later moved on with fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd member Ricky Medlocke to form rock outfit Blackfoot....
and Charlie Hargrett. Medlocke was not available, so the lead vocals role was given to Bobby Barth. During March 2005, Spires died suddenly of an aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
, but the band decided to persevere. In compliance with the will of Spires, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n drummer Christoph Ullmann was hired as the new drummer.
During 2006, the band toured and was joined by Southern Rock All Stars's Jay Johnson (the son of Jimmy Johnson, their original co-producer) for guitar and vocals after Barth was sidelined for a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
and neck operation. Barth resumed performing later that year. During November 2006, Ullman left to return to Austria and was succeeded by Mark McConnell. During April 2007, Blackfoot dismissed Johnson. That year, the band toured and consisted of bassist Walker, Hargrett, Barth and drummer Michael Sollars. Later that year a live DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
was released. Duiring 2009, Scott Craig was employed as drummer.
During the spring of 2010 Barth was forced to undergo emergency back surgery. Former guitarist Mike Estes was then employed for lead vocals/guitar and Kurt Pietro replaced Scott Craig for drums.
In the summer of 2011, Charlie Hargrett left the band. His replacement was Randy Peak.
Current members
- Greg T. WalkerGreg T. WalkerGreg T. Walker is an American bassist who played with Southern US country rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd between 1970 and 1971.He later moved on with fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd member Ricky Medlocke to form rock outfit Blackfoot....
- bass, backing vocals - Randy Peak - guitars
- Mike Estes - guitars, vocals
- Kurt Pietro - drums, percussion
Former members
- Rickey MedlockeRickey MedlockeRickey Medlocke is an American musician best known as the frontman/guitarist for the southern rock band Blackfoot and, more recently, as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd...
- vocals, guitars, mandolin - Charlie Hargrett - guitars
- Jakson Spires - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Jerry Zambito - guitar
- Dewitt Gibbs - keyboards, backing vocals
- Leonard Stadler - bass
- Danny Johnson - guitar
- Patrick Jude - vocals
- Ken HensleyKen HensleyKenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
- keyboards, guitar, backing vocals - Doug Bare - keyboards, backing vocals
- Wizzard - bass, backing vocals
- Rikki Mayr - bass, backing vocals
- Gunner Ross - drums, percussion
- Mark MendozaMark MendozaMark "The Animal" Mendoza is the bassist of the American heavy metal band, Twisted Sister. He joined the band on October 31, 1978, after he left The Dictators. He also briefly played in Blackfoot in early 1990s.Mendoza played the bass guitar on all of Twisted Sister's major label releases...
- bass - Bryce Barnes - bass
- Mark Woerpel - guitars, synthesizer
- Christoph Ullmann - drums, percussion
- Jay Johnson - guitars, vocals
- Tim Stunson - bass
- Neal CasalNeal CasalNeal Casal is an American songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and photographer who has maintained an acclaimed solo career as well as playing guitar for The Cardinals.-1990 - 1999:...
- guitars - Harold Seay - drums, percussion
- Benny Rappa - drums, percussion
- Stet HowlandStet HowlandStet Howland is a Professional drummer, was born August 14, 1958 is from Plymouth, Massachusetts graduated high school in 1978 from Duxbury High School. Started playing drums at age 7, he has been teaching and playing for a living since age 13...
- drums, percussion - John Housley - guitar
- Mark McConnell - drums, percussion
- Michael Sollars - drums, percussion
- Bobby Barth - lead vocals, guitar
Studio albums
- No ReservationsNo Reservations (Blackfoot album)No Reservations is the first album by southern rock band Blackfoot, released in 1975.- Track listing :# Railroad Man # Indian World # Stars # Not Another Maker # Born to Rock & Roll # Take a Train...
(1975) - Flyin' High (1976)
- StrikesStrikes (album)Strikes is the third album by Southern rock band Blackfoot, released during 1979. That album has received from the RIAA a platinum certification in April 1986.-Track listing:# "Road Fever" – Medlocke/Spires...
(1979) - Tomcattin' (1980)
- Marauder (1981)
- Siogo (1983)
- Vertical Smiles (1984)
- Rick Medlocke And Blackfoot (1987)
- Medicine Man (1990)
- After the ReignAfter The ReignAfter the Reign is a Blackfoot album released on May 24, 1994 through Wildcat Records. It has so far thus proved to be the final Blackfoot studio album.-Track listing:All songs by Rickey Medlocke and Benny Rappa except where noted...
(1994)
Live albums
- Highway Song Live (1982)
- Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour (1998)
- Train Train: Southern Rock's Best - Live (2007)
- On The Run - Live (2004)
- Fly Away - Live (2011)
Compilations
- Rattlesnake Rock N' Roll: The Best of Blackfoot (1994)
- Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Blackfoot album)Greatest Hits is a 2002 budget compilation album by Southern rock band Blackfoot. It contains ten of their most popular hits, collected from Strikes, Tomcattin, and Marauder.-Track listing:# "Highway Song"...
(2002)
Radio shows
- Blackfoot Interview {1978}
- Blackfoot - Johnny Van Zant (1979 [Reading Festival])
- Blackfoot - Stevie Ray Vaughan KBFH (1980)
- Blackfoot - Truimph KBFH (1981 [Best of the Biscuit])
- Blackfoot KBFH (1982)
Rare items
- Wishing Well/Highway Song Japanese (1979)
- Maxi single (1980)
- Blackfoot Picture Disc