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‘The Accidental’ by Francis Rossi, released by earMUSIC on 30th January 2026 on CD, LP and Digital formats, comes as something of a surprise… It was a surprise, certainly, to Francis, who had no plans to record an album. “This truly came out of nowhere”, says Rossi. “I spend my life in and out of the studio, rehearsing, tinkering, but something happened earlier this year and, before I knew it, we had created something special.”



While Rossi’s previous solo albums explored his love for acoustic ballads, vocal harmonies, and the blend of British rock with country influences, this album, Francis Rossi’s first in seven years, marks a true return to the energetic, guitar-driven sound that made him a legend with Status Quo.

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‘The Accidental’ sees Francis Rossi playing to his strengths, but taking risks, cutting loose, and exploring new territory – this album is all about old bones and fresh blood.

The fresh blood in question comes largely from Hiran Ilangantilike, a guitarist who was originally a school friend of one of Francis’ children, and co-producer Andy Brook. What became the sessions for ‘The Accidental’ was initially born of just plugging in and making some serious noise, but something clicked in the studio. Lightening was indeed bottled: there was a swing and a groove, and the songs started pouring out. With John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and Leon Cave later laying down the bass and drums parts, and Amy Smith again bringing an extra dimension on back-up vocals, this became a project with a bite and DNA all of its own; albeit Francis’ playing is a distinctive as ever. Almost all of the songwriting credits reflect this fresh and collaborative ethos, though there are two that bear the classic Quo hallmark: Rossi / Young. Francis Rossi produced ‘The Accidental’; co-producer Andy Brook recorded, mastered, engineered, and played on the record, and co-wrote three tracks.

Kicking off with a flourish ‘Much Better’ segues into the ebullient ‘Go Man Go’, teeing up future classic ‘Push Comes To Shove’ and the plaintive yet strutting blues singalong of ‘Back On Our Home Ground’ [who will be the first Sports team to adopt this one?]. By then, the engine is well and truly running, and the highlights keep coming. The chug and chant and choppy chords of ‘Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)’ give way to the cantering ‘Picture Perfect’, which could only be a Rossi number. The long strides of ‘November Again’ distil a melancholy refrain into a catchy chorus, and the epic ‘Beautiful World’ channels vintage era Quo with enough guitar to get the balcony of the Glasgow Apollo bouncing again. ‘Time To Remember’ is built around a piano line and swaying melody and serves as a poignant and powerful coda to an extraordinarily strong set of new songs.

Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the first two songs: ‘Something In The Air (Stormy Weather)’ and ‘Go Man Go’ are available for streaming and download with immediate effect.

“For anyone who liked any of my solo albums previously”, says Francis Rossi, “… well, I’ve no idea what you’ll make of this one because it’s a real departure, but I love it. It’s loud, the guitars are right to the fore, and there are some great songs there”.

This new album finds Francis Rossi once more at the top of his game, with a searing yet thoughtful collection of rockers that will please anyone who likes their dose of heavy cut with melody and verve. Mark Twain said that the accident is “the greatest of all inventors”: when there are no rules, expectations or preconceptions, anything can – and will – happen. ‘The Accidental’ proves that amazing things unfold when an artist with an unrivalled track record is inspired to create new music – even after more than 50 years of success – by the sheer love of playing. That unbridled joy is where the elemental magic that animates ‘The Accidental’ is conjured.

Sorry Finland… Lovers Left Alive don’t belong to just you anymore. They have been unleashed on the rest of the world, and with some promotion and breaks, they will get to see the rest of the world soon. I received a tip to check out the band (thanks, Graeme), and one of the first things I found was a live cover of the early Dogs D’amour song ‘Wired and Wide Awake.’ The band were immediately speaking my language. After a run of singles over the past few years, I believe this is their debut album, which makes an immediate impression and memorable introduction.

If we travel back in time, we can identify some of the influences in Lovers Left Alive. One of those would be very early Hanoi Rocks when they were crafting their debut album. Another one would be some early Stooges. The Rolling Stones would be one of the ingredients, and some early punk (Heartbreakers) as well. What’s special, though, is that the band has created their own identity out of these ingredients and influences. The mix on the album is beautifully messy and gives it a live sound. I recommend turning up the volume and losing yourself in the magic.

It would all mean nothing if the band didn’t have the songs, and they definitely have the songs. ‘All About Luv’ has a great sing-along section, an addictive beat, and a lead guitar that feels like it is going to go off the rails at any moment. The cacophony of sounds at the end feels a bit like the hot mix early Jim Jones Revue recordings had, think ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ Fuzzy backing ‘ooohs’ peek through the mix in ‘Haven’t Seen the Sun’, which showcases the band’s ability to write catchy songs with great riffs. ‘Want You There’ is built on an addictive beat with guitar licks dancing around it. There are some twists in the vocals, but this is one of those songs where I heard some early Stooges. The song feels like it can morph into different directions at any moment. When it does, we get an incredibly catchy chorus that is used minimally over the song’s five minutes.

Changing directions, the band unleash ‘Sum of These Young Hearts’ which feels a bit like ‘Roads’ by the Backyard Babies. The mix gives the song some grit, and the song provides another catchy moment that gets stuck in your head. ‘Let the Good Times’ gets the party started again with a rockabilly type beat that blends their influences and originality into a powder keg, with the guitars sounding pushed to the extremes. You can almost see the amps smoking and the sparks popping in the air. The too-short ‘Crackdown’ could pass as a missing song from ‘Self-Destruction Blues.’ The guitar riff works perfectly over the beat, and the band deliver a contagious infection that induces air guitar and sing-alongs.

The beginning of ‘Bedroom Talk’ feels like the band has just plugged in their instruments and then jumped into the song. The slower tempo provides another example of the diversity through the album. This is another one with excellent guitar work and musically in the same world as the New York Dolls. The album ends with two longer songs, with ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’ being the first one. There is a burning intensity to the beat and vocals. The guitar notes after the choruses work perfectly, and the feedback from the guitars adds more magic to the song. The way the song creates an inferno near the end could have been an epic closer to the album. Instead, the band found a way to build to an even better ending. ‘Out of My Reach’ may have a running time over nine minutes, but it never feels that long. The introduction and slow pace at the beginning feel a bit like early Jesus and Mary Chain- think ‘Darklands’ with ‘Psychocandy’ production. The song builds and adds elements as it goes, with an ending that is unexpected on first listen and becomes even better when you hit the 15th or 20th listen. If I had to single out a favourite song on the album, it would probably be this one.

Once again, with apologies to Finland, Lovers Left Alive belongs to the whole world now. This album has grit, finesse, barbed wire hooks, and great songs. They have taken their influences and infused them with their own originality to create an album that feels both exciting and familiar. What they need is exposure to begin their ascent to the next levels of popularity and hopefully live performances across the world.

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Gerald Stansbury                  

Following on from the release of their 8th studio album ‘Grand Explosivos’ in 2023, Sweden’s finest exponents of funk n’ roll, Electric Boys, return with a four-track digital-only EP made up of songs recorded in the same sessions. These are songs that were left to one side for whatever reason, the band feel these songs were too good to be left unheard and are sending them out into the wild.

If you’ve not heard Conny Bloom and his boys since their Funk O Metal Carpet Ride days, you may be surprised to find they are a harder rocking machine than they were in the late 80’s.

Years of being on the road, and a stint for Conny and bassist Andy in the reformed Hanoi Rocks at the turn of the century, has given the band a new lease of life and a harder, groove-heavy 70’s rock sound. Over the course of the last decade, they have released a series of quality albums and toured them extensively.

Opener ‘Head Honcho’ has a signature groove, with some tasty licks and that familiar sultry Conny Bloom vocal that leads to a stadium-sized chorus.

Next up is ‘Grand Explosivos’, and it leads me to wonder why this was not included on the album that shares its title. It’s a killer tune to be fair, with an almost mariachi feel to the verses and a bombastic rock chorus. It fits the eclectic and commercial feel of the last album. I guess it just shows the high quality of the songs on offer, that this was left by the wayside.

‘Looking For Vajayay’ is pretty cool too. It rides along on a heavy bass groove, has some crazy ass horns going on, but lacks a catchy chorus, feeling like more of a jam than a finished song. That said, it certainly warrants repeated plays, and you won’t be hitting that skip button anytime soon.

Closer ‘Keep It Dark’ takes things up a notch, it features the vocal talents of guitarist Martin Thamander, who comes on all Paul Stanley here, which adds a different flavour to the Electric Boys palette. It’s a strong closer to a groovy set of tunes.

The band claimed these songs were too good to be left unreleased, and they weren’t wrong. They stand tall against the songs already released on ‘Grand Explosivos’ and are the perfect companion. While it’s a shame it is only a digital release, ‘The Shady Side Of Town’ EP is a worthy set of songs to add to any playlist. 

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Author: Ben Hughes

All grit and no glamour, Mini Skirt are a no-nonsense noisy bunch of musicians, and this new album gets right into the mix with the driving ‘Pottville River’ battering the listener with a hypnotic riff and tub thumping that will crawl inside your head and make you crave it more and more.

Lean in and take in every lyric and bop til you drop, nailing the tone of the record to perfection as the vocals are spat out rathe rthan sung like a lullaby this is music for people who give a shit and know exactly what they want. Noise but not for the sake of it, lyrics that give a shit that aren’t shit and an overall album that will take you on a journey you don’t want to go on but are a willing victim. Mini Skirt are in killer form.

Australia is the epicentre of this sound and boy do they do it well, in fact, they do it better than anywhere else on the planet from Stiff Richards and Split System to The Outsiders and the sniffers through Civic, C.O.F.F.I.N. and Grindhouse right back to Birdman and The Saints this far away island rules.

Five years since their debut album ‘Casino’, this album follows on from where that left off, leaving the informed in no-brainer territory, knowing what they’re getting for their bucks. For the newcomers, just jump in, it’s loud, raw, but bursting with passion. ‘All That We Know’ is now ready to push Mini Skirt in front of more people around the world, and that’s a good thing. These Australian pub-punkers will probably not give two shiny shits about some writer on the other side of the world, but they should know that they’re on the right path, and for someone who loves this honest, raw, passionate rock n roll thing, they should continue to deliver their brand of jagged, raw political Aussie noise.

I love the Saints wrapped in their DNA on songs like ‘Smart Enough’ and then to punch harder on ‘Chew The Cud’. I can imagine being in a sweaty, dark club being thrown around to, this being an experience we all should be on board with.

I find the hypnotic rhythms married to the noise-overdriven guitars the perfect match and most engaging. There is a darkness happening that’s like musical voodoo casting a spell over the listener. Songs like ‘Mud’ weave their way into your brain and are most addictive. ‘Squeeze Down’ is epic, but saying that, this whole album is pretty epic and one that opens different moments on every play. Man, I love records like this, and my advice is you will too, so waste no more time and get some Mini Skirt on the turntable. You can thank me later.

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Motorhead mannaged to defy the boundaries set by the media and fans alike that it was unaceptable to be equally loved by punks and rockers but its fair to say the legacy of LEmmy is one that crosses many genres and to prove thepoint those peeps at BMG have only gone and gotten a bunch of top tier punk rockers to record their versions of Motorhead tracks be it classics or deeper cuts its all here for your indulgence and to be fair whilst a lot of tribute albums are bloated and very patchy this one is an absolute raging success and wall to wall bangers. Be it faithful interpretations or more twisted offerings it’s of a very high standard, and the addition of The Damned classic ‘Neat Neat Neat’ featuring Lemmy is a most welcome addition and barnstorming winner.

Sure, Motörhead’s impact on metal has long been acknowledged, but the punks like GBH, Discharge and the Damned is undeniable. There can be no doubt that because of Motörhead, these bands were faster, dirtier, louder, better, because of Motörhead.

Lemmy once said, “The punks loved us. The only reason we weren’t in that lot was because we had long hair, so obviously, we must be heavy metal. That was the thinking. But a lot of kids heard us without seeing a picture, so they thought we were a punk band.”

Of the fourteen tracks on this album, you’ll hear the passion and respect they have in their delivery and DNA for Motörhead. You have Rancid, Pennywise, Lagwagon, The Bronx and FEAR all contribute raucous versions of their favourite Motörhead tracks. I could go through them one by one, but that would spoil it for you, it’s that good. from his adopted home, later on in life, they just “get it” from the awesome opener from Pennywise, the good vibes just keep flowing… and also up-and-coming upstarts like Slaughterhouse contribute, because, let’s face it, Motörhead always loved and championed the underdogs.

Lemmy covered the Pistols’ ‘God Save The Queen’ and wrote ‘R.A.M.O.N.E.S’ for Da Bruddas, for the ‘1916’ album, so it seems only fair to put this beast together. It’s only fitting, then, that the only non-Motörhead song on this album is from when he teamed up with The Damned in 2002 for a previously unheard and blistering version of The Damned’s classic, ‘Neat Neat Neat’, which is the album’s crowning glory. Lemmy and the Damned have a shared history over many years and crossed paths, so this was the clincher for me.


‘Killed By Deaf – A Punk Tribute To Motörhead’ is well worth picking up, not in passing but you should make a concerted effort to track down a copy. Punk or Rocker, you need to hear this album, buy it!

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London rock n’ roll band WitchDoktors are back with a new album, ‘Izzatso?’, and what a bright slice of sunshine Rock n roll it is too. From the punchy opener ‘Lightning Strike’, you can lace up your creepers and get boppin. Featuring 11 tracks, WitchDoktors they refuse to stand still and incorporate styles outside of their comfort zone of rootsy punk rock n rolland on the opener, the breakdown is infectious and holds up the wonderful slide courtesy of Ruts DC Leigh Heggarty. Equal servings of Trashy glam rock n roll played loudly through amps with real instruments with big throaty gang vocals, it’s the perfect opener.

Hot on the heels is the punchy ‘Before The War’ with a fantastic chorus bursting with energy, it’s simply majestic, and the clincher is a hearty, warm, engaging production that’s elevating the songs into the next league.

Conceived during COVID and then delayed by the sad passing of their longtime collaborator and legendary recording engineer Pat Collier,  ‘Izzatso?’ is named thus for the listener to not take things on face value and to question everything. It’s no coincidence that the band are big fans of Mr Strummer, who’s woven into their DNA. See through the veils of bullshit or spins on stories or propaganda, and to think for yourself.” Wise words.

‘High Dry And Burn’ has a feel of Michael Monroe going on, and what a track it is from the backbeat, its exceptional songwriting and already the album is barely awake, and it’s pulling the listener in several directions and all of the highest order. Impressive stuff.

Heading into Strummer territory for ‘Freedom Fighter’, this could stand tall alongside tracks like ‘Tony Adams’ with its lively Bass run and inner city skank. Man, the horns on ‘Planet Of Pain’ with its energy are something else. The song is honkingly good and will deffo fuck you up!

WitchDoktors have hit a career high on this one, and the punch and zip of ‘Spanner In The Works’ is another side step into some ska skank with funky horns and twitching keys that a mid-70s Rolling Stones would have killed for. Whereas ‘God Knows’ has a pulse of Kinks in the song, at least that’s what I’m hearing mixed with some Small Faces for good measure, and the super strong vocal helps.

It’s an album full to bursting with potential singles left, right and centre, with a mixture of styles that work really well, making the best WitchDoktors album thus far. 2025 has been an awesome year for new albums and this is next level for these Londoners, showing that they can go toe to toe with anyone in this risky business. Kicking ass and doing it with a beaming smile, no doubt. Hell, they even don the sombreros and chew on cigars for a little mexicana on the album’s closer, ‘Kicking The Can’, complete with its squeezebox and trumpet, it’s making Paul-Ronney Angel blush, it’s so good. Andy and Tony, who write the songs, have really delivered without hesitation. I suggest you go and get a copy of this one right off the bat and demand they come to your part of town and bring the big guns, ‘Izzatso?’ is all killer and no filler, and you can tell I said so! Buy It! 

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Author: Dom Daley

It was great to see a very busy venue on a school night when the wind and rain were lashing down outside but inside it was warming up rather nicely as Collapsed Lung were on stage entertaining the crowd with a set of bangers and by the time they got to ‘Eat My Goal’ the audience were caught in the moment moving with the break beats and the energy was excellent. I particularly liked the Grange Hill Just Say No in ‘New Song Old Band’, Zammo would have been proud as the vibes in the room were spot on and Collapsed Lung had achieved their Goal of warming up the audience well for Senser.

With the audience packed in and the clock just ticking past nine, the band took their respective places as Haitham and Kerstin brought the energy out on the battle line. ‘To The Capsules’ ‘Devoid’ signalled the intent to drain every last bit of energy the audience had was about to commence and the rhythmic beats began and the riffs were cranked up, and with a one and a two, we were off! Heavy as a bomb with all the finest ticks and scratches, making this anything other than straightforward. Senser are up and running, no, scrap that charging.  No time to pause for breath because a frantic ‘Resistance Now’ is drawing the pit closer as Haitham stares into the middle distance as he delivers the sermon of the hour, and Swansea is all in.

A special mention must go to the band here who put in a shift and were tight as delivering the intensity needed and mixing the Deckwrecka who weaved live scratches and some into the ferocious riffs from Nick whilst the rhythm section held it tight in the engine room it was spectacular and the old ‘Stacked Up’ tunes sounded as fresh as songs off the new album especially ‘Ryot Pump’ which was devastating in its deliver, intensity and execution. Senser were on fire tonight and showed that they are indeed a force to be reckoned with.

There is an intensity to Haithams delivery as he grips the mic but a smile is never far from his lips as the audience bounced to ‘State Of Mind’, ‘Switch’ or the new ones like ‘Full Body Rebellion’ or the frantic mosh of ‘Harbinger’ showing they have the chops to go toe to toe with any heavy band when they want to.

‘No Comply’, ‘The Key’ were all present and correct leading up to a frantic and energetic ‘Age Of Panic’ as the guitars were rinsed before the non encore of the epic ‘Chanel Zero’ which encompassed everything these guys are great at it was indeed a mash up of Slayer meets PE but giving it a sarf London twist and owning the sound better than most in this genre. Politically aware, sonically astute, and a thunderous live band, Senser 2025 are a force to be reckoned with, and if you get the chance, pick up the new album and get to a show, it will entertain you and give you a shot in the heart that bands can still kick it and are relevant today as they were in the early 90s. Oh, and of course, they finished the set with a brutal ‘Eject’ and then they were gone. Swansea, you were served. Let’s do this again in the not-too-distant future that was memorable.

Author: Dom Daley

As the debates for album of the year begin and new releases start to slow down at the end of the year, the Southern River Band (SRB from here out in this review) have walked up to the table and threw a razor-sharp switchblade in the middle of it to command everyone’s attention. SRB has delivered some excellent songs in the past, and their last album (‘D.I.Y.’) was really good, even though it felt much more like a collection of songs than a proper album. The early songs from this album mostly grabbed me right away, but I had no idea that this would immediately be put on repeat. Do you ever listen to a new album and wish there was a way to listen to every song at once, because this is what this album does?

SRB kicks things off with one of the early singles, ‘Don’t Take It to Heart’, whose video showcases some of the humour the band incorporates. As a song, it is a hard rocker where the hook is huge with Cal Kramer’s vocals having a special quality of being infused with heart, soul, spirit, and a charisma all its own that allows him to deliver killer lyrics across this whole album. Being from Australia, there is an AC/DC influence in the musical mix, but I really think there must just be something in the water that makes that happen. The guitar solo blasts its way through the speakers. Great work by the rhythm section establishes ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ as the song is part blues rocker and part anthemic hard rocker. The guitar riff commands air guitar participation. There are some twists and wrinkles through the song that really elevate it to a whole other level. ‘Bad Luck Baby, Bye Bye’ slightly slows things down to really work a riff that is pure rock n roll from the same well as the Rolling Stones and Faces. The lyrics jump out here with the chorus being an immediate sing-along opportunity. 

Slowing things down with the semi-ballad ‘It’s What It’s,’ the band crafts an introspective journey about growing older and looking at life. I’m sure this will be a song in future live shows, where the crowd is ultimately who sings the song. The subtle musical touches provide the perfect counterpoint to the more rocking ‘One Last Dance.’ There is a strong ’70s influence in the verses, with a chorus that is somehow subtle and also hits the listener over the head. The band ends the first half of the album with the excellent ‘Suits Me, Just Fine.’ The lyrical reference to Van Halen seems appropriate for SRB as well. There are some David Lee Roth years touches across the album through both the vocals and lead guitars. These songs are timeless in their approach. At one point, I thought this could have been what Stillwater from the movie ‘Almost Famous’ would have done a few albums down their imaginary career.

Midway through the album, there has not been a moment or a song where I have not connected to the music. SRB provides a new wrinkle with acoustic guitar driving the opener of bluesy ‘All Over Town.’ It is a brilliant addition to the album and sets up the explosiveness of the rest of the song. The guitar work across the album is awesome, and there is some added slide in the mix here. There was one early single where I was not initially grabbed. I listened to it once or twice, but did not keep going back to it like I did with the other ones. My first time listening to the album thoug,h the song clicked in a big way. ‘No Such Time’ has a cool 70’s bluesy rocking groove, and I don’t know why it didn’t immediately click. I also cannot explain how it went from not clicking to a favourite among favourites. The dual vocals provide another atmosphere to the album, and this one also fits that earlier motif of Stillwater years later. The bass and drums are locked in an awesome groove. The band continue to throw in new elements with ‘Lay It On Me’ reminding me of the Rolling Stones when they incorporated some of those disco-type beats, or what Kiss could have done if they had made “I Was Made for Loving You’ a hard rock song first and then added the other elements. I could see a music video where the band is playing on American Bandstand back in the late 70s or early 80s.

The final quarter post of the album kicks off with the rocking ‘Fuck You, Pay Me’, where we once again see the humour the band incorporates into their lyrics when appropriate. It is another huge hook and sing-along song that fuses itself with the listener. This is where I suggest y’all buy something from the band so Cal doesn’t have to try and sell his gear or a kidney. ‘We’ve Got Plans Tonight’ cranks up the rock n roll and feels like the Quireboys (without the piano). At just over two minutes, the song demolishes the room in record time, with a harmonica solo being the cherry on top of this sonic jubilation. The band could have made this the album closer and had it swap slots with ‘One of These Nights (I’ll Be Gone),’ but this order works brilliantly too. They end with an epic ballad (and the current single) with a catchy ‘I’ll be gone’ refrain. It is not hard to see the live crowd swaying their arms with their cellphones, lighting up what should be an arena.

SRB deliver 12 outstanding songs without missing a moment across the album. Each element here really is lightning in a bottle as the album delivers killer songs, great mix and production, and a cohesiveness that brings everything together. The follow-up album will be a tall task filled with huge expectations now. That is for the future, though. Let’s take time to enjoy a very strong album of the year contender, but more importantly than that, an album to play continuously in the many years to come.

‘Easier Said Than Done’ is available now.

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Author: Gerald Stansbury

earMUSIC proudly announces 10 MORE, the explosive new live album from MC50, out on December 5th, capturing the unrelenting energy of the 2018 world tour that reignited the spirit of one of rock’s most radical and influential bands.
 
The album – a companion piece to the 10 x MC5 record included in the bonus version of the 2024 MC5 Heavy Lifting release – is available for preorder via online retailers, and to presave now and on all major digital platforms.
 

Formed by MC5 founding member Wayne Kramer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kick Out the Jams, the MC50 lineup united an all-star ensemble of rock innovators – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Brendan Canty (Fugazi), Billy Gould (Faith No More), Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam) and Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla) – carrying forward the revolutionary power that made MC5 a lightning rod for change in the late ’60s and ’70s.
 
Captured live during the 2018 anniversary tour, 10 MORE roars through MC5’s most iconic songs – including “The American Ruse,” “Call Me Animal,” “Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa-Fa-Fa),” “Looking at You”, and “Starship”. With recordings from live shows in Seattle, WA, Cincinnati, OH and Hamburg, Germany, the album spans tracks from all three original MC5 albums – Kick Out The Jams, Back In The USA and High Time, along with a cover of Ray Charles “I Believe To My Soul,” which was a staple of the band’s sets in the late 1960s. These performances recall the same urgency that once echoed through Detroit’s underground, where MC5 fused rock, free jazz and political protest into a sound that challenged America’s status quo.
 
Following the acclaimed 2024 MC5 studio album Heavy Lifting – produced by Bob Ezrin and released shortly before MC5’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – 10 MORE continues the story of one of rock’s most influential bands with a powerful live recording that celebrates their lasting impact and uncompromising spirit. Stay tuned, new music is coming before the full release in December.

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Legendary Manchester punk pioneers Buzzcocks return with a brand-new studio album, Attitude Adjustment – their twelfth to date and another thrilling chapter in one of British music’s most enduring stories.

Bursting with 14 new tracks, Attitude Adjustment finds Buzzcocks doing what they do best: combining raw punk energy with melodic smarts and lyrical bite, all delivered with trademark heart and humour. As Steve Diggle puts it, “It’s punk rock with a Motown vibe! A new album should always have elements of surprise and create its own world, and this does. It avoids the cliché and expands the Buzzcocks’ magical journey.”

From the swaggering opener Queen of the Scene, the album is packed with spirit, invention and attitude — proving once again that Buzzcocks are far more than just a heritage act; they’re a living, evolving force.

Formed in Manchester in 1976, Buzzcocks’ influence on punk and independent music cannot be overstated. Their self-released debut EP Spiral Scratch sparked a revolution, paving the way for generations of DIY musicians and indie labels. Through classics like Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) and What Do I Get?, they helped define the sound and spirit of late-70s British punk.

Though the band sadly lost founding frontman Pete Shelley in 2018, co-founder Steve Diggle has kept the Buzzcocks flame alive — writing, recording and touring with the same passion and purpose that have always defined the group.

Attitude Adjustment stands as a celebration of resilience, creativity and pure rock ’n’ roll energy — proof that nearly five decades on, Buzzcocks still know how to hit hard, hook deep, and move fast.

The band will spend 2025 on the road, including a run of UK dates with The Stranglers this October:

BUZZCOCKS – TOUR DATES WITH THE STRANGLERS 2025

·       Fri Oct 17 – Leeds, O2 Academy

·       Sat Oct 18 – Manchester, O2 Apollo

·       Tue Oct 21 – Newcastle, O2 City Hall

·       Thu Oct 23 – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange

·       Fri Oct 24 – Aberdeen, Music Hall

·       Tue Oct 28 – Bristol, Beacon

·       Wed Oct 29 – Brighton, Dome

·       Fri Oct 31 – London, Roundhouse

·       Sat Nov 1 – London, Roundhouse

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