The Firm (rock band)
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The Firm | |
|---|---|
 L-R: Jimmy Page, Chris Slade, Paul Rodgers, and Tony Franklin, 1984. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Hard rock, blues rock |
| Years active | 1984–1986 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Past members | Paul Rodgers Jimmy Page Tony Franklin Chris Slade |
The Firm were a British rock supergroup comprising former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Uriah Heep drummer Chris Slade and bass player Tony Franklin. Page and Rodgers originally wanted former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and fretless bassist Pino Palladino in the group; however, Bruford was contracted to another label and Palladino had tour commitments with singer Paul Young.
Both Page and Rodgers refused to play any material from their former bands and instead opted for a selection of Firm songs plus tracks from both their solo albums. The new songs were heavily infused with a soulful and more commercially accessible sound, courtesy of Franklin's fretless bass guitar underpinning an understated song structure. Despite refusing to play old material, the last track from The Firm, "Midnight Moonlight", was originally an unreleased Led Zeppelin song entitled "The Swan Song"[citation needed]. This caused some critics[who?] to believe that Page had begun to run out of ideas. In subsequent press interviews, Page had indicated that the band was never meant to last more than two albums. After the band split, Page and Rodgers returned to solo work while Chris Slade joined AC/DC and Franklin teamed up with guitarist John Sykes in Blue Murder.
Band members
- Paul Rodgers - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
- Jimmy Page - lead & rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Tony Franklin - fretless bass, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Chris Slade - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Films, DVDs
- The Firm Live at Hammersmith 1984 (1984) (limited release video)
- Five From the Firm (1986)
Official tours
- Europe (29 November 1984 - 9 December 1984)
The band only played two UK concerts on this tour at Middlesbrough Town Hall, and the London Hammersmith Odeon. As well as Firm songs the band played solo material by Paul and Jimmy. This included Paul Rodgers gliding onto stage seated at a piano to sing "Live in Peace" from his earlier solo album. Jimmy played songs from the Death Wish II soundtrack, which featured his trademark playing of the guitar with a violin bow while beneath a laser pyramid.
- United States (28 February 1985 - 11 May 1985)
- United Kingdom (18 May 1985 - 22 May 1985)
- United States (14 March 1986 - 28 May 1986)
Discography
Albums
- The Firm (1985) #17 US, #15 UK
- Mean Business (1986) #22 US, #46 UK[1]
Singles
- "Radioactive" (1985) #28 US
- "Satisfaction Guaranteed" (1985) #73 US
- "All The King's Horses" (1986) #61 US
- "Live In Peace" (1986)
References
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 200. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.