The Firm "Radioactive"

Following the success of the supergroup Asia in the early '80s, it's not surprising that the formula of assembling a band of all-star musicians from other bands would be attempted by others. In the case of The Firm, the components included former Free/Bad Company lead singer Paul Rodgers, ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist Tony Franklin, and drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC). Like many such unions, the pedigrees added up to more on paper than the results could deliver in the studio.

Founded in 1984, The Firm's self-titled debut album hit stores early the next year. The album, predictably, was embraced initially by AOR stations and fans of the members former projects. The album's sales were given an additional boost when the first single release, "Radioactive," crossed over onto the playlists of pop stations. The song was considerably more lightweight than one would have expected, but it clicked with listeners, topping the AOR charts and peaking at #28 on the US Top 40 charts in April of 1985. The album cracked the Top 20, but considering the personnel involved (and compared to Asia's monstrous success just three years prior), it was a disappointment.

"Radioactive" would be The Firm's lone Top 40 hit. Their tour to support their debut drew anemic numbers and, following one more album in late 1986, the players parted company, bringing an end to The Firm.

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