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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSQUIER, Billy(b 12 May '50, Wellesley Hills MA) Hard rock singer, songwriter, guitarist. Formed Sidewinders while still at school; then Piper (with Alan Laine Nolan and Tommy Gunn, guitars; Danny McGary, bass; Richie Fontana, drums) for albums Piper and Can't Wait c'77; went solo. Tale Of The Tape '80 prod. by Eddy Offord (ex-Yes); Don't Say No '81 co-prod. by Squire with Mack (Reinholdt Mack, German prod. of E.L.O., Queen etc), saw more direct approach pay off with three hit singles, no. 5 LP. Emotions In Motion '82 repeated the formula but Squire was dissatisfied, remixed it and collapsed with overwork (both these reached no. 5 USA). He had a vocal similarity to Robert Plant; wrote/performed on soundtrack to Fast Times At Ridgemont High '83 celebrating high school lifestyles; engaged Meat Loaf collaborator Jim Steinman to add stamp to Signs Of Life '84, still no. 11; but Enough Is Enough '86 and Hear And Now '89 did much less well and Creatures Of Habit '91 did not make the top 100. |