Bob Seger (original) (raw)

Robert Clark "Bob" Seger (May 6, 1945-) was an important figure in American rock and roll and pop music in the 1970s and 1980s, and continues to be influential today.

Seger started his musical career in the '60s in his native Detroit as a singer and as the leader of the Bob Seger System. He is best known for his work with the Silver Bullet Band, a group he formed in 1975. Seger is known as a workhorse midwestern roots-rocker who dealt with blue-collar themes and toured constantly in support of his frequent album releases. As such he is often dismissed as a poor man's Bruce Springsteen, though this is an unfair comparison since Seger's career as a professional musician predates Springsteen's by five years. Seger's successes paved the way for other heartland rockers including John Mellencamp and the Michael Stanley Band.

Seger's early work is hard-rocking and shows the influence of fellow Michiganers Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels as well as pioneer rock-and-rollers such as Chuck Berry. Later in his career, Seger mellowed somewhat and he had a series of hits in the '80s with such mid-tempo ballads as "We've Got Tonight" and "Against the Wind". Other familiar Seger songs include "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", "Night Moves", and "Hollywood Nights", but his most recognizable songs are almost certainly "Old Time Rock and Roll" (featured in the film Risky Business) and "Like a Rock" (the latter being most familiar to many younger Americans through its association with a Chevrolet ad campaign). "Turn the Page", another well-known Seger tune, was later covered by Metallica.