over a year in the making and well worth the wait ! A tribute to the Hellacopters !! Available in very limited quantities on classic Black and Red variant vinyl !! 11 tracks from some of the finest bands in the land paying homage to one of the greatest rock n roll bands ever !
You can pre order the vinyl here:
Usa and Canada: Gods Candy Records
Europe: Kraken Recordings Bandcamp
or Noizeland Bandcamp
Well, that’s my Friday night sorted when in Blackpool Rebellion Festivals have confirmed – DEAD BOYS will be headlining in the OPERA HOUSE on Friday night. It might get louder and a bit Snotty and you can join the fun by picking up tickets at the link below.
Tickets
Friends of RPM STEVIE R. PEARCE AND THE HOOLIGANS will hit the road this MAY with one of today’s shining light breakthrough Bands DOOMSDAY OUTLAW and newcomers SILK ROAD.
2018 saw the rise of the HOOLIGANS with their critically acclaimed self titled Debut Album: released on Cargo Records last March, which caught the attention of Planet Rocks Hairy Bikers who instantly play listed the raucous track “BAD DAY”. All this solidified by storming performances across the UK.
The current touring ‘Jizzy Pearls Love/Hate’ Guitar Player has this to say to you: “It’s great to be going out with DOOMSDAY, right at the top of their game, I’m honoured! sonically there are some differences but it’ll make for one hell of a show- I love them dearly – I’m not predicting a blood bath as such — but i have brought a new mop just incase. It’s great to be also bringing SILK ROAD out to open every night, those upstarts are just killer. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!!I”
Indy From Doomsday has this to say: “Doomsday can’t wait to get on the road with Stevie Pearce again having laid waste to the shires with him when we supported Love/Hate last year. The last time we saw him the night ended in violence and kebabs, so we’ll be keeping the legal team on retainer and seeing what happens.”
Former GILLAN and OZZY OSBOURNE guitar legend Bernie Tormé has been hospitalised with double pneumonia. RPM would like every reader to send prayers (if your that way inclined) and positive thoughts his way that he makes a speedy and full recovery.
The news of the Irish musician’s health issues was broken via his Facebook page earlier yesterday. The post: “Bernie Tormé is extremely ill in intensive care with virulent double pneumonia. We ask for your prayers.” So we’re only happy to oblige. Get well Bernie.
Buy his latest LP: Here
Heres one for all you hopeless romantics out there. the St Valentines Day Massacre featuring Motorhead and Girlschool Covering ‘Please Don’t Touch’ play this to your other half and tell them it’ll forever now be “your” song!
On this day in 1970, The Who appeared at Leeds University, England. The show was recorded for the bands forthcoming ‘Live At Leeds’ album. Live at Leeds has been cited by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time. The University of Leeds refectory has now been named a national landmark in the UK, commemorated with a blue plaque. 
It’s not all Roses and chocolates sadly. as in 1964, on this day, Rob “The Bass Thing” Jones from The Wonder Stuff was born. Sadly Rob died in New York on 31 July 1993, aged 29 due to heart problems caused by “drug-related causes” . Rob left the band after playing on ‘Hup’ and the band’s triumphant three-night stint at Aston Villa Leisure Centre. Rob left for NYC at the tail end of ’89. Rest In Peace Rob 29 is no age at all. robs bass thing can be heard in all its glory on this classic off the ‘Hup’ album
After a pretty decent Friday, it was time for the main event. entering the Arena early Peters played the lucky first few hundred a sneak preview of a track off the next album and taking some questions from the audience and a few requests it was on with the show as Ryan Hamilton was up first. Accompanied tonight by his piano player Carol Hodge Ryan sadly was without his Harlequin Ghosts which was a shame but with the audience starting to turn up and the Alarm audience being notoriously partisan some might see it as a tough crowd because lets be honest here a lot of these people are here to see one man and hear his songs which is fine but I can’t help but feel they might be kinda missing out, anyway. There are some in tonight who were no doubt impressed by his stint on the recent Alarm tour and want to see and hear what he might have to offer stripped down to acoustic guitar and piano so after a couple of unfamiliar new tunes he tried the old trick of playing something he knew most people in here would know and like so playing ‘Desire’ by U2 was a good move which brought a few people in further to investigate. 
Its fair to say Ryan can talk and when time is of the essence there is a balance to strike and I think Ryan was acutely aware of this as he referred to the very same problem but having banter is great and endearing but I want to hear what you’ve got sir so ‘Smarter’ sounded great as did ‘Karaoke With No Crowd’ now we were getting somewhere Hamilton has clearly enjoyed his time hanging with Team Alarm and it was great to see him perform at the Gathering maybe next time come back and bring those other three with you and rock the house because the set was brief and by the time ‘Raise Your Hands’ was played we were just warming up.
Ok also on the bill tonight was 80’s pop-rock combo Then Jerico or as they were called Mark Shaws Then Jerico. Now I’ll hold my hands up and admit that growing up through the 80’s I was obviously aware of who Then Jerico was and I believe one of my siblings did indeed own ‘Big Area’ but I never investigated their music and they weren’t my thing at all. Shaw had a lot of energy on stage much like he did in the ’80s and to be fair he didn’t look like the years have been unkind to him and yes, of course, they played ‘The Motive’ and saved ‘Big Area’ til the end and no doubt some ladies seemed jolly pleased they played and got the chance to ‘Mam Dance’ a little.
right onto the main event and tonight, the stage is decked out in tin foil. Why? I have no idea but it was all shiny and when the band took the stage in matching jackets they must have been chuffed when the house lights tried to cook them at what must have seemed 190 without being fan assisted. 
With the line up of Smiley on the drums, James on Bass and occasional guitar and mikes wife Jules playing keyboards the main bulk of the stage was Peters as he ran from left to right singing into the three microphones on the front of the stage. Now I’ve seen this line up perform at Cardiff University and felt underwhelmed but then a short while later they played the Thekla in Bristol same line up different set and were bloody superb so I didn’t have a clue what to expect again tonight maybe it would be down to what the setlist was as to how my mood would change. I do think I’d got used to James playing the guitar which to be fair he does superbly on old and new alarm track and I always loved Craig Adams style and his bass thump was thunderous and really added energy to any live show not to say James isn’t good (am I digging a hole here I can’t climb out of?) anyway maybe I feel there are talents not being 100% utilised here maybe that’s my take on things but like I said this line up has also turned in some fantastic shows hell last years Saturday night was one of the best in twenty-seven years. Anyway, I do enjoy hearing both classics and new material whereas there are always a lot of attendees who just want to hear the classics and some even after all these years crave the original line up and turn up in the hope that this year will be the year it happens, haha. sadly not this year again ‘Coming Backwards’ sounds good and I do like ‘Peace Now’. From the last album ’13, Dead Raindeers’ was one of my favourites and it’s a nice riff. ‘Sold Me Down the River’ is up next and then its in the round for Peters who leaves the main stage to play ‘a few off ‘Declaration’ in the shape of ‘white Cross’ and ‘the Deceiver’ he then just about manages to knock out ‘Cenotaph’ before the gremlin get into the PA but not for the only time they rear their head.
The front of house sound decides it’s going to down tools. Anyway, Peters loves a challenge and tonight he decides to go out into the audience with his guitar and voice and move from side to side climbing into the seated area and sing ‘One Guitar’ or at least get the audience around him to sing it because only those near could hear. Still no sign of the PA coming back on as people begin to rummage round for coins for the meter to hopefully get the PA back on anyway being the resourceful sort PEters then rolls out a rendition of ‘Merry Christmas (War Is Over)’ yup a weird one on me too considering its February but hey why not.
With the impromptu break in proceedings, it means the band has to once again build up a head of steam so what better way than to break into ‘Spirit Of 76’ and we’re into the home straight but not before ‘Beautiful’ is aired from the excellent ‘Viral Black’ album. the band cruise into my favourite Alarm song ‘Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke’ to give it it’s full title or ‘WWYHWTSB’ as my notes say. which leaves 68 Guns and off they go.
I had no clue as to how long tonight’s encore might last I mean it could have been longer than the main set who knows nothing would surprise me at a Gathering. So I was surprised to be fair as this year there was no Craig Adams and the encore was a lean four songs ‘Neutral’, followed by ‘Strength’ then ‘Two Rivers’ then it was everyone on stage for a romp through ‘Get Down And Get With It’ oh and did I mention there was another power out? Oh well shit happens and the good ones don’t get phased by it they roll with the punches and that’s exactly what Peters did and once again it was a memorable Saturday night partly down to how they coped with adversity and partly because there are so many great songs to chose from I’m glad Mike writes new material and mixes up old with new and also is happy to play around with classic arrangments but not for the sake of it is why I keep going back, its always about the music – the music comes first and throughout my adult life the Gathering has been a constant good thing and I always look forward to the next one, as we debate what might go on and who will be there Its such a special Gathering for one of the hardest working musicians in the business whos taken the knocks and always got up and delivered. sure there have been off nights but who hasn’t one thing you always get with The Alarm is 100% and considering I’ve been privileged to see them play well into the three figures and I’ve heard ’68 Guns’ more times than should be legal I’ll be sat by the computer the second Gathering 2020 tickets go up for sale. Bring it on its yet again been a pleasure and never a chore.
Website for Gathering tickets and music: Here
Author: Dom Daley
Having a pop at metal behemoths Metallica in 2019 really is like shooting fish in a barrel, just one look at the ticket prices for their upcoming UK dates and the fact that their manager Peter Mensch basically told the fans prior to the tour that he was pushing prices as high as he could should be as easy a starting point as any.
This aside though just over 2 years ago I last witnessed the band live playing an 850 capacity underground venue in London where the ticket price was a donation to a local charity that helped homeless children to get off the streets. They raised £15,000 that night as well as a hell of a lot of pairs of horns. So, kudos to the band for that.
‘Helping Hands… Live & Acoustic At The Masonic’ very much continues this theme as it is Metallica’s all-new limited edition double live vinyl album that supports the band’s All Within My Hands Foundation, a multi-cause platform set up to support society’s most vulnerable – you can check out the website linked below for more information.
Getting back this album and the online presale meant you had to be quick out the blocks to get one of these double 140gm blue vinyl beauties as they sold out almost overnight. So, I guess you’re probably wondering, why all the fuss?
Well, this 12 track set recorded at the Helping Hands Concert and Auction back in November of last year really is Metallica like you’ve never heard them before. I was immediately hooked after seeing the video for ‘All Within My Hands’, a deep cut from the ‘St Anger’ album that here, devoid of Lars’ awful cod reggae snare sound and now resplendent with pedal steel guitar, sounds like a completely new song. Likewise, the versions of ‘Disposable Heroes’ and ‘Enter Sandman’ that were also video leaked sound almost unrecognisable here, and I can’t help thinking of the ‘Unledded’ Page and Plant album, albeit forget the Far Eastern influences and instead get ready for Metallica goes Deep South.
With this in mind the (almost) played straight versions of ‘Nothing Else Matters’, and ‘The Unforgiven’ actually come as something of a disappointment, however, the acoustic thrash versions of ‘The Four Horsemen’ and ‘Hardwired’ that bring the 71 minutes set to a crashing close really do sound like the band having the most fun they’ve had in years.
The rest of the track listing is basically made up of covers of songs by the likes of Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple, Bob Seger and Nazareth, and again if I’m being totally honest here, I’d much rather have heard a few more of the band’s own deeper cuts being given the acoustic reinvention treatment. However what’s that old adage again about keeping them wanting more? Ha, well Metallica has certainly done that with ‘Helping Hands… Live & Acoustic At The Masonic’.
There appear to still be some retail copies of this LP set to hit the shelves (it looks like March) so if you do your search engine homework you can still possibly pre-order copies of this LP on the interweb without having to pay a flipper a Discogs King’s ransom, and trust me when I say it really is worth every penny of the donation you’ll be making to the All Within My Hands Foundation.
Author: Johnny Hayward
on this day way back in 1970, Black Sabbath released their debut self-titled studio album on Vertigo records in the UK. The album happened to come out on a Friday which is a spooky fact. Peaking at No.8 on the charts which is something of a commercial success to be fair to the four lads from working-class backgrounds in Birmingham.
Recognised as the first heavy metal record. It seems like so long ago and be thankful that it was this album and these people. I’m not sure we should blame the four for giving us the likes of Danger Danger, Steel Panther and Manowar but if they were the first then they should take some collective responsibility because had this record never have been made would we have had judas priest? Who knows. If only they’d added a keytar instead of Iommi’s Les Paul things might have ended so differently. Oh well. To think that back in 1970 the band released not one but two albums because later that year ‘Paranoid’ hit the streets and was responsible for that riff. Amazing work ethic and turn over that my friends wouldn’t happen today.
On February 13th1980, Police raided the home of former Sex Pistols John Lydon who greeted them waving a ceremonial sword, the only illegal item they found was a canister of tear gas, claimed to be for defence against intruders. Imagine that, musical outsider having their homes invaded by the fuzz for what under what crime prevention? Makes you wonder why the bugger off to live in other countries. Of the incident, Lydon said, “I used to have these wooden slat blinds. They break, so up went an Italian flag. “But somebody thought that meant it was an IRA house, so… police raid!” Lydon had long since left the Pistols and PIL were a going concern the incident was between ‘Metal Box’ and ‘Flowers Of Romance’ Lydon was basking in the afterglow of ‘Metal Box’ which had come out only four months earlier.
Amazingly The title of the album refers to its original packaging, which consisted of a metal 16mm film canister embossed with the band’s logo and containing three records. It was designed by Dennis Morris and was innovative and inexpensive, costing little more to the label than the cost of standard printed sleeves for equivalent 12″ releases (although Virgin did ask for a refund of 1/3 of the band’s advance due to the cost). Before the metal tin was finalised, there was discussion of the album being released in a sandpaper package that would effectively ruin the sleeve art of any records shelved next to it. That idea would later be realised by the Durutti Column
Deleted in November 1979 after an initial release of 60,000 sales, the album was re-issued on in February 1980 (funnily enough just after his house was raided) as a standard double LP in a more conventional gatefold. The sleeve art of ‘Second Edition’ consists of a distorted Keith Levene.
Also today in the mists of time (1982 to be precise) The Jam were at number 1 in the charts with double A-side single ‘A Town Called Malice’ and ‘Precious’ incidently the song is played at the local football ground before every second half gets underway (have that one fact fans). Sadly the three members of the Jam have never reformed and the only chance of them ever being in the same place together would be when they’ve been to court – shame that but not many bands get to perform on TOTP twice in the same night playing both sides of their single
Finally, in 2007 Rod Steward did a hard days graft and only got paid $1 million. A wealthy billionaire Steve Schwarzman paid the singer to perform an hour-long set for his 60th Birthday celebrations in New York, (nice work if you can get it). Other performers are available for a lot cheaper. but I guess well done Rod We’d all like a piece of that. It’s not the only time Stewart has performed for wealthy people for large sums of money. A long way from his busking days in Paris and Spain or on train platforms in West London Stewart hung up his rock n roll wildman boots long before ’07 to be fair. but still quite an achievement. I hope Mr Schwarzman got his moneys worth and told Rod what to play.
Live albums are often a mixed bag. There’s the ‘allegedly’ heavily overdubbed ‘Live And Dangerous’, which still remains the best Thin Lizzy album regardless. There’s those that are part of the nostalgia circuit, bereft of new songs. If you’ve seen The Godfathers live in the last few years, you’ll know that, with ‘A Big, Bad, Beautiful Noise’, their most recent album is quite possibly their strongest, and their live sound is tight but fierce.
The engine room that holds it all down is thanks to drummer Tim James and bassist Darren ‘Birchy’ Birch. Just listening at home, you’d never imagine that Tim could look so laid back, sat at his kit; it is a mighty sound. From the opening ‘This Is War’ onwards, there is no messing around. 15 songs of premium rock n roll, guitarists Alex McBain and Steve Crittall respectively keeping it tight and baring their teeth. Crittall’s solos are perfectly savage when required.
Four tracks from the new album sit nicely alongside the classics that we all expect to hear; ‘Cause I Said So’, ‘WTJCB’, ‘She Gives Me Love’ and a splendidly trippy ‘When Am I Coming Down?’. Peter Coyne’s bark is particularly savage, making ‘Defibrillator’ one of the highlights, and Crittall’s production makes every song shine. He certainly knows how The Godfathers should sound, which makes this live album stand apart from most others. Loud, sharp and beautiful.
With it being 25 years since Therapy? unleashed the ferociously on-point Troublegum, the rock trio are on the lips of many: of those who follow them continuously, and those who fondly remember how much that seminal record spoke to them in 1994. The thing about Troublegum, and indeed Therapy? in general, is that it is as relevant today as it was then. Above and beyond that record, Therapy? have a wealth of material spanning their glorious career which is delivered with such intense energy live on stage.
With Prague being the only Czech date on their European tour I quickly snapped up the tickets and jumped on the train for the country’s capital. Having seen them in the UK various times over the last number of years I was confident enough to expect a lively and hardworking performance – Therapy? are a band who always give their all.
Frustratingly, due to a late arrival in Prague and an out of town hotel, I missed local support band Hell Paso. The heavy and grungy sound of the Prague-based noisemakers would be a perfect starter for the main act and judging by the positive response given to Andy Cairns’ shout-out, that seems to be the case. I urge anyone who enjoys Therapy? to give them a listen, and I’ll try to catch them next time I’m there.
I also managed to miss the beginning of the headliner and walked into the Rock Café at the same time Therapy? were crushing through their opener, Wreck it Like Beckett, although finding a place where I could see the stage proved a tiring prospect. The Rock Café was absolutely teeming with people, and the best view I could find managed to provide a view of Cairns’ hair, which he’d conveniently spiked up so I could at least see where he was. Although claustrophobic, the atmosphere was also electric, with the Prague crowd in full embrace of the headliner.
Therapy? offered up an extensive set list that included a wealth of fan favourites, some sideswipes at Trump, the British Government and the fiasco of Brexit. It’s good to see that Therapy? have lost none of their bite. Songs such as ‘Trigger Inside’, ‘Teethgrinder’ and ‘Screamager’ were obvious delights, while long-standing covers of the Joy Division’s ‘Isolation’ and, particularly, Husker Du’s ‘Diane’ had the venue shaking.
Paying homage to heroes past and present, the band offered enjoyable moments of the Priest’s ‘Breaking the Law’ and The Buzzcocks’ ‘Ever Fallen in Love’ in amongst their own vast array of hits. With an encore lasting around eight songs, they tore into the roundly loved ‘Going Nowhere’, ‘Knives’, and the ‘Church of Noise’, before ending on Success? Success is Survival.
The Rock Café was packed to breaking point, but the sound was loud and relentless. Even though I could barely see them, I can honestly say this is the best time I’ve ever seen them. Therapy? truly at their best.
Author: Craggy Collyde
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