Survivor

The scrappy Chicago rock band Survivor rose to prominence in the early ’80s with pugilistic, hooky anthems. Formed by guitarist Frankie Sullivan and keyboardist Jim Peterik in 1978 with Dave Bickler on vocals, Survivor began its career playing small venues around the Chicagoland area, releasing its self-titled debut in 1979. After a few lineup changes, the group’s second LP, Premonition, arrived in 1981; the rugged “Poor Man’s Son” caught the ear of Sylvester Stallone, and he approached the band to write the theme for Rocky III. “Eye of the Tiger” became a global smash and one of the defining tracks of early-’80s radio. Bickler left Survivor after 1983’s Caught In the Game, and new frontman Jimi Jamison led the charge on a series of arena-ready cuts, including the pleading “I Can’t Hold Back” and the piano ballad “The Search Is Over.” Legal issues plagued the band in the ensuing decades, but Sullivan and a group of musicians have continued touring as Survivor through the 2020s.