1959–1961: classical piano lessons (motivated by grandfather's monetary bribes)
1963: buys Danelectro guitar and Supro amp from neighbor (his first) – cost $90
1966: turned on to John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton when a friend brings the lp home after a trip to UK... begins playing for keeps
1967: witnesses Clapton and Cream's string of appearances at Boston's Psychedelic Supermarket, also Butterfield in Harvard Square
1968: after high school, lands gig as house band at Psychedelic Supermarket, playing with such diverse acts as the Greatful Dead, Steve Miller, and the Moody Blues
1969: moves to NYC to collaborate on the musical poetry endeavor "Magic Terry & The Universe"... records for Atlantic and Columbia... signs to Premier Talent Agency... MTU implodes after initial show at Boston Tea party exposes philosophical differences between band leaders... Billy plays with Hendrix as the latter forms Band of Gypsies
1971: Berkeley School of Music (diversion), Boston
1972: returns to NYC... forms Kicks with Jerry Nolan, who later joins the NY Dolls
1973: joins power-pop band "The Sidewinders" in Boston... quits a year later to pursue his developing vision for songs that would merge the pop elements of his youth with the hard-edged reality of his street experiences
1976—1977: signs his band Piper to A & M Records... cuts two lp's: "the most articulate, emotionally intense rocker the 70's has produced to date."
1979—1980: after assuming an unabashed solo stance, signs with Capitol Records... releases "Tale of the Tape"... "You Should Be High Love" spends six weeks as the nation's most requested rock track... tours with Alice Cooper
1981: releases "Don't Say No"... 102 weeks later, lp is still in the US top ten, spawning three hit singles and launching Squier's career in earnest... tours with Foreigner, Journey, and Pat Benetar before headlining his first string of shows at year's end
1982—1983: "Emotions In Motion" released in conjunction with major States tour with Queen... lp is top 5... Squier tours for nine months thereafter... brings Def Leppard to US, helping them break "Pyromania": "The reaction to Squier was a set-long, deep-throated roar of the kind usually only heard at Springsteen shows."
1984: produces "Signs of Life" with Jim Steinman... lp is top ten... tour follows
1985: spends two months in Asia... first helicopter ascent of Mount Everest... begins work on "Enough is Enough" with Peter Collins
1986: "Enough..." is completed after nearly a year's work... Freddie Mercury contributes to two songs in London... Squier decides not to tour
1989: release of "Hear and Now" returns Squier to the radio and concert stage
1991: "Creatures of Habit" lp and tour
1993: "Tell the Truth" is Squier's final lp for Capitol, prompting a less than harmonious breakup... Squier turns his back on the music business
1996: "Reach For The Sky" anthology released on PolyGram
1997: King Biscuit releases "Billy Squier Live in Concert"
1998: releases "Happy Blue," a solo acoustic record which he records live without overdubs... tours book and record stores, as well as several large venues... Squier's "Big Beat" (from "Tale of the Tape") is most sampled song in hip-hop history
2001: the "8101" tour visits 42 cities between May 10 — July 15
Source: http://www.billysquier.com/ |
|
Add to Profile
