Fireking

Fireking is a rock experience for the twenty-first century. The two founding members, Anthony Kaczynski and Michael Smith, both formerly of Figures on a Beach, have been musical collaborators in various forms for years, and Fireking represents their newest, loudest, and best incarnation.

Anthony Kaczynski serves as Fireking’s lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, as well as being the actual King of Fyre himself. Michael "Smitty" Smith powers the group from behind his red Pearl drums. Mr. Paul Armstrong (from Syracuse’s legendary powerpoppers The Flashcubes) adds his rock ravings on guitar. Bass guitar duties have been shared by Jim Gerdeman (Mercy James), Kate McLaughlin and John Hartcorn (from Boston’s own The Neighborhoods and The Nervous Eaters) for live shows.

Fireking specializes in hook-filled slamming rock tunes. Unafraid to tread where others have trod, yet somehow totally original, Fireking aims for that sweet spot somewhere between Face to Face-era Kinks and The Stooges’ Funhouse. Their roots in the Motor City and years spent living, working and playing in Boston are at the core of who Fireking are.

Fireking intially started out as a whim, an answer to the question: "What would happen if two old bandmates got together and started churning out tunes?" Figures on a Beach was together for twelve productive years, but by 1993 when they breathed their last as a band, Anthony felt tired and definitely in need of a musical recharge. So he bought himself his first guitar, a Gibson ES-135, and from there, he tried to learn how to play it, under the notion that as long as it was something that Dave Davies or Pete Townshend would have played in, say, 1967, it was jake with him. Pretty soon songs started happening, as they inevitably do. It became obvious that a drummer was needed, preferably one with a big beat, to make the tunes Anthony was writing come to life, and the obvious drummer was Michael "Smitty" Smith, also formerly of Figures on a Beach. Smitty is possessed with a singular telepathy as far as knowing when to take it to the bridge.

Fireking spent much of 1999 and 2000 at New Alliance recording the tracks that would become Live A Little, Love A Little, and in 2000 Fireking started playing their first live shows. Fireking is currently working on a double-CD provisionally entitled Double Trouble.

Bruce Brodeen of Not Lame Recordings says, "Fireking’s debut CD is a killer tour-de-force, simply stated."

Play the Fireking, loudly. See Fireking live. Scream "Fireking Rocks," because they do.

It’s good to be Fireking.