Blackfoot

Please visit www.blackfootrocks.com and for a great Merch page try http://www.blackfootgear.com/index.html .......... Blackfoot was formed in Jacksonville, Florida in the Fall of 1969, by childhood friends Greg T. Walker (bass and vocals) Rickey Medlocke (lead vocals & percussion), Jakson Spires (drums and vocals), DeWitt Gibbs (keyboards & vocals), and Charlie Hargrett (lead guitar). At first called "Hammer", they played their first major concert performance at the Miami International Rock Festival in December, 1969.In March, 1970 they re-named the band "Blackfoot" ( contrary to legend, suggested by drummer Spires), and moved to NYC. Blackfoot relocated to New Jersey that summer, where DeWitt soon left the band and Rickey began playing guitar full-time. They stayed in NJ, playing mostly college gigs, until June 1971, when old friend Ronnie VanZant called from Jacksonville, looking for a drummer for his band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rickey answered the phone, accepted the gig as Drummer for Skynyrd, shortly after that Greg T. Walker (Bass) joined Rickey In Skynyrd , and Blackfoot disbanded for a while.Rickey and Greg played drums and bass on the what became Lynyrd Skynyrd "First & Last" album.In August, 1972 bassist Lenny Stadler was looking for a guitarist for his North Carolina-based band "Blackberry Hill", and asked Charlie to join. Charlie moved to Greensboro and quickly called Jakson and Rickey. Blackfoot reformed in NC weeks later, with Rickey Medocke, Charlie Hargrett, Jakson Spires, and Lenny Stadler.Lenny left the band in Spring 1973, and Greg T. Walker rejoined the band shortly thereafter.Blackfoot moved back to NJ that Fall, and spent the next ten years bouncing back and forth living in Jersey, Florida, Tennessee... during that time, they recorded the albums "No Reservations" (Island, 1975), "Flying High" (Epic, 1976), "Blackfoot Strikes" (Atco, 1979,), "Tomcattin" (Atco, 1980), "Marauder" (Atco, 1981), "Higway Song Live" (Atco, 1982) and "Siogo" (Atco, 1983).Keyboardist / vocalist Ken Hensley from Uriah Heep joined Blackfoot in late 1982, and performed on the Siogo album and Blackfoot "Vertical Smiles" album (1984). Charlie Hargrett quit the band in January 1984 during the recording of "Vertical Smiles". Ken Hensley quit the band mid-tour several months later, and was replaced with old friend "AXE" lead guitarist / frontman Bobby Barth.From mid-1984 until December 1985, Blackfoot was Rickey Medlocke and Bobby Barth on guitar, Greg T. Walker and Jakson Spires on bass and drums. At the end of 1985, Rickey parted ways with Greg T. and Jakson... Bobby continued with Blackfoot for about another year.Rickey kept the band going under the moniker "Rickey Medlocke and Blackfoot" with different lineups until 1997, when he joined Lynyrd Skynyrd.By mid-2004 there was considerable demand for a Blackfoot reunion.Greg T. called Jakson, Charlie and Bobby, and by Fall 2004 arrangements were made for Blackfoot’s reformation.Jakson Spires passed away on March 16th, 2005.Upon reforming the group with all of the original members but one, many talks to place, as to the future of the band, should someone be unable to continue, so knowing Jaks wishes, we hired a drummer from Austria, Christoph Ullmann. He had become friends with Bobby while Barth produced his band. He had time to befriend Jakson while he was alive and set in during rehearsals when Jak was unavailable, he was the logical choice. This lineup continued for the first year or so, when Barth became ill and found it necessary to leave the road for a few months to recover. During that time Jay Johnson, son of Jimmy Johnson, early producer to both Blackfoot and to Skynyrd, took over for Barth. Jay did a wonderful job and remained aboard until Barth had made a full recovery. He has gone on to pursue his love of production and has many titles to his credit. Around the same time, drummer Christoph Ullmann, made the choice to return to Austria, and for a few shows, Sebastian Bach drummer, Bam Bam McConnell, filled the slot until a permanent replacement could be found. That replacement came as Michael Sollars, a New Orleans drummer who fits Jaks shoes as well as anyone could. So after a few zigs and zags, we are back to the original reformation lineup (sans Jakson). Rickey is happy in his life with Lynyrd Skynyrd. We have been overcome with the love and acceptence that crowds all of the world have shown us. And next year we will be celebrating the 40th year of Blackfoot, please come to a show, lets have a drink, and a chat. Thats the facts, from folks that were really there. BF