Vocalist Rickey Medlocke revived the name in 1987 with a new backing group and released three additional albums (Rick Medlocke and Blackfoot, Medicine Man, and After The Reign). In 1997, Medlocke disbanded the group, and joined Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In 2004 a second resurrection of Blackfoot took place with founding members Jackson Spires, Greg Walker, and Charlie Hargrett. Medlocke was not available, however, and the frontman role was given to Bobby Barth. Tragedy struck in March 2005 when Spires died suddenly of an aneurysm, but the band decided to persevere for the time being. Following the will of Spires, Austrian drummer Christoph Ullmann was hired as permanent drummer. In 2006, the band toured and was backed up by Jay Johnson on guitar and vocals. A live DVD was released in 2007. In 2007, the band was touring and consisted of bassist Greg Walker, guitarist Charlie Hargrett, guitarist and lead vocalist Bobby Barth, and drummer Michael Sollars. Currently Barth is unavailable due to illness and former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes became vocalist.
During the spring of 2010, Barth was forced to undergo emergency back surgery. Former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mike Estes and current vocalist/guitarist for Skinny Molly was then employed for lead vocals/guitar and Kurt Pietro (drummer of Skinny Molly) replaced Scott Craig on drums. In the summer of 2011 Charlie Hargrett was replaced by Randy Peak.
In 2012, Rickey Medlocke reformed Blackfoot with a completely new line-up (see Members below), with him acting as their producer. Walker, Hargrett, Estes and Pietro subsequently regrouped under the band name Fired Guns. In 2015, Walker, Hargrett, Barth and Ullman began performing together again under the band name Warrior's Pride. Medlocke continues to perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd. On August 5, 2016, Blackfoot released their first album in 20 years, Southern Native. The video for the song and samples were released on August 2, 2016 via regular channels and social media. Although there are no founding members of the band in its current lineup, Medlocke joins the band onstage for certain concerts. The new lineup made their live debut at Gottrocks in Greenville, South Carolina on June 11, 2021 with an 82 minute set including two songs (In The Night, Payin' For It) that were never previously performed in concert.
There is more than one artist with this name, also including:
2) Blackfoot was a British rock band previously called Blackfoot Sue. The band released When Will I See You Again / Lay the Real Thing on Me in 1977.
3) Blackfoot was a New Zealand Christian band.
4) Blackfoot was a Zambian garage rock band. Members were Alfred Yabe, Garry Musopa, George Kabale, and Ottiman Mpondzi. A relatively lo-fi recording of one of their songs is available on the 2017 collection "Welcome to Zamrock!"
Road Fever
Blackfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well every time I'm down and out
And I don't know what to do
I drop my load and I hit the road
And play me a job or two
Yes I do
What they're sayin' keeps hitting me
They say that my songs are no good, baby
Why don't you join the human race
You know I've had just all I can take
And I don't know what to do
Guess I'll have to hit the stage
Play me a song or two
You know I've had all I can take
Sitting here at home
I guess I'll have to hit the road
You know I love to roam
(Road fever,) oh don't you know I got
(Road fever) Oooooooo
Go Mr. Guitar
You know this life has taken its toll
And I don't know where to go
And I love this life of a rock and roll
But there's one thing that I know
And every time I'm a down and out
And I don't know what to do
I drop my load and I hit the road
And play me a song or two
Yes I do
You know I've had all I can take
Sitting here at home
I guess I'll have to hit the road
You know I love to roam
(Road fever,) oh don't you know I got
(Road fever) Ohhhhhhhh
"Road Fever" is a classic rock song by Blackfoot that talks about the life of a rockstar and the need to keep moving forward, regardless of the criticism or the pressures of the industry. The journey of a musician is a tumultuous one- even when they are at the top of their game, there is always a fear of falling or losing the essence of their art. The song strikes a chord with the listeners, as it talks about the journey being more important than the destination. The singer of the song, a musician, says that he hits the road every time he feels down and out, and that's what keeps him going.
The song starts with the singer talking about his struggles and how he hits the road every time he feels lost. He talks about the pressure to conform in a world that does not always appreciate the true essence of music. However, he is determined to keep moving forward, and he finds solace in his songs and melodies. The lyrics suggest that the singer is physically and emotionally drained from the journey, but he is not ready to give up yet. He finds his escape in traveling and playing music, and that is what keeps him going.
The chorus of the song contains the words "Road Fever," which is a metaphor for the intense desire to keep moving forward. The song also talks about the importance of friendship and camaraderie, which helps the singer deal with the difficulties of the music industry. In the end, the song is about finding happiness and peace amidst the chaos of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh hit it
Begin playing music
Well every time I'm down and out
And I don't know what to do
I drop my load and I hit the road
And play me a job or two
Yes I do
When feeling lost and hopeless, I leave my problems behind and travel to perform music.
What they're sayin' keeps hitting me
Right square smack in the face
They say that my songs are no good, baby
Why don't you join the human race
You know I've had just all I can take
And I don't know what to do
Guess I'll have to hit the stage
Play me a song or two
Criticism of my music is weighing on me heavily and affecting my confidence, but I will keep performing despite it.
You know I've had all I can take
Sitting here at home
I guess I'll have to hit the road
You know I love to roam
(Road fever,) oh don't you know I got
(Road fever) Oooooooo
I can no longer stay idle at home and crave the excitement of traveling on the road to perform music.
Go Mr. Guitar
Start playing guitar more prominently.
You know this life has taken its toll
And I don't know where to go
And I love this life of a rock and roll
But there's one thing that I know
And every time I'm a down and out
And I don't know what to do
I drop my load and I hit the road
And play me a song or two
Yes I do
The rock and roll lifestyle is wearing on me and I feel unsure about how to move forward. In times of distress, I rely on traveling and performing music to lift my spirits.
You know I've had all I can take
Sitting here at home
I guess I'll have to hit the road
You know I love to roam
(Road fever,) oh don't you know I got
(Road fever) Ohhhhhhhh
Being at home is no longer an option for me and I must continue traveling to enjoy the freedom and adventure that comes with being a musician.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JACKSON SPIRES, RICKEY LYNN MEDLOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind