DEAD MEN WALKING are back in November 2021 with 4 UK shows to promote their brand new debut studio album ‘FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise’.
Founding DMW member Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny/Theatre of Hate) will once again be joined by heralded rhythm section Segs and Ruffy from The Ruts on acoustic bass, percussion & vocals, and completing the line up will be Jake Burns, legendary frontman of Stiff Little Fingers, who will bring his guitar, songs and stories.
With a massive catalogue of songs to choose from this amazing DMW line up intend to deliver a raw stripped back interpretation of a whole host of classic tracks from their respective iconic albums and singles.
A few surprise cover versions and even a brand new song or two from the new album are also threatening to make their way into the set.
All in all, the ‘Soundtrack of a Generation’ will be on show every night.
See Dead Men Walking Live in Glasgow, Gosforth, Fleetwood & London. November 11th to 14th 2021.
The debut DEAD MEN WALKING studio album ‘FREEDOM – It Ain’t On The Rise’ is released on Guy Fawkes night 2021.
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UK TOUR DATES
NOVEMBER 2021
11th- GLASGOW, Oran Mor
12th- GOSFORTH, Civic Theatre
13th- FLEETWOOD, Marine Hall
14th- LONDON, 229 Club
ANNOUNCE ‘WORLDSERVICE@35’ UK TOUR
FOR LATE 2021TICKETS HERE
Rocking the music scene for over three decades, SPEAR OF DESTINY are not stopping. Today, they announce their ‘Worldservice@35’ tour, following their acclaimed lockdown album released last year. TICKETS HEREHard to believe we know but it is true, Kirk Brandon has now been leading SPEAR OF DESTINY for over 38 years.
Spear of Destiny were formed in 1983 after the demise of Kirk Brandon’s post punk iconic rockers THEATRE OF HATE. (Brandon had also, before TOH, been the main man in every punk rockers favourite band of that era The Pack)
The current line up of Spear is the longest serving to date and features Adrian Portas (New Model Army / Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy / The Cult / The Mission) and Phil Martini (Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind) on drums. During 2019 the line up was boasted by Saxophonist Clive Osborne who will be staying in the line up for 2021.
On April 6th 2018 SPEAR OF DESTINY released their 14th studio album “Tontine” The album was been fully funded from a private fan pre-sale. The album is officially released for Brandon’s own Eastersnow Recording Company label imprint and is available on CD, Vinyl and Download across Europe. US label Cleopatra Records will be handling the North American release.
Just before the lockdown of 2020/1 the band went into the studio and re-recorded perhaps their best known album, 1985’s WorldService. Eventually releasing the album to much critical acclaim in November 2020. The upcoming ‘WorldService @35’ UK Tour set will feature the album + b-sides in full and the show will be finished with a career spanning extended SOD encore.
WORLDSERVICE@35 TOUR DATES:
September
Wed 8th NORWICH Waterfront
Thur 9th NEWCASTLE The Cluny
Fri 10th DUNFERMLINE PJ Malloys
Sat 11th GLASGOW Oran Mor
Sun 12th NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Wed 15th EXETER Phoenix
Thur 16th BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
Fri 17th BEDFORD Esquires
Sat 18th STOKE Underground
Sun 19th YORK The Cresent
Tue 21st LEEDS Brudenell Social
Wed 22nd DARWEN Library Theatre
Thur 23rd SOUTHEND The Venue @The Cricketers
Fri 24th LUTON Hat Factory
Sat 25th HULL The Welly
Sun 26th SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
Tues 28th BRISTOL The Fleece
Wed 29th GRIMSBY Yardbirds
Thur 30th MANCHESTER Club Academy
October
Fri 1st LONDON 229 THE CLUB
Sat 2nd LEICESTER The Musician
Sun 3rd SKEGNESS GB Alt Fest
Sat 9th WOLVERHAMPTON WW-XVIII @ KK’s Steelmill
Sun 10th WOLVERHAMPTON WW-XVIII @ KK’s Steelmill
Recorded during the lockdown in July 2020. Spear Of Destiny has re-recorded the hit album ‘World Service’. I’m sure there are those who’ve clicked here wondering why? Royalties? Those less cynical amongst us might have recently read Kirks reasons where he sites the original production being a pop/rock record which was never his intention and whilst Rusty Egan did a job (and a jolly good one too) Brandon was never happy and with a settled, more Rockin line up currently playing the songs. Also, it was a chance to change the artwork – (oh well you can’t have everything even if this new one is better than the ’80s version.) The tracklisting has been arranged and to be fair Brandon’s recent explanation makes sense and this re-imagination is certainly a lot harder hitting. Following on from 2019’s rerecording of ‘One-Eyed Jacks’
Trying to put fresh ears on a record I’ve played hundreds of times isn’t an easy thing but I will say I’ve not actually played it for a few years to be fair and probably the last time I did was when Brandon was touring with mike peters under the dead men walking banner so there you go.
Opening with ‘World Service’ the re-recording has a punch that’s for sure and the saxophone wails perfectly the other thing I notice is Brandon’s vocals are infinitely stronger. He has a unique style that’s instantly recognisable and there are moments here where he really excels like on the punchy ‘I Can See’.
I was never keen on the piraty ‘Come Back’ although I would say here it sounds more Strummer than Strummer ever did on his Mescaleros recordings. The breakdown and sax is excellent here and the song isn’t as piraty as I remember it being. To be fair its songs like this that have benefitted most from the re-recording.
‘Mickey’ is still a chest pumping classic. Now minus the ’80s drum sheen and overall compression squeezing the life out of everything having it stripped away has breathed new life into all these songs. The original album opener ‘Rocket Ship’ has fallen down the tracklist and has a harder rockier edge breathed into it which is another good reason to have done this.
One of the songs that strangely was more “Rock” on the original for me is ‘Last Card’ but having the ’80s Rusty shaken out of it makes the song brighter. ‘Walk In My Shadow’ is possibly the song that’s changed the least with it still having that Blues based undercoat workout. ‘Up All Night’ reminds me a bit of Adam And The Ants with the guitar sound and drum beat but that where the comparisons end.
To finish off this rework is a beautiful piano-led take on ‘Young Men’ which fits perfectly as some sort of come down and mellow out from what’s gone before. I haven’t seen the line up with Craig Adams in and I can’t understand why that hasn’t taken place so once we’re all able to venture back inside a venue I will be taking myself to see the band and hear how this reworked album unfolds live – but then Brandon always excelled live. It’s a no-brainer for diehards but for casual fans and newcomers, it’s a great place to jump in. Like the titles tracks lyrics “It only seemed like yesterday, I hear music” where did all those years go? Two reworks and both well worth investing in with this one being the boldest and brightest. Great job.
Richard Davies & the Dissidents – ‘Echo Road’ (Bucketful Of Brains) Excellent grower from a really impressive album ‘Echo Road’ builds via a really earthy swirling keyboard and great barroom vocals the song is excellent for dusty road trips but the real gem here is the B Side and the bands take of the classic Lords tune penned by Tony James and Tory Crimes and whilst I have the Lords on a pedestal this is a pretty impressive take on a classic song and well worth checking out. To be fair whilst you’re at it go the full hog and bag yourself the album ‘Human Traffic’. Great band great songs.
ReMission International – ‘TOS2020′ (SPV Records) Wayne Hussey and friends release classic Mission ‘Tower Of Strength’ anthem with Proceeds to charities personally chosen by each contributor. There’s nothing not to like about a classic song being reinvented for a bunch of great causes and it features a glittering line up with people like Andy Rourke, Billy Duffy, Budgie, Evi Vine, Gary Numan, James Alexander Graham, Jay Aston, Julianne Regan, Kevin Haskins, Kirk Brandon, Lol Tolhurst, Martin Gore, Michael Aston, Michael Ciravolo, Midge Ure, Miles Hunt, Rachel Goswell, Richard Fortus, Robin Finck, Steve Clarke, Tim Palmer, Trentemøller.
With pre-orders already reaching over 40K its a truly outstanding contribution. Spread the word, share, tweet, post it everywhere to tell others about it. Shout it from the rooftops and tell your friends, tell everyone. The digital bundle contains 5 awesome tracks for just £2.99, it all helps those that need it most and the proceeds will be divided and distributed equally among all the beneficiaries. It’s an awesome song always has been and always will be and now its been put to great use. Keep up with ReMission International Website | Mission Facebook | Mission Twitter | Mission Instagram |
Fast Eddy – ‘Game Of Love’ (Spaghetty Town Records) A couple of things struck me about this here single. One, Ted at Spaghetty Town sure does know quality Rock and Roll. Two, Fast Eddy sure do play quality Rock and Roll. The title track is a strut and swagger down the blvd. It’s as confident and cocksure as anything you’ll hear all year these cats know they have a swag bag full of top tunes and from the great vocals to the big singalong piano-driven middle eight it’s fuckin’ huge sounding and I mean grande canyon huge sounding. The flip side is another great tune but a little something different. It’s hard to pigeon hole these guys it’s catchy and radio-friendly but there’s an edge and a tension in a sort of Afghan Whigs way. The B Side gets it for me but by a whisker. Check em out Fast Eddy will make a dent – trust me. Facebook / Instagram
Poison Boys – ‘Mean Queen’ (Hobo Wolfman Records) Don’t be sneaking out no new 7″ singles without consulting the RPM Singles Club with the news cmon boys that’s just not fair especially when it’s one of our favourite bands from the good ole US of A. From the opening engine roar this is a sleazy slice of punk rock n roll. Its got the Stooges fueling the engine and that guitar break sounds like they’re in the room with me it’s so alive. Awesome tune (not that I would ever doubt it) and it’s backed by a cover of the Jerry Nolan ‘Take A Chance With Me’ so what’s not to like? Cool cats that just ooze quality and a single you should most definitely have in your collection and hopefully a sign that an LP is on the way!
“Mean Queen” is a celebration of bad ass women, queens, and sex workers everywhere. Make a donation to www.swop-chicago.org to support current and former sex workers, who have been hit extra hard since the start of the covid-19 pandemic.
DEAD DIRTY DINOSAURS – ‘Revenge’ (Riot Records) A restrained, slow burner with a raw, loud, and abrasive guitar riff with a chilled vocal its a smolderer that burrows into your ear. This Brisbane three-piece might be onto something other than having a great band name they can knock together a pretty good noise between them. I guess the only thing now is I want to hear more. So, if you’d be so kind send over a few other tunes or the album would be nice. But as far as introductions go this is impressive. Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
The Richmond Sluts – ‘Walkin’ Tall’ (Rock Box Records) Always a good day when The Sluts strut into your life with a new earworm. What a cocksure slab of Rock and Roll this is. It has swagger and that early ’70s Stones strut that a lot of bands attempt but fall short of but not The Richmond Sluts. They nail this from the solo on the geetah to the reverb-heavy vocal that sounds like too many late nights and cigarettes n whisky. A real tonic in these tough times. Three and a half minutes of pure unadulterated Rock and Roll good times. All hail the Richmond Sluts.
Ben Wood & The Bad Ideas – ‘Black’ (Back2Forward Records) With a rapid steady beat this is a little belter. A right ray of sunshine. I was expecting something altogether different but this uptempo ditty came banging out of the speakers and I like it, I like it a lot.
Just when you’re waiting for something along comes a bolt out of the blue and whilst its nothing original its quality.
Wanted Noise – ‘Go Get’ (self release) San Diego what’s up? Surf/skate punks have a brand new single for your consumption. It’s upbeat and in keeping with the whole sound you’d expect from a bunch of young guns into skating and surfing. Bandcamp
Heap – ‘EP’ (Rave On Records) Who needs Westerberg and The Replacements? OH OK, so that’s a lie but in the absence of such an iconic Rock and Roll band the void is ably filled by the likes of Beach Slang and for a brief period Gaslight Anthem well you can throw Heap into that mix. Coming across like a latterday Westerberg with all the right roots rock and roll moves and refrains Heap have penned three really strong tunes on this here EP. Its dive bar rock and roll from the heart its got dirt under those fingernails and a book of stories in their hearts -Well worth checking out.
The Jailbirds – ‘Dull My Brain’ (Golden Robot Records) This three-piece mix up some cock rock gang vocals with some big bluesy 80s influenced Hard rock chops. Guns n Roses or more specifically Slash sound like they were a big influence.
A really confident new track from the Canadian trio will no doubt turn some heads in the classic rock circles. Check em out here
Smarts – ‘Small World’ (Anti fade) Australia has consistently been churning out some of the best music for quite some time now and we’re constantly turning up bands on our radar that are impressing us with their releases and Anti Fade are constantly pushing the boundaries with a lot of the cassette releases and the ever helpful Bandcamp platform who it has to be said are championing alternative music and not just beating them as a cash cow we find ourselves with another Melbourne band Smarts and their four-track cassette ‘Small World’ which is somewhere between Devo, Tubeway army and a whole host of punk rock band we love. Don’t hang about though because the four songs run in at just a hairs breath over four minutes from the opening ‘Smart Man’ and its robotic Numan like mood to the frantic head fuck of ‘Smart World’ to their ‘Golden Arches’ and final hurrah of Devo like ‘Don’t Slap The Hand’ Smarts are smart and you should try some. Here
The Wake – ‘Hammer Hall’ (Blaylox Records) Get your Goth on kids this is as dark and Goth like as you could possibly get without actually being a member of the Sisters Of Mercy jammin’ with Robert Smith on a couple of Bauhaus tunes. ME, I love a bit of Goff and this is really well done and is a really decent track.
UK TOUR DATES
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