Walking in a Hurricane

Zoo Freaks, get ready to crank up the volume as we spin Walking in a Hurricane from John Fogerty’s killer 1997 album Blue Moon Swamp here at THE ZOO! This track, the seventh on the album, is a gritty, hard-rocking anthem that Fogerty himself described as “loud, almost-sinister rock and roll” in a 1997 interview with Vintage Guitar. He aimed to grab listeners’ attention right away, much like the Rolling Stones’ Satisfaction did back in the day. The song’s raw energy and swampy vibe made it a standout, hitting #14 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. Fun fact: Fogerty played this tune at every stop on his 1997 Blue Moon Swamp World Tour, but after that, it mysteriously vanished from his live setlists for good. One rare gem is a live radio performance at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark on June 26, 1997, recorded by Radio Denmark and partially broadcast across Nordic countries. A clip of that performance even popped up in a Danish TV interview that summer!

Another cool tidbit comes from a fan’s story shared in a 1997 review. An Australian musician recalled hearing Walking in a Hurricane on the radio while driving to a gig, the first new Fogerty tune they’d heard since 1986’s Eye of the Zombie. The excitement was so intense they started banging the steering wheel, nearly needing to pull over! Critics at the time, like Shawn Perry from Vintage Rock, praised the song’s “familiar growl and enduring guitar work,” noting its fresh yet classic Fogerty sound. Interestingly, Fogerty later reflected that while he’s proud of most of Blue Moon Swamp, Walking in a Hurricane—the album’s only true hard rocker—might not be his favorite, according to comments made two decades after its release. The track also got some screen time in the 1998 Premonition concert DVD, capturing Fogerty’s live mojo from that era.

Now, let’s rewind to how John Fogerty got his start. Born on May 28, 1945, in Berkeley, California, Fogerty’s musical journey kicked off in junior high when he formed a cover band called the Blue Velvets with bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. Inspired by rock and roll pioneers like Little Richard and Bo Diddley, the trio played local gigs, with Fogerty’s older brother Tom later joining in. By 1964, they signed with Fantasy Records, who renamed them The Golliwogs—without their consent! Despite cutting seven singles, success eluded them. In 1966, Fogerty got a draft notice for the Vietnam War but enlisted in the Army Reserve instead, serving as a supply clerk and training at Fort Bragg, Fort Knox, and Fort Lee. After his service, the band rebranded as Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1967, and Fogerty’s songwriting and gritty vocals propelled them to stardom. CCR churned out nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums from 1968 to 1972, with hits like Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, and Fortunate Son. After CCR’s breakup in 1972, Fogerty launched a solo career, first as The Blue Ridge Rangers in 1973, covering country tunes, before releasing his self-titled debut in 1975. His solo work, including the 1985 chart-topper Centerfield, cemented his legend status, earning him a spot on Rolling Stone’s lists of 100 Greatest Songwriters (#40) and Singers (#72).

Want to keep up with John Fogerty? Check out his official website at johnfogerty.com for tour dates, merch, and more. He’s active on social media, so follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates. Fans can also connect through dedicated spaces like the John Fogerty Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks can swap stories and celebrate his swamp rock legacy. For deeper dives, visit fan sites like Electric Bayou, packed with detailed discographies and trivia. Keep rockin’ to that Fogerty vibe, Zoo Crew!