Guitarist Roger Fisher of Heart rocks Panida

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

There are few people who have had a musical career like Roger Fisher.

Roger Fisher of Heart doing what he was put on this earth to do: shred. Photo courtesy Roger Fisher Instagram.

As a founding member of the band Heart, Fisher skyrocketed to mainstream success in the 1970s. During that time, Heart charted some of its biggest hits, like “Barracuda” from the 1977 album “Little Queen,” and cemented itself as an icon of classic rock. This weekend, Sandpoint is host to the classics and new hits alike when Roger Fisher hits the Panida Theater for a night of rock ‘n’ roll.  

Fisher got his start as a guitarist in the 1960s, playing in the Seattle area with band The Army. It was when his brother, Mike, began dating Ann Wilson that the first ideas for Heart sparked. When Wilson’s sister, Nancy Wilson, joined the band and began dating Roger Fisher soon thereafter, the group was primed for the bigtime. With an iconic duo in the Wilson sisters, a solid foundation of musical talent and a unique sound inspired by the burgeoning hard rock movement, Heart achieved success from the jump with the 1975 album “Dreamboat Annie.”

Classic-rock radio staples like “Crazy on You” and “Magic Man” helped Heart build its success over the next half-decade, with Roger Fisher ultimately leaving the band in the early ‘80s after a breakup with Nancy Wilson.

In 2013, Roger Fisher and the rest of Heart’s classic lineup were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Hailing the band’s mix of hard rock and folk as the recipe for its lasting appeal, the Hall of Fame brought the band back together for another performance with the classic lineup.

“By now we’ve all dialed in our sounds and are ready,” Fisher wrote about the experience of reuniting Heart for the first time in decades. “Nance hits the galloping intro to Crazy On You and boom! There it is. There’s the magic. There’s the chemistry. That mix of people, personalities and talent that only happens once. No other mix will ever be this. This ROCKS! This is HEART!”

Expect a mix of the old and the new when Fisher hits the Panida Theater this weekend. Fisher has a new album, “The Heart of the Blues,” available now, and the show set list will include both rock classics and new material.

The show, presented by Human Tribe LLC, will feature vocal performances by Carol Ann Wood of the band Born To Fly. Backing them is a band of world-class talent, so rest assured that the night will rock just as hard as ever. It promises to be a celebration of music across the decades, from the growth of hard rock in the 1970s to the varied fusions of the modern day.

Roger Fisher hits the Panida Theater Saturday, June 8, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the show starting 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.panida.org, at Eve’s Leaves or at the door on the night of the show. They run $30 for general access, but Heart superfans may want to spring for the $60 VIP pass, which includes a meet-and-greet with the artists.