List of Heart band members
Heart is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1973, the group originally consisted of vocalist Ann Wilson, guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, drummer Brian Johnstone and keyboardist John Hannah. Shortly after the group's formation, Wilson's younger sister Nancy joined as rhythm guitarist, Johnstone was replaced by Michael Derosier and Hannah by Howard Leese. The band's current lineup includes the Wilson sisters, drummer Denny Fongheiser (from 1993 to 1995, and since 2019), guitarists Craig Bartock (since 2003) and Ryan Waters (since 2019), bassist Andy Stoller and keyboardist Dan Walker (both since 2019).
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History
1973–1995
Heart evolved from the earlier band the Army, which featured guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen and drummer Mike Fisher (Roger's brother).[1] The group went through a number of lineup changes in its early years, as well as changing its name to White Heart (also sometimes credited simply as Heart) and later Hocus Pocus.[2] Once it had settled on the name Heart in 1973, the band included Roger Fisher and Fossen, vocalist Ann Wilson (who became romantically involved with Mike Fisher), drummer Brian Johnstone and keyboardist John Hannah.[3] Wilson's younger sister Nancy joined as rhythm guitarist the following year (and became romantically involved with Roger Fisher), while Hannah and Johnstone were replaced by Howard Leese and Michael Derosier, respectively, upon the band's signing with Mushroom Records in 1975.[4]
After the release of the band's first four albums, Fisher was fired from Heart in October 1979 due to increased tensions within the group, stemming from his lifestyle and breakup with Nancy Wilson.[5] Leese took over the role of the band's lead guitarist, as they remained a four-piece.[6] Fossen and Derosier also left after the recording of 1982's Private Audition, with Mark Andes and Denny Carmassi taking their respective positions.[7] Both members remained with the band until the early 1990s; Andes left in 1992, prior to recording for the following year's Desire Walks On,[8] before Carmassi followed the next year, after performing on said album.[9] Following the album's release, the departed Andes and Carmassi were replaced by Fernando Saunders and Denny Fongheiser, respectively.[10]
1995–2019
Heart spent several years in the late 1990s on temporary hiatus as the Wilson sisters worked on other projects, including together in new group the Lovemongers.[4] The band toured occasionally without Nancy Wilson, adding lead guitarist Frank Cox, rhythm guitarist Scott Olson, bassist Jon Bayless and drummer Ben Smith.[11] After a tour in 1998, long-time guitarist and keyboardist Leese left the band, later joining the solo band of Paul Rodgers. Ann and Nancy Wilson began touring in 1999 for the first time without a backing band.[12] In 2002, a new lineup of Heart was introduced featuring returning members Olson and Smith, as well as new bassist Mike Inez and keyboardist Tom Kellock.[13] The following year, Olson and Kellock were replaced in the Heart touring lineup by Gilby Clarke and Darian Sahanaja, respectively.[14]
Sahanaja remained for Heart's first studio album in eleven years, Jupiters Darling, which also featured Clarke's replacement Craig Bartock.[15] Debbie Shair replaced Sahanaja after the album's release.[16] Ric Markmann became Heart's new bassist in 2005,[17] after Inez's former band Alice in Chains reformed.[18] Markmann left the touring lineup in 2009, introducing the band to his eventual replacement Kristian Attard,[19] although he would later work with the band in the studio for Red Velvet Car and Fanatic.[20][21] Dan Rothchild took over on bass in 2012.[22] Chris Joyner replaced Shair in 2014.[23] During late 2016, 2017 and 2018, Heart was on hiatus after an incident in which Ann Wilson's husband Dean Wetter was arrested for assaulting Nancy Wilson's children outside the venue in which the sisters were performing.[24]
Members
Current
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ann Wilson | 1973–present |
|
all Heart releases | |
Nancy Wilson |
|
| ||
Denny Fongheiser |
|
|
The Road Home (1995) | |
Craig Bartock | 2003–present |
|
all Heart releases from Jupiters Darling (2004) onwards, except Fanatic (2012) | |
Ryan Waters | 2019–present |
|
none as yet | |
Andy Stoller |
| |||
Dan Walker |
|
Former
Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Steve Fossen | 1973–1982 |
|
all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Private Audition (1982) | |
Roger Fisher | 1973–1980 |
|
all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Dog & Butterfly (1978) | |
Brian Johnstone | 1973–1975 | drums | none | |
John Hannah | keyboards | |||
Howard Leese | 1975–1998 |
|
all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to The Road Home (1995) | |
Michael Derosier | 1975–1982 |
|
all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Private Audition (1982) | |
Denny Carmassi | 1982–1993 | all Heart releases from Passionworks (1983) to Desire Walks On (1993) | ||
Mark Andes | 1982–1992 |
|
all Heart releases from Passionworks (1983) to Rock the House Live! (1991) | |
Fernando Saunders | 1993–1995 |
|
The Road Home (1995) | |
Frank Cox | 1995–1998 |
|
"Strong, Strong Wind" (1998) | |
Scott Olson |
|
|
Alive in Seattle (2003) | |
Ben Smith |
|
|
all Heart releases from Alive in Seattle (2003) to Live in Atlantic City (2019) | |
Jon Bayless | 1995–1998 | bass | none | |
David Grosman | 1998–2002 | bass | "Strong, Strong Wind" (1998) | |
Paul McInnes | 1998–2002 |
| ||
Kevin Costello | 1998–2002 |
| ||
Jeff Russell | 1998–2002 |
|
none | |
Mike Inez | 2002–2005 |
|
| |
Tom Kellock | 2002–2003 | keyboards | Alive in Seattle (2003) | |
Darian Sahanaja |
|
|
| |
Gilby Clarke | 2003 | lead and rhythm guitars | none | |
Debbie Shair | 2004–2014 |
|
| |
Ric Markmann | 2005–2009 | bass |
| |
Kristian Attard | 2009–2012 | Night at Sky Church (2010) | ||
Dan Rothchild | 2012–2019 |
|
all Heart releases from Fanatic Live from Caesar's Colosseum (2014) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2016) | |
Chris Joyner | 2014–2019 |
|
|
Timeline of members
![](../I/8abf96ba8568998658245333533691e1.png.webp)
Lineups
Period | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
Early 1973 – mid-1974 |
|
none |
Mid-1974 – early 1975 |
| |
Summer 1975 – October 1979 |
|
|
October 1979 – early 1982 |
|
|
1982–1992 |
|
|
1992–1993 |
|
|
1993–1995 |
|
|
1995–1998 |
|
none |
1998 |
|
|
1999–2002 |
|
none |
April 2002 – March 2003 |
|
|
March – August 2003 |
|
none |
2003–2004 |
|
|
2004–2005 |
|
|
2005–2009 |
|
|
2009–2012 |
|
|
2012–2014 |
|
|
2014–2019 |
|
|
February 2019 – present |
|
none as yet |
References
- Shindler, Merrill (July 28, 1977). "Wilson Sisters Talk Heart to Heart". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Oliver, Derek (September 18, 2013). "Heart: "We were has-beens until bands like Pearl Jam stuck up for us"". Classic Rock. TeamRock. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Pop Encyclopedia - Heart". Canoe.com. December 1, 2004. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Ankeny, Jason. "Heart: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Zaleski, Annie (February 14, 2015). "That Time the Wilson Sisters Took Control of Heart With 'Bebe Le Strange'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Sheff, David (March 31, 1980). "Rock's Wilson Sisters Kissed Off the Fisher Brothers, but Heart's Beat Goes on". People. Time Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Llewellyn, Siân (June 19, 2017). "Sister Act: The Story Of Heart". Classic Rock. TeamRock. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Locey, Bill (June 24, 1993). "Mark Andes' Little Brother Has First Date: Veteran rocker is back for another go-around with a new group at stop-the-dump benefit concert". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Bowling, David (February 13, 2011). "Music Review: Heart – Desire Walks On". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "The Road Home - Heart: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Heart Featuring Ann Wilson to Launch Summer Tour". Mitch Schneider Organization. June 4, 1998. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Hay, Carla (May 29, 1999). "VH1 Marks Women's Impact: Countdown Salutes Rock's Most Influential Artists" (Scan). Billboard. Vol. 111 no. 22. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications. p. 94. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Former Alice In Chains Bassist To Tour With Heart During The Summer". Blabbermouth.net. April 2, 2002. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Former Alice In Chains Bassist And Ex-Guns N' Roses Guitarist To Hit The Road With Heart". Blabbermouth.net. June 4, 2003. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Jurek, Thom. "Jupiters Darling - Heart: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Moser, Margaret (September 3, 2004). "Definitely Famous: Heart's Nancy Wilson, no-pole rock & roll". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Ben Smith Biography". Ben Smith Music Company. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "It's Official: Alice In Chains Is Back!". Blabbermouth.net. February 21, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Kristian Attard: Heart, Meghan Trainor Bassist: How I Got the Gig: S1 E7". YouTube. March 10, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Red Velvet Car - Heart: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Fanatic - Heart: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Aberback, Brian (November 28, 2016). "Englewood native Dan Rothchild joins Heart's Wilson sisters on new DVD". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- "Chris Joyner". Roadcase Royale. August 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- Newman, Jason (April 10, 2017). "Heart: Can Ann and Nancy Wilson Go on After Family Assault?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- Kreps, Daniel (February 11, 2019). "Heart Reunite for All-Star 'Love Alive' Summer Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- "About Heart". Heart. Retrieved July 11, 2019.