The end of 2023 is nearly upon us as I post the last blog of the year and coincidentally the 500th since starting in 2017. As well as wishing a great Christmas and New Year it’s a BIG thanks to everyone who took the time out to add their story to the site and all the readers around the world who have made it a success.
I’d also like to mention the recent plaque awarded to The Tube placed on Newcastle’s City Road where the Tyne Tees TV studio used to be. Many North East musicians were inspired by the live music show, Toy Dolls, Kane Gang, Tygers of Pan Tang and Dance Class to name a few got to play live. Plus behind the scenes some of the production staff were Geordies adding an extra Tyneside flavour to the programme.
The influence that The Tube had on me and many other people in the North East can’t be underestimated, so we give a salute to the ground breaking, never to be forgotten, legendary Tube and all who sailed in her.
Finally to close the book on this year it’s over and out from me with al’ the best for 2024!
Trillians Rock Bar is fronting a chain of gigs by New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands. Prepare yersel for an avalanche of soaring vocals, drums like cannons and torpedo tipped solo’s.
In the coming months Newcastle aims to melt yer ears with Tytan, Di’Anno, Millennium, Spartan Warrior, Girlschool, Alcatrazz, Raven and the Tygers of Pan Tang – make no bones about it the gangbusters are in town.
First up on Friday November 3rd is a triple punch powerplay from Tytan, Spartan Warrior and Millennium. Front man Mark Duffy explained…“I think the NWOBHM scene has lasted so long because it’s produced so many good bands who recorded great records. There’s also a younger generation who are discovering these bands for the first time”.
Spartan Warrior vocalist Dave Wilkinson added…“We’re excited to be co headlining with our friends Tytan, it’s going to be a great night for sure. We have a long history with Millennium who were our Guardian label mates, so in our 40th Anniversary year that’s a bit special too”.
Tytan’s Chief, Kev Riddles, chipped in…“I always feel a little pressure when playing the North East, this year we’ll be lucky enough to play alongside Spartan Warrior at Trillians again”.
Playing on home turf, Tygers of Pan Tang will be looking to deliver thunder from their recent album Bloodlines, plus mixing in some lightning strike favourites from their extensive back catalogue on Friday November 23.
Two days before that former Iron Maiden front man Paul Di’Anno, who was present at the birth of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, holds court at a sold out Trillian’s.
Keeping yer plugged in for 2024 a bone crunching date of 15 February has been set for Girlschool, Alcatrazz and Chief Headbangers Raven as part of a Heavy Metal Assault tour – aye Heavy Metal with a capital H. Be careful out there.
For more info & tickets contact the official website:
Does a day go by without listening to music? It runs through yer veins. Addiction to music is a feeling everyone reading this site knows, and the person who this new post is about has it bad.
‘I’ve finally come clean and admitted to myself that I’m totally addicted to going to rock concerts. I’ve also realised that all attempts at treatment are futile, and anyway I don’t want to be cured!’ said Peter.
‘This blog is part of my treatment, creating a permanent record of gigs that I’ve been to. I try to remember as much as I can about them which is difficult as my memory is not good these days’.
‘It takes me back to the late 60s early 70s and includes concerts by Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, T Rex, Kate Bush and events such as Reading Festivals, Donnington Monsters of Rock and Live Aid. I’ve attended around 2000 gigs since 1969’explained Peter.
The music blog started in 2011 (link below), and includes great reviews and stories as well as being illustrated with a collection of Peter’s ticket stubs.
First, a bit of background to Sunderland born Peter Smith. Peter graduated in Computing and Mathematics from Sunderland University in 1978, by 1981 he completed a PhD.
He went on to hold a number of positions at the University spending 11 years as a lecturer before being made professor in 1992. Not stopping there he became Dean of Computing and Technology from 1999 until 2007.
Peter has written hundreds of academic papers and books as well as speaking at conferences worldwide. In 2012 he retired from the University and was made Emeritus Professor.
Despite a severe spinal injury in 2016, Peter continued his life’s work and being a massive music fan,alsofound time to publish numerous papers and books on music venues, classic rock and punk bands.
In July 2022 Sunderland University commemorated his contribution to academia, awarding him with an Honorary Doctorate of Technology. Is that enough for ya’?
I started listening to music in the ‘70s and going to gigs in the ‘80s – they were great times and I know how lucky we were to see fantastic bands. Who do you consider your most memorable gigs?
‘Best gigs were Live Aid in Wembley Stadium 1985, I have so many great memories of that day. Queen’s performance is often rated as the greatest live performance by any band. Freddie certainly commanded the crowd that day’.
‘U2 weren’t far behind them with Bono showing how great a front man he was. For me, however, the highlights were The Who and David Bowie, as I was, and remain, a big fan of both acts’.
‘There was Led Zeppelin at Sunderland Locarno in 1971. I remember Zeppelin came on stage quite late, and the crowd immediately rose to their feet and surged to the front, forming a terrible crush’.
‘I remember a guy trying to take a photo of Robert Plant and the bouncers waded into the crowd to get his camera. Robert intervened, and told the bouncers to leaveoff the guy to a great cheer from the crowd’.
‘I was right down the front close to the band. I could almost touch them, the atmosphere was electric’.
‘I also remember great gigs from the Sex Pistols at Whitby in 1975, David Bowie at Newcastle City Hall in ‘72, Rolling Stones at Newcastle in ‘71, The Who played Charlton football ground in 1974 and Abba at Stafford in 1979’.
On your blog you talk about seeing North East bands Geordie, Angelic Upstarts, Brass Alley, Lucas Tyson, Penetration and Tygers of Pan Tang.
There’s a review of a gig by Punishment of Luxury at the Dunelm House, Durham, what can you remember of that night?
‘This gig at Dunelm House came quite early in their career before they had released any recorded material, and was probably one of the first times I saw them.’
‘I do recall seeing Punishment of Luxury several times in 1978 including a packed gig at Newcastle University canteen, and supporting local punk heroes Penetration at the City Hall’.
‘Punilux as they were often called, were quite quirky and unique in their approach. Although their music undoubtedly grew out of punk, their spiky staccato art-rock had much more depth to it, and their performances were very theatrical, strange and in some ways scary, with use of masks and dance’.
What other North East bands have you seen?
‘Last Exit, Sting’s first band, were excellent, Penetration the best North East punk band, I found Prefab Sprout quirky and great, Lindisfarne always magnificent and now we have Sam Fender who is exciting, plus many others’.
What changes have you seen in the live music scene since attending your first gigs and now ?
‘The growth of custom-built arenas. Sadly fewer concerts are held in small venues. However, my hometown Sunderland now has its own great venue The Fire Station’.
For live reviews including Slade, Queen, Genesis, The Clash, Van Halen, Sex Pistols, The Who and zillions more check out Peter’s excellent music blog at:https://myvintagerock.com/
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.
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.
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”.
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.
So far, this year has been golden for Raven who’ve been inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, recorded a new album ready on the blocks for release, awarded a front cover on the highly respected International Rock & Metal magazine Aardschok and preparing for an upcoming tour. Bassist & vocalist John Gallagher explains the positive mood in the Raven camp…
The new album ‘All Hells Breaking Loose’ will be our 15th full studio album. The album name is one of the tracks and it’s always nice to have a title track. This one stuck out as a great title to build the album around and sparked the cover idea too.
But lately at gigs we’ve been playing the ‘All for One’ album as it’s reached it’s 40th anniversary.
Raven at Newcastle Mayfair 16 June 1983 pic Duncan Butterfield.
1983 was a big year for Raven – they hoyed the kitchen sink and both taps at a major USA tour, previously there was a gig at London’s Marquee and a few nights later they landed on Newcastle Mayfair.
The biggest bands on the planet including Zeppelin, Queen, Nirvana and The Who had played the venue, then on one red hot sweaty night in June ‘83, Raven played on home turf.
John remembers that night…I do seem to remember doing a ‘runner’ during my bass solo. Jumping offstage, running up to the balcony, round and back on before most people knew what happened!
John Gallagher Newcastle Mayfair 16 June 1983 pic Duncan Butterfield.
It was a great night, I was doon the front as were many from Sooth Sheelz as the show was opened by local metallers Hellanbach.The red hot atmosphere of the night was captured in these excellent live pics by music fan Duncan Butterfield.
Mark Gallagher, Newcastle Mayfair 16 June 1983 pic Duncan Butterfield.
Sadly, the Mayfair was demolished in 1999 only to be replaced by a shiny pub and restaurant block with some bonny lights.But here we are many moons later and Raven have been busy in the studio mixing up the latest concoction.
It’s 10 songs, about 40 mins of all killer no filler – 1000% pure mania!So far we’ve put out two video singles, ‘Go for the Gold’ and ‘Surf the Tsunami’ and there will be one more when the album comes out.
The Godfathers of Thrash release their new album All Hell’s Breaking Loose on 30th June 2023. Check the official Raven website for merch/album/video & upcoming European gigs in July & September 2023.
ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST MUSIC & CULTURE 