The Indie Cafe with Ricky Bird... his solo debut, Lifer.

Byrd is probably most closely identified with the monstrous power

chords that helped define Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ platinum

cover of “I Love Rock & Roll,” and ensure its eternal rotation daily

throughout the universe. His blistering rhythms and soaring leads

played equally powerful roles in the Blackhearts’ subsequent great

hits. Byrd remains eternally grateful for the opportunity to orbit the

globe more frequently than the space shuttle and live out the

“Number One with a Bullet” dream most mortals only fantasize

about. But after a dozen years, it was time for a change. And the

confines of what Joni Mitchell has so poignantly called “the star

making machinery” could never have satisfied, much less revealed,

the soulful, complete musician and mature artist Byrd proves

himself to be on what is, astoundingly, for a dude who’s been

making major label albums for decades, his solo debut, Lifer.

“Indeed, Lifer is a celebration of the type of compact, hooky songwriting and

radiant guitar crunch that characterized classic rock and roll.”

-Guitar World

“Listen to Lifer and you’ll hear strains of a variety of classic rock, soul and blues

artists that emerged during the 1960s and early ‘70s, from Otis Redding to The

Rolling Stones to Rod Stewart to Mott the Hoople.”

-ABC Radio Network

“If Ricky Byrd wasn’t born to rock, suffice it to say he was raised in its service.”

-Blurt