Heart is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Formed in 1967, the group later consisted of vocalist Ann Wilson, guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, drummer Brian Johnstone and keyboardist John Hannah. Shortly after the group's formation, Wilson's younger sister Nancy joined as rhythm guitarist, Johnstone was replaced by Michael Derosier and Hannah by Howard Leese. The band's current lineup includes the Wilson sisters, guitarists Ryan Waters (since 2019) and Ryan Wariner, keyboardist/guitarist Paul Moak, bassist Tony Lucido and drummer Sean T. Lane (all since 2023).

History 1967–1995 Heart formed in 1967 as the Army, which featured guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen and drummer Mike Fisher (Roger's brother). The group went through a number of lineup changes in its early years, as well as changing its name to White Heart (also sometimes credited simply as Heart) and later Hocus Pocus. Once it had settled on the name Heart in 1973, the band included Roger Fisher and Fossen, vocalist Ann Wilson (who became romantically involved with Mike Fisher), drummer Brian Johnstone and keyboardist John Hannah. Wilson's younger sister Nancy joined as rhythm guitarist the following year (and became romantically involved with Roger Fisher), while Hannah and Johnstone were replaced by Howard Leese and Michael Derosier, respectively, upon the band's signing with Mushroom Records in 1975.

After the release of the band's first four albums, Roger Fisher was fired from Heart in October 1979 due to increased tensions within the group, stemming from his lifestyle and breakup with Nancy Wilson. Leese took over the role of the band's lead guitarist, as they remained a five-piece. Fossen and Derosier also left after the recording of 1982's Private Audition, with Mark Andes and Denny Carmassi taking their respective positions. Both members remained with the band until the early 1990s; Andes left in 1992, prior to recording for the following year's Desire Walks On, before Carmassi followed the next year, after performing on said album. Following the album's release, the departed Andes and Carmassi were replaced by Fernando Saunders and Denny Fongheiser, respectively.

1995–2019 Heart spent several years in the late 1990s on temporary hiatus as the Wilson sisters worked on other projects, including together in new group the Lovemongers. The band toured occasionally without Nancy Wilson, adding lead guitarist Frank Cox, rhythm guitarist Scott Olson, bassist Jon Bayless and drummer Ben Smith. After a tour in 1998, long-time guitarist and keyboardist Leese left the band, later joining the solo band of Paul Rodgers. Ann and Nancy Wilson began touring in 1999 for the first time without a backing band. In 2002, a new lineup of Heart was introduced featuring returning members Olson and Smith, as well as new bassist Mike Inez and keyboardist Tom Kellock. The following year, Olson and Kellock were replaced in the Heart touring lineup by Gilby Clarke and Darian Sahanaja, respectively.

Sahanaja remained for Heart's first studio album in eleven years, Jupiters Darling, which also featured Clarke's replacement Craig Bartock. Debbie Shair replaced Sahanaja after the album's release. Ric Markmann became Heart's new bassist in 2005, after Inez's former band Alice in Chains reformed. Markmann left the touring lineup in 2009, introducing the band to his eventual replacement Kristian Attard, although he would later work with the band in the studio for Red Velvet Car and Fanatic. Dan Rothchild took over on bass in 2012. Chris Joyner replaced Shair in 2014. During late 2016, 2017 and 2018, Heart was on hiatus after an incident in which Ann Wilson's husband Dean Wetter was arrested for assaulting Nancy Wilson's children outside the venue in which the sisters were performing.

2019 onwards In February 2019, it was announced that Heart had reformed for a new concert tour. The lineup for the tour included long-time guitarist Craig Bartock and former drummer Denny Fongheiser, plus new members Ryan Waters on guitar, Andy Stoller on bass and keyboardist Dan Walker.

In November 2023, it was announced that the band would reform Heart for a few shows in December. The show included the Wilsons, former guitarist Ryan Waters, and members of Ann's band Tripsitter, which includes guitarist Ryan Wariner, keyboardist/guitarist Paul Moak, bassist Tony Lucido and drummer Sean T. Lane.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAnn Wilsonall Heart releasesNancy WilsonRyan Watersnone to dateRyan Wariner 2023–present Paul MoakTony LucidobassSean T. Lanedrums

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsSteve Fossen1967–1982all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Private Audition (1982)Roger Fisher1967–1979all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Dog & Butterfly (1978)Gary Ziegelman1967–1971lead vocalsnoneJames Cirrellorhythm guitarRon RudgedrumsKen HansenpercussionDavid Belzer1971keyboardsJeff JohnsondrumsGary Humphries1971–1972lead vocalsDon WilhelmkeyboardsChris BlainedrumsJohn Hannah1972–1975keyboardsBrian JohnstonedrumsHoward Leese1975–1998all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to The Road Home (1995)Michael Derosier1975–1982all Heart releases from Dreamboat Annie (1975) to Private Audition (1982)Denny Carmassi1982–1993all Heart releases from Passionworks (1983) to Desire Walks On (1993)Mark Andesall Heart releases from Passionworks (1983) to Rock the House Live! (1991)Denny FongheiserThe Road Home (1995)Fernando Saunders1993–1995Frank Cox1995–1999"Strong, Strong Wind" (1998)Scott OlsonAlive in Seattle (2003)Ben Smithall Heart releases from Alive in Seattle (2003) to Live in Atlantic City (2019)Jon Bayless1995–1998bassnoneMike Inez2002–2005Tom Kellock2002–2003keyboardsAlive in Seattle (2003)Darian SahanajaGilby Clarke2003noneCraig Bartockall Heart releases from Jupiters Darling (2004) onwards, except Red Velvet Car (2010) and Fanatic (2012)Debbie Shair2004–2014Ric Markmann2005–2009bassKristian Attard2009–2012Night at Sky Church (2010)Dan Rothchild2012–2016all Heart releases from Fanatic Live from Caesar's Colosseum (2014) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2016)Chris Joyner2014–2016Andy Stoller 2019 noneDan Walker

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesEarly 1973 – mid-1974Ann Wilson – lead vocals, flute Roger Fisher – guitar Steve Fossen – bass, percussion, backing vocals Brian Johnstone – drums John Hannah – keyboardsrowspan="2" Mid-1974 – early 1975Ann Wilson – vocals, flute Nancy Wilson – rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Roger Fisher – lead guitar Steve Fossen – bass, percussion, backing vocals Brian Johnstone – drums John Hannah – keyboardsSummer 1975 – October 1979Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – rhythm and lead guitar, harmonica, vocals Roger Fisher – lead guitar Steve Fossen – bass, percussion, backing vocals Michael Derosier – drums, percussion Howard Leese – keyboards, lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocalsDreamboat Annie (1975) Little Queen (1977) Magazine (1977) Dog & Butterfly (1978)October 1979 – early 1982Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Howard Leese – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Steve Fossen – bass, percussion, backing vocals Michael Derosier – drums, percussionBébé le Strange (1980) Greatest Hits/Live (1980) Private Audition (1982)1982–1992Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Howard Leese – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Mark Andes – bass, backing vocals Denny Carmassi – drums, percussionPassionworks (1983) Heart (1985) Bad Animals (1987) Brigade (1990) Rock the House Live! (1991)1992–1993Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Howard Leese – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass Denny Carmassi – drums, percussionDesire Walks On (1993)1993–1995Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Howard Leese – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Fernando Saunders – bass, backing vocals Denny Fongheiser – drums, percussionThe Road Home (1995)1995–1998Ann Wilson – lead vocals, flute, piano Frank Cox – lead guitar, backing vocals Scott Olson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Jon Bayless – bass Ben Smith – drums, percussion Howard Leese – keyboards, rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals1998Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Frank Cox – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals"Strong, Strong Wind" (1998)1999–2002Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocalsApril 2002 – March 2003Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Scott Olson – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Mike Inez – bass, percussion Ben Smith – drums, percussion Tom Kellock – keyboardsAlive in Seattle (2003)March – August 2003Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Gilby Clarke – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Mike Inez – bass, percussion Ben Smith – drums, percussion Darian Sahanaja – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals2003–2004Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Mike Inez – bass, percussion Ben Smith – drums, percussion Darian Sahanaja – keyboards, percussion, backing vocalsJupiters Darling (2004)2004–2005Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Mike Inez – bass, percussion Ben Smith – drums, percussion Debbie Shair – keyboards, percussion, backing vocalsLive in Atlantic City (2019)2005–2009Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ric Markmann – bass Ben Smith – drums, percussion Debbie Shair – keyboards, percussion, backing vocalsDreamboat Annie Live (2007) Red Velvet Car (2010) Fanatic (2012)2009–2012Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Kristian Attard – bass Ben Smith – drums, percussion Debbie Shair – keyboards, percussion, backing vocalsNight at Sky Church (2010)2012–2014Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dan Rotchild – bass, backing vocals Ben Smith – drums, percussion Debbie Shair – keyboards, percussion, backing vocalsFanatic Live from Caesars Colosseum (2014) Home for the Holidays (2014)2014–2019Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dan Rotchild – bass, backing vocals Ben Smith – drums, percussion Chris Joyner – keyboards, rhythm guitarBeautiful Broken (2016) Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2016)February – August 2019 Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar, piano Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Craig Bartock – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ryan Waters – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Andy Stoller – bass, backing vocals Denny Fongheiser – drums, percussion Dan Walker – keyboards, backing vocalsnoneDecember 2023 – present Ann Wilson – vocals, flute, rhythm guitar Nancy Wilson – lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals Ryan Wariner – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ryan Waters – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals