FLINT, Michigan — Even though time keeps moving forward, one thing that can instantly transport us back in time is music. Hearing a specific song can prompt memories, and make it feel like we’re in a time-traveling machine. Although it was over 45 years ago, music from the ‘80s remains a popular genre today — big hair and big hits, still to this day.
As the next generations gravitate towards the pop-ballad, hard rock, or hair metal of the ‘80s, the fanbase continues to grow. Linden native Nate Peck is a fan of the music and is now a performer, too.
Peck landed a dream gig, performing music live on stage with some of his rock influences and idols. Later this month, he’s bringing that rock ’n’ roll dream to Flint, not far from where he grew up. Peck provides lead vocals for the American rock band FireHouse, performing with Winger later on Friday, Feb. 21 at the
FIM Capitol Theatre.
FireHouse is a hard rock/metal band with a string of Top 10 hits, has sold millions of records worldwide, and toured with Warrant and Quiet Riot. Winger is an ‘80s metal band that’s reached platinum status, sharing stages with ZZ Top, KISS, Bon Jovi, Poison, and Bad Company. The two powerhouse groups are bringing their high-energy live performances to Flint, a show that Peck is particularly excited about.
Peck, 23, who now resides in Holly, has always been around music. The musician started out drumming when he was just three years old, and a few years ago, took to TikTok to share his singing covers of popular songs. That traction led to a few notable music folks noticing Peck’s impressive vocal chops.
“I knew I was on to something and I had a certain target audience — Gen X,” Peck says. “It led me to meeting Jack Russell, the lead singer for Great White. He caught news of it through one of his admins who ran his social media page, and I got to meet him in a place called
Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Pennsylvania. After that, I started going out on the road with him doing some guest singing on a song called, “Save Your Love,” which was one of their biggest ballads.”
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Platinum-selling ‘80s metal band, Winger.Although he’s also part of Gen Z, Peck draws inspiration from many bands of the MTV generation like Boston, Styx, Journey, Krokus, and Dokken. In 2023, while in Nashville, an opportunity to fill in for original FireHouse singer, C.J. Snare, while he had surgery. In fall 2023, his first show with FireHouse was in Connecticut, which felt like a dream come true, says Peck.
“Believe it or not, I actually get along with the older generation better than I do my own,” he says. “I can kind of relate to them more. As for touring with these guys, it’s pretty surreal because when you grow up listening to that music, I never thought I would be singing with these kinds of people. It’s pretty crazy.”
Although the tour schedule is tiring, he’s grateful to be around these talented musicians and down-to-earth guys. Peck received lots of helpful tips for stage banter and inspirational performance advice from C.J. when he was still alive. He passed away in April 2024, leaving Peck to help keep the songs alive in a more permanent capacity as lead singer.
The Michigan native is looking forward to playing his first show in Flint, and to seeing familiar faces of friends and family.
“Expect to see a high-energetic, true-to-the-music tribute to C.J.,” he says. “We do it every show as a respect to the legacy and the music of FireHouse. It’s going to be a really good time, and you should definitely come out to the show for sure.”
Some of FireHouse’s most popular hits include “Love of a Lifetime” and “All She Wrote,” both of which Peck works hard to perform as accurately as fans have come to know and love the familiar tracks. The musician enjoys the complete adrenaline rush of performing in front of live audiences.
“It’s great to be able to share your passion and love for music,” he says. “I would describe it as an energy transfer. The performers give 50% of your energy out to the crowd, and the crowd kind of throws back the energy.”
Looking ahead, Peck hopes to continue keeping these nostalgic songs relevant and living on for more decades to come.
Tickets to the Feb. 21 Winger, FireHouse concert are available online, at the FIM Ticket Center box office at FIM Whiting Auditorium and FIM Capitol Theatre, or by calling 810-237-7333.