SURVIVOR Singer JIMI JAMISON's Death Due, In Part, To Methamphetamine Use

November 12, 2014

SURVIVOR frontman Jimi Jamison died of methamphetamine intoxication and a stroke, according to autopsy results released on Tuesday, November 11. The coroner ruled the death accidental.

"Acute methamphetamine intoxication" contributed to a "hemorrhagic stroke of the brain," states the report by the Shelby County medical examiner. "Postmortem femoral blood toxicology showed a toxic to lethal combination of methamphetamine and a therapeutic concentration of its metabolite, amphetamine," the report added.

According to the report, the 63-year-old Jamison had heart disease at the time of his September 1 death, including a 90-percent blockage of his coronary arteries.

It was initially believed that Jamison died of a heart attack when he was found unconscious by his son at his home in Memphis.

Jamison served as SURVIVOR's lead singer from 1984 until 1988, recording three albums with the band, 1984's "Vital Signs", 1986's "When Seconds Count" and 1988's "Too Hot To Sleep". Jamison rejoined SURVIVOR in 2000 for another six years.

Often referred to as one of the American top rock vocalists, Jamison was the singer with TARGET, COBRA and SURVIVOR, apart from being an accomplished solo artist on his own.

Jimi performed backup vocals on recordings by ZZ TOP, Joe Walsh and numerous other recording artists. Billy Gibbons refered to Jimi as the fourth member of ZZ TOP and Casey Kasem, on his nationally syndicated radio show "American Top 40", called Jimi Jamison "The Voice." Among Jamison's best-known performances are "Burning Heart", from the "Rocky IV" movie, which hit No. 2 on the Billboard chart, "High On You" (No. 8),and "The Search Is Over" (No. 4).

His solo career started in 1991 with the release of "When Love Comes Down", followed in 1999 by "Empires", the album which included the theme "I'm Always Here" for "Baywatch". In 2008 Jamison teamed up with the other former SURVIVOR bandmate Jim Peterik, who wrote and produced for him the acclaimed album "Crossroads Moment". On the heels of this superb release, Jimi toured Europe a few times, culminating with an appearance at the popular Firefest in the UK in 2011.

Jamison's final solo album, "Never Too Late", came out in 2012.

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