I am also really excited about my new guitar amps: Randall MTS. The MTS amps are the coolest design I've ever seen. They are modular preamps that are all tube. These modules are hot-swapable, so I can use any of the 20 or so preamps they've designed which are all based on some of the most sought after guitar amps of all time. Check 'em out here:
Randall Amplification

I recently produced an album for a Canadian band called Rockarma. The CD is getting great reviews and you can check it out here: www.ROCKARMA.com

We'll be touring off and on this winter so please come out and see a show.

Thanks for your support... Bill

We have a VH-1 Classic tour lined up for mid October through mid November. We will be playing acoustically with Don Dokken, Jani Lane, Stephen Pearcy, and Kip Winger in support of an upcoming VH-1 classic album. Tour dates will be posted as soon as they are confirmed. I hope you'll come out to check out the show.

Thanks for your support... Bill

The show was sold out in advance, so we knew that it was going to be a packed house. We went onstage and had a good set with very few technical difficulties. I think that San Juan got a good taste of FireHouse that night. After our set, REO hit the stage and reminded me of what a super-group they are with flawless performances of hit after hit. I kept saying, "Wow! I forgot about that song too!". They really were great live. I really enjoyed Dave Amato's playing. He's a great guy and an awesome guitarist.

After REO, Journey came out and kicked major ass. One of my all-time guitar heros, Neil Schon, put on a clinic out there, showing everyone why he is one of the greatest guitarists that has ever walked the face of this planet. His solo was absolutely astounding, not to mention every song he played. I saw Journey back on the Escape tour. They kicked my ass then and they kicked my ass even more today! Neil, thanks for the inspiration.

I would like to thankeveryone in both bands and their crews for extending such great help to us. We couldn't have done it without their support. We hope to be able to play many more shows with both Journey and REO in the future... Bill

I've received so much positive feedback about my first ever side project, WANDERLUST. I thank everyone who has ordered a copy and hope that you will tell everyone you can think of about it. Please check it out here: WANDERLUSTBAND.COM.com

Right now, FireHouse is gearing up for our summer tour. We'll be playing mostly festival type gigs this summer, and we'll have them posted on the "tour dates" pages of our websites as soon as the dates are confirmed.

Theanks so much for your support, and I hope to see you on tour this summer... Bill

I first met Bruce when he was playing in a band that hosted a "jam night" in Sarasota, FL. I saw him play and I was completely blown away. He did a solo that night that literally knocked me out of my chair. I knew that musically he was something extremely special. We jammed some Joe Satriani songs that night and he just nailed them. I talked with him afterwards and he instantly had me rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically.

When FireHouse had an opening for a new bassist, I immediately thought of Bruce and asked him if he'd like to play with us. He said he'd love to, so I arranged a meeting with him and the guys. The first thing he said when he arrived in the sweltering Florida heat on that summer day was, "Man, it's hotter than a VCR in a crack house!" We all cracked up laughing and any awkward tension or anxiety that might have been there immediately vanished. We never auditioned anyone else. His playing made everyone rise to a new level and there was a great amount of excitement and rejuvenation that he brought into the band. His voice was so good that he could sing ANYTHING, and he could sing it really well. He had so much talent.

Our first project together was the recording of the FireHouse album "O2". Bruce approached the recording with such a positive attitude, playing what the song called for but also taking it beyond our vision. My favorite licks that he played on that album are in "Call Of The Night" where after the solo he just rips out this amazing bass riff that blows me away every time I hear it. He also played bass licks that I feel are some of his signature licks on "Jumpin", "Take It Off" and "I'm In Love This Time". His confident, relaxed, yet articulate feel can be heard throughout the entire album. I quickly knew while recording him that Bruce had a style of his own and that he was a total pro.

Aside from his musical genius, Bruce was also able to fix just about anything. In the short time that I knew him I had seen him fix everything from TV's, VCR's, stereos, cars, tour busses, telephones, and all types of musical equipment. His newest interest was computers, where he went to school and achieved many high levels of certification. I remember him studying on the flights we'd take to gigs and I'd ask him what he was working on. He tried telling me, but it was so advanced that I couldn't begin to understand the first of it.

When I decided to record a solo album, Bruce was the obvious choice as the bassist especially since he came from the exact musical place that I was going for (melodic rock with a Southern feel). I mean the guy played in the Gregg Allman Band for over 10 years! I had already recorded demos of the songs and I gave them to Bruce. He said that he really wanted to play on the record. I jumped at the opportunity to start recording him immediately. He would come over at about 2pm and we would record his bass tracks for one song until about 6pm. Then he would eat dinner with my wife and daughter who he adored (he absolutely LOVED kids) telling great stories about his kids and cracking us all up with his endless repertoire of jokes and impressions. After we finished eating, we'd go in the studio and listen to the song he had just worked on, touch up anything that needed to be fixed (which was very rare), and he'd leave with a big smile on his face.

As you might have known, the album was nearly done but I wasn't completely satisfied with my guitar tone. Even so, I made Bruce a CD of rough mixes of all the songs. After he listened to it he told me that he felt that this was the best performance he had ever recorded. He thanked me for letting him be himself and play to his full potential. I got the impression that in the past some producers had kept him from really showing his stuff. My intention was to give him as much freedom as he wanted and show the world how amazing he was. I knew that in doing so he would make each song that much better. He added so much to the entire album, but then again he added so much to everything he touched. We had such a great time together with this project because there was no pressure and no expectations placed on anyone.

We toured together on the Metal Edge Rockfest 2002 Tour with Dokken, RATT, Warrant, and LA Guns. Bruce was loved by everyone on the tour. He had a way of lifting everyone's spirits with his personality which was loaded with wit and humor. After the 12 week tour he called me and told me that he loved the band but just wanted to get off the road to spend more time with his family. His family was so important to him. I totally understood his feelings and wished him the very best. I knew that it was a very difficult decision that he had made.

The last time I spoke with him he seemed to be doing very well playing locally and also playing some gigs with national acts like Dickey Betts, Rick Derringer, and a few others. He told me that he missed our band a great deal but he liked being at home and doing less traveling. I told him that I missed him very much and to please stay in touch. The next thing I heard about Bruce was that he had just passed away. I wish that I could have had more time with such a great human being. I have so many great memories of Bruce and I will always remember him as one of the best friends I ever had. God bless you bro...

I'm re-recording most of the guitars on my solo album now since my new amps blow away my old ones. It should be ready for release before Christmas. I'll make an announcement on the front page of this site when it's done. Thanks again for your interest. Hope to see ya' soon!

Bill

My solo CD is coming along very nicely. Michael Foster and Bruce Waibel both lend their amazing talents which make the songs reach their ultimate potential. We haven't set the exact date for release yet. Thanks so much for your patience and support. See you on the road!

I've just finished recording 10 songs for my first solo album. It will be available exclusively here on this website as soon as I get done mixing and mastering it. I'll have some sound clips you can download so you can check it out before it's available. People ask me what it sounds like and I tell them that if they listen to "I'm In Love This Time" (track #7) on the FireHouse "O2" album you'll get the vibe of where I'm coming from with this album. The album is diverse but still has a soulful, melodic rock feel. I hope you'll check it out.