Editing Firefall (section)

=== Decline ===
After two years of non-stop recording and touring, the band was burned out and their financial situation was unstable. During a tour of Japan in August 1979, Michael Clarke, because of his excessive drinking, missed gigs or showed up in no condition to play. The band resorted to hiring a German drummer, Dan Holsten, whose playing technique was similar to Clarke's, to sub. Holsten, who even looked a lot like Clarke, had played in several other bands in the Colorado area and caught the eye of Jock and Larry one night at a [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]] bar. He became known as a reliable back-up drummer for tours and some studio work.

Despite it all, Atlantic Records still expected a new album. The band recorded the album sporadically over a year. The Alberts were again brought in to produce the album. But the work once again required a second effort, which was produced by [[Kyle Lehning]]. The result, titled ''Undertow'', was released in March 1980.<ref name="Larkin" /> Its would be the last album with the original lineup. Upon completion of the album, Clarke and Mark Andes both left the band. Thirteen years later, in December 1993, Clarke died of alcoholism at his home in [[Treasure Island, Florida]].

Andes and Clarke were replaced by [[Kenny Loggins]]' former rhythm section, consisting of bassist George Hawkins and drummer [[Tris Imboden]]. With the two new players, the band recorded ''Clouds Across the Sun'', which was released in December 1980,<ref name="Larkin" /> and spawned the early 1981 hit "Staying with It", which was done as a duet with singer Lisa Nemzo. ''Clouds'' saw Jock emerging more as a writer and singer and had the band moving more away from their "[[country rock]]" direction.

Hawkins resigned from the group in late 1980 to join up with Mick Fleetwood's ''[[The Visitor (Mick Fleetwood album)|The Visitor]]'', a side project the Fleetwood Mac drummer was recording in Africa. After Andes returned to guest for the group's February 1981 appearance on [[American Bandstand]], Kim Stone came in to take over bass.

Larry Burnett suddenly disappeared from the group, after playing a show at [[Miami]] Baseball Stadium with [[Heart (band)|Heart]], [[Blue Öyster Cult]], [[Motörhead]] and Freewheel on April 19, 1981, to return to his hometown of Washington, D.C. to enter rehab. (Burnett eventually kicked a serious drug habit and after working in radio in the late 80s/early 90s, began pursuing a solo career in 2004.) The group continued on to play their next show in [[Las Vegas]] without him. But after playing a concert with the band in [[Lahaina]], [[Hawaii]] with [[Pure Prairie League]] in August, Rick Roberts announced that he also was leaving for a solo career. With the band lacking personnel and increasing in financial debt, Atlantic dropped Firefall from their roster in 1981 and released ''Best of Firefall'' at the close of the year.

Since his departure from Firefall, Roberts has continued to tour on occasion. In the fall of 1981, he played dates in tandem with fellow former Burrito Brother [[Chris Hillman]]. In 1985 he was in a Twentieth Anniversary [[Byrds]] Tribute band with former Byrds [[Gene Clark]] and [[Michael Clarke (musician)|Michael Clarke]]. In 1987–89, Roberts teamed up with ex-Eagle [[Randy Meisner]] in the short lived Roberts Meisner Band, and after a return spell in Firefall (1989–1992), he was sidelined for health reasons for a number of years before returning to the road as a solo act. In the summer and fall of 2019, he toured together with fellow Firefaller Larry Burnett.