We’re back, thanks to the complete lack of public acclaim, with the much derided Best Of British Part 2. Mebbe this isn’t the best time to be plugging something with that title, but if it makes Nick Griffin a better man, then it’s time well spent.
With that in mind I’m already regretting the first track from Warfare – “Burn The King’s Road”. Now I’ve been down the king’s Road, and it seemed comparatively pleasant compared to other streets in London. Me, I’d be burning Streatham, but perhaps Warfare knew something I don’t.
Originally the B-side to their Neat Records debut 7″ “This Machine Kills”, Warfare plugged away gamely for most of the eighties, sticking with Neat, long after Neat meant anything to anyone. Naturally, the hailed from Newcastle, and if I tell you that they were formed by Evo, ex drummer with the Angelic Upstarts, then I think you will know exactly how good they were. They also featured the legend that is Wurzel, in his pre-Motorhead days as well as Mantas (the Venom fella). At different times obviously.
Next up is Jaguar. Now I liked Jaguar, especially their “Axe Crazy” single, which came out on Neat in 1982.
Sadly by the time their “Power Games” LP came out, it was 1983 and the horse had long since bolted. I remember seeing them opening the show for Girlschool in 1984(?), and they were still pretty impressive. They packed it in a year or so later, but got back together about ten years ago, continuing in one for or another right up till today. This track doesn’t seem to appear on any other release.
This installment comes to an end with Emerson. One of the single worst bands I ever saw play live. It was at the Hard Rock Cafe (pre franchise), which used to be upstairs in the Edinburgh Playhouse, and is now a swanky restaurant. I saw some great gigs there – Twisted Sister and Raven spring to mind, as well as the legendary Spider. But, oh dear. Emerson were absolutely awful. I suppose their brand of wannabee US AOR was not what beered up Scotch teenage metal fans wanted to hear, but even now, this is pretty dire.
I seem to recall the band was led by the Emerson brothers, and that they released on solitary 7″. This track wasn’t good enough to get on the B-side.
Fact fiends may be interested to know that Stu (the guitarist) ended up performing on albums by Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler! And by glancing over my right shoulder, I can see a poster for a Tyketto gig at the Newcastle Mayfair in 1994, when they were supported by Mrs Loud aka Lorraine Crosby, the partner of Stu who sang lead on “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. You never thought I was going there, did you.
Now, I know you’re pretty blown away right now. But wait, there’s more. The singer in Emerson was a guy called Sam Blewitt. Not a great name. So he changed it to Sam Blue. He went on to sing with (deep breath) Axis, L. A. Secrets, Paul Samson’s Empire, Ya Ya, Ultravox, GTS, and Burns Blue. But, and prepare to gasp, he is most famous for being the vocalist on The Streets’ chart-topping single “Dry Your Eyes”! It’s true! Although for me, his two Song For Europe entries are what mark him out (in 1996 as part of the duo Esseness with the song “I Never Knew” and 1997 as a solo artist with the song “For The Life You Don’t Yet Know”). He didn’t win.
One has to ask what the point of having trading standards officers in this country is, when an album can go on the market with a title like that. I mean, really! But then I suppose calling it “The Best Of Neat Records Second & Third Division Bands Now That All The Half Decent Ones Have Been Snaffled Up By Major Labels, Damn Them All To Hell” wouldn’t have been nearly as snappy.
Things start off with one of the better second division bands, in the shape of Persian Risk.
To be fair, it wasn’t all their fault they never quite cracked it. The Tygers Of Pan Tang nicked their original vocalist, then after their Neat debut, guitarist Phil Campbell (pictured above, yes, really) buggered off to Motorhead. Which meant by the time this emerged, the only original member left was their bass player. Singer Carl Sentance is still going strong, having gone on to work with Geezer Butler, Tokyo Rose, Krokus, Don Airey, Phil Chapman and more.
Next up is Marseille. I bought this single when it came out, as a limited edition silver disc. Of course, it never actually seemed to appear on a normal disc, as the five people who bought into their US style melodic hard rock all got the “limited” one. I still think this is quite good, even though they were a bunch of chancers who’d been on the go since the mid-seventies (and released records on the same record label as Nazareth), and were just pretendy NWOBHMers. Here are some actual facts. They were originally called AC/DC until the Aussie lot came along. Their guitarist, Neil Buchanan, is the same Neil Buchanan who presented kiddies TV show “Art Attack”! They reformed last year with a new singer and are recording and touring again, although I last saw them supporting Whitesnake in 1979. Gulp.
This installment comes to an end with Stratus. Now if I tell you that Stratus were a NWOBHM supergroup, don’t worry. You haven’t had an aneurysm. The band featured Praying Mantis members, Tino Troy, Bernie Shaw (now with Uriah Heep), Chris Troy and Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr.
Originally known as Clive Burr’s Escape, they only released one album, “Throwing Shapes”, before everyone realised that the Americans did AOR much better, and that a production budget of thruppence was unlikely to worry Journey. I have the album filed away somewhere, so be worried. However, this is a non-album treat!
Part 2, when it arrives, will restore the metal with entries from Warfare and Jaguar. As well as the shining stars of the UK AOR firmament, Emerson! That last bit might be a lie, if my memories of their headlining show in Embra abck in 1983 is anything to go by.
We’re looking at Brute Force, a compilation album released at the height of NWOBHM frenzy, when record companies were falling over themselves to cater to the whims of 14 year old pubescent boys, obsessed with the thought of something electric strapped round their necks and slung low down between their legs.
Last time around, things had started to dip ominously with the pretty rubbish Prowler and the not at all metal Colin Towns, only being salvaged by a pretty decent tune from Sledgehammer.
However, as we abandon Side 1 and head for Side 2 (ask your gramps, kiddies), things start to pick up a bit. Of course I say that, but I’m kind of lying. Well, totally lying. Because the first tune is from another metal beast. Erstwhile Gillan drummer, Mick Underwood. You read that right. A track from the drummer in Gillan. To be fair, I did like Quatermass and even Strapps, but did the world really need a solo single from Mick? I suspect not, as you listen to the A-side, just below. And, yes, it really was released as a single.
Luckily for us, things then get back on track with the arrival of White Spirit. Sadly now just a footnote in metal history thanks to them harbouring Janick Gers pre Gillan / Iron Maiden, they were actually a bit good. Had a major label come along at the right time, who knows, it might have been them. Unfortunately, post Neat Records, it was MCA who picked them up. You know, the band who killed Diamond Head.
And this is how Gillan got to nick him.
I saw them at the Embra Odeon gig. I was a bit out of it, so don’t have much recall, but former GHMI stars, Chevy, may also have been on the bill.
And now for a band who had more chances than is fair. And blew them all. Mainly because they weren’t so hot. However, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath was their bezzy friend, which explains the number of chances they had. Yup, it’s Brummie losers, Quartz. They’d been on the go for about a thousand years pre NWOBHM, but the chancers decided to have another go. Gits. Their first single had come up back in 1977, but this was the level they were best suited for.
I’ve still not quite forgiven Iommi for wasting £2.99 on their self titled debut. They even blagged a support on a Rush tour, you know. Tony, if you’re reading. A refund would be nice.
Their keyboard player, Geoff Nicholls, ended up hidden behind a curtain for most of Black Sabbaths eighties and nineties tours. I’d have been ashamed to be seen in public after this as well.
We’re looking at Brute Force, a compilation album released at the height of NWOBHM frenzy, when record companies were falling over themselves to cater to the whims of 14 year old pubescent boys, obsessed with the thought of something electric strapped round their necks and slung low down between their legs.
And it was an album that promised much, as Part 1 revealed tracks by Diamond Head, Fist and Raven – NWOBHM worthy metal icons. But then things started to go peculiar as this Part 2 will show.
First up were the not at all legendary Prowler, a band built around the talents of the Philpott brothers. As befits anything built around anyone called Philpott, this was not a memorable thing. If memory serves, they managed a couple of singles before returning to the hardware counter at Wickes.
Then it was time for some Sledgehammer. Which was much more like it. It’s hard to believe now, but they were championed by one Garry Bushell in Sounds, not something that seems like a good thing now, but they were nearly a very good band indeed. Sadly, the majors passed them by, and by the time they got round to releasing a couple of indie albums, their chance had passed them by. They were also on “Metal For Muthas”, you know. “I met a real coollady, late last night. She blew my mind and that’s not all”. Legend-ary.
Now it’s time for that legendary metal beast that is Colin Towns. Eh? Yup, the Gillan keyboard player best known for not being a metal beast. It’s not that he wasn’t talented. After all, he wrote the best tunes for Gillan in their early days. But brute force? I think not. He ended up writing the music for legendary metal televisual shows “Dalziel and Pascoe” and “Cadfael”. And that is a fact.
We’re off to the Wellington pub in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester this week for an unseasonal Heavy Metal Halloween, courtesy of DJ John Brent.
Sadly, nowadays, “Almost Every Weekend At The Wellington Pub Radcliffe We Have Nites On Where Mc’s Can Join In And Show Of There Skills, Featured Mc’s Are Mc MORTY And McD, All Other Mc’s Are Welcome.” So I suspect that Mr Brent may no longer be welcome.
So, I’ve randomly picked three numbers out of a hat, and they were 2, 3 and 15. Which means you’re in line for some Triumph, Atomic Rooster and Edgar Winter.
I always had a sneaky wee liking for the melodic Maple mayhem of Triumph, even if they did seem like a bunch of egomaniacs back in the day.
Anyone who knows me will know that I am one of the worlds leading authorities on Atomic Rooster having written (and published) articles in international magazines. Even in Finland! My ludicrously large Rooster vinyl collection would shame someone who knew what shame was. Which leaves me out of it.
Finally, it’s Edgar Winter. Hurrah! I spent last Saturday night watching a DVD of a concert he die with Leon Russell back in the eighties, and make no apologies for digging out a jazzy version of ‘Frankenstein’.
A wee bonus as well. You can never have too much Judas Priest, so here’s one of my favourites from waaaaaaay back in the day. @Genocide’ from “Sad Wings of Destiny”. A gem!
To celebrate the remarkable GHMI Reunited website putting together the 2 people who attended the Wick show of the Chevy / Limelight tour, GHMI is dedicating this episode to those two legendary bands;
Heavy rock bands Chevy and Limelight take a “double header” tour this month including a special ‘Charles and Di’ night at Bradford Gatsbys. Dark Star will be appearing as special guests on selected nights and the entire schedule runs;
Aberdeen Victoria Hotel July 22
Wick Assembly Rooms 23
Grangemouth Town Hall 24
Retford Porterhouse 25
Chester Northgate Arena 26
Colwyn Bay Dixieland Show Bar 28
Bradford Gatsbys 29
Norwich St. Andrews Hall 30
Chadwell Heath Electric Stadium 31
Leeds Fforde Grene Hotel August 2
Hull Tiffanys 3
Bristol Granary 4
Lincoln Drill Hall 5
Kidderminster Town Hall 6.
Sadly, we’ve yet to find anyone who went to the Wombwell Reform show in Barnsley, but who knows. It may happen yet, here on GHMI Reunited.
As I was feeling left out of this Caithness love-athon, here’s a bonus AC/DC live track. Recorded live at Leith Theatre, Leith Town Hall, Leith on June 12th, 1976. Now, as I was still at primary school, I didn’t quite manage to get in, but I still get a wee thrill every time I walk past Leith Town Hall. Mrs H thinks it’s because we got wed there, so let’s keep it our little secret, eh?
I’ve bravely undertaken the task of preparing a Rock Profile special for Getreadytorock radio on the luscious Pat Benatar.
Scarily, it’s a whole thirty years since her first album came out, which means that it’s 28 years since I developed a ludicrous and still palpating crush on the divine Ms Benatar.
When I realised what anniversary it was, it made me mourn the passing of time, as it’s now five years since I wrote a 25th anniversary retrospective for Record Collector magazine, although it seems like a matter of months. On the plus side, it gave me yet another excuse to leaf through my collection of Pat pictures. Purely for ‘research’ purposes, of course. You can see a portion of my Benatar collection here.
So, I’m going to treat you to a couple of tunes from Ms Benatar, while I go and lie down in a darkened room with only her Hit Videos compilation for company.
MP3 one – Passion – one of the most recent studio recordings from Pat, which was done for an advert for summat or other.
MP3 two – The Effect You Have On Me – from a tribute album to Edith Piaf (why?)
MP3 three – All Fired Up – a live version of one of Pats most rockingest tracks.
Watch some vintage Pat below;
Still awesome in the 21st century
There are a gazillion best of albums, but this is good enough. Buy it here.
Yup, for the next wee while, we’re going to be talking about chicks, man.
Now, we like chicks here at GHMI. They smell good, they’re soft to the touch, and if you’re lucky, they’ll put out. However, one thing they’re not so good at, is the Rawk.
So I’ll be firing up a few examples of girls singing, good and bad, for your perusal, amusal and disposal.
And we’re starting with Cheetah.
An Australian rock band active between 1977 and 1982, the vocal and focal points were sisters Chrissie Hammond and Lyndsay Hammond. They were signed by Vanda & Young, who were trying to parlay their AC/DC success into a broader currency, and ended up on French disco label, Carrere, who also had fellow Oztralians Rose Tattoo, as well as the mighty Saxon.
Naturally, it didn’t work, mainly due to the music not actually being that good. Well, actually, some of the songs are good, but the flat as a pancake production did them no favours. Not that that stopped me buying the “Rock’n'Roll Women” album, and swooning over Lyndsay when they came to Britain on tour. Their album is sadly unavailable on CD, but due to the power of technology, I’ve ripped two hissy vinyl tunes for your pleasure.
The sisters have periodically reformed for Oztralian tours and you can read all abaht them here.
Well, you’ve waited long enough, so prepare yourself as I unveil, in order of appearance, the lineup for this years Death Disco.
And they were;
1. Krokus – Long Stick Goes Boom
2. April Wine – Weeping Widow
3. Sad Cafe – My Oh My
4. The Commodores vs. Lil’ Kim – Brick House
5. Trace Adkins – Honky Tonk Badonkadonk
6. Ted Nugent – Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
7. The Chi-Lites – Are You My Woman
8. Atomic Rooster – Stand By Me
9. Amon Amarth – Guardians Of Asgard
10. Tiamat – Brighter Than The Sun
11. Wet Willie – Baby Fat
12. Desmond Child – Love On A Rooftop
13. Motorhead – Hellraiser
14. Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Shoot U Full Of Love
15. Autograph – Turn Up The Radio
16. Angel – The Tower
17. The Meads Of Asphodel – Assault And Battery
18. Monster Magnet – Bummer
19. Hawkwind – Spirit Of The Age
And now, here are the same songs, in order of most downloads, the DD Charts.
1) Monster Magnet – Bummer
2) Ted Nugent – Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
3) Sad Cafe – My Oh My
4) Trace Adkins – Honky Tonk Badonkadonk
5) Tiamat – Brighter Than The Sun
6) Angel – The Tower
7) Krokus – Long Stick Goes Boom
=) Wet Willie – Baby Fat
9) Hawkwind – Spirit Of The Age
=) Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Shoot U Full Of Love
11) April Wine – Weeping Widow
= ) The Commodores vs. Lil’ Kim – Brick House
= ) Atomic Rooster – Stand By Me
14) Autograph – Turn Up The Radio
15) Motorhead – Hellraiser
16) The Meads Of Asphodel – Assault And Battery
17) Amon Amarth – Guardians Of Asgard
18) The Chi-Lites – Are You My Woman
19) Desmond Child – Love On A Rooftop
So what does this say about the readership here at GHMI? It says you’re a bunch of mucky beggars, and that I’m ashamed of you. Why? Because 2 of the top 3 had pictograms of nekkid ladies bits, and the third had the word poontang. Filthmongers, the lot of you. Should you wish an explanation of any of the clues, now that the bands and songs have been revealed, feel free to ask. But I might just call you an idiot, so it’s your call.
If you’re confused about what this entails, then take a look back at Part 1 for guidance. Otherwise, prepare yourself for the next track listed down below.
Quite simply, the greatest band of the nineties, playing one of the best songs of the nineties, replete with the greatest opening line of all time, oh yeah, baby.
So without further ado, I present the latest part of the 2009 Death Disco! Time to get your lightbulb encrusted suit out of the wardrobe, hire some hoors to shake their bits aboot, drop some acid, and RAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Click to download. Or you can play them all as they arrive in the Death Box over on the right hand side of your screen.
And here’s your carefully selected pictogram clue for today.
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