Dion is quite the Prolific musician this past few years with albums and tours a plenty and this new release for 2023 is ten tracks of Garage Punk rock goodness. from the opening lo-fi smash n grab of ‘Secrets’ its off to the best possible start. With a wall of distorted guitars and a sparse floor tom beat and the lofi vocals its Garage ‘Rock goodness a plenty and just what I wanted to be hearing from mr D4 and place to bury stranger guy.
As well as the In The Red Versions of the LP (Black/Red Splatter) there are very limited numbers of a LEVITATION and FUZZ CLUB RECORDS “Shockwave” splatter version.
Lunadon leans on garage rock, punk and some power pop for good measure he doesn’t venture out of his comfort zone but his comfort zone has and is on the fringe of those genres and its a style he absolutely pulls off. In fact the openning single and lead track reminds me of The Boys in the melody and delivery of the vocals.
Lots of wrestling feedback on the guitars as ‘Nikki’ unfolds It is sparse and sounds like it was conceived in an underground tunnel with a solid consistent beat. That cold detatched feel continues on ‘Diamond Sea’ as Lunadon lets his vocals walk all over the song from screams to howls to melodic proper singing its all in here like a Bowie sketchbook thats been uncovered and I do like that piano thats holding it together whils tth eguitars are wrangled with.
‘I Walk Away’ is a bruising affair coming on like a distant cousin to fuck up Jon Spenser and Gallon Drunk chaotic and beautiful all at the same time. Its pretty much the MO of ‘Systems Edge’ as it lurches from raw to eve rawer material. Its a real attack on the senses as one track smashes into the next and so on it goes. ‘Shcokwave’ is like a feral Jesus and Mary Chain cut from the 80s heyday and then ‘Grind ME Down’ staggers in like the fucked up son of the Stooges.
‘I Don’t Mind’ is like a twisted pop song that has been out all night on a bender of Ket and cheap wine. The chorus is burrowed deep into my ear and I can’t shake it off I find myself singing the words I Don’t Mind over and over and tempted to march like Jagger as the song plays in my head.
The album then plays out via the sub eight minutes of ‘Room With No View’ and gone are the areratifs of the sub one minute songs or the two minute balsts of sonic ice and the fucked up trip of ‘Room’ as the guitars are put through the ringer and get absolutely rinsed fo rthe next seven minutes its the sound of the road to hell being trodden without a care in the world as Lunadon takes this impressive record home. I like it a lot and I knew that would be the case. I’ll venture in sparingly and I know it will drag me in much like when I get anew Dead Moon record and f this is half as good then its a winner all the way. Join me and get fucked by the sonic head fuck that is ‘Systems Edge’.
+ Collapse Into Never: Placebo Live In Europe 2023 double vinyl
+ This Is What You Wanted Blu-Ray feature length concert film
+ Live From The White Room live CD
PLACEBO announces the Placebo Live box set, an extensive collection of career-spanning performances captured in Mexico, Spain, and London. Remarkably, more than 25 years into their career, the set includes the first live album that the band have ever released – Collapse Into Never: Placebo Live In Europe 2023.
Placebo Live also marks the first time that any live performances from the band have been made available on vinyl. Across the whole collection, vinyl, Blu-Ray and CD formats are catered to from three special live sets titled Collapse Into Never, This Is What You Wanted and Live From The White Room. Each was recorded in the last year and a half as the band toured the world in support of new album Never Let Me Go, playing to over 1.5 million fans in the process.
Collapse Into Never, recorded live at Low Festival in Spain, comes as a clear double-vinyl gatefold. This Is What You Wanted was recorded live in Mexico City and the extended set is included here on Blu-Ray. Live From The White Room, recorded at Studio 1 Twickenham Studios, brings seven songs from the band’s acclaimed new album Never Let Me Go to life and is presented in a softpak gatefold CD.
The box set features songs from their eponymous debut Placebo, Black Market Music, Sleeping With Ghosts, Battle For The Sun, and Loud Like Love. Their acclaimed new album Never Let Me Go – which charted in the Top 10 in 13 countries on release last year – is also well represented here, including the album’s lead single ‘Beautiful James’ which currently has over 35 million streams across platforms. Beloved fan-favourite covers like Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ and Tears For Fears’ ‘Shout’ also feature.
In 2023, one of the great live bands of the last 25 years finally gets the live album release they deserve. Placebo Live reasserts why their show continues to be the essential experience that it always has been.
A truly defining artist in the Rock pantheon, Alice Cooper changed the way that rock music sounded and looked – forever – and sold over 50 million albums along the way. His incredible career – both with the original band and as a solo artist – has seen him pushing the boundaries of what is possible, both with the music and also the truly legendary live shows. He drew together music, art and theatre and created something unique and timeless. A seminal force within the rock world, Alice Cooper is a pioneer, an icon, a profound influence on everything that followed in his wake, but first and foremost an entertainer.
Each book will be individually signed, and “Starring Alice Cooper” will come in two major editions, including a huge, very limited, A3 version complete with 3D lenticular and some surprising treasures. The book boasts many rare photos and pictures of personal items throughout, and is full of incredible personal content and surprises.
As well as the superb photography, “Starring Alice Cooper” features essays on his career from several renowned writers, including former Creem Magazine editor Jaan Uhelszki, Rock et Folk’s Jerome Soligny, Katherine Turman (co-author of “Louder Than Hell”), and an exclusive introduction penned by acclaimed author and longtime Alice fan Neil Gaiman.
A truly defining artist in the Rock pantheon, Alice Cooper changed the way that rock music sounded and looked – forever – and sold over 50 million albums along the way. His incredible career – both with the original band and as a solo artist – has seen him pushing the boundaries of what is possible, both with the music and also the truly legendary live shows. He drew together music, art and theatre and created something unique and timeless. A seminal force within the rock world, Alice Cooper is a pioneer, an icon, a profound influence on everything that followed in his wake, but first and foremost an entertainer.
With a catalogue that spans seven (!) decades, Alice Cooper’s timeless calling cards include the albums that catapulted him to superstardom with the original Alice Cooper group, like ‘School’s Out’ and ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ in the early 70s. And then, going solo, an artist that constantly evolved, creating ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’ in 1975, his first record as a solo artist, the path on which he has continued to this day, including his 1989 smash hit album ‘Trash’ – featuring the mega-hit ‘Poison.’ Alice Cooper has continued to redefine the world in which he operates. 2023 saw him return to the album charts with ‘Road,’ repeating the 2021 success of the ‘Detroit Stories’ album as well as 2017’s ‘Paranormal.’
While creating a visual and sonic template that immediately and permanently sets him apart from his peers, the ever-changing Alice Cooper defies definition. “Starring Alice Cooper” celebrates a talent, and a life, of a true one-of-a kind icon.
For many years I would tell anyone with ears that Brixton based collective Alabama 3 were one of the best live bands on the planet. Their unique brand of “sweet pretty muthafuckin’ country acid house music” and incendiary, unforgettable live shows were legendary in my circles. But I must admit a run of less than spectacular albums and a few less than professional live shows saw (me at least) lose interest a few years back. The tragic death of co-founder Jake Black (aka The Very Reverend Dr.D Wayne Love) in 2019 seemed to seal the deal that it was all over for the Alabama 3.
But then something strange happened…Alabama 3 got their mojo back! Call it triumph over adversity, a rejuvenation even, but Larry Love and the boys unified, licked their wounds and released their 13th album ‘Step 13’ in 2021. A tribute to a fallen friend, the title referred to the next phase after death as quoted by A. Ron Hubbard, and was a return to past glories.
Now in 2013, with a new album (Cold War Classics Vol 2) on the shelves and the return of vocalist Devlin Love to the live outfit, it’s time to see if Alabama 3 can still deliver the goods live.
9 o’clock sharp and Alabama 3 hit the stage at the sold out Brudenell in style to newbie ‘North Korea’. Dressed in military jacket and shades, the ever cool Larry Love commands his audience from the off. Stage right is Devlin Love, the diminutive lady with a larger than life voice. She looks even cooler in a black fur coat, figure hugging dress and stack heels. Her vocals and her stage presence gives a different dynamic to the band now that Jake is gone.
But the ghost of the Very Reverend D Wayne is all over this show and he even makes an appearance, albeit a taped one on the overly cool set highlight ‘Hypo Full Of Love (12 Step Plan)’, which is a nice touch.
The set is a great mix of old and new, enough to satiate old fans and new recruits alike. It’s a very dance orientated show, the dub heavy bass throbs from the speakers and you can’t help but move to the groove. New tunes like ‘Petronella Says’ and ‘Whacked’ sound good, I mean really good, like they are A3 classics already after just a couple of years, maybe it’s just a testament as to how strong an album ‘Step 13’ is.
The pair of singers work the crowd like pros, inciting the crowd to get on their dancing feet and sing along to the choruses.
Long time core members keyboard player The Spirit looks suitably miserable all night and Nick Reynolds is always cool, switching between harmonica, backing vocals and sax all night. Larry informs us it’s his birthday and he takes lead vocals on the song the band wrote about his great train robbing old man ‘Have You Seen Bruce Richard Reynolds’. The harmonica induced countrified blues is a killer set highlight for me from one of my favourite A3 albums.
I must admit I’ve not seen them this good in many, many years. Other highlights like the awesome ‘Up Above My Head’, the countrified ‘Hello, I’m Johnny Cash’ and the obligatory ’Woke Up This Morning’ prove that Alabama 3 have the tunes and are an underground alternative institution we should be proud of.
The welcome return of singer Devlin Love seems to be what the band needed at the right time. While no one could ever fill Jake’s cowboy boots, her bluesy, soulful vocals and presence adds sex appeal and spice to the countrified, dance tunes tonight.
Her lead vocals on ‘U Don’t Dans 2 Tekno Anymore’ are frankly stunning, she rules that stage. Encore time sees her return with an acapella ‘Mercedes Benz’ before the full band return dedicating Aslan’s ‘How Can I Protect You’ to the ailing Shane McGowan.
I’ve seen Alabama 3 a bunch of times over the past 20 years, but this show was one of the best. Larry Love and his band have redeemed themselves in my eyes and take their rightful place as one of UK’s most exciting live bands currently doing the rounds. Long may they rule.
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, one of the most influential British bands in modern history, have announced a major UK tour for March 2024. The tour will celebrate the songs that have brought the band twenty Top 20 hits and nine Top 20 albums so far during their incredible 40+ year career. Tickets are available from https://gigst.rs/EATB2024 and www.ticketmaster.co.uk. The band’s seminal albums Crocodiles, Heaven Up Here, Porcupine and Ocean Rain have been a major influence for many groups such as Coldplay, The Killers, The Flaming Lips and Hole, whilst later albums Evergreen, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life and Siberia & Meteorites demonstrate what an amazing body of work the band has. Their latest studio album The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon was released in 2018 with Q Magazine calling it “Magical”. Echo & The Bunnymen recently completed a lauded sold out run of Ocean Rain concerts with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra which included a hometown show at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena. MARCH 2024 Sat 02 NORWICH UEA Sun 03 BRIGHTON Dome Tue 05 BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Wed 06 BRISTOL Beacon Fri 08 LONDON Roundhouse Sun 10 CARDIFF University Great Hall Tue 12 NOTTINGHAM Rock City Wed 13 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Sat 16 MANCHESTER Albert Hall Sun 17 MANCHESTER Albert Hall Tue 19 SHEFFIELD City Hall Wed 20 GLASGOW Barrowland Fri 22 LEEDS O2 Academy Sat 23 NEWCASTLE O2 City Hall Mon 25 LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre Tue 26 LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre
November is almost done and we can all get on the eggnog but before that there is time to squeeze in a right mixed bag of new singles and videos. From Kenny’s write-up of the brand new Valhalla Awaits track through some classic punk and pub rock to some balladeering and pop songs for you to get your heads around, Go check them out. But hold on Those cheeky chaps The Sensible Gray Cells begin the Crimbo madness before we unleash December’s festive tunes…Enjoy…
Valhalla Awaits – Is There Anybody Out There? (VA Records) The long-awaited new single from Welsh wonders Valhalla Awaits is finally unleashed and it’s been worth the wait. The band have been busy in the studio adding the finishing touches to their latest EP which will be released soon. The guys have had a busy summer with various festival performances, following on from their support slot with fellow Welshmen Those Damn Crows on their UK tour earlier in the year.
This taster from the EP has all the VA trademarks: A fantastic vocal performance, melody, riffs, tasteful guitar solos, powerhouse drumming and crystal-clear production values. A mid paced track full of atmospheric guitar melodies courtesy of Rhys Carter and Chris Green, a rock-solid performance from drummer Snoz Lawrence leaves bass player Sam Kilby to hold it all down on the bass front. The track builds beautifully and climaxes with some stunning guitar work.
Yet again, vocalist Andrew Hunt plays an absolute blinder. His velvet tones soar over the music with ease while giving us an ear worm of a chorus that has been in my head ever since my first listen to the track. The band just go from strength to strength, and I can’t wait to hear the EP and catch the lads in a live setting soon. Bravo guys!!
The track is available to stream/download now wherever you listen to your music. Author: Kenny Kendrick
The Sensible Gray Cells – ‘A Stupid Xmas’ (Damaged Goods Records) I couldn’t think of a better person to release the first christmas single than the good Captain and his Sensible Gray Cells. Join with them in celebrating all things that are daft and frustrating about the festive season. The band’s Xmas ditty ‘A Stupid Xmas’ captures everything you love to hate about this special time of year. It also has the catchiest chorus since Slade and Wizzard ruled the charts! The B side is classic Sensible a gentile romp with soe neat guitar work ably backed by Paul Gray and Marty Love.
***VINYL FANS TAKE NOTE*** A certain number of records will have a deliberate mistake hidden.. well, somewhere or other – a jolly wheeze inspired by some of those old Stiff Records ‘instant collector’s item’ mispressings. We won’t say anymore!
Christmas / Mrs. Anthrope – Split 7 (Self Release) Christmas drop their 19th release with this split 7″. The band are full of snot and anger on their side ‘Armageddon’ whilst the lyrics might be apocolyptical the music shows a way more melodic and softer side of Christmas and it really works for the band with a most excellent record. I certainly wasn’t expecting such a melodic gang vocal on the chorus. Also from St Wendel Mrs. Anthrope is a new band with their first song right here. ‘Squeezy Brains’ is a fast banger that just makes you wanna dance! oh and break stuff. Its punk rock baby and it rocks! Can’t wait to hear more from these guys as its always great to have new music from new bands. Great single!
FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES – ‘Brambles’ (International Death Cult / AWAL) second song to be taken from their forthcoming album ‘Dark Rainbow’. With a palpable sense of foreboding and menace, and arrives as something of a plea for a perfect love With the first half of the song being some dark ballad like song it then enters a darker twist before some lush strings and hushed vocals. A melodic pop song from Carter moving in a different direction than I was expecting keeping fans on their toes.
Faz Waltz – ‘Rave A Comin’ (Spaghetty Town Records) Oh baby its coming on like the bastard children of Little Richard and Jerry Lee with its boogie woogie piano leading the way on Rave a Comin. Its full tilt get your party pants on and lets go. The B Side isn’t far behind with a trad bop n roll with plenty of swing. Pure Rock n Roll nothing more nothign less. Expect a new album in the early part of 2024 and on this evidence expect a whole bunch of Rock n Roll kids. Great stuff. Horns a honkin and ivorys tinkling get these cats on tour with Jim Jones Allstars or would that be Rock n Roll overload?
Jim Bob – ‘This Is My Mix Tape’ (Cherry Red Records) Hot on the heels of his most excellent long player released earlier this year Jim Bob has knocked together a 10″ EP of four classic covers from ‘Are Friends Electric’ to ‘Pretty In Pink’ but he also entertains a Squeeze cover and Dexys ‘Gino’. Of course, its quality its Jim Bob and he’s been in a rich vein of form as of late and this only adds to his quality catalogue and will have fans old and new beaming with his take on some pretty classic tunes. This might be his first mixtape but I hope it won’t be his last. I can think of a follow-up bunch of tunes right off the bat Go Jim Bob.
Greg Kuehn – ‘Medicine Man’ (DC-Jam Records)Greg Kuehn, (TSOL keyboardist and prolific composer) is releasing “Medicine Man” the first single off his upcoming EP on DC-Jam Records. ‘Medicine Man’ is a song about recovery and mental illness, a subject close to Greg’s heart. He has been in recovery for nearly 30 years. TSOL fans tak e a breath because this is a dark ballad from Greg but its dark and soulful and sincere. but most of all its damn good.
Bob Vylan – ‘Hes A Man’ (Ghost Theatre) Taken from the upcoming album ‘Humble As The Sun’ which is out in April of 2024. With just one vocalist (Bobby) and one drummer (Bobbie) they have created a unique and ever evolving sound, one that crosses styles and genres, doing away with the traditional and embracing new and uncharted sonic dimensions. They incorporate these styles within their music in an attempt to bridge and blend genres and subcultures together. It is this very unique style and sound that has found them embraced by rock, rap, punk, dance and alternative crowds alike.
Golem Dance Cult – ‘Ghost of Las Vegas‘ Taken from the bands latest album ‘Legend of the Bleeding Heart’. The idea was related to how we can feel alone even (especially) when surrounded by other people, like ghosts roaming in a casino…. in Las Vegas. The duo take chances and aren’t afraid to mix it up on their records but its sharp, captivating and interesting concepts. Besides if you don’t like a bit of Goth then getoutofhere. Here at HQ we love a bit of sparse bbuzzsaw guitar and low range vocals. Check it out.
Penny Rich ‘PC’ (self Release) Cardiff-based noise punks release a studio take and live version of ‘PC’ and it’s angry as fuck and comes out of the speakers swinging so get your dukes up and protect yourself. With a throbbing growling bass rumble, psychotic vocals, and that Grungy Punk riffage that served the likes of Nirvana really well. One to look out for for sure and hopefully I can catch them live soon and see how this brawler comes across – gumshields at the ready.
Johnny Moped – ‘Lockdown Boy’ (Damaged Goods Records) the loveable Lodon boys knock out a tuneful ragged slice of pub rock and they do it so well. Before you’ve heard it through once you’ll be spilling beer and singing along in your mates face with your arm tight around his neck moments before you either get turfed out of the boozer or you stumble and fall. Cheers guys its a belter and leaves me feelign warm and nourished. ‘The Other Side’ no the other side is like they left the tape running when they’re having a chat before the band kicks in with a short sharp burst of energy before fading away – strang? Yup but its Johnny Moped go check it out
Having seen The Cult play a blinding set in the summer when they announced Death Cult dates it seemed only fair to head to Duffys turf and catch the show in the spectacular surroundings of The Albert Hall. Once inside the old church after giving the merch a swerve due to the prices being £40 for a cap and £30 for a poster I put my wallet back in my pocket and headed for the bleachers as Lili Refrain who once again played a thirty minute set of Native chanting and floor tom loops. The minutes flew by and we were ready for what was promising to be an interesting evening of old school Cult. I’d seen social media posts complementing the band on how good they were but I’d avoided too many spoilers then the house lights went off and the swirls of dry ice engulfed the high room as the shadows took to the compact stage as ’83ed Dream’ creaked out of the PA system to howls of approval from the paced room. Duffy hunched over his White Falcon picked the chords whilst Asbury held the mic with a sturdy grip, some dark glassed his hair tied in a ball whilst wearing a leather jacket and black robe the clock was certainly turned back.
The pit was in full flight as ‘Christians’ punched into the ether and ‘Gods Zoo’ confirmed we were really doing this and the band sounded fantastic. I think its fair to say that live Asburys voice hasn’t always been as strong as it does on record but I have to say that in the summer and in Manchester he sounded unbelievable better than I’ve ever heard him. He looks in shape and his voice is strong and powerful and it really struck home on ‘Flowers In The Desert’ as the two bandmates stood alone on the stage and knocked out a really powerful rendition. It was the first sort of break in the set which had been full throttle up to that point.
Its fair to say that the next hal fof the set was spectacular and trying to think of superlatives to pour upon the set is tough because ‘Resurection Joe’ was huge sounding and it elevated the set to the next level but to follow it With the huge ‘Horse Nation’ I began to daydream as to why these songs went missing from the Cult setlist over the last few years of shows. Duffy seemed in the zone as he picked the opening riff from ‘Go West’ only to hit a hattrick of songs starting with ‘Loves’ ‘Hollow Man’ another they should play more often followed by ‘Dreamtime’ and the epic ‘Spiritwalker’ was magnificent and might well be up there as one of the pest live shows I’ve ever seen them do going back to the Love era tour.
It only left ‘Rain’ to finish the main set before the band retired, Earning a thoroughly deserved encore of ‘Moya’ and of course ‘Sanctuary’ and Manchester was now done. The Death Cult came, saw, and conquered and it felt a real privilege to have been there and witnessed such a special performance in such excellent surroundings. The band seemed to enjoy the show as much as the fans did and I hope this isn’t the last of these kind of tours because The Cult are on fire at the moment. They sound and perform better than they have done for decades and that is a fact my friends. Simply stunning.
My only experience of seeing Francis Rossi was with Quo but I went to see The Alarm support themin a football stadium and it was many many moons ago. I find myself traveling up the south Wales coast to the seaside town of Porthcawl to catch Francis Rossi doing a stand-up slash songs and chat performance and I was looking forward to finding out what it was all about. Not being familiar with the format and resisting the temptation to go online and watch some spoilers I took my seat amongst the Quo diehards who are out in force.
Over a hundred shows in and Francis and Guitarist Andy Brook are perched on a pair of oversized red armchairs with little else on the stage other than their instruments and a desk with a lamp the announcer introduced the evening was about to begin and people should refrain from taking pictures and videos. Francis walks onto the large stage in front of a packed house at Porthcawl Grand Pavillion to rapturous applause before a note is played or a word spoken.
Going into this most interesting of evenings was a first for me and outside of the big hits and Quos standing in the pantheon of rock n roll history I sat up with an open mind to what was about to unfold.
Now, it’s fair to say Rossi is a confident guy, sure he has charisma and a big stage presence but this is a different enviroment for a rock and rolla whos used to hiding behind a guitar and the volume as well as having bandmates to spar and act as a foil but this is stripped bare with none of the trappings of being part of the band. It’s not an arena or football stadium and he doesn’t have the amps and a band behind him, this was something different and way out of any rockers wheel house. Rossi began at the beginning regaling tales of growing up in South London in a Catholic Italian family but it wasn’t long before music and its infancy in the young Francis and his brother took hold. Growing up listening to folk songs and soon the boy’s interest peaked and the similarities between Irish folk Italian folk and rock n roll.
Rossi has a very charming and engaging disposition and his tales flow like a fine wine after the opening twenty minutes he sits down picks up a guitar and the tunes join the banter. Immediately I’m struck by how strong his voice is and how engaging he is with his guitar in hand. He and Andy worked seamlessly as the harmonies worked well as some early songs were dispatched from ‘Matchstick Men’ and on. Throughout the evening tales were told, how some of the lesser quo hits were written, and the stories behind them. One thing that stood out was just how humble Rossi was/is, sure he’s sharp and rehearsed but how in love with the music he is. He’s fast moving from story to story and his sense of humour is going down well with the punters who were clearly die-hard Quo fans who must have been in their oils to be so close and intimate with their hero as he made them laugh as well as reminisce about some of the songs that put him on the biggest of stages and part of Rock royalty.
Being a member of a band who held the most appearances ever on TOTP, it’s often overlooked how important a band Quo was/is in UK rock music and just how many albums and singles they released.
Conscious of overrunning and being sidetracked Rossi had some great one-liners for the few giddy ladies who’d had one lager top too many and heckled him whilst fangirling him much to the amusement of everyone else. He seemed to understand the format really well and was also being respectful for where he was and why we were there. After an hour of early songs like ‘Matchstick Men’ and an excellent blues duet of ‘In My Chair’ and ‘Spinning Wheel Blues’ the sound was fantastic and you could have heard a pin drop before the brief interval before Rossi and Brook returned to the stage to complete the second half.
The format worked well and the audience was hanging off his every word with nobody shouting out or constantly videoing or taking pictures as Rossi moved through his career playing his personal favorites as well as staple Quo classics sure you have to hang on for a wonderful rendition of songs like ‘Caroline’ and of course ‘Rockin all over the world’ were knocked out after Rossi took some pre-written questions from Andy Brook where Rossi gave a heartfelt reason as to why he still does this and tours in a bus for over 100 shows, he also genuinely spoke fondly of why he plays the likes of Porthcawl and Milford Haven. He could easily sit on his laurels and enjoy his retirement but he does it for the love of music and respect and love for the fans who have given him over fifty years in music.
His words came across as genuine and honest and to be fair it capped off a really enjoyable evening in front of a genuine British Rock Star who deserves the title national treasure but for all the right reasons. He’s been around for over 50 years sold over a hundred million records, made over 100 TOTP appearances, and owned live Aid along with U2.
He can now add accomplished comedian and acoustic troubadour to his list of achievements and if you get the chance to see him do this Tunes & Chats you absolutely should, fan or not it was a wonderful almost 3 hours of entertainment.
(Pictures from Porthcawl taken from the Francis Rossi Facebook page because when he asked for no video or phone footage I had to show him the respect he certainly earned.)
Hellhammer’s “Messiah” marks the earliest collaboration between the band’s founder, Tom Gabriel Warrior, and his then new friend (and future Hellhammer bassist) Martin Eric Ain, in late 1983. While Warrior wrote the music, Ain and Warrior co-wrote the lyrics. The song reflects a generation’s perennial foreboding of an impending terminal nuclear escalation in West Europe during the Cold War. Which, remarkably, makes it as topical today as it was when it was first created.
Triumph Of Death’s performance of “Messiah” is taken from the group’s “Resurrection Of The Flesh” live album, and the accompanying video clip was filmed during the group’s concert at Dark Easter Metal Meeting in Munich, Germany, in April of 2023.
The band’s three Eps pulled together, shifted the track listing round and added a pair of live tracks for what is effectively the band’s first full length album on No Front Teeth.
You know the drill by now, if it’s on NFT it’s got every chance of being pretty bloody good, and not having come across the band’s eps I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play catch up from the opening ‘GTA’ its energetic tuneful punk rock with a raw delivery from the previous members of the superb Ten o Sevens and NFT legends The Gaggers. This North London three-piece knock-out bright energetic punk rock n roll. You can pogo and join in on the gang vocals of ‘GTA’ with its no-nonsense delivery. ‘1984’ has the same skank that some of Strummer’s work used to have on the verse before breaking out for the chorus its got a strong melody and the lyrics will draw you in. ‘The Answer’ offers some Buzzcocks abrasive guitar attack wrapped up in a solid beat. It’s a really enjoyable run-through with some poignant guitar soloing but I love the feel of ‘Boring People Get Bored’ It’s totally ’77 London punk but enough distance between then and now and kids need to get their heart rate up to songs like this especially when it’s done this well. I went days just listening to the Ten O Sevens album and missed what they could have done next but hearing these songs I’m delighted with the next phase and Mapache music. It’s not rocket science it is punk rock and Mapache does it really well. ‘Mind Changing’ lightens the mood and sails quite close to the ragged style of The Libertines which is another great place to be. ‘Fomo’ is a rapid romp with some traditional Chuck Berry licks thrown in for good measure as the band just get on with business. A throughly enjoyable punk rock DIY record.
Not to be confused with about half a dozen other very different styles who share the same name this mob but none of those bands have got that DNA of early Clash and a heap of other garage punk coursing through their tunes and the sneering vocals hit the spot every time. Hell if you get on their Facebook page or via the link below they’ll send you a CD copy for Free, how punk is that? What are you waiting for get on with it you wasters and freeloaders. Get some ‘Battery Powered’ punk rock in your life you’ll love it and thank me later.
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