Could the original members of Heart perform together at the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, April 18, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles? (The broadcast will be on HBO May 18th.)
It may very well happen according to a source close to founding members of the band.
Also, Saturday evening (2/16) original guitarist, Roger Fisher, posted on his Facebook page:
"I haven't seen anyone announce it yet: THE ORIGINAL HEART LINEUP WILL PLAY AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY."
A performance at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction would be the first time that all of the original lineup of one of Seattle's most famous musical exports would be sharing the stage together in over thirty years.
Obviously, if the founding members do perform together, it will be very satisfying news for longtime Heart fans. Late last year, all of the original members were notified by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of their induction as part of the class of 2013.
Listen to Roger Fisher and Steve Fossen talk about their induction here.
In May of 2010, Fisher, Fossen, Derosier and Leese reunited for the first time in over 30 years and joined vocalist Somar Macek (who currently fronts Heart by Heart with Fossen and Derosier) to perform classic Heart songs, backed by a 50 piece symphony orchestra as part of the lineup at the 1st annual Synergia Northwest Concert at the Temple Theater in Tacoma.
There has been no official word from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ann and Nancy Wilson, or the Heart camp regarding a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reunion performance.
The Wilson sisters are scheduled to perform a special concert leading up to the induction ceremony at Benaroya Concert Hall on April 9th.
Soundgarden front man and fellow Seattle rocker, Chris Cornell is slated do the induction honors.
Fronted by Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart ruled the airwaves from the mid to late 70's with four critically acclaimed albums: Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen, Magazine, and Dog and Butterfly. The group, whose work spans decades, crafted an outstanding body of material that still stands up today.
Roger Fisher, bassist Steven Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier, along with the addition of producer / guitarist / keyboardist Howard Leese, provided the strong foundation for the Wilson sisters. Those records were produced by the brilliant Mike Flicker and engineered by Roger Fisher's brother Michael, who was also the group's manager at the time.
Heart music became the soundtrack of many a youth back in the days of Afros, feathered hair, and bell-bottoms. Some would argue that those LPs still stand as the group's strongest work ever.
Of course, after the induction announcement was made, questions regarding whether the band would play together surfaced. When asked if the original members would perform in April, Ann Wilson initially told Rolling Stone, "I think they'll be all be inducted, but the performing part might be different because of the whole Ann and Nancy Wilson versus the Heart band. We've been playing with our current band way, way longer than that. You know this is one of those things we'll need to dust off among ourselves. But we're both really happy if the initial lineup of guys gets acknowledged." When asked if she and Nancy would perform with the original members, she simply said,"No Nope."
However, It looks there may have been a change of Heart along the road to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For many years, an original Heart reunion looked as if it was not in the cards, but many fans speculated that induction into Hall of Fame would be the proper vehicle for a long awaited reunion.
For those who've waited years for the full original lineup to work together again, this performance will feel like a gift. Not would it be welcome news to longtime fans, it also would provide a younger generation the opportunity to see the classic Heart lineup play together live.
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