With the new Seventh Key album, The Raging Fire, Billy Greer will establish himself as one of the premier vocalists in rock music today. His powerful vocal style and his strong bass playing make the new album a melodic rock classic. The multi-talented Mike Slamer plays guitars, keyboards, bass, and produces the project while Jamie Thompson sits behind the drum kit to pound out the rhythm to this musical onslaught and Terry Brock adds backing vocals. The album is full of the fire and passion of a musical unit on a mission to show the world that they stand tall, far ahead of their contemporaries. Tracks such as “You Cross The Line†and “An Ocean Away†are destined to become classic rock staples for the ages. Once you hear the tracks, and all the others, there will be no doubt that you will be convinced of the magical power this music delivers.
Although recognized as the bass player/vocalist for Kansas , he has not explored his lead singing abilities within that band. Singing second fiddle to Steve Walsh has been quite an honor and a privilege for Billy, but he decided that after playing bass and singing backing vocals for 16 years, it was finally time to step out and do his own project.
Billy Greer: I wanted to be able to showcase my full talent as a vocalist, a songwriter and as a bass player. This started as a solo project and a way to get my creative “rocks off†while still being a part of one of the best bands in all of rock ‘n’ roll. The first person I approached to work with me on the project was Mike Slamer. From the moment that Mike and I got together to write and record, it became a collaboration. He has shown throughout both Seventh Key CDs (the first CD was released in 2001) just how important his influence has been, as an engineer, a player, a songwriter, and mixing the CD as the producer.
I get comments that Seventh Key sounds like the third CD that Streets never recorded—also, that they hear Kansas elements in some of the songs. I think this is only natural since I have been around Kansas and the creative parts to the band for so many years. I am sure that things have rubbed off on me during this time. As far as any comparisons to Steve vocally, I consider this a major compliment. I think Steve has one of the classic voices of rock and roll. I think the reason I got the job with Streets and later on with Kansas is because of the similarities of our voices.
.Billy Greer is doing interviews daily, online and by phone to anyone who is willing to discuss Seventh Key. The internet has been a very important tool for Greer with Seventh Key. He stays in touch with the fans and answers their questions on the contact page, as well as posting interviews and other news about the project that people might not get to see otherwise. Billy, Mike, and Terry all agree that it would be great to be able to tour, but certain things need to be in place for that to happen—however it is very possible!
With the great success enjoyed by Seventh Key, Billy Greer finally can see that he would have a musical life if Kansas ever decided to hang it up. With the reception of the first CD beyond his expectations and the release of the second CD, the reaction from fans has been unbelievable. The first CD was only distributed in Europe and Japan , but with the new deal with Inside Out Records, the new record will finally get distribution in the U.S. As Billy says…I think the music speaks for itself, all I could hope for is that people would get a chance to hear what Mike and I have labored over for the past year. I’m very proud of the effort!