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.
Children Of The Night
Survivor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like riders on the run now, in the street--
Holding back the blinding light,
'cause a thousand eyes can be so indiscreet,
And we hide away, love the night away,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
[Chorus]
Runnin' from the light,
Children of the night,
Of the night, oh yeah.*
In the day we pass like strangers,
'cause we fear the consequences of our love,
And we realize the danger,
Still we choose to take our chances on our love,
And we hide away, love the night away,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
[Chorus]
There's a fine line, such a fine line, a very fine--line,
Between the day and the nighttime,
The wrong and the right time, for makin' sweet love,
Find a place to hide, anyplace to hide, hidin' in the -- darkness,
Feels like the right time, for love in the nighttime,
For makin' sweet love.
The lyrics of Survivor's song Children Of The Night describe a dangerous and passionate love between two individuals who only come together under the cover of night. During the day they avoid each other like strangers, afraid of the consequences that their love could bring. However, when the sun sets they become "children of the night" and run through the streets, holding back the "blinding light" of indiscreet eyes. They hide in the shadows, running between the darkness and the light, to love the night away.
The chorus repeats the idea that they are "children of the night" who are running from the light. They are living on the edge, constantly teetering on the "fine line" between the wrong and the right time for their passion. In the darkness, they find a place to hide and it becomes the right time for making sweet love. The lyrics suggest that their love is dangerous and forbidden, but they cannot resist it.
Overall, the lyrics of Children Of The Night describe a love that is so strong and passionate that it can only exist in the shadows, away from the judgmental eyes of society. The lovers are willing to risk everything for their love and they find solace in the darkness of the night.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we rifle through the night,
We move hurriedly through the night,
Like riders on the run now, in the street--
Like running riders on a street,
Holding back the blinding light,
Preventing the bright light from shining,
'cause a thousand eyes can be so indiscreet,
Because many eyes can easily notice us,
And we hide away, love the night away,
And we conceal ourselves by loving throughout the night,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
And we move between the areas of darkness and brightness,
[Chorus]
Refrain/Chorus: We are the children of the night who run away from light.
In the day we pass like strangers,
During the day, We act like we don't know each other,
'cause we fear the consequences of our love,
Because we worry about the effects of our affection,
And we realize the danger,
We know the risk involved,
Still we choose to take our chances on our love,
Nonetheless, we take the gamble on our attachment,
And we hide away, love the night away,
We hide ourselves and love under the cover of night,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
And we move amidst the dimness and brightness,
[Chorus]
Refrain/Chorus: We are the children of the night who run away from light.
There's a fine line, such a fine line, a very fine--line,
There is a delicate differentiation,
Between the day and the nighttime,
Between the daylight and the night,
The wrong and the right time, for makin' sweet love,
The incorrect and appropriate time for passionate love,
Find a place to hide, anyplace to hide, hidin' in the -- darkness,
Looking for a place to take cover or hide in the dark,
Feels like the right time, for love in the nighttime,
Seems like night is the perfect moment for making love,
For makin' sweet love.
For having a passionate moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK SULLIVAN, JIM PETERIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brittany Jones
Well we rifle through the night,
Like riders on the run now, in the street--
Holding back the blinding light,
'cause a thousand eyes can be so indiscreet,
And we hide away, love the night away,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
We're children of the night,
Runnin' from the light,
Children of the night,
Of the night, oh yeah.*
In the day we pass like strangers,
'cause we fear the consequences of our love,
And we realize the danger,
Still we choose to take our chances on our love,
And we hide away, love the night away,
And we run between the shadows and the light,
We're children of the night,
Runnin' from the light,
Children of the night,
Of the night, oh yeah.*
There's a fine line, such a fine line, a very fine--line,
Between the day and the nighttime,
The wrong and the right time, for makin' sweet love,
Find a place to hide, anyplace to hide, hidin' in the -- darkness,
Feels like the right time, for love in the nighttime,
For makin' sweet love
Terri MTB
I’m 17 years old and I live Survivor! I love rock and metal! Rock it! Hello from Ukraine 🇺🇦
Gay christian
Aren't you supposed to be on the front right now?
Terri MTB
@Gay christian after you
Flavio Pitanga
God bless all the Ukraine people❤
Gay christian
@Flavio Pitanga which god?
AnakinA1
This whole album rocks. Dave really had a great voice, the harmonies, the drums, heck even the bass make this killer.
Gary Carr
Survivor Band
Gary Carr
Survivor Children Of The Night 🌙 1982
Gary Carr
1982
Jakey Williams
Why hasn't this awesome song with an awesome guitar riffage with awesome vocals have tens of millions views?? This is criminal.