Billy Squier was one of the biggest rock stars of the 80s. Beginning with his classic 1981 hit The Stroke, he enjoyed a run of hits during the ensuing decade. With the advent of grunge in the early 1990s, and disillusionment with the music industry, in 1993 Squier walked away from the music industry. Since then, he’s made infrequent live appearances, including a couple of stints in Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.
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This week Squier has made a welcome return with a brand-new single, a remix of Harder On A Woman, a song he wrote and recorded back in 2022, and his first piece of new music in over 25 years.
“It was never intended as a comeback single - it was written to address the egregious Roe v. Wade decision, in which the US Supreme Court threw women's individual rights into the gutter,” Squier explained to me, regarding the catalyst that led to his new song.
“I found the decision unconscionable and had to say something to make people think about the implications.
“In contrast, the new version, Harder 24 - Don't Say No Mix, came from an idea I had to reimagine the song in the context of a Billy Squier record from the 80s.
“If you're talking ‘comeback single’, this would be it.”
When Squier did his stint with Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band, alongside him was also one of Australia’s own music legends, Colin Hay.
“I liked Men at Work before meeting Colin, and dug him even more when we worked together,” he says.
“He's a bit of a prankster and brings a lot to the party.
“Colin is always capable of coming up with something to keep the show going.
“All-in-all... a real prince.”
Many music fans in Australia may not be aware that Squier is one of the most widely sampled artists in hip-hop. The drum beat from his song The Big Beat, has been sampled by plenty of artists, from Britney Spears to Jay-Z, among many others.
“It definitely came as a surprise at the outset, though it wasn't hard to figure out why the hip-hop community was picking up on it,” he says.
“Drums were always a big part of my consciousness and an important element of my sound and music.
“With Big Beat my goal was always to "out-Bonzo" John Bonham, if only for a few well-placed beats.
“The recognition has been very gratifying. When someone calls you the "Robert Johnson of hip-hop" it's quite humbling.”
With Squier having experienced both the highs and lows of the music industry, what’s his advice for those that want to pursue a career in music.
“Live and breathe the music you create, and be prepared to give it everything you've got,” he says.
“The music industry's never been an easy course to navigate, and things have really gone off the rails with the advent of social media and emphasis on style over substance.
“Most importantly: find yourself... and be yourself.”
Looking to the future, can fans expect more music from Squier?
“For me, music is magic, and it springs from a source beyond whatever talents I may possess.
“It took a social crisis to create Harder...
“Am I looking for the next crisis?
“Not exactly... but we take what we can get.”
For more on Billy Squier, visit https://billysquier.com/
The View From Here
Early next week, I fly over to the UK to go on tour with English pop-rockers The Korgis. Australians would know of them from their 1980 worldwide hit, Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime. Over the past several years, both the group and I have been collaborating, having co-written and recorded material together under both of our respective names. The latest fruit of our labour is our recently released new single, Red Flag Day, the title of which comes from the highest alert of forest fires in Australia. In the UK, we’ll be performing our material live together in concert for the very first time.
In between the shows, I’ll also be conducting several book in-stores in Cardiff, Wales and in Stockholm, Sweden to discuss my latest book, Louder Than Words: Beyond the Backstage Pass. It’s going to be a very busy few weeks while I am on tour, with a hectic schedule locked in.
It’s been five years since my last tour of Europe, so I am looking forward to getting back on the road over there. While I’m on the road, I’ll be filing a special ‘from the road’ report in my next edition of Musical Musings, reporting on how the tour is coming along as well as all the music goings-on in London and Stockholm, along with exclusive photos. Look forward to reading my report in a fortnight.
Music news
Sabrina Carpenter has made history as the woman with the most weeks at No. 1 in a single year ever on the UK Official Singles Chart. The last woman to hold this record was Olivia Newton-John, who spent 16 weeks at No. 1 in 1978.
In Taylor Swift news, the music megastar has revealed that she will be releasing a new book in November that chronicles her recent mega-sold-out Eras Tour.
2025 continues to shape up in becoming another busy year for international tours. Nineties alt-rock icon PJ Harvey hits our shores in March while singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh, famed for his 80s hits, The Lady In Red and Don’t Pay The Ferryman brings his 50LO Tour to Australia in May. Also coming in May are another 80s group, The Blow Monkeys, who will be embarking on their debut Australian tour.
Beatle Ringo Starr has announced a new album, Look Up, scheduled for release on January 10, 2025. The brand-new all-country album features 11 original songs and is Starr’s first full-length album in six years.
The remaining members of Queen have hinted at the possibility of new music from the group.
This week in music history
This week in October of 1973, The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Angie, becoming their seventh US No.1.
In October of 1978, The Police made their US debut at CBGBs in New York, and in 1984, pop duo Wham! started a three-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Freedom.
Fun fact
Due to its feel-good vibe, the 1985 hit by Katrina and The Waves, Walking on Sunshine is one of the most licensed songs, having been used in everything from film, advertising, video games and television, generating royalties of more than $1 million per year for the group.
Joe Matera is a local singer-songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist providing readers with all the latest music news.
Musical Musings columnist