Artist: Jim Peterik

Interviewed via e-mail by: Glenn Milligan, BA Hons CS

Received: 9th September, 2002

 

Glenn: When 'Eye of the Tiger' and 'Burning Heart were written - did you expect them to be such big hits?

Jim: WE KIND OF THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD SHOT AT SUCCESS WITH EYE OF THE TIGER DUE TO THE EXPOSURE WE KNEW IT WOULD BET IN THE MOVIE- I PERSONALLY NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AS BIG AS IT GOT OR WOULD STAY AROUND AS LONG AS IT HAS SO FAR. IT IS GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE- EVEN THE YOUNG KIDS TODAY FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT SONG- AND BURNING HEART.

Glenn: How did you come up with those incredible riffs - what influenced them?
Was it the films or were the songs written previous and simply fit the feeling and vibe of the films?

Jim: THE SONGS WERE WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MOVIES. THE RIFFS WERE GENERATED BY THE ACTION ON THE SCREEN - THE RHYTHM OF THE PUNCHES, THE PUNCHING BAGS, ETC.

Glenn: How did you end up featuring the songs on the 'Rocky' films?

Jim: WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE STALLONE BE A FAN OF THE FIRST 2 SURVIVOR ALBUMS- HE ALSO KNEW THE PRESIDENT OF OUR RECORD COMPANY SO IT ALL WORKED HAND IN HAND.

Glenn: What was it like working alongside 'Sammy Hagar' writing the theme for 'Heavy Metal'?

Jim: SAMMY IS A BRILLIANT ROCKER AND PERSON- IT WAS GREAT FUN GETTING CRANKED UP ON STRONG MILL VALLEY COFFEE AND GOING TO WORK ON SONGS AT HIS HOUSE IN THE HILLS. THE CHEMISTRY WAS INCREDIBLE- WE WROTE AND DEMOED HEAVY METAL IN ONE AFTERNOON- AND EVEN WROTE A SECOND SONG- ALL ROADS ARE LEADING ME BACK TO YOU- WWHICH WAS RECORDED BY THE OUTLAWS.

Glenn: What are your favourite times in Survivor that most stand out in your mind?

Jim: I'M PARTICULARLY FOND OF THE EARLY DAYS WHEN THE BAND WAS CUTTING ITS TEETH IN THE CLUBS AND FESTS AROUND CHICAGOLAND. IT WAS A GREAT SPIRIT OF SOMETHING NEW AND THE PEOPLE WERE INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE. WE WERE PLAYING STUFF LIKE SUMMER NIGHT, POOR MANS SON, LIGHT OF 1000 SMILES AND OBSCURE STUFF LIKE KID DYNAMITE AND CHANCY.

Glenn: What made you leave the band in 1996?

Jim: I REALLY FELT I COULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERERENCE IN THE FUTURE OF THE BAND. I FELT POWERLESS TO STEER THE SHIP AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

Glenn: What have been your favourite projects and why?

Jim: I LOVE ALL THE SONGS I CO-WROTE WITH 38 SPECIAL- SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE - WE HAVE SO MUCH MUTUAL RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. THE MUSIC JUST FLOWS FROM THAT FEELING. I ENJOYED WRITING SONGS WITH FRANKIE IN SURVIVOR- WE SEEMED TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN EACH OTHER WHEN IT CAME TO SONGS. I REALLY ENJOYED PRODUCING THE CURRENT MECCA ALBUM- THATS KIND OF MY EXPRESSION OF THE MELODIC ROCK SIDE OF ME- AND IT WAS A GREAT CAST OF SINGERS AND MUSICIANS TO WORK WITH.

Glenn: In all your career what would you say have been your favourite gigs and why?

Jim: I REALLY LOVED OPENING UP FOR LED ZEPPELIN IN WINNEPEG CANADA AS A MEMBER OF THE IDES OF MARCH BACK IN 1970- WE HAD A NUMBER ONE RECORD AT THE TIME-- CALLED VEHICLE- AND THE BAND HAD AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT- BELIEVE IT OR NOT - EVEN ZEPPELIN HAD A HARD TIME FOLLOWING US THAT NIGHT!!

Glenn: What have been the most bizarre things you have been asked to do?

Jim: WHEN THE 'IDES OF MARCH' PLAYED STEEL PIER IN ATLANTIC CITY- WE HAD TO FOLLOW A DIVING HORSE- AS SOON AS WE WOULD HEAR THE SPASH FROM THE HORSE- THAT WAS OUR CUE TO START THE FIREST SONG OF OUR SET- WE DID THAT FOR ONE ENTIRE WEEK- 2 SHOWS A DAY.

Glenn: What made you decide to form 'World Stage'?

Jim: THIS WAS MY CHANCE NOT ONLY TO STEP FORWARD AS A FRONT MAN/LEAD SINGER/GUITARIST, BUT ALSO TO BRING TOGETHER SOME OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IVE WORKED WITH OR MET IN THE PAST- PEOPLE THAT SHARE A SIMILAR VISION IN REGARDS TO MELODIC AND MEANINGFUL ROCK AND ROLL.

Glenn: Reasons behind holding the gig and what would you say you liked best
about it?

Jim: THE BROTHERHOOD ON STAGE IS PERHAPS THE STRONGERST ELEMENT- NO ONE IS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS- EVERY ONE IS REALLY INTO WHAT IS GOING ON.

Glenn: Why does 'Smash Hits Live' not play like a standard live album - what is missing from the album that was performed at the concert - why was it left out and is a Volume 2 planned?

Jim: IT IS ACTUALLY A COMPOSITE OF THREE SEPARATE WORLD STAGE CONCERTS- DESPITE THE MISPRINT ON THE ALBUM JACKET. THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT COULD BE VOLUME 2.

Glenn: Why has the album been over 2 1/2 years before it was released?

Jim: SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES TIME TO GET YOUR SH## TOGETHER!

Glenn: What do you enjoy most Live or Studio work - or do you like a mixture of both - reasons why?

Jim: I LOVE THE MIXTURE- THE LIVE FEED THE STUDIO AND SONGWRITING EXPERIENCE- THERE IS NOTHEING LIKE THE RUSH AND FULLFILMENT OF PLAYING LIVE- BUT SOONER OR LATER YOU NEED TO PUT IT ALL DOWN IN RECORDED FORM.

Glenn: Who else would you like to work with that you haven't had the chance to pin down yet?

Jim: PAUL MCCARTNEY, ELTON JOHN, JOURNEY, MICKEY THOMAS.

Glenn: Do you stay in touch with the ex-members of Survivor? What are they
up to now?

Jim: I REALLY DON'T STAY IN TOUCH.

Glenn: Can you ever see 'Survivor' reforming for an album and/or tour in the future?

Jim: THEY ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE NOW I BELEIVE.

Glenn: What do you do outside recording and playing music - i.e. hobbies or
socially?

Jim: I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY WIFE AND 13 YEAR OLD SON- GOING TO BASEBALL GAMES, GOING TO THE COUNTRY AND TENDING MY GUITAR COLLECTION- I MAY BE DOING A BOOK FEATURING MY COLLECTION SOON- I ALSO JUST FINISHED A BOOK CALLED SONGWRITING FOR DUMMIES WHICH IS NOW HITTING THE STORES.

Glenn: Do you have any memorable tour stories worth telling that can be printed? If so, what like?

Jim: NONE THAT CAN BE TOLD!

Glenn: If you wrote your autobiography, what would you call it?

Jim: THE SEARCH IS OVER

Glenn: Do you still get the same buzz when you play live?

Jim: EVEN MORE- IT KEEPS ON GETTING MORE AND MORE VITAL TO ME

Glenn: What is it about keyboards that you really like?

Jim: IT CAN BE VERY FULL ON ITS OWN- ITS A GREAT INSTRUMENT TO WRITE SONGS ON BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD RIGHT AWAY.

Glenn: Who would you say are your main influences ?

Jim: THE BEATLES- ELTON JOHN- ELVIS- THE STONES- ANYTHING WRITTEN BY BURT BACHARACH AND HAL DAVID-- PAUL SIMAN- CAT STEVENS- ALL THE EARLY BRIT BANDS- AND TODD RUNDGREN

Glenn: How do you want to be remembered as an artist and fellow human being?

Jim: SOMEONE WHO TRIED HIS BEST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH MUSIC AND CAST A POSITIVE LIGHT ON THE WORLD.

Thank you so much for filling in the e-mail interview.

Jim: MY PLEASURE!!

Glenn: Take Care - Hope to see you in the UK again soon.

 

A Special thank-you to Mark Ashton @ Now & Then Records for all his communication help.