The founding members of the band were drummer Jim Fox, bassist Tom Kriss, guitarist Ronnie Silverman, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo, and guitarist Glen Schwartz. In 1968 Joe Walsh replaced Schwartz when Schwartz left the band to join Pacific Gas & Electric. The band then released its debut album Yer' Album. In July of 1970, the band released its second album James Gang Rides Again which included the hit single "Funk #49." By this time, Dale Peters had replaced Kriss on bass. The band opened for The Who during a tour of Britain. After two more albums, Thirds, with the single "Walk Away,", and the live album James Gang Live in Concert, Walsh left the band to perform solo and later join the Eagles.
Vocalist Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano then joined the band. Troiano left to join Guess Who and was replaced by Tommy Bolin. Bolin left in 1974 to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. After two albums, "Bang" and "Miami", Bolin was replaced by vocalist Bubba Keith and guitarist Richard Shack, who made "Newborn" (which featured a cover of the Elvis Presley song "Heartbreak Hotel"). The band broke up following a final recording, "Jesse Come Home" (which referred to the band's namesake, the outlaw Jesse James), which was made with the collaboration of early member Phil Giallombardo. Fox was the only remaining member of the original quintet when they disbanded early in 1977.
The "classic" lineup of the band (Walsh, Peters, Fox) reunited to perform at an election rally for Bill Clinton in 1996, appearances on The Drew Carey Show in the 1998-99 season, and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2001, drawing fans from all over the globe.
As of May 2004, Glenn Schwartz was playing guitar and singing Thursday nights at "Major Hooples" in the Flats, Cleveland.
In summer 2006 the Walsh/Peters/Fox lineup of the group toured the United States. In August 2006, the trio appeared performing live on The Howard Stern radio show on Sirius satellite radio.
The Bomber A: Closet Queen B: Bolero C: Cast Your Fate To The Wind
James Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said, "Son, you′re growin' up, it′s time you look around"
So I began to notice some things I hadn't seen before
That's what brought me here knockin′ on your back door
Oh, yeah
A closet queen, the bus stop′s dream, she wants to shake my hand
I don't want to be there, she decides she can
It′s Apple Dan, he's just the man to pick fruit off your branches
Oh, yeah
It′s too strong, somethings wrong and I guess I lost the feelin'
I don't mind the games you play but I don′t like your dealin′
The cards looked bad, the luck's been had and there′s nothing left to smoke
We'll all be back tomorrow for the punchline of the joke
Oh, Oh... Oh, Oh...
The lyrics of James Gang's song 'The Bomber' comprise of multiple sections, including 'Closet Queen,' 'Bolero,' and 'Cast Your Fate To The Wind.' The first section talks about the singer's journey to adulthood, where he starts to notice things he had not seen before. He then encounters a closet queen, a man who conceals his homosexuality, and also meets Apple Dan, who is a keen opportunist. The section indicates the singer's confusion about these people and his inability to make sense of his interactions with them.
The second section, 'Bolero,' explores the singer's frustration and sense of detachment from the world. He's tired of constantly playing games and is not happy with the way things are going. The lyrics mention how the singer has lost the feeling and how the cards are stacked against him, implying a sense of helplessness and despair.
The final section, 'Cast Your Fate To The Wind,' speaks about how life is unpredictable, but one must learn to deal with it. The lyrics mention how there's nothing left to smoke, and everyone will come back the next day for the punchline of the joke. It shows how the singer has come to terms with things not necessarily going his way but still believing that life goes on.
Line by Line Meaning
When I became of age my mama sat me down
My mother had a talk with me once I reached a certain age
Said, 'Son, you're growin' up, it's time you look around'
She told me it was time for me to start paying attention to my surroundings and growing up
So I began to notice some things I hadn't seen before
As a result, I started noticing things that were previously unnoticed
That's what brought me here knockin' on your back door
It's the reason why I'm here, knocking on your back door
A closet queen, the bus stop's dream, she wants to shake my hand
There's a woman who is hiding her true identity, and she's trying to get my attention
I don't want to be there, she decides she can
I'm not interested in being involved with her, but she's still trying to pursue me
It's Apple Dan, he's just the man to pick fruit off your branches
There's another man named Apple Dan who has a talent for taking advantage of people
I can't sleep, and we can't keep this cattle on my ranches
I'm having trouble sleeping, and we can't seem to control the situation on my property
It's too strong, somethings wrong and I guess I lost the feelin'
There's something overwhelming happening, and I'm starting to lose my sense of control or understanding
I don't mind the games you play but I don't like your dealin'
I don't care for the way you're handling things or the games you're playing
The cards looked bad, the luck's been had and there's nothing left to smoke
Things aren't going well, and we're out of options for trying to improve them
We'll all be back tomorrow for the punchline of the joke
Despite everything, we're going to keep going and see what happens next
Writer(s): Dale Peters, Joseph Fidler Walsh, James K. Fox
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.