1970 to 1972

Southern Rock band that took an exodus from their Jacksonville, Florida roots to New Jersey in order to progress their career. BLACKFOOT relocated to the tri-state area in order to gig within spitting distance of the major record companies.

Frontman Ricky Medlocke, adopted son of the legendary Shorty Medlocke, and drummer Jackson Spires have played music together since their school days. The versatile Medlocke's career can be traced through early bands such as THE HOT WATER BLUES BAND (as bassist), THE ROCKING ACES (as guitarist), CANDIED APPLE (as a drummer), MIRACLE SOUNDS (as a vocalist) and SUNDAY FUNNIES.

As teenagers the duo went their separate ways through many bands until reuniting in an act titled FRESH GARBAGE that had Medlocke back on drums and also featured guitarist Charlie Hargrett and bassist Greg T. Walker.

FRESH GARBAGE enlisted former TANGERINE members Jakson Spires on drums and Dewitt Gibbs on keyboards and renamed the group HAMMER.

In early 1969 Hargrett was asked to leave and HAMMER pulled in former THE LIVIN' ENDS man Dennis Holmbeck. Graciously, Hargrett offered to teach the new recruit the guitar parts and stayed in touch with the band. Within weeks Holmbeck was out and Hargrett back in position.

Epic Records picked up on HAMMER and paid for a demo but the Pop material the label wanted left the band looking for pastures new. By early 1970 the band became known as BLACKFOOT, quite an astute move as three of the band were part native American Indian. Aiming foir the big time BLACKFOOT relocated to New York with a total of seven band members and crew sharing a two room apartment. The band's inaugeration into life in the North was completed when they were arrested for posession of legal fire arms. Dewitt Gibbs quit and Medlocke moved over to rhythm guitar as BLACKFOOT's live schedule got busier. With no real money coming in BLACKFOOT had to share residence with another starving act YIEGE in New Jersey.

However, shortly after Medlocke got the call to return south teaming up with LYNYRD SKYNRD although not as a vocalist but a drummer. As such he appears on LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 'First And Last' album.

Hargrett formed MAX RUSH with vocalist Tony Granito, bassist Bill Chambers and drummer Sandy Slavin (later of REX and RIOT). The guitarist then received an invitation to join BLACKBERRY HILL, a band including bass player Lenny Stadler.

1973 to 1976

In August of 1972 Medlocke resurrected BLACKFOOT pulling in Hargrett, Spires, Stadler on bass and guitarist DANNY JOHNSON. The latter's term in BLACKFOOT was brief, he would of course come to prominence with RICK DERRINGER, AXIS, ALCATRAZZ and STEPPENWOLF.

BLACKFOOT put in numerous support shows to the likes of BLACK OAK ARKANSAS, JOHNNY WINTER and POCO but fate was to deal Stadler a life changing illness. In the September the bass player fell ill and X rays revealed a lung tumour. However, just prior to surgery another X ray revealed the organ was clear. Convinced that God had intervened Stadler left the band to become a United Methodist minister.

Greg T. Walker made his return to the fold and the band got around to gigging the clubs. Illness again blighted their headway as Medlocke was prevented from singing due to vocal nodes. The band brought in singer Patrick Jude but after a few months Medlocke made his eager return.

BLACKFOOT got around to releasing their debut 'Reservations' in 1974. The record company, Island, virtually ignored the album though and it soon sank without trace.

A label switch to Epic ensued resulting in the 'Flying High' effort. BLACKFOOT had migrated back to Florida mainly due to the North's cold winter's affecting Medlocke's health, the vocalist having had a lung removed as a child. 'Flying High' suffered once again from lack of promotion but the band did put in valuable American tour dates with KISS, PETER FRAMPTON and TED NUGENT. Further shows saw BLACKFOOT gusting for MAHOGANY RUSH and GARY WRIGHT.

1977 to 1982

In 1977 BLACKFOOT approached BLACK OAK ARKANSAS manager Butch Stone for representation. Although Stone could not oblige he did hook the band up with solo artist and ex-BLACK OAK ARKANSAS singer RUBY STARR (real name Connie Mierzwiac). The band, now billed RUBY STARR AND BLACKFOOT, toured America throughout late 1977. BLACKFOOT would generally open the show before performing a second set with Starr singing. In 1978 Starr fell in love with guitarist Fred Hodnik from a guesting band LUCY GREY and quit to remould this band into GREY STAR.

It was not until 1979's 'Strikes' album, produced by BROWNSVILLE STATION drummer Henry Weck, did BLACKFOOT, now bolstered by fresh management and a new record company Atco, began to make an impact with the record going on to pull in over half a million sales eventually going platinum. The album included a version of BLUES IMAGE's 'Pay My Dues' and launched two hit singles. Out on tour BLACKFOOT supported BLUE OYSTER CULT, AC/DC, JOURNEY, WHITESNAKE, TED NUGENT again and FOREIGNER. Although road weary, the band had been on tour for twenty two months, the group's work ethic pushed sales of the album higher and higher.

BLACKFOOT also had cause to call on erstwhile member Danny Johnson after all of the band's gear was stolen. Johnson loaned guitars and amps to get them through the tour. The band rounded off the year by opening for THE WHO.

Both 'Tomcattin'' and 'Maruader' gave the band gold and platinum album certificates. The 1980 American tour had BLACKFOOT back on the road opening for THE WHO again. In the Autumn they had managed to grab prestigious dates guesting on AC/DC's mighty 'Back In Black' tour prior to the band's debut British shows with the SCORPIONS.

Promoting 'Marauder' BLACKFOOT played the 1981 Castle Donington 'Monsters Of Rock' festival and further festivals in Germany. Back in America BLACKFOOT headlined over DEF LEPPARD.

A tour of Europe opening for IRON MAIDEN gathered further valuable exposure upfront of a British headline tour and back to Germany as guests to the SCORPIONS again. BLACKFOOT's tireless schedule dictated another round of headline shows in America in 1982 before a return to appear at the Reading Festival in England. During their set IRON MAIDEN joined the band onstage for a 4 guitar version of ZZ TOP's 'Tush'.

1983 to 1986

With the band becoming a big draw in Europe a live album 'Highway Song' was issued although this would not see an American release. Sales had been on a downward turn in their homeland and BLACKFOOT's management decided fresh blood was required to enliven the band. The act tried to get in touch with URIAH HEEP man KEN HENSLEY but the musician's management did not want to talk. Undaunted BLACKFOOT used a ploy of offering Hensley a Hammond organ donated by a fan if he called. The duped Hensley instead got an offer to join BLACKFOOT.

The new look BLACKFOOT recorded 'Siogo' for 1983 release. Press reports from Atco Records informed the public 'Siogo' was an ancient native American word for 'brotherhood' but were none too amused to find out it was BLACKFOOT crew slang for 'Suck It Or Get Out'.

Musically, Atco Records persuaded the band to try to steer away from their Rock stance and into more mellower radio friendly territory. The band's management insisted on hair cuts and the ditching of the band's familiar Southern apparel of cowboy apparel. The 'Siogo' album duly saw their American chart position ranking plummet.

BLACKFOOT got back out into the public eye by touring with MOLLY HATCHET. Mid way through the tour in Kansas MOLLY HATCHET effectively folded. With a show the next day Medlocke and Hargrett were quickly drafted into MOLLY HATCHET to complete the show. Fortunately the rest of the band returned the day after.

'Siogo's lack of commercial achievement follow up 'Vertical Smiles' was to continue the trend into AOR inclined territory. The band had also decided to downplay Hargrett's role and recorded the next album without him. Whilst on tour the band were informed that the record company had rejected the album. Hargrett finally quit in January 1984.

BLACKFOOT re-recorded the album, containing no less than three cover versions including the old chestnut 'Morning Dew', PETER CETERA's 'Livin' In The Limelight' and RPM's 'A Legend Never Dies'. The album saw contributions from AXE guitarist BOBBY BARTH.

In the midst of an American tour promoting 'Vertical Smiles' BLACKFOOT dissolved. Hensley quit and was replaced by Barth whilst Hargrett was invited back but declined. With all the band members eventually walking leaving Medlocke solo. Spires joined the DIXIE ALL STARS. Latterly Spires and Walker reunited with a project titled NDN as well as gigging with the SOUTHERN ROCK ALL STARS.

1987 to 2005

The 'Ricky Medlocke's Blackfoot' album saw a radical departure in towards a Funk Rock direction and featured a radically altered band. Joining Medlocke in what was, basically, a solo adventure came former MOTHER'S FINEST bassist Wizzard and his brother Harold Seay on drums, whilst ex WHITE FACE man Doug Bare was added on keyboards. Also featured on the album would be a rousing cover of MOTHER'S FINEST's 'Rock n' Roll Tonight', Herman Brood's 'Saturday Night' and RUSS BALLARD's 'Liar'. The track 'Closest Thing To Heaven' featured a young female vocalist called Liz Larin, later to record an album for Atlantic herself. In addition, the album also scores additional guitar work courtesy of Wisconsin native Mark Woerpel, later to front the Melodic Hard Rock band WARP DRIVE. Medlocke would later be responsible for producing the debut WARP DRIVE album. Bare was later to join PAT TRAVERS touring band.

During 1988 BLACKFOOT consisted of Medlocke, Bare, drummer Gunner Ross and ex-THE DICTATORS and TWISTED SISTER bassist Mark 'The Animal' Mendoza. However, by October 1989 BLACKFOOT's line-up comprised of Medlocke, guitarist Neal Casal, ex-LIZZY BORDEN bassist Rikki Mayr and drummer Gunner Ross. The 'Medicine Man' release saw a return to form of classic Southern tinged Hard Rock. The album includes a cover version of FREE's 'Stealer'.

The 1994 'After The Reign' album features a band line-up of Medlocke, a returning Mark Woerpel, bassist Tim Stunson and ex WHITE FACE and LIZ LARIN drummer Benny Rappa. The album featured renditions of VAN MORRISON's 'Tupelo Honey' and BONNIE RIATT's 'The Road's My Middle Name' and a guest appearance from OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist ZAKK WYLDE on the album's title track.

The late 90's found Medlocke recording with LYNYRD SKYNYRD, specifically in the band that recorded the 'Live From Steel Town' album. Medlocke subsequently held down this post for many years. Despite Medlocke's lengthy tenure with LYNYRD SKYNYRD rumours of a BLACKFOOT reunion continued. Meantime, Hargrett operated the subtly titled BLACK MOLLY with erstwhile MOLLY HATCHET singer Jimmy Farrar.

In mid 2004 BLACKFOOT finally reunited, original players Greg T. Walker, Jackson Spires, Charlie Hargrett being joined by AXE frontman BOBBY BARTH. The band put in 2005 European shows at the 'Sweden Rock' and Dutch 'Arrow Rock' festivals. Tragedy struck the BLACKFOOT family when former drummer Jakson Spires suffered a massive aneurysm. Put onto life support, he would be rushed to an intensive care unit at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. He died on 16th March.

A BLACKFOOT gigged planned for Glasgow's Renfrew Ferry venue on 31st July was cancelled when complaints about the volume of the band's soundcheck caused the local council to curtail the gig.