Whats up with you Jimi Jamison fans???? My voting booth at www.freevote.com/booth/impelliteri has turned into a Dave "the beret" Bickler Vs Jimi "Baywatch" Jamison slugfest. i've lost count of the number of rabid e-mails Ive received slating the abilty of Dave Bickler whilst hailing Jamison as the new messiah. If it was just women mailing me I could understand (guess why they prefer Jamison..) but it's men as well. Why cant you like BOTH singers?!?! http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7281#msg-7281Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:26:50 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7536#msg-7536 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7536#msg-7536
Thanks

Susumu]]> Susumu NoticeboardMon, 23 Oct 2000 22:37:09 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7516#msg-7516 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7516#msg-7516mickey thomas tours with starship still. they call themselves
"starship featuring mickey thomas" they play county fairs and casinos. just enough to pay their bills.]]> hengank NoticeboardMon, 23 Oct 2000 08:34:38 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7396#msg-7396 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7396#msg-7396
All one band, different names during different eras.
]]> sfk kurt NoticeboardFri, 20 Oct 2000 05:39:35 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7395#msg-7395 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7395#msg-7395
That Starship WAS NOT the Mickey Thomas model but rather Canter and Balin along with Grace Slick's daughter doing old Airplane tunes. And BOY did they suck.

So if you ever see Starship billed, make sure it's the one you seek.]]> sfk kurt NoticeboardFri, 20 Oct 2000 05:38:42 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7382#msg-7382 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7382#msg-7382
Susumu wrote:
-------------------------------
Hi, Captain Chaos. Nothing is so complicated as starships issue.

Originally what we recognize as Starship started as Jefferson Airplane then changed their name to Jefferson Starship. But after Paul Cantner(sorry I am not sure about the spellings) left the band he claim the right to name Jefferson so the remaining band had to drop the Jefferson and then Starship as we know it began.

Since Knee Deep In A Hoopla in 1986 the band turned their direction to pop rock and it succeeded. After Grace Slick left Starship the band is led by Micky Thomas but after their greatest hits album around 1991 there are no trace of them.

Last year Cantner returned with their original band name Jefferson Starship and released new album.


nicely summed up. For all practical purposes, by the end of it all, Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship were the same band and by the time of the later hits, they were just "Starship".



So that left me wondering. What has happened to Micky's Starship. Have someone got answers?


As Mike said below, Mickey is touring the US during the summer and is also a part of the "Voices of Classic Rock" group, which also includes Mike Reno, Bobby Kimball, Joe Lynn Turner, Jimi Jamison and a few others. More details of this arrangement can be found at www.rockforever.com along with a few live songs.

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardFri, 20 Oct 2000 02:10:28 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7375#msg-7375 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7375#msg-7375 Mike NoticeboardFri, 20 Oct 2000 00:58:13 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7367#msg-7367 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7367#msg-7367
Originally what we recognize as Starship started as Jefferson Airplane then changed their name to Jefferson Starship. But after Paul Cantner(sorry I am not sure about the spellings) left the band he claim the right to name Jefferson so the remaining band had to drop the Jefferson and then Starship as we know it began.

Since Knee Deep In A Hoopla in 1986 the band turned their direction to pop rock and it succeeded. After Grace Slick left Starship the band is led by Micky Thomas but after their greatest hits album around 1991 there are no trace of them.

Last year Cantner returned with their original band name Jefferson Starship and released new album.

So that left me wondering. What has happened to Micky's Starship. Have someone got answers?

Thanks

Susumu]]> Susumu NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 23:21:39 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7365#msg-7365 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7365#msg-7365 Captain Chaos NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 22:59:28 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7344#msg-7344 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7344#msg-7344-------------------------------
I suppose that's a good answer if it were true but as I remember Mickey was Survivors singer before Eye of The Tiger came out. Remember the hits? "Jane" and "Find Your Way Back To Your Heart"
Did you know that Mickey Thomas also sing for the Elvin Bishop Band before Survivor?


You've got them confused.....and "Jane" and "Find Your Way Back To Your Heart" are NOT Survivor songs. Dave Bickler sang on the 4 cds preceeding Jimi Jamison's entrance to the band with Vital Signs in 1984. They were...with the "hits" afterwards

Survivor (1980) -- Somewhere in America
Premonition (1981) --- Poor Man's Son
Eye of the Tiger (1982) -- Eye of the Tiger
Caught in the Game (1983) -- Caught in the Game

then, Jimi Jamison sung on...

Vital Signs (1984) -- I Can't Hold Back, High On You, The Search Is Over
When Seconds Count (1986) -- Is This Love
Too Hot To Sleep (1988)


As far as Mickey goes, awesome singer, no doubt, and he was in the Elvin Bishop Band and then he joined Starship, not Survivor. Starship had plenty of hits though I'm not that familiar with them, but I think the songs you mentioned are them, because they are definietly NOT Survivor

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 07:05:31 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7341#msg-7341 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7341#msg-7341Did you know that Mickey Thomas also sing for the Elvin Bishop Band before Survivor?]]> Captain Chaos NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 06:14:47 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7333#msg-7333 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7333#msg-7333-------------------------------
What about Mickey Thomas? I thought he was a better singer and performer than Jimison and Bickler. I saw Mickey one time live and he was great singer live. I don't see why he is being overlooked in your discussion. He was only mentioned one time.


well, main reason being that he was never a singer for Survivor. He did background vocals along with Tommy Shaw, but Dave Bickler and Jimi Jamison were the only lead singers for Survivor (well, not counting Jim Peterik's one appearance on lead vox on one song on the s/t cd).

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 04:30:14 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7319#msg-7319 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7319#msg-7319 Captain Chaos NoticeboardThu, 19 Oct 2000 00:22:14 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7317#msg-7317 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7317#msg-7317-------------------------------

But as a entertainer I think Jimi is far better than Dave. He can charm a large number of audience for a long time.

If I am a tour promotor I would rather choose Jimi as lead vocalist.


And, to be honest, that is probably the only reason why you saw a reunion betw Jimi Jamison and Survivor this past year--it's not like they like each other anymore... I do agree though that JJ is the better live performer.

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 23:15:14 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7315#msg-7315 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7315#msg-7315
I agree that Jimi is not well on high notes but he is brilliant in mid-high notes. Empires shows what tone he is great at. He didn't try the highest note as Eye Of The Tiger in Empires and that was wise decision. In When Seconds Count album on the other hand, the tone of the tracks were a bit too high for Jimi. Take Keep It Right Here as the example. Vital Signs he did well because in part of excellent background vocalist such as Micky Thomas.

But as a entertainer I think Jimi is far better than Dave. He can charm a large number of audience for a long time.

If I am a tour promotor I would rather choose Jimi as lead vocalist.

Thanks for bringing a fun topic to talk to

Enjoy the debate....

Susumu ]]> Susumu NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 21:15:31 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7307#msg-7307 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7307#msg-7307-------------------------------
I would agree with most of what you just said with the exception of one or two things about their range. Jimi actually in his prime sang as high as Bickler but his voice is so much thicker on high notes that it didn't sound as high. Listen to how thin Dave's voice gets on Eye of the Tiger on the high parts and then try to remember when you saw Jimi do it live back on the "Vital Signs" tour. Do you remember that the high parts Jimi sang didn't actually sound as high as Bicklers version but yet he hit the notes?

The song was done in the same key Dave did it in. It's just that Jimi didn't have to reach as high in his range to hit it and it didn't get real high and thin sounding.



Oh, I'm not doubting the fact that Jimi technically had the better, richer--and more versatile--voice. Bickler's voice was something more of like a Sammy Hagar/Danny Bowes hybrid with a kinda bluesy feel. I'll still maintain though that on "Ever Since the World Began" that JJ was not hitting all those high notes ("try to go as FAR as we can" in the chorus--JJ didn't even try for that note, be it stylistically or range-wise)--and IMO, didn't sound too hot singing that high. To me, he sounded strained and shouting. Speaking of VS however, I found it interesting that JJ's voice was a LOT deeper live than it was on the cd--and he definitely had a lot more depth by the time When Seconds Count rolled around.

My main problem with JJ covering Dave's songs is that the attitude in the vocal that Dave did so well was never something I really thought JJ could ever capture. Again, something due to the stylistic differences in the voices with Dave being rough and JJ being smoother in his delivery. Both were great singers and I guess it's just personal preference as to which style you prefer. Kinda like DLR vs. Sammy in VH. Sammy obviously had the better voice, but never could get the attitude Roth had.

Needless to say though, Dave covering JJ wasn't too hot either since Dave sings SO different. He got thru the songs, but it was obvious the songs weren't in his "comfort zone" for singing and his attempts to clone JJ's singing style met with mediocre results at best most of the time, though he did some KILLER versions of the heavier Too Hot To Sleep songs.



I haven't seen Jimi in the 90's, it's a real shame he's lost much of his range as you said. I guess that comes along with getting older though for some singers.

Well, JJ has lost a bit--listen to the live songs on the Empires release. His voice currently is kinda like a on-off thing---one night it's really good, the next night it isn't. He hasn't lost nearly as much as some singers, but those years of cigarette smoking and other stuff have taken their toll--he's lost a lot of that clarity he had.
Dave, on the other hand, who knows what is going on with his voice. The reason JJ joined the band in the first place was because Dave shot his voice during Caught in the Game (throat nodes which would need to be surgically removed)...and you can tell it listening to the cd that his voice wasn't nearly as strong as it had been on previous cds. When he rejoined in '93, his voice was as strong as it ever was, but by '97 or so, it was declining again. If you caught him on an off night in '99, by the end, he was ok but it took him about 5-6 songs to get his voice warmed up and it was pure torture listening to him. I heard a theory a while back where someone said that he was singing higher than his voice was really supposed to go (ie pushing his voice) and it would eventually just give out and maybe there is a bit of truth in it.


It's interesting how many of the singers from that era still have their full voices like Dennis Deyoung, Tony Lewis, and John Waite and then others....

Yea, I've found that really interesting also. Some singers like Phil Collins and others have lost practically nothing despite years of touring and then you have the other extreme like Steve Perry who's voice was either on or REALLY off during the FTLOSM tour of '94, and cd-wise, it's hard to tell it's the same person comparing Infinity to Trial By Fire because his singing style and natural voice have changed SO much. 'Tis weird to say the least...

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 13:24:13 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7303#msg-7303 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7303#msg-7303
The song was done in the same key Dave did it in. It's just that Jimi didn't have to reach as high in his range to hit it and it didn't get real high and thin sounding.

I haven't seen Jimi in the 90's, it's a real shame he's lost much of his range as you said. I guess that comes along with getting older though for some singers. It's interesting how many of the singers from that era still have their full voices like Dennis Deyoung, Tony Lewis, and John Waite and then others like Jimi, Lou Gramm, and Brad Delp have lost alot. I wonder what makes the difference. I would say health but Brad is a vegitarian so I can't go there....

DK


]]> Kilzer NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 12:27:15 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7301#msg-7301 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7301#msg-7301-------------------------------
I think the reason Jimi only sang a couple of Dave songs live is because all of their hits with the exception of a couple songs were done with Jimi. Why would he sing album cuts from Dave's era that most of the fans won't even know?

DK


same reason that they played about 4 songs off Too Hot To Sleep this year---which nobody knows either since that cd flopped saleswise. Up thru '99 when Bickler was still in the band, they were playing primarily Dave material with the JJ hits thrown in there--including some REALLY rare stuff like "Nothing Can Shake Me (From Your Love)" which was on the 1st cd, but a staple of the live shows from about '97 on. Now, it's totally the opposite with a lot of JJ rare stuff that nobody knows either....so my take on it is that if they are going to play songs nobody knows anyways, might as well cover both eras of the band and pick the best songs. Of course, to be honest, there is probably some stuff about egos floating around like in Van Halen where Sammy won't sing DLR's songs and visa versa that JJ doesn't like to sing Dave Bickler's songs.

Actually, the really weird part about it is on the Vital Signs tour, which was JJ's first tour with the band, the few Dave songs they did were sometimes REALLY strange like "I'm Not That Man Anymore" which...a) isn't really a killer live song....and b) is a deep album cut if there ever was one--why do that when there were a lot of songs that were really suited to the live environment??? Who knows--maybe part of it also concerns the fact that Dave could sing higher than JJ did when he wanted to and Jamison can't hit the notes these days. JJ was definitely not hitting the high notes--and seemed to be straining a bit on the higher parts--when he covered "Ever Since the World Began" back in 95--and that was when his voice was in top shape!

Kevin]]> Kevin NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 12:11:20 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7296#msg-7296 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7296#msg-7296
DK

]]> Kilzer NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 11:09:48 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7290#msg-7290 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7290#msg-7290-------------------------------
Whats up with you Jimi Jamison fans???? My voting booth at www.freevote.com/booth/impelliteri has turned into a Dave "the beret" Bickler Vs Jimi "Baywatch" Jamison slugfest. i've lost count of the number of rabid e-mails Ive received slating the abilty of Dave Bickler whilst hailing Jamison as the new messiah. If it was just women mailing me I could understand (guess why they prefer Jamison..) but it's men as well. Why cant you like BOTH singers?!?!


LOLOLOLOL......such is life with the Survivor fans. Just don't let the Steve Perry fanatics know about it or things will get REALLY interesting. Me personally, I don't care one way or the other as they are both world class singers, though their approaches are very different. Bickler is the raw attitude hard rock singer, while Jamison is the made-for-radio voice that worked so well on the later material. Still said though, it was usually a disaster both ways for one trying to cover the other's songs since they were so different (ever notice that JJ has only attempted a few Dave songs and Dave sang more than 50% of all Survivor songs???).

Kevin (who really doesn't care one way or the other, but some people can really go overboard)

P.S. Was it you who put the sdie notes beside the names?? That's hilarious...]]> Kevin NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 10:22:08 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7284#msg-7284 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7284#msg-7284

Brian Mc]]> Brian Mc NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 09:01:37 +1100 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7281#msg-7281 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,7281,7281#msg-7281]]> Chris NoticeboardWed, 18 Oct 2000 08:51:16 +1100