Month: April 2024

DISTORTION new album by singer/songwriter Clive Jackson

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Former guitarist of ‘90s Newcastle band Greedsville releases a new solo album. The 12 track CD Distortion includes new single Too Far (link to music video below).

My new single was recorded in July and August 2022 at Sound X Studios The song is based around a guitar riff I kept coming back to. The lyrics reflected feelings I had to get out there. Like the heavy tone of the music, it’s about the rollercoaster journey into the uncertain aspects of future life both personal and global.

A quick spin of the song immediately turns my ears on to Black Sabbath’s track Symptom of the Universe.

Glad you like the song, genuinely, didn’t make the Sabbath connection at the time, but you’re dead right with the riff!

A couple of people have compared it to Rockin’ in the Free World by Neil Young and Bowie’s Rebel Rebel as well, I can see that too.

Did the songs come easy or did you have to work on them over a period of time?

​I had a burst of regular songwriting that started in the lockdown period and continued long after. I got to about 36 songs and thought I have to do something with them!

I came back from a holiday in Los Angeles in July 2022 and was totally energised by it, California has that effect on me. Too Far was one of the songs I wrote and recorded when I got back. 

As on previous albums Jackson played all instruments and recorded on a Mac Book Pro coupled with Apple’s high end Logic Pro X Software.

Yes, and I cherry picked what I thought was the best out of everything I’d written. Sadly, I had to delay anything to do with the album in the first few months of 2023 due to serious family issues. I finally finished recording in October 2023.

It was mastered by Jon Astley in November 2023 at Close to the Edge Studios in London. Jon was a producer on albums by The Who and Eric Clapton in the 1970’s and has remastered albums by tons of artists including Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

Have you any plans to play live?

I’m playing a gig in Newcastle at the singer/songwriter night at the Globe on the 18th May 2024. I hope it’s one of many to promote the album. I’ve applied to play for a lot of festivals, showcase nights and Music Industry events.

What are your hopes for the album?

I hope the album reaches as big an audience as possible via streaming and download through professional online promotion, this includes the music video for Too Far.

I’d also love to somehow release the album on vinyl which is experiencing a deserved resurgence, it’s maybe seen as old technology but it still sounds bloody great!

Link to new music video for ‘Too Far’ >
https://youtu.be/YO4E3-mJoUA

Further info check the official website >
https://clivejackson8.wixsite.com/singer-song-writer

Alikivi   April 2024

BLOODY TYGERS – new live release plus gigs in Miami, Brazil & Europe

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2024 is shaping up to be a busy year in the Tygers camp – for an old cat there is plenty wag left in its tail!

“First show of the year was a heavy metal cruise called ‘70,000 tons of metal’ the world’s biggest heavy metal cruise. This year the ship sailed from Miami to Porto Plata in the Caribbean and back to Miami. 60 bands and two performances from each act. Absolutely amazing!”

“Next up was Italy, just last week we played to sold out shows in Rome, Florence and Milan” said founding member & guitarist Robb Weir…

“We also have a new live album due out on April 26th called, ‘Live Blood’. The first single taken from the album is in video form on YouTube called, ‘Gangland”.

Second single Keeping Me Alive has just been released. The track is a mainstay of their live set which first appeared on the 2012 album Ambush.

Live Blood was recorded at the Patriot Club in Crumlin, Wales, by vocalist Jack Meille, drummer Craig Ellis, bassist Huw Holding with guitarists Francesco Marris and Robb Weir.

The album includes material from across the band’s career including tracks from their first four albums from 1980-82 on MCA Records. 

Robb explained “Our live show adds a new dimension to the old songs and allows us to stretch out a bit on the newer numbers”. 

Vocalist Jack Meille added “Live Blood captures all the energy we deliver while playing our favourite songs live and raw“.

What has the summer got in store for the Tygers? First up they’ll be zooming over the Atlantic Ocean to play in South America then keep the thunder rolling with a return to Europe for gigs in May.

Robb has the details…“Next shows are the Summer Breeze festival in Brazil on April 27th, then four UK shows starting at Preston Continental May 2, London Boston Music Rooms May 3, The Crown Merthr Tydfil, Wales May 4 and Eleven in Stoke on Trent on 5th May.

We have two days off then back out to play Budapest in Hungary, Zagreb in Croatia, Belgrade in Serbia, and that’s just for starters”.

With the first half of the year mapped out, Robb adds a final message…

“We’ll be playing a rather special show up in the North East of England in November, details coming very soon. We can only do all of this because of your amazing support and belief in the band and the Tygers would like to whole heartedly say ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you, oh, and see you down the front at the next show!”

Live Blood will be released on double LP (black vinyl, including three exclusive bonus tracks), CD and digital formats on April 26th 2024 via Mighty Music.

Full track listing, gigs, photos & latest news contact the official website >

Tygers Of Pan Tang – The Official Site  

Alikivi   April 2024



TROYEN LIVE – Free gig at Newcastle Trillians Rock Bar

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It’s free entry on Sunday 19th May at Newcastle Trillians Rock Bar for the visit of Troyen who first hit the NWOBHM scene in 1981.

Troyen toured with Girlschool, Spider, Diamond Head plus a European support slot with Nightwing, their demo was produced by Gil Norton who went on to work with the internationally renowned Foo Fighters, Feeder and the Pixies.

With gigs coming thick and fast a recording contract was on the table from legendary record label Neat, but the band never made it up the A1, unfortunately they split and went their separate ways.

Bringing things up to date the band reformed in 2014 and appeared at Newcastle’s Brofest along with a line-up of NWOBHM bands from around the country, appeared on many European metal festivals, produced a whole load of new recorded tracks and a CD anthology, plus this year went back in the studio to record new album Unfinished Business for the Classic Metal Records label.

Latest line-up, there’s been a few changes since the original Troyen over 40 year ago, is Jeff Badley (drums), Steve McGuire & Simon Lind (lead guitars), Mark Nortley (bass) and Paul Ward (vocals).

Jeff explained “For the album we’re still finalising the twelve tracks, all are unique in their own way with contributions from all five band members”.

“On the live front we’re returning to Trillians next month and will have tracks from our forthcoming album in the set. We have an awesome new vocalist Paul Ward fronting the band” (pic. above).

Jeff added “It’s going to be an awesome night of rock and metal. Joining us will be our good friends and local heroes Culloden”.

Free entry on Sunday 19th May 2024 at Newcastle Trillians Rock Bar.

Official release date for the album ‘Unfinished Business’ is 22nd June 2024.

Contact Trillians > Trillians Rock Bar (trilliansnewcastle.co.uk)

Alikivi   April 2024