In the early 80s Tyneside based Avenger released two albums on the Neat record label – ‘Blood Sports’ and ‘Killer Elite’ both firmly planted the band on the NWOBHM map.
Fast forward to 2023 and their last show was three months ago in Spain at the Galia Metal Fest near Madrid…
“It was a cracking festival just in its first edition”said drummer Gary Young.
Next up is an explosive triple bill of classic NWOBHM on Friday 1st September. Joining Avenger are Spartan Warrior plannng an old school 80s set and an exclusive Venom set from Abaddon.
“I think we’ve played more shows with Spartan Warrior than any other band we know. We have a smooth working relationship with them and that makes touring alongside them very easy”.
“We’ve played with Abaddon too, and been friends with him for nearly 40 years! It’s always an honour to share the stage with him and the lads”.
The three bands will be playing on home turf at Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle…
“We love Trillians….so much history, so many memorable shows there in the past – both as punters and playing. The place is essential to the music scene’s health”.
How influential has NWOBHM been?
“I think New Wave of British Heavy Metal has been a keystone to how current metal music has developed and that’s recognised by people especially when discovering metal for the first time.”
“When researching a bands history they can identify the whole legacy, for example Metallica were influenced by NWOBHM”.
After 40 plus years the NWOBHM North East Division of Satan, Raven and Tygers of Pan Tang are still breathing fire wherever they turn up.
“How has NWOBHM endured 40 odd years? Simple, the sheer quality of the bands”.
Free night of classic NWOBHM at Trillians Rock Bar, Newcastle, Friday 1st September 2023.
Robert Plant, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis are just a few names that have recorded in Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis, USA – a new name to be added to that impressive list is Teesside Rhythm & Blues Singer & Songwriter Emma Wilson…….
“Sam Phillips studio breathes, it has an immense presence. The Phillips family have kept the rooms the same. The live room is awesome, huge, beautifully designed, it took me everything to hold it together. I let my emotions out on the recording”.
Her second album Memphis Calling, scheduled for an October release, with first single What Kind Of Love released on Friday 1st September 2023.
What Kind Of Love was co-written by legendary singer and songwriter Don Bryant (Hi Records) and Scott Bomar, who also produces the album.
“Don Bryant collaborated with his then wife, my idol Ann Peebles, on many huge songs such as the iconic ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’. For him to offer me one of his songs and then join me in singing was a dream come true…he is so vibrant and such a great singer!” explained Emma.
“When I asked him how he thought I should perform the song he took hold of my two hands and said “Just sing it honey”.
“The band on ‘Memphis Calling’ are spectacular we have members of the HI Rhythm section Leroy Hodges bass, Charles Hodges organ, Hubbie Turner piano, the greatest drummer in the world Steve Potts and young Memphian cats Joe Restivo guitars, Kirk Smothers saxes and Marc Franklin trumpet”.
“Scott Bomar produced the record and is one of the greatest, he restored the STAX desk that we recorded through, it was just a beautiful experience”.
Emma won 2022s Emerging Blues Artist of The Year in the UK Blues Awards, her debut album Wish Her Well, made the finalist in Blues Album of The Year category in UK Blues Awards 2023.
Flag bearers of the NWOBHM scene since the late 1970s and still delivering the goods now include Kev Riddles (Angel Witch/Tytan), John Gallagher (Raven), Rob Weir (Tygers of Pan Tang) and Barry Graham Purkis (aka Thunderstick). Purkis is best known for his time drumming with Samson and an early Iron Maiden line up.
“Samson were one of the first bands to release an album that was considered to be New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. And that was the ‘Survivors’ album” explained Purkis.
“We were looking for support acts to come out with us and guitarist Paul Samson knew a band from south London that he was good friends with, he recommended Angel Witch, so they were put on the bill”.
“We were thinking about a third band, I said ‘Well the band I played with prior to joining Samson was a band called Iron Maiden. Would you be interested in them?’And Paul said, ‘Yeah, sure.’
Fast forward to August 2023 and Thunderstick, fronted by lead vocalist Raven Blackwing, are releasing a new single ‘Go Sleep With the Enemy (I Dare Ya)’.
Raven Blackwing explained“We wanted to show that the material on the new album follows an altogether weightier vein. Releasing a single from the album that people already know and love when we play it live seemed a perfect way of introducing everyone to our new direction.”
(Single taken from the 2017 album ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’).
Purkis adds “The new single is a tale of infidelity and the wrath of a woman spurned. I wanted to re-visit this particular track by way of demonstrating the heavier aspects of the new band that make up the forthcoming album. I felt this track was the ideal vehicle to do that.”
“With the new album now completed and ready for an October release, the collection of songs on it are the strongest Thunderstick have ever recorded.”
“I’m so lucky to have found the musicians that I now work with especially Raven, of whom I consider to be one of the finest rock singers around. She is the ‘real deal’ both in terms of voice and stagecraft.”
Upcoming live dates:
British Steel Festival Fismes, France, 7th October.
Legends of Rock, Ilfracombe, 10th November.
Thunderstick 2023 line-up:
Raven Blackwing(vocals), Pete Pinto and Dave Butters (guitars), Rex Thunderbolt (bass) and Thunderstick/Barry Graham Purkis (drums).
After re-forming in 2014 Warrington based Troyen have played a number of UK and European festivals but their first bite out of the NWOBHM scene was in the early 80s.
A big impact was made on the live circuit opening for Spider, Girlschool, Diamond Head and a European tour supporting Nightwing.
“We have many memories of gigs in the 80’s” said drummer Jeff Baddley.
“We almost left a roadie in an autobahn service station. We saw him frantically running down the road waving his arms to get our attention. Another time we parked our tour bus in an Embassy drive way – didn’t know that at the time – and were woken by armed guards inside the bus demanding ID”.
“When we opened for Spider they liked our track ‘Crazy Lady’ so much they wanted to buy it…we declined the offer”.
A demo, and first production job for Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies) was released in 1981.
Jeff added “It was a great experience, our good friends Nightwing were in the studio next-door. Gil Norton was great to work with. He was very young and very skilled. We recorded, mixed and produced the four tracks in three days”.
It quickly sold out earning a deal with legendary North East studio Neat records, but the band split before the ink was dry on the contract.
Fast forward to May 2024 – you can never be too early to advertise an event – and after a gig in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 18th, Troyen will be jumping over Hadrians Roman Wall to Newcastle Trillians on the 19th for a night dedicated to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.
“Our new album will be out in May 2024 so the set will be filled with new tracks off the as yet untitled album, and classic back catalogue stuff”Jeff explained.
Trillians Rock Bar already has a number of NWOBHM events lined up this year. Dates from powerhouse metallers Tytan and Trespass, while playing on home turf and delivering bone crunching impact are Abaddon, Avenger, Millenium and Spartan Warrior.
Not forgetting a night with the now legendary Tygers of Pan Tang – al’ the way from Whitley Bay! Another band who’ve had numerous line-up changes and are still on the prowl after 40 years plus. 2023 has brought a new album and European gigs.
More live dates for Troyen are 2 September, Flames Still Burns Festival, Nuneaton. 6 October, The Carlisle, Hastings. 7 October, British Steel Festival, France and for 2024 so far 20 January, The Cavern, London. 18 May, Bannermans, Edinburgh. 19 May free entry to Trillians, Newcastle with special guests Culloden.
Troyen 2023 line-up – Jeff Baddley – drums/backing vox, Steve McGuire – guitar/backing vox, Mark Nortley – bass, Simon Lind – guitar/backing vox, Sy Davis -vocals.
Alikivi August 2023
Link to interview with Troyen drummer Jeff Baddley in 2017.
Earlier this month the site featured Tytan main man Kev Riddles talking up a night of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal on Friday 13th October when Tytan, Trespass, Tailgunner and Kev Riddles’ Baphomet are booked to play at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend.
Sharing the bill is Suffolk based Trespass, I got in touch with guitarist Mark Sutcliffe and asked why do you think NWOBHM is still alive over 40 years later?
“The early eighties was an interesting time. Full of change and quite tough at times. It was a time for self-expression and freedom. The NWOBHM was part of that”.
“The new bands of that era had great influences. I never thought it would endure this long but I am proud and honoured to be a part of it”.
Mark added “Back then we played the Marquee in London. First time was opening for Girl with Phil Collen who went on to join Def Leppard. We headlined later and actually broke their Monday night attendance record”.
“Did we use pyro? Sadly it was a double edged sword when we used pyro. We had a roadie injured at Leeds Forde Green and at a gig in Gravesend Red Lion we blew a trip switch. This meant an early drum solo as it was on the opening chord!”
The band featured on NWOBHM ten track compilation albums ‘Metal for Muthas’. Vol 1 included Iron Maiden, Samson, Praying Mantis and Angel Witch, Vol 2 had Dark Star, White Spirit and Trespass.
“That was an interesting but perhaps disappointing time for us. EMI had been showing real interest in the band and suggested we had two tracks on Vol 2” explained Mark.
“We recorded One of these Days and Stormchild in Spaceward studios in Cambridge – also used by Maiden. This echoed Maidens two tracks on Vol 1 and we got excited and assumed as much”.
Major labels were in the process of hoovering up NWOBHM bands – MCA collared Fist and Tygers of Pan Tang, Raven signed with Atlantic and Phonogram pulled in Def Leppard. What could go wrong?
“EMI asked us to their studio in London to record a session. Despite a good performance we didn’t succeed in getting signed. I guess they wanted the path clear for Maiden”.
“The independent label we were on at the time may have put them off, also EMI were going through a take-over at the time so it may have been that. We’ll never know”.
This year Trespass released a new album ‘Wolf at the Door’ to a number of hot reviews.
“We are very proud of this set of songs. It’s been interesting reading the reviews. One of the things that struck me was, that people can hear the NWOBHM in there”.
“Not something we did deliberately or even thought about. We just did what we do, as it were. Songs from the album have been going down well live, even on first listen, so that’s great.”
“Our last live show was at Head Bangers Open Air in Germany. It was awesome and great fun. These festivals are like family events. It’s like coming home.”
“And with four bands on the NWOBHM bill on October 13th, Leo’s Red Lion can expect classic tracks from across the Trespass years when the Wolf meets the Lion!”
Promo video clip ‘Wolf at the Door’.
Trespass 2023 line up: Wil Wilmot bass, backing vox, Mark Sutcliffe lead vox guitar, Joe Fawcett guitar, backing vox, Jason Roberts drums.
Geordie were signed to EMI, had UK chart hit singles, appearances on Top of the Pops and toured with Thin Lizzy and Nazareth. A few line-up changes took them into the 80s where they finally called it a day.
With a much welcomed return to the stage, the 2020s line up has original members Brian Gibson on drums and Tom Hill on bass with new recruits in former Animals guitarist Steve Dawson, and former Beckett/Back Street Crawler frontman Terry Slesser.
“Terry is working really well as the frontman for Geordie”saidTom.
The band are back on the road in August and heading down south with a series of gigs including the Half Moon in Putney and Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend.
Tom added “For the set we’ll be introducing some new songs, we recently released three singles in quick succession. All three made the top 20 of Mike Read’s Heritage Radio Show”.
“After this run of gigs we’ll be doing more recording then at the end of September playing a festival in Belgium, keep on rocking”.
Being at the outset of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in ’79, zillions of UK & European gigs with Angel Witch, Paul Samsons Empire, Baphomet and Tytan – plus recording a few albums along the way – Kev Riddles has been a flag bearer for NWOBHM the past 40 plus years.
“In the halcyon days of Angel Witch we toured constantly, either in our own right or opening for Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Girlschool, Saxon or April Wine”.
left to right, Kev Riddles – bass/backing vocals, Andy Thompson – keyboards, Tony Coldham – vocals, Chris Borsberry – guitar, Garry Bowler – drums
Here we are in July 2023 and Tytan are sitting in the port waiting for the Calais ferry after playing at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany. Kev reflects on the weekend…
“We had a blast. A superb crowd. Butthe ferry’s been cancelled….there’s a four hour wait!”
“I just drove for 11 hours, played to 2,000 people in Germany, ate too much, then drove back again. Is it worth it? Hell yeah! We do this because we can and we love it!”
On Friday 13th October Tytan are lined up to play a NWOBHM night with Kev Riddles’ Baphomet – yes second show of the night for Kev – Tailgunner and Trespass at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend. (Interview with Trespass coming soon).
Then on 3rd November a pre-Bonty Night triple bill with fellow NWOBHM bands Millennium and Spartan Warrior at Trillians Rock bar, Newcastle.
Are you looking forward to playing in the North East who spawned the big four – Raven, Venom, Fist, Tygers of Pan Tang ?
“I always feel a little pressure when playing the North East precisely because of the incredible talent coming out of the place” said Kev.
“I’ve had, and continue to have, the good fortune to witness and share a stage with all the bands you mention and this year we’ll be lucky enough to play alongside Spartan Warrior at Trillians again”.
What can the crowd at Trillians expect?
“Trust me we will have some fun on the night because that is what we do”.
Is there a wind up merchant in the band?
“All of us are wind up merchants, it goes with the territory – Fun is for life, death is forever”.
Lyin Rampant originally formed in 1983 when Stewartie teamed up with former Heavy Pettin’ guitarist Eddie Trainer.
They released an album Up and Cumin’ in 1987 on Prism records. Last year the album was re-released by Renaissance Records, USA.
(Further info in interviews with Stewartie 10 & 19 March 2022, links below. Lyin Rampant 2023 are Stewartie, Eddie Trainer, Davey Harkness, Doug Jagger).
Video clip of new track ‘All But Gone’ (Trainer/Adams).
“We are currently working in conjunction with Shock City Promotions/Glasgow. We would like to give a huge thank you to them for adding us to these upcoming shows”.
Stewartie explained“Starting in September we are looking forward to working with our old friends Heavy Pettin’ on their 40th anniversary tour. On the 28th we’re at Edinburgh Bannermans and the Classic Grand, Glasgow on 30th”.
“Then we are on the bill at the Winterstorm Rock Fest in Troon in November. The festival runs from 23rd -25th.
We haven’t played there before so we are excited about being on stage with all the other great talent performing this year, including headliners MSG, Graham Bonnet, Uli Jon Roth then there is our old pal Doogie White, to name just a few”.
This past year you’ve had some personal problems, how are you holding up ?
“We are currently working away in the rehearsal studio for these shows. This will be my first time working again with Lyin Rampant after all these years due to the personal commitments so this will be a big challenge for me”.
“I would like to thank my great friend Eddie Trainer (guitar) and the others in the band for all their support and encouragement getting me back into it again.
This should be a lot of fun as Eddie and myself have not been on stage together for about 33yrs … the Lyin will roar once more!”
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. Wehaven’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.
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.
ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST MUSIC & CULTURE 