Exclusive With Firehouse Guitarist Bill Leverty

Interview by Mike Sharkey

Exclusive to Rockstar Weekly

FireHouse has been rockin' for over a decade. Their music has taken them all over the world and has produced Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum records in the United States and countries abroad.

In 1990, their first album, entitled FireHouse, was released. The bands first single, Shake & Tumble, had impressive radio success. The band then released Dont Treat Me Bad, which became their first Top Ten hit. This was followed by Love of a Lifetime, which also entered the Top Ten, reaching the #3 spot on the United States charts. This string of hits vaulted their first album to double platinum status in the United States as well as going gold in Canada, Japan and Singapore. At the 1991 American Music Awards, FireHouse found themselves standing before the nation accepting the award for Best New Hard Rock/Metal Band, chosen over Nirvana and Alice in Chains.

FireHouse continued touring through the winter and spring of 1999, including 3 more sold out shows in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. On April 22, 1999, the band recorded their live show in Osaka. The result - the first ever live album by FireHouse. Bring 'em Out Live was released in Japan in December 1999 and in the United States on Spitfire Records in July 2000.

The turn of the century brought the release their seventh album, titled O². It has been released in Southeast Asia on Pony Canyon Records, and in the US on Spitfire Records. This album had notable success despite the changing style of popular rock music. During this time, the band decided to part ways with original bass player, Perry Richardson. O²'s remarkable bass playing was supplied by Bruce Waibel. Bruce brought to the band his phenomenal bass playing along with his equally impressive sense of humor. We truly regret to say that in September 2003 Bruce has passed away. He will be greatly missed as a friend and talented musician.

FireHouse headed back into the studio in early 2003 to write and record their 8th album, Prime Time. As music changes over time, FireHouse continues to evolve their musical style, yet at the same time hang onto their hard rock roots. Album number 8 is no exception. You can expect to hear what FireHouse is famous for, soulful, melodic hard rock.

Recently, guitarist Bill Leverty has released his new solo CD Deep South. We had a chance to speak with him:

If you could tell us what you have been up to and what the band has been up to this year and last year.

At all these shows, what can fans expect to see when you put on a show?

Talking about Prime Time that was released back in 2003. Do you guys have any plans for a new album?

Is the reason between getting the band together and family is that why you have been doing more of your solo project on the side in the recent years?

Tell us a little bit about the new solo record that you have coming out. The last one was Southern Exposure that was an instrumental record. What made you want to go back and make another vocal one?

As few questions about Firehouse, you started producing you own material with the release of Good Acoustics what made you want to go that way?

I wanted to ask you about the bands timing. You released your debut album in 1990 and not sure after it the whole seen kind-of died off. You did manage to stick around though. Was it heard to go through the 90s playing that style of music without feeling the need to switch or do something different?

About your guys style, Ive noticed that between each album you seem to get heavier and heavier. Is there any particular reason for this?

I was wondering about a particular song in O2 called The Dark. Its a song about technology and that kind of stuff that was recorded back in 2000. What do you think about the internet and how its evolved in terms of promotion and band and all that stuff over the years and how thats being used now?

So far the band has only released the one live album Bring Em Out Live in 1999, are there any plans to release a new one with material from O2 and Prime Time?

So the band has managed to stay together and pretty much the same except for Allen McKenzie who joined the band in 2004. What has kept you guy from tearing each other apart, like some of the other bands have done?

You have toured and played with a lot of well respected artists, who do you think is your favorite to play alongside?

What do you think right now of the modern music seen in 2009?

I was wondering for you personally, if you had to pick one album that represented Firehouse the best out of any of your studio releases which one would you pick?

What was the last CD you listened to?