In the Dark

The Zoo Crew is spinning Billy Squier’s “In the Dark” from his 1981 album Don’t Say No, a track that’s a staple for Zoo Freaks tuning into THE ZOO. This pulsating anthem, which kicked off the triple-platinum album, hit #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to #7 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Its explosive opening—a synth rumble bursting into layered guitar fireworks—sets the tone for its raw energy. According to liner notes by Ben Edmonds on Billy Squier’s official website, the first 26 seconds of “In the Dark” were a bold statement of Squier’s artistic arrival, blending desire and fulfillment in a way that hooked listeners. The song’s arena-rock vibe earned it a #6 spot on The Village Voice’s list of the 20 Best Arena Rock Songs of All Time, with Record World praising its “blockbuster hook and savage guitar outbursts.”

One juicy tidbit about “In the Dark” comes from its cultural impact beyond rock radio. The song’s driving rhythm and production made it a favorite for club remixers and hip-hop samplers, as noted on billysquier.com. Edmonds suggests this appeal ties to Squier’s early days as a teenage guitarist setting avant-garde poetry to music, giving his work a rhythmic sensitivity that resonates with spoken-word cadences—a trait rappers instinctively picked up. Fans on Reddit’s ClassicRock community rave about its enduring power, with one user, Edm_vanhalen1981, sharing how they listened to Don’t Say No daily for six months when it dropped, calling Squier’s guitar and vocals “so good” in live recordings. Another fan on r/80smusic noted that mentioning “In the Dark” shuts down any Squier critics, underscoring its iconic status.

Billy Squier, born William Haislip Squier on May 12, 1950, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, didn’t just stumble into rock stardom. His musical journey began early, sparked by classical piano lessons as a kid, though he bribed his way through them, as he admitted on his official bio page. By 1963, at age 13, he bought his first guitar—a Danelectro and Supro amp for $90 from a neighbor. The British Invasion, particularly The Beatles, shifted his focus to electric guitar, but it was discovering Eric Clapton through John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1966 that cemented his commitment to music. Squier’s early career saw him fronting bands like Piper, which released two albums for A&M in the mid-’70s but fizzled out. Undeterred, he went solo, dropping Tale of the Tape in 1980, which laid the groundwork for Don’t Say No. His collaboration with producer Reinhold Mack, recommended by Queen’s Brian May, was pivotal, infusing the album with a Led Zeppelin-inspired bombast that skyrocketed his career.

Squier’s perfectionist streak and straightforward performance style made him a darling of early MTV, with videos for “In the Dark” and “The Stroke” in heavy rotation. Despite later setbacks, like the infamous “Rock Me Tonite” video that some blame for stalling his momentum, Squier’s influence endures. His 1980 track “The Big Beat” is one of the most-sampled drum breaks in hip-hop, used by artists like Jay-Z and Run-DMC. Connect with Squier on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can dive deeper at communities like the Billy Squier Fan Club on Facebook or join discussions on r/ClassicRock, where Zoo Freaks and Squier enthusiasts keep the vibe alive.