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The Firm (rock band)

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This article is about the British supergroup. For other groups with the same name, see Firm (disambiguation).
The Firm
L-R: Jimmy Page, Chris Slade, Paul Rodgers, and Tony Franklin, 1984.
L-R: Jimmy Page, Chris Slade, Paul Rodgers, and Tony Franklin, 1984.
Background information
OriginEngland
GenresHard rock, blues rock
Years active1984–1986
LabelsAtlantic
Past membersPaul Rodgers
Jimmy Page
Tony Franklin
Chris Slade

The Firm were a British rock supergroup composed of former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers,[1] guitarist Jimmy Page formerly of The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin,[2] and Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Uriah Heep drummer Chris Slade[3] and bass player Tony Franklin.

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 "Swan Song". This caused some critics to believe that Page had begun to run out of ideas.[4] 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, piano
  • Jimmy Page – lead & rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar, violin bow, 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 played only two UK concerts on this tour: one at Middlesbrough Town Hall, and one at the London Hammersmith Odeon. In addition to 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

Singles

References

  1. ^ "Bio - Paul Rodgers Official Site". Paulrodgers.com. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Jimmy Page | Bio, Pictures, Videos". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Chris Slade Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 30 October 1946. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. ^ Brian Downing. "The Firm - The Firm | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 200. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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