The Rockfords

Rock quintet the Rockfords got its start with four pre-teens in Seattle: guitarists Mike McCready and Danny Newcomb, bass player and vocalist Rick Friel, and drummer Chris Friel. The four formed the high school band Warrior in 1978, then added lead singer Rob Webber in 1982 and became Shadow, which lasted until 1988, then broke up. McCready formed Pearl Jam in 1990 and went on to rock stardom; Newcomb and the Friel brothers continued playing in local Seattle bands. In 1994, Newcomb and Chris Friel formed Goodness, which included lead singer Carrie Akre, releasing a self-titled album in 1995 and a follow-up, Anthem, in 1998. In 1999, McCready, still a member of Pearl Jam, rejoined Newcomb, the Friel brothers and Akre in forming the Rockfords, who were signed to Epic and released their self-titled debut album in February 2000. Their association with Epic only lasted for one album, but the Rockfords continued and three years after their debut released Live Seattle, WA 12/13/03 on the independent Kufala label. ~ William Ruhlmann