THIRSTY QUIREBOYS – Competition

THIRSTY QUIREBOYS – Competition

THIRSTY QUIREBOYS “GOD BLESS AMERICA

 BEST OF THIRSTY” ALBUM NOW TO BE RELEASED 19TH JUNE 2026

FEATURING THE QUIREBOYS – SPIKE, GUY BAILEY, CHRIS JOHNSTONE

VINYL & CD PRE‑ORDERS NOW LIVE: Here

We’re running a competition for two lucky people to win a copy of the vinyl or CD and a T-shirt. All you have to do is email rpmonlinetcb@yahoo.com with the answer to this question –

What was the title of the debut album from the Quireboys?

Closing date is 7 O’Clock- Monday 15th June 2026

Thirsty Quireboys have confirmed a revised release date for the album ‘God Bless America – Best of Thirsty,’ now landing 19 June 2026.

The album – a powerful tribute to the late Guy Bailey featuring Spike, Bailey and Chris Johnstone – is available to pre‑order now on Blue Vinyl, Black Vinyl and Digipack CD.

This collection brings new life to Thirsty’s most evocative storytelling pieces, remixed under the ear of Chris Kimsey and showcasing Spike’s newly recorded vocal performances. Fans can secure their copies ahead of release, with early previews of “Mercury Rising”, “Flawless” and “Albatross” already generating strong excitement with fans.

Available formats: Blue Vinyl, Black Vinyl & Digipack CD

Thirsty Quireboys return with “God Bless America – Best of Thirsty”, a powerful new release honouring the life, work and unmistakable creative spirit of the late Guy Bailey – founder of The Quireboys, songwriter, guitarist, and the architect of Thirsty’s distinctive sound. The album will be released on the revised date of 19 June 2026, with vinyl and CD pre‑orders now available.

At the centre of the record is the haunting title track “God Bless America”, which recounts the devastating true story of Rosemary Kennedy – debutante, sister of JFK, and victim of a forced lobotomy ordered by her father, Joe Kennedy. Set to Irina D’s vivid, tightly focused lyrics and Bailey’s looping, discordant E‑minor motif, the track moves from romance to horror with stark elegance. Spike delivers one of the most emotionally charged vocal performances of his career as the narrative unfolds.

Bailey and Spike co‑founded The Quireboys, writing the songs that carried the band from Monday‑night pub gigs to global tours with The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses and Aerosmith, earning gold and platinum records along the way.

Thirsty began in 2014 when Bailey teamed up with Russian poet and lyricist Irina D, fusing his melodic instinct with her love of literature and storytelling. “I loved working with Guy on these songs. He was very well‑read and his home was always full of books – Master and Margarita, Last Exit To Brooklyn and Moby Dick. The first song we ever did was Donnie to Sonny. I showed him a poem I had written and, whenever the story resonated, Guy went away and set my words to music. It was beautiful.” — Irina D

Between 2015 and 2018, Thirsty released three critically acclaimed albums – Thirsty, Albatross and Nomad – featuring contributions from Simon Hanson (Squeeze, Death in Vegas), Chris Johnstone (The Quireboys), Lynne Jackaman (Saint Jude) and Kristi Kimsey. “I’ve known Guy for longer than I have been in Squeeze! He was a great friend — a fabulously talented musician and songwriter even though he always did his best to downplay this fact. The Thirsty thing really was unusual… Irina D would bring poems to Guy based on books and stories she had read – and Guy went away and set them to music. It was a bit like Elton John and Bernie Taupin in that respect.” – Simon Hanson

The new album began as a simple tribute conceived by Irina D, with Spike originally set to sing just one track, “10, 7 and Possibly 6.” But his first take stunned everyone in the studio, reigniting the old chemistry between his voice and Bailey’s guitar. “…to get the chance to make a record again with Guy was really special.” – Spike

What started as one song became a full, emotionally charged album — a rare posthumous reunion between two lifelong musical partners. Remixed and shaped under the ear of legendary Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey, the record brings new clarity, weight and emotional depth to the music Bailey created with Irina D. “Spike’s voice has always complemented Guy’s guitar playing perfectly. And the addition of one of the world’s best vocalists really complements and illuminates these songs. It was a really happy accident and I was delighted to be a part of it.” – Chris Kimsey

The album revisits some of Thirsty’s most ambitious storytelling pieces – from the mob‑world loyalty of “Donnie to Sonny”, to the jewel‑thief escapism of “Flawless”, the Coleridge‑inspired “Albatross”, the allegorical wanderer of “Chaos”, and the Virginia Woolf‑inspired “Orlando.” “…This was an important record for all of us — and he (Spike) made sure that his voice was sounding as good as it has ever done. The results speak for themselves.” – Chris Johnstone

God Bless America – Best of Thirsty stands as both a celebration and an evolution: a final collaboration between two great friends and a powerful new chapter in the Thirsty story. At its heart is the enduring creative spark of Guy Bailey – his melodies, his instinctive guitar work, and the stories he helped bring to life.

The RPM Online Podcast – Episode 95

The RPM Online Podcast – Episode 95

There is only one way to start episode 95, and that’s with a palet-cleansing blast of Zeke and their brand new single ‘Peterbilt’ out on 7″ vinyl from the most excellent Hound Gawd! Records. If only all shows began like that, no deaths, just loud, fast rock n roll. Then to follow it up with the brand new single from The Isle OF Wight punks Grade 2 with their brand new single ‘Cut Throat’ also available now on Hellcat Records.

We change the pace a bit and kick back as we introduce a second airing from the most excellent Fruit Tones and their recent single ‘Double Shot’ available from Chris’s favourite label Alian Snatch Records. These cats have got some serious swing with their garage rock n roll, and they hail from Manchester and sport some of Rock n roll’s finest facial hair and without doubt have one of the finest record sleeves this year. Get an eyeful of that beauty and on one of your five a day colour variants as well, and if they want to send us a copy, we’ll keep playing them, or so I’ve been told.

After reviewing the brand new Supersuckers album recently, there was a great take on the Lee Harvey Oswalds ‘Rocket 69’, so it’s a good time to play the original and what a treat it is too.

‘Inside Out’ from the Dogs is up next on the awesome Rum Bar Records who are prolific supporters of Rock n Roll and have an amazing output, of which the Dogs is the latest offering. Go check ’em out and tell Lou the RPM boys sent you.

Chris takes control for the next pick, and he Turns Up The Volume and drops one off the brand new Agnostic Front album. We do like a bit of NYHC, and there are none finer than Vinny Stigma and Roger Miret, and thankfully they are showing no sign of slowing down, still the kings of hardcore. If the Hardcore wasn’t your thing, how about some tip-top garage rock courtesy of the formidable Wild Billy Childish and his band Thee Headcoats with a track off their new record ‘And The Band Played Johnny B Good’ off the Damaged Goods album ‘The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm N Beat Venacular’.

Hotshots Hot Picks begin this week with the formidable and always excellent Ian Hunter and The Rant Band with ‘Bow Street Runners’ from the impressive ‘Fingers Crossed’ album. Hotshot has fallen head over heels for the Hunter catalogue, and we thought he’d gone underground, as we hadn’t heard from him in a while, as he delved into the incredible back catalogue of mr Hunter. I’m sure this wont be the last Hunter related offering from Hotshot.

Anyone who knows Hotshot is aware that his all time favourite is Elvis the pelvis Presley and his font of knowledge knows no bounds and he would easily win mastermind as his specialist subject which is a shame because his general knowledge is shocking othe rthan beer drinking and hellrasing but you can’t have everythign in life.

Hotshots third and final Hot Pick of the week is a brand new, I know its sounds a bit weird but T Rex have a new record out. Its unearthed recently which is amazing considering his passing was in 1977 Take it away Hotshot ‘I’m Dazed’.

One of the best new albums over the last 18 months happed to be the garage rock album courtest of Martin Savage and the Jiggers which cam e out on Damaged Goods. Before the Jiggers Martin was part of the Locomotions another brilliant album that was released on Alian Snatch Records and this is a track off their one and done LP entitled ‘Stockholm City Girls’. Ragged Rock n Roll that burned so brightly back in the early naughties go check em out. It’s loose but a real earworm.

Last week we brought a brand new track from The Sideshows, a three piece band featurign the awesome Sami Yaffa, Rich Ragany and Simon Maxwell. Considering whos involved in this project of course it doesn’t dissapoint and with the new year coming into focus theres a whole album coming down the track and all wrapped up. Not as full throttle as last weeks offering but its effortless cool and a real earworm but what else did you expect? head over to their social media page and get involved so you don’t miss out on any updates.

One of the greatest if not thee greatest punk rock n roller was the one and only Johnny Thunders who just has his epic ‘Que Sera Sera’ album released on two disc vinyl courtesy of Jungle Records who’ve always had thunders back and keep the flame burning. Its on a fetching pink vinyl 40th Anniversery edition with a clutch of outtakes and remixed brilliance. So what better way to remember Johnny than drop his track ‘Crime Of The Century’ from ‘Sticks And Stones Sessions’ that features Wayne Kramer maybe we’ll drop the original ‘Cool Operator’ in the next few weeks from ‘Que Sera Sera’.

Up next we drop a rare alternative recording of The Alarm Classic ‘One Step Closer To Home’ which happened to be Mike Peters favourite Alarm song and with Peters postumous autobiography coming out this week with the second instalment of three ‘Hope’ seems like the perfect time to remind everyone how bloody good this Dave Sharp song is.

Chris picks the excellent Bad Nerves with one o ftheir early single ‘Can’t Be Mine’. the band have been busy playing with th elikes of Green Day over in the States and also headlinging their biggest headline shows to date recently.

After releasing their latest album recently Ash began their UK Tour and Chris and myself were present its always a good time to play some Ash so Heres one off the new album ‘Ad Astra’ This is ‘Hallion’.

As we head into the homestraight the Mission recently announced a couple of dates for next year and their 40th Anniversery of their debut album. It seems fair that we play a track from their drummer Alex’s band Cheeks and a track ‘Transmission Interupted’ that fans should check out if they haven’t already.

The penultimate offering this week is Lemmy and his Black Flag cover ‘Thirsty And Miserable’ taken from the fund raising album for the west memphis three. Amazing story and how Rollins got involved you should go google the background but in the meantime the pick of the tracks on the album just happens to be Lemmy doign Black Flag and what a version it is too.

Finally this week we close the show with a track off the brand new Johny Vincent album Which is reviewed on RPM by Martin so watch out for that. Its a Glam slammin slice of snotty rock n roll. Johny explained it by saying, “This collection has been a long time in the planning. About 15 years ago Johny found a set of cassette demos of songs he wrote and recorded between 1983 and 87 using the overdubbing capability of a funky twin cassette karaoke machine from Argos. This was in the pre Skullknuckles days when he was known as plain old Johny Vincent.
These catchy little beauties were written for the band White Trash. Some of these songs would have made it onto the 2nd White Trash album (sadly the band fell apart before this happened). The large majority of this collection have never seen the light of day, until now that is.
These versions were recoded during the 1st three quarters of 2025 at Millionaire Mansion Studios (not using an Argos karaoke machine this time) and there you have it, the first instalment of “Songs Of Arrogance And Innocence”. the track off the album is ‘Two Time Train’ so enjoy and give us a listen and a save and if you’re feeling generous why not tell your friends about our little podcast as we hurtle towards 100 episodes which I might add has provided some amazing bands and we can safely say we’ve never played a bad song, yet. Go on give us a share on your socials and we promise to keep playing awesome music.

Diolch.