The band tweaked its musical direction in 1988 with the release of the slightly heavier Too Hot to Sleep, but due to changes in the music industry, the album barely reached the Billboard 100 in the United States. Because of this, the band split for several years each embarking on other areas of the music business. Jamison (the most popular frontman in the groups history) re-united with Sullivan in 2000 and the band released the Reach cd in 2006.
Early Years
Survivor was formed in 1977 by Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan, Dave Bickler, Gary Smith and Dennis Keith Johnson. Initially, the group was known as The Jim Peterik Band. But Peterik liked the idea of a band identity better, so the Survivor name was adopted by 1978. Peterik was previously the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band Ides of March.[1] After playing in small clubs for several years, Survivor released its first album, the self-titled Survivor, in 1979, but the album did not achieve the level of success that the band had hoped for, producing no Top 40 singles. In 1981 Johnson & Smith had schedule conflicts with their other projects, so they were replaced by Stephan Ellis & Marc Droubay in time for the band's follow-up album, Premonition,which achieved only Top 40 single, "Poor Man's Son".
In 1982, Survivor's breakthrough arrived when actor Sylvester Stallone asked it to provide the theme song for his movie Rocky III. Stallone had heard their single "Poor Man's Son" and wanted a song similar to it.[2] The band agreed to write him a song and soon released "Eye of the Tiger". It had an enormous impact on the Billboard charts, peaking at #1 and remaining there for a total of six weeks. It also topped the British Billboard charts. It was in the Top 40 for a total of 18 weeks and was Australia's #1 single for four weeks.[3] The song won the band a Grammy Award, was voted "Best New Song" by the People's Choice Awards, and also received an Academy Award nomination.[3] The album of the same title, Eye of the Tiger, was released by the band later in 1982.
In 1983, Survivor tried to duplicate the success of Eye of the Tiger by releasing Caught in the Game. The album turned out to be a commercial disappointment, stalling at #82 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The album's only single, the title track, peaked at #77. The band suffered another setback before a tour in late 1983, when lead singer Dave Bickler was fired and replaced by Jimi Jamison who led the band to a string of hit songs, videos and soundtracks, beginning with the hit album "Vital Signs" in 1984.
The Hit Years
After recording "The Moment of Truth" with Jimi Jamison on vocals (#63 US), the theme song of the box office smash hit The Karate Kid (1984), the band recorded its first full album with Jamison. Vital Signs gave the band a massive comeback, peaking at #16 on the Billboard Album Chart with the hits "I Can't Hold Back" (#13 US), "High on You" (#8 US), and "The Search Is Over" (#4 US).
In 1985, the band had another hit with "Burning Heart," a song from the Rocky IV soundtrack, when it peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100.
When Seconds Count was released in 1986 and included the hit "Is This Love" (#9 US). On the Billboard album chart, the album peaked at #49 but still managed to sell over 500,000 copies and reached certified gold status.
During pre-production of their seventh album, Too Hot to Sleep (1988), Ellis and Droubay were replaced by studio session vets Mickey Curry (drums) and Bill Syniar (bass). Produced BY Frank Fillipetti . Though the album presented a harder-rocking Survivor, similar to the sound in the band's the early days, Too Hot to Sleep failed to make a dent on the charts (#187 US). There were, reportedly, a few live dates done by the band during this period that included Syniar on bass and Kyle Woodring on drums
1989-2000: Work on Greatest Hits Album
After the disappointing sales of Too Hot to Sleep, Jim Peterik, Frankie Sullivan decided to put the band on hiatus indefinitely. Jamison decided to continue touring and playing Survivor songs with local musicians. He subsequently recorded a solo album in 1991. Jamison continued to tour successfully in the US and overseas and in 1992, Sullivan contacted Jamison's management and asked to be included on the tour; he performed on eight to ten dates before being replaced.
Soon after, in late 1992-early 1993, Survivor was tapped to do a new and more extensive hits package with two new songs. For a short time Peterik, Sullivan, and Jamison were reunited in the studio to record new material for the new package and forthcoming world tour.
In Spring 1993, Peterik and Sullivan re-teamed with original lead singer Dave Bickler, released a new 'Greatest Hits' album with two new songs ("Hungry Years" co-written by Bickler and "You Know Who You Are" originally sung by Jamison), and embarked on a world tour with Bill Syniar and Kyle Woodring returning on bass & drums. Klem Hayes took over on bass in 1994 after Syniar departed.
When the band tried to move in a blues direction, Peterik decided to leave the band, playing his last show with Survivor on July 3, 1996, at "The Eye in the Sky" fest in Lisle, Illinois. Survivor replaced Peterik with keyboardist Chris Grove. Peterik returned to recording and touring with the Ides of March and also formed the group Pride of Lions.
In the fall of 1996, bassist Stephan Ellis and drummer Marc Droubay rejoined Survivor. But Ellis quit again by early 1999 and was replaced by Billy Ozzello.
In 1999, Jimi Jamison released his second solo album Empires.
2000-2006: Release of a new album
In early 2000, Bickler was fired, severing the then Sullivan/Bickler Survivor and resulting in Sullivan's reestablishment of a partnership with Jamison. The band then began recording material for a new album. The Peterik/Sullivan-penned track "Velocitized" was set for inclusion on the Soundtrack to the Sylvester Stallone film Driven. However, it did not make the cut.
In 2000, the band threatened to sue CBS for using the name "Survivor" as the title of their hit reality show Survivor.
In 2003 Billy Ozzello was replaced on bass by Randy Riley.
In 2004, a Starbucks television commercial debuted for their Double Shot espresso beverage. It featured the band following a man named Glen, singing a modified version of "Eye of the Tiger" while he did his day-to-day tasks. This commercial has gained a number of fans and was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Survivor emerged into popular culture once again on the soundtrack album to the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2005). Burgundy states that he believes Survivor is "the best that ever was" and that "everyone else is an imitator" including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bach, and Beethoven. He then goes on to point out that Survivor won't return his calls, which he understands because "They're Survivor and I'm not." He then introduces Who's That Lady by The Isley Brothers with the line "It's not Survivor, but it'll have to do."
Barry Dunaway took over bass chores for the band on the road in 2005. But by early 2006 Billy Ozzello was back
On April 21, 2006, Survivor released a new album called Reach. Consisting of mostly new songs, it also includes some re-recordings from the "Fire Makes Steel" sessions.
Two of the album's songs, "Reach" and "Fire Makes Steel", had been considered for inclusion in the 2006 Rocky sequel Rocky Balboa but were not included, nor did they appear on the 2006 album Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky.
On July 14, 2006, it was announced that Jimi Jamison and Barry Dunaway (Ingvie Malmsteen) were leaving and the band struggled to find a replacement finally settling on Robin McAuley.
2007-present: New vocalist
According to Sullivan, the band is said to be going back into the studio to record brand-new material for a new Survivor record (featuring McAuley on lead vocals) for a 2008 release, but still no record to date.
2008 Jamison released the highly acclaimed cd "Crossroads Moment" on Frontiers Records in Europe produced by Jim Peterik and Larry Milas
[2009] Jamison's "Crossroads Moments" cd is released in the (US)
The current lineup is a mix of old and new members: newcomer Robin McAuley (vocals), original member/songwriter Frankie Sullivan (guitar/vocals), longtime member Marc Drowbay (drums), and veteran members Billy Ozzello (bass).
Grove, a classically trained pianist, who stayed with the group for more than ten years has recently left and is performing with Eddie Money. Randy Riley and Barry Dunaway both briefly filled in on bass after Ozzello's departure. Dunaway departed shortly after recording Reach. Ozzello, who recorded an album with the band Blind for a Day in 1998, recently returned to the lineup.
The band continues to play regular concerts in North America, Europe, and Asia.
The band performed "Eye of the Tiger" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars on April 3, 2007.
On December 16, 2007, Survivor performed for the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Christmas Party, at the Canyon Club in Agoura, CA.
Frankie Sullivan is now producing the second album of the critically acclaimed band Mecca led by Singer/Songwriter Joe Vana. Coincidentally, he replaces Jim Peterik who produced the first Mecca album. The album is due out the first part of 2008 on Frontiers Records Worldwide.
Chicago
2. Survivor was a band from Shreveport, Louisiana who released one self-titled album in 1979.
Burning Bridges
Survivor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A distant fire burning through the past
Deep inside my heart is yearning
A bridge is burning
There's just no turning back
After all the hell I've tasted
Years I've wasted
Love that slipped away
I see the fool I'd become content to play
Over one-way streets in blindin' heat
I carry this torch alone
I ask for no directions home
You can call out my name but I won't return
I'm a fugitive of love and this heart's been burned
Oh, burning bridges behind me
You can follow me down but it's plain to see
I'm a victim of the burn and it's third degree
Oh, setting bridges on fire
I will go to any length
To find the strength
To face the night alone
Standing on the edge of time
I cross the line
My heart becomes my own
Gonna tell you why you're a fool to try
To cross a burning bridge
It's a long hard fall from the top of the ridge
You can call out my name but I won't return
I'm a fugitive of love and this heart's been burned
Oh, burning bridges behind me
You can follow me down but it's plain to see
I'm a victim of the burn and it's third degree
Oh, setting bridges on fire
You can call out my name but I won't return
I'm a fugitive of love and this heart's been burned
Oh, burning bridges behind me
You can follow me down but it's plain to see
I'm a victim of the burn and it's third degree
Oh, setting bridges on fire
Oh, burning bridges behind me
Oh, burning bridges on fire, on fire, oh, oh
"Burning Bridges" by Survivor is a song about moving on from the past, burning bridges behind oneself and leaving everything behind. The lyrics talk about feeling an intense desire to let go of the past and move forward. The singer sees himself as having wasted time and let love slip away, and he is suddenly hit by a vision where he realizes that he is a fool for being content to remain in that state. He decides that he must find the strength to face the night alone, and he crosses the line into a new chapter of his life.
The use of the metaphorical phrase of burning bridges is telling the listeners that he has crossed a point of no return and that there is no turning back. In this context, burning bridges means to destroy any possibility of going back to the past, leaving certain things behind, including the relationship he had with the individual he was with. The song is melancholic in its tone, and the singer finds catharsis in singing about how he's setting bridges on fire and that there is no turning back.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel a strong desire
I have a strong feeling of wanting something
A distant fire burning through the past
A distant memory of something that was once strong, but is now only a small burning flame
Deep inside my heart is yearning
I have a deep desire or longing in my heart
A bridge is burning
A connection or relationship has been destroyed and cannot be restored
There's just no turning back
It is impossible to change or undo what has already been done
After all the hell I've tasted
After going through a lot of pain and suffering
Years I've wasted
Many years have been lost and cannot be regained
Love that slipped away
A love that was lost or ended
Suddenly a vision shook me
I had a sudden realization or epiphany that shocked me
I see the fool I'd become content to play
I realize that I was foolish and content to play a certain role
Over one-way streets in blindin' heat
Traveling down one-way streets in very hot conditions
I carry this torch alone
I am carrying a burden by myself
I ask for no directions home
I don't need any help finding my way back home
You can call out my name but I won't return
I won't come back even if you call my name
I'm a fugitive of love and this heart's been burned
I am running away from love because my heart has been hurt too many times
Oh, burning bridges behind me
I have destroyed all of my relationships and connections behind me
You can follow me down but it's plain to see
You can follow me, but it's clear that I am not going to change my mind
I'm a victim of the burn and it's third degree
My heart has been hurt so badly that it's like a third degree burn
Setting bridges on fire
I am intentionally destroying my relationships and connections
I will go to any length
I am willing to do anything it takes to find the strength to go on
To face the night alone
I am ready to face my fears and challenges by myself
Standing on the edge of time
I am standing on the brink of change or a new era
I cross the line
I have made a choice or decision that cannot be undone
My heart becomes my own
I have taken ownership of my heart and emotions
Gonna tell you why you're a fool to try
I am going to explain to you why it's foolish to try to change my mind
To cross a burning bridge
To try and fix a relationship that has been intentionally destroyed
It's a long hard fall from the top of the ridge
It's a difficult and painful experience to rebuild a relationship that has been destroyed
Oh, burning bridges behind me
I have destroyed all of my relationships and connections behind me
Oh, burning bridges on fire, on fire, oh, oh
I am intentionally destroying all of my relationships and connections
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: REMY DAVID SHAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Svetlana Andrášová
one of the best vocals and songs i have ever heard
i seriously think jimi is the most underrated singer ever
Shannon Peters
you're right, it is and he is
JUSTIN ROSARIO
One of my favourite Survivor song. Fantastic guitar. Especially the lead part. Just an amazing lead guitar. Hope all you Rockers out there enjoy this piece of song.
Kevin Barr
Frankie Sullivan
Nice guy
Martin Bøgelund Arvidsen
The holy grail of AOR rock 🙏🏻
Katharine Maddas
Powerful pipes of Jimi Jamison 😍😍. I love his passion and there is no genre of music Jimi couldn't sing !!! He truly was born to be on the stage !! Such a phenomenal person .... I miss this man so much 💔💔. But, I listen to his music every day and I know Jimi IS always here !!!
Andreas Petropoulos
It's nice to see that after so many years there are still people to whom this band is as important as is to me ! Greetings from a kindred spirit (at least musically...) !
DONATO CONGIALDI
This is truly a masterpiece... Jimi's vocals are just insane here where he shines brighter than ever
Scott Harrisohn
Jimi at his best, kicks ass in this one
Robert Bittinger
killer song ! Jimi nailed it .