We all love FIREHOUSE and we all already miss the late CJ Snare. As requested, in exclusive, here’s the bootleg label LoudWorks 2-CD release of Pre-FireHouse demos when they still operated under the name WHITE HEAT. On CD1 we find the band’s 1988 demos, on CD2 their early 1985 demos – 200 copies only.
The history of FireHouse can be traced back to 1984, when guitarist Bill Leverty’s band WHITE HEAT needed a drummer. After over 20 auditions, current FireHouse drummer Michael Foster answered the ad and when Leverty was impressed by his skill, he quickly hired him. When the band wasn’t on tour, Leverty and Foster would visit rock clubs, and it was at one of these clubs where they caught sight of a band called Maxx Warrior.
Singing for the band was C.J. Snare, and the band’s bassist was Perry Richardson. Leverty and Foster were impressed with Snare’s vocal ability, and became determined to unite the bands. As soon as Maxx Warrior broke up, Leverty sent Snare some of his songs and asked him to sing on his tape. Foster and Leverty were again impressed, so they brought Snare in to be the band’s lead singer for a show in Virginia several weeks later.
This is where all started. Both the ’85 & ’88 demos are very well recorded, and the sound quality is very good, better that the versions floating the net. The guitar work is sharper, edgier, and Firehouse’s trademark vocal harmonies are already there.
The three-member group took their tape to Perry Richardson, the ex-bassist for Maxx Warrior, who said he liked it but had made a six-month commitment to the band that he was a member of at the time. When the commitment was fulfilled, Richardson and his new bandmates moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and began recording demos in Leverty’s bedroom.
The band would record all day and play hotel shows at night to earn income. Since Leverty and Foster’s band name of White Heat was trademarked, the band chose FireHouse instead.
In December 1989, Michael Caplan of Epic Records flew to Charlotte, NC to see a FireHouse show, and told the band immediately following the performance that they were ready for a record deal. The band went into the studio with David Prater as producer. Prater, who later produced bands such as Dream Theater and having drummed with Santana, produced the band’s first two albums.
It’s great to have these pre-FireHouse recordings. Great songs, some with different arrangements, some unreleased.
HIGHLY Recommended
CD 1 : 1988 Demos
01 – Rock On The Radio (1988 Demo)
02 – Ought To Be A Law (1988 Demo)
03 – Lovers Lane (1988 Demo)
04 – Don’t Treat Me Bad (1988 Demo)
05 – Dream On (1988 Demo)
06 – Home Is Where The Heart Is (1988 Demo)
07 – Seasons of Change (1988 Demo)
08 – Overnight Sensation (1988 Demo)
09 – Midnite Fantasy (1988 Demo)
10 – Helpless (1988 Demo)
11 – Flame On (1988 Demo)
CD 2 : 1985 Demos
01 – Don’t Leave (1985 Demo)
02 – Midnight Fantasy (1985 Demo)
03 – Helpless (1985 Demo)
04 – Crashin’ Through The Wall (1985 Demo)
05 – Rock & A Hard Place (1985 Demo)
06 – Over And Over (1985 Demo)
07 – Flame On (1985 Demo)
08 – Def Con One (1985 Demo)
09 – Pretty Little Girl (1985 Demo)
C.J. Snare – lead vocals, keyboards
Bill Leverty – guitars, backing vocals
Perry Richardson – bass, backing vocals
Michael Foster – drums, percussion, backing vocals
WHITE HEAT – The Pre-Firehouse Recordings [LoudWorks 2-CD release] (2022)
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