Rocky was a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film features the story of the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, a clueless, kind-hearted working-class Italian-American, and small-time club fighter. He wins a shot at the world heavyweight championship while working as a debt collector for a loan shark in the slums of Philadelphia. But did you know why Sylvester Stallone hired Survivor to the theme song of Rocky III?
After being rejected the rights to utilize “Another One Bites the Dust” for Rocky III, Sylvester Stallone enlisted the help of Survivor to produce an original song, which became “Eye of the Tiger.”
What is the Story Behind the Song “Eye of the Tiger”?
The title tune from Survivor’s third album went on to become the year’s biggest hit song. Eye Of The Tiger topped the US singles chart for seven weeks in a row, earning the Chicago-based melodic hard rock band a Grammy and an Academy Award nomination.
Frankie Sullivan and Jim Peterik, guitarists, composers, and producers, were the show’s creative pillars, but Sylvester Stallone was the driving force that made Survivor famous.
Following the success of the band’s first two singles, the movie star and director contacted his buddy, Scotti Bros label president Tony Scotti, to see if Survivor might contribute to the music for Rocky III.
Stallone sent the first 10 minutes of the film for us to watch, and I was so upset when it cut out, So I told him I needed to see the rest of the movie to do it justice. It was totally untrue, I just wanted to know how it ended.
Jim Peterik, Survivor Band Member
To accompany boxing glove-clad fists slamming into battered eye sockets, Stallone requested that the tune has to have a heartbeat. The staccato riff throughout the song was outstanding.
We’d recorded Eye Of The Tiger as a demo on February 1, 1982, and that’s the version used in the film, Slyvester liked it so much he didn’t wait around for us to re-cut it, though the version on our record was done in a professional studio.
Frankie Sullivan, Survivor Band Member
Three weeks after Rocky III entered theaters, Eye Of The Tiger was released as a single. The song’s extended run at the top of the charts was nearly like winning the lottery for the band, specifically for Sullivan, who, unlike his colleagues, had been struggling financially. According to Sullivan, everything the band has done since then, including the theme song for Rocky IV, Burning Heart, will always be overshadowed by their biggest and best success. But he says that he’s okay with it.
Trying to compete with the past is for fools. But I’ll never, ever tire of playing Eye Of The Tiger. That song still kicks butt, man.
Frankie Sullivan, Survivor Band Member
(Source: Louder Sound)
Who is the Real Fight Boxer Who used “Eye of the Tiger” as their Ring Entrance?
Manny Pacquiao’s Ring Entrance for his bout versus Shane Mosley at MGM Grand Las Vegas, Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger was used for his Ring Entrance. Since that fight, Manny Pacquiao continuously used the song for his Fight Entrance. (Source: Louder Sound)