Al Kiger: The Hard-Rocking Guitarist from Louisville
Al Kiger is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the rock band Head East. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Kiger's driving guitar work was central to the band's signature sound, which found major commercial success in the mid-1970s with the certified gold album Flat as a Pancake.
Early career
Al Kiger's musical journey began in the late 1960s in the Midwest. He co-founded the band Head East in 1969 with fellow University of Illinois students, initially performing as a cover band before developing their own original material.
The band's early years were spent building a strong regional following through relentless touring across the college and club circuit. Their self-released debut, Flat as a Pancake, arrived in 1975 on their own Pyramid Records label after facing initial rejection from major labels.
Breakthrough
Head East's breakthrough came in 1975 with the re-release of Flat as a Pancake by A&M Records. The album's single Never Been Any Reason became a massive FM radio hit, propelling the album to sell over a million copies and achieve gold certification.
This success established Al Kiger and Head East as staples of American arena rock, leading to extensive touring and a string of subsequent albums for A&M throughout the late 1970s.
Key tracks
Never Been Any Reason — This signature song, featuring Kiger's memorable riff, became a rock radio anthem and the band's biggest commercial hit.
Love Me Tonight — Another key track from the breakthrough album, showcasing the band's blend of melodic hooks and guitar-driven energy.
Since You Been Gone — A prime example of the hard-rocking style Kiger helped pioneer within the band's repertoire.
Get Up and Go — This later track highlights the consistent guitar-forward approach Kiger maintained across Head East's catalog.
Later career and legacy
Al Kiger remained with Head East through their most successful period, contributing to albums like 1977's Gettin' Lucky and 1979's U.S. 1. He departed the band in the early 1980s but left an indelible mark on their classic sound.
While specific later collaborations are less documented, Kiger's influence is cemented in the classic rock canon. The music he helped create with Head East continues to resonate with fans of the genre, ensuring his place in rock history.
For fans of Al Kiger's style, explore similar American rock acts like REO Speedwagon, who shared a Midwestern roots and melodic rock sensibility. Styx also operated in a similar sphere of ambitious, guitar-and-keyboard driven rock in the same era. The driving boogie rock of Foghat provides another touchstone, while 38 Special delivered a comparable Southern-tinged rock energy.
Al Kiger's music with Head East maintains a steady presence on classic rock FM stations and dedicated album-oriented rock channels. Their hits are frequently featured on online rock radio streams that celebrate the guitar-driven sound of the 1970s, keeping their music in rotation for new generations of listeners.
The guitar work of Al Kiger and the classic songs of Head East can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover or enjoy this staple of American rock music through the various classic rock and independent music radio stations available on onairium.com.
