Month: July 2023

NIGHTS of NWOBHM at TRILLIANS ROCK BAR, NEWCASTLE

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The starting gun fires on Friday 4th August on old school NWOBHM at Trillians. They won’t be nights full of half arsed tunes. Expect red hot, heavy, driving sounds topped with power vocals – just the way you like it.

First up is Kev Riddles’ Baphomet, Kev was an original member of NWOBHM band Angel Witch who released their first album in 1980.

The record, along with the track Baphomet, always feature on any ‘Best of NWOBHM’ lists. On their last visit to Newcastle, Kev Riddles’ Baphomet played original Angel Witch classics to a packed house. Expect the same on a loud start to your weekend.

Another night of old school metal is a triple bill on Friday 1st September with Avenger, Abaddon and Spartan Warrior.

Spartan vocalist David Wilkinson explained “2023 has been a milestone year for Spartan Warrior as we celebrate 40 years since the release of our debut album, ‘Steel n Chains’, on the Guardian label”.

“We’ve played some well received anniversary shows where we’ve played our debut album live in its entirety”.

“As we have two shows at the same venue quite close together we want to give people something different each time. The 1st September set will be exclusively from the ‘Steel n Chains’ album and the second album only. November’s set will draw material from all four albums”.

That November date is set for Friday 3rd, a pre-Bonfire night with Kev Riddle’s other band Tytan. What to expect from Tytan? Chunks of melodic, epic rock with screaming riffs and Tony Coldham’s soaring voice. At the time of posting the band are on the road back from Germany after playing the Headbangers Open Air Festival.

Joining the bill are Millennium, frontman Mark Duffy explained “The first time Millennium played in Newcastle was when we were asked to do a reunion show for the Brofest festival in 2016 and we’ve played Newcastle a number of times since”.

“We know Spartan Warrior as they were on the Guardian records compilation ‘Pure Overkill’ along with Millennium. Although we didn’t get to meet them till around five years ago, we’ve since played gigs on the same events. We haven’t  played any gigs with Tytan before so we’re looking forward to that”.

Spartan Warrior’s Wilkinson added “We’re very excited to be co headlining the November show with our dear friends Tytan. We’ve shared stages before and it’s going to be a great night for sure. We also have a long history with Millennium who were our Guardian label mates, so in our 40th Anniversary year that’s a bit special too”.

Millennium’s Duffy added “I think the NWOBHM scene has lasted so long because it has produced so many good bands who recorded some great records. There’s also a younger generation who are now listening and discovering these bands for the first time and appreciating their music”.

“We’re looking to do some gigs with other NWOBHM bands and hoping to play festivals in Europe having played in Athens this year. But it’s always good to play home shows at Trillians – really looking forward to it”.

If that isn’t enough for ya’ on Thursday 23rd November at Trillians is a hometown visit from the Tygers of Pan Tang. After trekking around mainland Europe during summer they have arranged extra dates to support new album Bloodlines.

Alikivi   2023

LOVER, FIGHTER, HELLRAISER The Rise & Fall of Phil Lynott 1949-1986

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Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy, Black Rose tour 1979 Newcastle City Hall. pic Paul White.

Phil Lynott played the cool, sexy, rock star. The hot shot gunslinger with studded wrist band and clenched fist. The Rocker. But he was dead by 36. What happened in the last few years of his life?  

Thin Lizzy had been around since the early seventies releasing a number of successful singles including Whisky in the Jar, Rosalie and Waiting for an Alibi, and top 30 chart albums including Black Rose, Renegade and the imperious, Live and Dangerous.

The double album produced by Tony Visconti (Bolan/Bowie/Morrissey) in 1978 reached number 2, staying in the UK charts for over a year. Many critics label the record as one of the greatest live albums.

Although I never saw them in concert, I was in the Newcastle audience when they appeared live on Channel Four’s music show The Tube on 28th January 1983.

I remember watching a blistering version of Cold Sweat from the Thunder and Lightning album. The boys were back in town and at the top of their game. Or so I thought.

In comparison, I later watched a videotape of the show and thought the dressing room interview with Lynott was awkward and dull, he looked fragile. Was this the beginning of the slow decline for the Irish rock legend?

The TV show was only the second appearance of new guitarist John Sykes, formerly of Whitley Bay heavy metal band, Tygers of Pan Tang. His first gig was a few days earlier on BBC’s Sight & Sound concert – talk about being hoyed in at the deep end!

Lynott was more than happy with Sykes. He could see a new future for Lizzy. Cold Sweat entered the UK charts and another TV slot was scheduled for Top of the Pops.

But the band were dropped from the running order after a drunken Lynott was reported to have told the producer to ‘fuck off’ – twice.

Morale was low and cracks appeared amongst the team. Lizzy found themselves slowly falling apart through health and personal reasons. Eventually a split was announced.

1983 UK tour dates

So what was left ? The Thunder and Lightning UK tour included two dates at Newcastle City Hall, with a night at London’s Hammersmith Odeon and a reunion of past Lizzy guitarists, Brian Robertson, Gary Moore and Eric Bell.

“It was chaos” said Bell. “A mess if you listened to what was being played. It was a turning point in my life, after that I never wanted to hear those songs again. I suppose it was a good way of burying Thin Lizzy forever”.

Roadie for the band Peter Eustace explained “On the crew we all thought Phil was scared of success. Once you’ve arrived where do you go? And all you know is that these young guns are breathing down your neck”.

The future, well the ‘80s, belonged to the new chart soundz ! from the likes of Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. While a rejuvenated Queen, and soon to be Irish legends, U2, both benefited from Live Aid. Meanwhile, Lizzy struggled to play a few more dates in Ireland and Japan.

Their last UK show was headlining the Reading festival in August ‘83. The curtain came down on their final live performance in Nuremburg, Germany on 4th September, sharing a bill with Saxon, Motorhead and Whitesnake.

Fellow Irishman and Boomtown Rat songwriter Bob Geldof said “Phil couldn’t imagine a life not in leather trousers, with a limousine taking him to work every day”.

In 1984 a zoned out Lynott appeared on ITV’s Breakfast Show talking about his new band, Grand Slam, but also about his problems as a heroin addict.

He resolved to work hard, in rehearsals he drilled the band for eight hours a day earning him the nickname ‘Sergeant Rock’. Had the thunder returned?  

The band toured extensively throughout the UK and what seemed like victory soon turned into disaster as no major label offered them a recording contract. The industry was backing off.

In 1985 old friend Huey Lewis – from the News – spent time with Lynott recording in a San Francisco studio, but the old swagger wasn’t there. A delicate and tired Lynott only managed a couple of vocal tracks.

Although he did manage a UK chart hit in June ‘85 with Out in the Fields when he paired up with another old friend and former Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore. Cutting out management, Lynott made a direct deal with the label and received £5,000 in cash for being on the record.

But his darkest days were ahead with long days and weeks spent at his London home in dressing gown and slippers not answering calls or seeing friends.

Then out of the blue a charity concert was arranged to be played in front of a world-wide TV audience, it was made for the return of Thin Lizzy.

Live Aid saw The Who, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin reforming for a one off gig. But Lynott wasn’t asked. Did fellow Irishman and organiser Bob Geldof stay away knowing of his problems?

Co-organiser, songwriter & former Lizzy touring guitarist, Midge Ure said…

”To our dying shame neither Bob nor I even thought about asking Phil to put Lizzy together for Live Aid. If he had been in a healthy state that could have been the Queen moment for them – ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ – at Wembley? Jesus, can you imagine?“

“Why didn’t we do it? Was it that psychologically we had already given Phil up as gone? It’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life’.

There were rumours that Lynott was to play Jimi Hendrix in a biopic of the guitarists life, but nothing came of it. In the studio he was working on recording solo material.

Phil Lynott’s final public appearance was in December 1985 when he travelled to Tyne Tees TV studio in Newcastle to record a Christmas special for pop programme Razzmatazz, he performed his solo single Nineteen.

Ironically the presenter was David ‘Kid’ Jensen, the DJ who had championed the band in the early seventies. Also on the programme were Slade, who Lizzy had opened for back in the early days. Back when the fight was being won.

At home Lynott was visited by hangers on, pushers and gofers. He ended up surrounded by people, but very alone. In court on a drugs charge he was called ‘a drugs victim and a trajedy’ by his own solicitor. His close friends wondered where did he go? The musician, the poet, the man they loved.

Sadly, on 4th January 1986, Phil Lynott died of kidney, liver and heart failure. One of his close friends said “Phil didn’t die of a heart attack, he died of a lifestyle”.

Alikivi   July 2023

Research:

Phil Lynott: The Rocker by Mark Putterford.

Cowboy Song: The authorised biography of Philip Lynott by Graeme Thomson.

Thin Lizzy official website.

THE HISTORY OF ROADRUNNER RECORDS – with Film Maker Bill Saxton

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Launched in Holland in 1981 and focused on releasing  Heavy Metal records, the label then expanded and opened offices around the world including UK, USA, Germany, Japan and Australia.

A documentary about the company is currently in production, the idea for the project started during lockdown when 34 year old Bill and his friend from Leeds started a podcast called Temple of Bleh.

The idea for the podcast was for the pair of us to reconnect with heavy music in a more meaningful way explained Bill.

This would be done through projects such as The Hunt for the Secret Channel 4 Metalhead, then we finally arrived at looking at The History of Roadrunner Records.

Being a metal guy of my age, I noticed a thread that connected my favourite bands – Trivium, Killswitch Engage, Sepultura, then the likes of Mercyful Fate and Type O Negative. So I toyed with the idea of a book on the subject.

After writing a brief report on the topic for the podcast, by complete chance, I crossed paths with former PR for Roadrunner UK, Michelle Kerr. She told me she’d like to see the finished product.

This was a sign to take this project to an academically accurate standard – so as not to look a complete twat in front of Michelle, who had kindly taken an interest.

I spent about a month creating a monster spreadsheet, detailing every original Roadrunner release since its formation in 1981 – conventional wisdom says Roadrunner formed in 1980, this is a lie.

After finishing this, I set about contacting every band, with mixed success, for a Zoom interview – which would be put up on the Temple of Bleh podcast and You Tube channel.

Then the idea was to roll them up into three documentaries of 60-75 mins each and detailing the three core ‘eras’ of the record label – 1981-1986, 1987-2001 and 2002-2012 explained Bill.

Andreas Kisser of Sepultura, pic Bill Saxton, 4th November 2022, at KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton.

Research can always bring up a number of unusual stories, and Bill found a few about Roadrunner.

A good story I found is that Roadrunner’s first Gold single wasn’t metal at all – it was a 1995 gabba song called I Wanna Be a Hippie by Technohead. 

Also, in this period Roadrunner was trying to edge away from heavy metal, and in the UK specifically were trying its hand at Britpop.

If you were to ask Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos who first signed him, he’d say Roadrunner, with his early outfit The Karelia.

Another story is the range of artists Roadrunner licensed to Europe from the rest of the world. There are albums from Sinead O’Connor and Cliff Richard bearing the Roadrunner label.

Bill emphasised that the main point of the documentary is to illustrate that once upon a time, death metal hit the top of the Billboard charts, and had a seat at the table with the perceived top industry ‘players’.

It’s important to my generation to understand exactly how that came about. Who better to ask than those responsible at Roadrunner Records.

It’s also insanely convenient that you can’t answer the ‘how’ question without showcasing the stories and legacies of the key artists on the label such as Mercyful Fate, Type O Negative, and Slipknot – as well as the less mainstream bands like Deicide, Gruntruck and Blue Mountain.

Madball being interviewed, pic by TheFinalCut, 7th February 2023, at Manchester Club Academy.

After six months, 150 hours of interviews, one mini and one full documentary complete, Bill was contacted by Mrs X – who would prefer to remain anonymous.

She favoured the project so much she came up with the finance to form a production company and elevate the quality to broadcast standard.

Big thanks to our Mrs X where would I be without her! said Bill. So far I’ve filmed 32 interviews for the project, across six countries, both artist and Roadrunner personnel alike. I’ve still got a lot to go before I can call this thing even close to complete.

Bands from North East UK are represented by stories from Battleaxe and Dark Heart. It’s a dense mix of music business learnings, interwoven with rock n roll regalia.

As it stands at this moment, ‘The History of Roadrunner Records’ has no distributor or broadcaster interest as yet– so this will likely be hitting YouTube.

The documentary is being exclusively filmed in the UK and I’m managing the time with my day job, so I can’t put a final deadline on the production. I’m considering crowdfunding to quicken it up.

For more info or if you dealt with the Roadrunner label contact Bill at templeofbleh@gmail.com or @HistoryOfRoadrunnerRecords on Instagram.

Alikivi   July 2023

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTIVAL 6-9th JULY 2023.

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Siouxsie at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival 2023

I still get some freelance camera work and this job was at a four day event set in a fantastic location inside the grounds of Tynemouth Priory & Castle where the river Tyne meets the North Sea.

First day a smooth load in and five camera set up with three operators and two remote to feed the large video screens, after a few tweaks the set up was ready to go live.

The return of headliners The Proclaimers, they were canny back in 2019, stage time called and the Reid brothers marched on towards the sun and a full crowd, not a bad place to work.

Of course they played Letter From America and 500 miles, they make the camera job easier for framing when they’re planted next to the mic. Think it might be different for Siouxsie tomorrow – and it was.

Opening band LYR were mere lambs to the slaughter as a sold out sunny Friday evening saw Siouxsie casting spells and spinning her web in the perfect goth setting of the Priory, Castle ruins and graveyard.

The Ice Queen majestically skipped around stage singing Spellbound, Cities in Dust and Arabian Knights. Played last, and not on the set list, was a triumphant Hong Kong Garden. Letting the crowd know she went for a dip in the North Sea earlier in the day brought a cheer and more love from the goth hordes.

Set list for Siouxsie at the Mouth of the Tyne festival 2023.

Camera set up 4pm on Saturday in place for the openers from 6.30pm, former Housemartin/Beautiful South vocalist Paul Heaton & special guest on at 8.15pm. Cameras went undercover on a soggy evening.

Trouble in the crowd was just handbags, and the rain never dampened the Saturday night sing a-long. Heaton’s songs are great little stories, and a nice touch when introducing band members he told the crowd what football team they supported!

The show ended with four encores, yes that was four, and a sparkly finish, compared to barely an hour on stage from Gabrielle on Sunday.

It was a long filming day with early camera set up from 10am for six acts and over six hours video screening scheduled. Gates opened 11.45am and saw Newcastle band Clear Blood first on at 12noon.

Gabrielle sauntered on stage for 5pm, but after a few songs disappeared for 15mins leaving her backing vocalists singing random pop hits. What’s this about? A costume change? No, when she returned just a few more songs and no encore.

After enjoying the show the crowd looked deflated – was that it? And who thought of booking a Thin Lizzy-lite rock band to go on before her? As tight as they were, maybe a better fit would of been Friday before Siouxsie.

Thankfully, earlier in the afternoon the suited and booted Big Red & the Grinners landed on stage, tuned in and turned on the crowd to their brand of blistering banjobillypop – and saved the day, excelling from their 2019 performance with Big Red observing the Priory ruins ‘I see you still haven’t repaired the windows’.

With sold out shows another successful event organised and delivered by North Tyneside Council. See ya next year.

Alikivi   July 2023

CANNY LADS OFF THE TELLY – an evening with Jeff Brown & Ian Payne

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Tynemouth Priory & Castle

Just back after four days filming at the Mouth of the Tyne festival. The stage for the concert is fantastic, set in the grounds of Tynemouth Priory & Castle where the North Sea meets the river Tyne.

From Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th July headliners were The Proclaimers, Siouxsie, ex Housemartins/Beautiful South vocalist Paul Heaton, and on Sunday Gabrielle was on with Tyneside band Big Red & the Grinners. New post soon about the festival.

In September the prestigious Lit & Phil in Newcastle city centre will host two of the region’s most loved television icons for an evening of fun and laughter.

Jeff Brown and Ian Payne are well known North East newsreaders from BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees. Despite being on rival stations, Jeff and Ian are good mates.

They have been guests in our living rooms presenting award-winning local news for years – but how much do we really know of them?

Ian & Jeff (pic March 2023)

Ian, 55, originally from Ipswich, came to study in Newcastle in 1986 and never left! He joined Tyne Tees in 1992 and has shared news presenting duties with Mike Neville and the much-loved Pam Royle.

Jeff, 61, who hails from Roker, was a journalist on local newspapers and joined Tyne Tees in 1996 where he worked with the legendary Mike Neville. He has just celebrated 20 years at the BBC.

“Me and Ian spend most of our lives reading out other people’s words, so it’ll be a nice change to tell folk a bit more about ourselves. It’s not just a talk show, though – there’ll be music and all sorts going on”.

Jeff added “We’re hoping it’ll be fun. We’ll certainly enjoy ourselves!”

Both TV personalities agreed to do the talks after being approached by playwright and producer Ed Waugh.

“They are cultural icons of the region, that’s why I suggested this event, so people can get to know them better” explained Ed.

Ed, whose hit plays include Wor Bella and Hadaway Harry, explained “I’ve worked with Jeff and Ian at various times, especially at Sunday for Sammy and the Laffalang. They’re both great lads, really entertaining. Whenever we get together it’s one long laugh. Their stories are captivating and hilarious”.

Ed continued “Ian was a top trampolinist in his youth and appeared on children’s tv show Blockbusters! He’s also a creative writer, a budding artist and loves music”.

“Likewise, Jeff is a creative writer, with a new play on at the Customs House in September. He’s also a canny chanter. I’ve seen him sing live with a band and he rocked! 

We’ve already had to add an afternoon talk because of popular demand. It’ll be a cracking show with those canny lads off the telly!”

The event organised by Wisecrack productions will take place on Wednesday, September 6, at 2pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and are limited to 80 per performance.

They can be purchased via Eventbrite or available to buy direct from the Lit & Phil or telephone (0191) 232 0192.

For further information, contact Ed Waugh on 07960066377 or email ed.waugh@blueyonder.co.uk


Alikivi    June 2023

THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION – new album by Durham musician, Foster Neville

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50 year old Foster Neville is catching his breath as his new double album The Edge of Destruction is making ambient sound waves in Japan via Durham, Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Australia and the USA.

Originally from Consett, Foster has always been a big fan of German electronic band Kraftwerk, but started off as a singer/songwriter in a punk band in the 1980s.

While the music on the new album is mostly electronic, Foster’s starting point for all of the tracks was simple piano improvisation.

He explained “I manipulated these sketchy jazz-like improvisations using aural patterns taken from poetry and architecture. Once they were in the bag, I re-recorded them using electronic treatments.”

“Ambient music is about a different kind of listening, it has to be taken at another pace and is perhaps more suitable to our lives today and the problems we face”.

“I like to think of it as ‘green’ music – sound structures with plenty of space for sunlight or moonlight to percolate through. Thanks to the internet this sort of music is finding an audience everywhere in the world” added Foster whose music and lyrics are inspired by the landscape around him.

“It’s a northern landscape, often reclaimed from, and bearing the scars of, heavy industry and pollution”.

“The opening track, ‘A Change in the Air’ alerts the listener to the threats hidden in idyllic rural scenes and draws on my own childhood memories of playing out after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.”

The title track, The Edge of Destruction, features a girl’s voice counting down in Chinese to imminent disaster before safety is reached in the album’s remaining tracks.

The double vinyl also has a hidden song, which is a homage to the late electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire, who is best known for her version of the Doctor Who theme.

“I went from living in a former mining village to curating art in galleries in the West End of London and at Durham Uni was a founder of one of the largest collections of modern art in any UK university”.

“During this time I became friends with the Maharaja of Baroda Shrimant Ranjitsinh, who was to prove an important spiritual and musical influence. It was ultimately through Ranjit that I re-engaged with music-making on my own terms.” 

On the new album Foster teamed up with producer John Pilgrim, one of the founders of the folk horror revival movement.

“The folk horror movement celebrates British movies with a connection to rural traditions and folklore, like The Wicker Man and The Blood on Satan’s Claw”.

Foster continued “As an undergraduate at Oxford, I was taught poetry by Seamus Heaney. While dropping out of academia, all of my experience in life provides the album with a literate and artistic background”.

The Edge of Destruction is released on SubExotic Records and distributed through among others, the legendary Rough Trade label. The eleven-song discs plus hidden track are on sale in major record stockists in the UK.

Alikivi  June 2023

The Edge Of Destruction | Foster Neville | Subexotic Records (bandcamp.com) 

https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/product/foster-neville/the-edge-of-destruction