Profile: Firehouse Guitarist Bill Leverty

Growing Up In Richmond
Bill Leverty grew up in Richmond, Virginia and he was in to a lot of things as most kids are but Bill had excellence on his mind. He first played the guitar at the age of four and he played it for a while but sports drew his attention: hockey and diving. As a kid he was the Virginia State Diving Champion at the age of ten but hockey also peaked his interest so he dove into that with determination. By the time he was fifteen he thought the guitar needed another look so he picked it up and put his heart into it. All it took to get Bill Leverty hooked on guitar (when he was fourteen) was six guitar lessons, just an hour each, where he learned guitar chords. He says it was the best course he ever took.

Playing the Clubs and Bars
He was in a band called White Heat in 1984 when the band needed a new drummer and an audition of twenty people revealed the talent of Michael Foster who could sing and play the drums well at the same time. White Heat had found a new drummer. Rock bands are often transitioning in and transitioning out new members and bands are frequently on the lookout for new sounds and new looks to offer fans. This is how it was when Maxx Warrior was spotted playing at a bar by Bill Leverty. He thought the band's lead singer CJ Snare and bass guitarist Perry Richarson had a great sound together and he thought Michael Foster and himself could complement the two as a four piece band. He knew Maxx Warrior had broken up so they corresponded and decided to form a new band : they would call it Firehouse. The band would produce a great rock and roll sound. By 1989 the band who played out of Charlotte, North Carolina had gotten the attention of record executives; it was in December of 1989 that Michael Caplan of Epic Records flew to see them play in a club in Charlotte. He liked them and they agreed to record an album.

Awards-- From a Synthesis of Musical Ideas
By 1991 the band had hit the big time in terms of recognition as they won The American Music Award for Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band of 1991. That was a proud moment for the band but there were more awards on the way...they were also named Young Guitar Magazine's Best Newcomer of 1991. Music Life Magazine had a pop poll which named Firehouse Best Newcomer of the Year 1992.

Much Appreciated Recognition
Their first album sold over 2 million copies and the song "Love of a Lifetime" sold over 500,000 copies as a single reaching number 5 on the charts. More than twenty years after they formed the band is a little different. Perry Richardson the bass guitarist left the band in 2000 however the band still tours extensively overseas and in the states today. Bruce Waibel, the new bass guitarist, was on board to record Firehouse's 7th album "O2."

Going Solo
Bill Leverty released a solo album in 2007 along with Michael Foster his band mate in Firehouse. In 2009 he released an album of cover tunes. He is right now (Fall 2010) releasing a single called "All the Girls Are Crazy" that features Bill Leverty and Jimmy Kunes. Look for that as Xmas approaches because Firehouse and Bill Leverty still rock!

Resources:
www.leverty.com/bio/index.html

Related Articles:
Biography of Firehouse Lead Singer C.J. Snare