Frankie Sullivan of Survivor recently opened up in an interview with VRP Rocks about the departure of the band’s former lead vocalist, Dave Bickler, and discussed the qualities necessary for a lead singer in the competitive rock scene of the 1980s.
When asked about the circumstances leading to Bickler’s exit from Survivor, Sullivan was forthright. He stated:
“I had absolutely no hesitation, no problem, no, let me think about it… with replacing Dave. None. You want me to tell you why, in my opinion? Don’t give a f*ck about all your friends and lovers and haters and all that out there. He wasn’t the frontman we needed. That’s important. Don’t forget, at the time you had my friend Lou Gramm out there, you had Steve Perry.”
The Physical Demands Of Leading A Rock Band
He went on to discuss why Dave wasn’t the right fit for Survivor:
“You got to have a frontman. Dave wasn’t a frontman. He was not, and then two, you have to have endurance to do that job. Talk to Steve Perry sometimes about it. Look at what Bruce Springsteen just went to. It’s hard. I’m like, ‘Bruce, you can’t do three-hour shows when you’re like 70 years old.’ I love him, but Dave never had the endurance to do that. It’s hard.”
A Benchmark In Performance
Sullivan then recalled watching Steve Perry perform live:
“I used to go see Journey because there was Steve Perry. I like him. He had a really great attitude, and he had that whole thing because he just wanted to be the singer, and he became the star. The rest of the guys hated him in the band. Usual story. That’s how it’s going to be. I told [Jimi] Jamison. These guys have got to hate you in a year but don’t pay attention to it but I was relieved. I was really happy.”
Bickler’s Health And Departure
Bickler’s tenure with Survivor came to a challenging halt in late 1983 after he developed polyps on his vocal cords, requiring surgery and a prolonged period of voice rest. This health issue, demanding a recovery time of a year and a half, impacted his role in the band. Bickler rejoined Survivor in the early ’90s for a ‘Greatest Hits’ album but faced a series of legal and trademark disputes that mired his continued involvement.
His journey with Survivor saw another end in March 2016, leading to legal battles over using the band’s identity. The legal contention between Bickler and Survivor intensified when Sullivan, representing the band, filed a lawsuit against the vocalist in 2018. The lawsuit accused Bickler of misusing the band’s name to promote his solo career. Bickler’s legal team dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, accusing Sullivan of attempting to undermine Bickler’s independent success.
Watch the guitarist’s full interview below.
