R.I.P. CJ Snare

Vocalist for Firehouse, a band I recall only because their power barf-ad "Love Of My Lifetime" was a friend of mine's and his wife's "song." Their pet name for each other was/is "LOML" (pronounced not unlike Limahl), and I think back in the 90s their license plates were "LOML 1" and "LOML 2".

This particular friend gave me lots of guff in high school for liking "that punk stuff," but now that a lot of it is turning up in commercials he's okay with it and is always sending me links of obscure stuff he's just discovered, like Joey Ramone's version of "What a Wonderful World" or some such, wanting to discuss his cool new discovery. I just change the subject to Tennessee Tuxedo or Underdog.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2024 02:44PM by breno.

Ahhh yes, Firehouse. Just one example of the typical late-'80s hair-metal trajectory: their first hit was a fast number that got the fans singing along and pumping their fists, and their second hit was a power ballad. And that was it for the hits ... and those two hits (both from the first album, thank you very much) led them to an endless road through county fairs, chili cookoffs, and any other place they could find a booking.

Actually, Firehouse's first hit, "Don't Treat Me Bad," was a bit closer to power pop than hair metal. Nothing you'd consider a "discovery," but I could easily imagine a late-'70s group such as Piper recording it. I don't remember "Love of My Lifetime" at all ... and based on Reno's comments, it sounds like a dive into the Stygian depths. No thanks.

Funny story about this, which I haven't thought of in years. When I was a freshman in college, with a show on the campus radio station (which I later ran), there was a girl I liked whom I invited to poke around the record library to check out CDs. She took some back to listen to later, and it turned out she looked for Firehouse but instead checked out records by fIREHOSE. Different music. Very different.

Never heard of Firehouse. The real RIP (in my world, at least) was Clarence "Frogman" Henry, age 87. He could sing like a girl! AND he could sing like a frog! THAT is talent, ladies and gentlemen.

Ah, man! I missed that he died. He was great indeed.