Billy Squier’s journey in the music industry is a tale of soaring highs and challenging lows. Squier, best known for hits like “The Stroke” and “Lonely Is the Night,” experienced significant success in the early 1980s. His album “Don’t Say No” in 1981, which featured these hits, helped him establish a strong presence in the rock scene. The subsequent album, “Emotions in Motion,” cemented his status as a headlining artist, with several successful arena tours in the 80s, including bringing Def Leppard on their U.S. debut tour​​.

However, the peak of Squier’s career came with his fourth album, “Signs of Life,” in 1984. It was a departure from his typical hard rock style, incorporating more keyboards and a different production approach. Despite achieving his third consecutive platinum certification, the album’s promotion faced a significant setback due to its controversial music video for “Rock Me Tonite.” Directed by Kenny Ortega, the video featured Squier dancing in a bedroom wearing a pink tank top, and it was later criticized heavily, even being called the worst video of all time in the book “I Want My MTV.” This video, along with the shift in musical style, contributed to a decline in his popularity and concert sales​​.

Squier’s relationship with the music industry further deteriorated due to label disputes. His 1993 album “Tell the Truth” was met with a hostile response from Capitol Records. Gary Gersh, then leading Capitol, allegedly told Squier he would ensure that the album, despite its quality, would not be heard. This led Squier to seek release from his contract and marked the beginning of a long hiatus from recording new music​​.

Despite these setbacks, Squier’s influence in music remained strong, especially in the hip-hop community. He’s one of the most sampled artists in hip-hop, with his 1980 classic “The Big Beat” being one of the most sampled songs of all time. Artists like Jay Z, Eminem, and Run-DMC have used his work, securing his legacy beyond the realm of rock music​​​​.

While Squier has rarely released new music in recent decades, he remains a respected figure in the music industry. His journey is a testament to both the ephemeral nature of fame and the enduring impact an artist can have across different genres and generations.