Marden High school in North Shields will host an evening of stories told by three Geordie voices. Founding member of Lindisfarne, Ray Laidlaw, BBC local news reader Carol Malia and international playwright Ed Waugh. Each have a connection to Monkhouse Primary, North Shields, so it’s fitting that all proceeds from the event go to the school.
As well as finding international fame with Lindisfarne, North Shields lad Ray Laidlaw is producer of Geordie institutions Sunday for Sammy and Christmas in the Cathedral. Ray was recently part of the creative team that won a Royal Television Society Award for the brilliant BBC 4 documentary, The Alan Hull Story.
Born in Tynemouth, Carol was a former Marden High school pupil. A regular on our TV screens since 1997, Carol has lots of funny stories to tell, a real Geordie institution.
Ed Waugh has produced 21 professional plays including Dirty Dusting (co-written with Trevor Wood). In January it’ll be performed at Whitley Bay Playhouse and his self-penned play Wor Bella will grace London and Newcastle Theatre Royal in April. Ed also writes comedy sketches for Sunday for Sammy and Christmas at the Cathedral.
Ed Waugh said“In April 2022 my lovely daughter in law Rachelle died aged 34. The school has been brilliantly supportive of my two grandchildren who have attended Monkhouse Primary. It’s an excellent school which thrives on developing the children and giving them new experiences either via extra-curricular activities like football, gardening and archery to name just a few examples, or encouraging them in school time to be active in the arts. I just wanted to do something as a thank you. Both Ray and Carol immediately said yes, which was brilliant of them. It’ll be a great night.”
The event will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 @ 7.30pm at Marden High School, Hartington Road, North Shields, NE30 3RZ.
“I’ve been living in Los Angeles since 2010 after marrying my LA woman, Sheila.I was born in Yorkshire but from the age of 10 grew up in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Then went to art college in Newcastle where I spent a good portion of my grant on seeing as many bands as I could at the City Hall”.
Richard E, Newcastle City Hall tickets.
“1979 was a great year for me. Finally getting out of small town Newton Aycliffe to live in Newcastle for a year doing a foundation course in art and design. I just dived right into the music scene and saw as many bands as I could”.
“Penetration I loved, Pauline was my punk crush! And they were local heroes who lived in a town 5 miles down the road. Roxy Music were supported by a band called The Tourists featuring a certain Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox! “
“The Jam were the only band to force security to let the kids actually dance in the aisles. They were usually very strict at the City Hall, but Weller took them on, mid set, and somehow made it happen”.
“I wish Punilux had done more. I bought Puppet Life when it came out. I included it in one of my recent radio shows, it still sounds so fresh. I also got to be at an epic concert that year that wasn’t in Newcastle. Led Zeppelin at Knebworth!”
Richard is composer/producer for award winning band Annabel (lee), which he created with his American wife, singer, lyricist and composer Sheila Ellis.
Their debut album released in 2015 on Ninja Tune Records won the UK’s Dead Albatross Music Prize, chosen from over 700 releases in the UK and Eire.
“During lockdown I had the time to record my first solo album harking back to my roots fronting a post punk, indie rock band in London in the late 80s” said Richard.
Hoochmongers press shot1990.
“I was moved to start writing my own songs again to express my discontent with world events over the past few years, encompassing rock, post punk, electronic and psychedelic influences”.
“The album features bass guitar on four tracks by David J ex- Bauhaus / Love & Rockets who became a friend after hearing a track by Annabel (lee) on LA’s independent radio station KCRW. I was also lucky enough to get David Bowie’s pianist Mike Garson to play on The Great Showing.”
Richard added “The video for my debut solo single was officially released on November 17th. Some people have said it has a Floydian vibe, and I felt myself once it was finished it made me think of George Harrison jamming with the Floyd”.
“ Jon Dalton, who you have previously interviewed on this site plays on the track and will be in my live band. I’m also producing his new album. Jon can be seen in the video playing his spacey guitar part in a very interesting way!”
‘The Sound of a Landscape’ is a new book by artist, author and sound recordist Mie Fielding, who co-authored ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’ about the Newcastle music scene, which featured on this site in December 2020.
In ‘Sound of a Landscape’ Fielding pictures the Northumberland coast in all its wild splendour. His unique artwork is complimented by Cullercoats poet Harry Gallagher.
“I got to know Harry as he played the late Tom Hadaway (My wife’s uncle) in a theatre production. As I’ve recorded bird sounds and produced avant-garde music for over 30 years, it was a natural idea to put these artistic elements together” explained Mie Fielding.
MiE Fielding
The book is further enhanced with sound recordings by scanning the accompanying QR code, bringing ‘The Sound of a landscape’.
“The book also gave me a chance to produce two specially written pieces of sound art. One portraying Storm Arwen and the other lamenting the demise of a way of life, once a common sight along the Northumberland coast – the Cullercoats Ghosts” addedFielding.
“As for the sounds in the book, they took nearly a year to capture using an ‘Ambisonic, microphone and other technical equipment”.
An exhibition about the book featuring its poetry, art and sound is held at Newcastle Central Library from 14 -20 December 2023.
“This play looks at domestic violence, coercive relationships and the perils of on-line dating in older people. When computers are relatively new to you it can be difficult to negotiate the etiquette of ‘facey’ (Facebook) and ‘the gram’ (Instagram)”explained Alison.
Alison Stanley
“We live in a digital age where meeting and talking on-line is the norm. Everyone seems to have an on-line presence due to the explosion of social media. We talk to people virtually every day and this can be good in combatting social isolation but do we really know who we are talking to on-line and should we be taking information on social media as gospel?”
Alison got the idea to write the play after listening to a group of older ladies…
“They were talking about chatting to people they had never spoke to for donkey’s years – maybe there’s actually a good reason for that! I found it fascinating how they took everything at face value. This produced some great comedic results but also got me thinking about how dangerous this could actually be”.
More research revealed that older people will put up with unacceptable behaviour much longer than their younger counterparts….
“Sometimes they never complain as they have come from a ‘you make your bed, you lie in it’ era and don’t want to be seen as a failure. The production has comedic moments and that sounds quite odd given the subject matter”.
“The play starts where two main characters are having their first meeting after a spell of on-line flirtation. Their chat revolving around family and virtual situations is funny and relatable. This is in direct contrast to the darker moments we see as their relationship develops”.
Rod Glen
”The roles are being played by myself and Rod Glenn (American Assassin, Emmerdale). I’m really excited about it and Rod will do an amazing job of bringing his character to life”.
‘You Need to Say Sorry’ is on at Laurels, Whitley Bay 7.30pm 14-25 November 2023.
“Laurels is a fantastic little gem of a theatre. It’s an amazing fringe venue that brings theatre into the heart of the community and gives a platform to underrepresented voices”.
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:
A book about the Newcastle music scene in the 70s & 80s ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’ featured in a post back in December 2020 (link below).
Pages of black and white photos of bands, venues, posters and flyers were put together by Mick Fielding and Simon McKay. Featured in the book is guitarist and songwriter Alan Fish.
“That picture was taken in 1979 at The Mayfair, Newcastle. Before that In 1976, Bry Younger asked me to join his rock band ‘Hartbraker’, a band very much in the mould of Led Zeppelin and Free. My influences were The Who /The Kinks. This chemistry was perfect for the fast changing music landscape”.
“The photo perfectly captures our transition from rock to new wave with some of us already taking the brave move of getting our hair cut! A new image! A new sound! And a new name ‘White Heat’.
“Bob Smeaton and I were developing a strong song writing partnership and our first independent release, ’Nervous Breakdown’ got us Radio 1 airplay as well as attracting major label record company interest. 1979 was definitely a big year for us”.
If you feature in the book just get in touch using the contact page. The book is available direct from Tyne Bridge Publishing:
The site has over 350,000 hits on a blog which when it first went live in 2017 I thought would be read by half a dozen people a day. To mark the occasion here’s snippets from the first few posts which gave the site a solid start and built to around 1,000 reads per week.
If you’ve read the blog a big thanks for your support – much appreciated. If you haven’t, why not give it a go there’s hundreds of great interviews featured, you might be surprised.
“The kids were hungry for this noise, anger, excitement and a do it yourself attitude. It was definitely getting to me, getting in my blood, this raw and visceral sound was becoming addictive. The term New Wave of British Heavy Metal had been coined by then, and yeah it really was a new wave and you’ve gotta go with it… and we did” Brian Ross.
“We jumped on a ferry to do some gigs in Holland. We took this thing around Europe and by then the whole British Heavy Metal scene was red hot so it was one mad scene of gig here, gig there, some stories you can’t tell. When you’ve played the Royal Standard in Walthamstow in front of fifty people and they aren’t interested, then you get out here where they are running after your car, sign my booby and all that, that’s gonna turn anybodys head…and it did” Lou Taylor.
“I remember Joe Strummer saying we’re coming to your gig tonight do you mind if I bring Iggy Pop? We said ‘aye go on then’. The gig was in New York we walked on stage, the lights blazed on and Mensi screamed “We’re the Angelic Upstarts, We’re from England, 1,2,3,4” as I strummed my guitar there was an almighty bang, it all went dark then nothing. There was a huge power cut. They couldn’t get it sorted out so we jumped off stage and went to the bar at the back where The Clash were standing and I ordered a Jack and Coke and said to Iggy Pop “It’ll be sorted in a minute, this sort of thing happens to us all the time” Mond Cowie.
“Creative process for me is always different, some are instant, some are like pulling teeth and it goes on for years, literally. You never can tell. Just have to have a good memory really. Lately I’ve been able to do a single album, a double album and now a triple album. Mind you I’m not planning to buy a yacht or anything on the proceeds!”Bernie Torme
“I remember Bordello doing a showcase for CBS. We really went for it, putting our heart and soul into it you know. A guy called Dave Novek came along to have a look at us, we really laid it on in a good studio. But we found out that we ‘weren’t quite what they were looking for’. A couple of weeks later he signed Sigue Sigue Sputnik!’ Go figure!” Steve Dawson
“I remember getting a call around 1981 from NEAT records owner Dave Woods he asked me if NEAT could include our song ‘Flying High’ on a compilation they were producing called ‘Lead Weight’. Well of course I said yes when he listed the other bands who were going to be on – Fist, Venom, Raven just those three names were enough, they were THE Heavy Metal bands from the North East and to be in their company was fantastic for Warrior. Yes really proud of that” Dave Dawson.
“1983 saw Cloven Hoof touring throughout the length and breadth of the UK, earning ourselves a sizable underground cult following. In the summer of that year the band recorded a four-track session for the Tommy Vance Friday Rock Show on Radio One and on the strength of the bands popularity Tyneside based NEAT Records signed us to record our first album. Things were starting to happen for the band, we were really in the mix” Lee Payne.
Check the About page above for a full list of features and interviews.
A book about the Newcastle music scene in the 70s & 80s ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’ featured in a post back in December 2020 (link below).
Pages full of black and white photos of bands, venues, posters and flyers were put together by Mick Fielding and Simon McKay. I got in touch with Simon and asked him about working on the book.
“Working on this book took me back to my most enjoyed gigs in 1980-81 at Newcastle University, Polytechnic Union Buildings, Spectro Arts and the Guildhall. It was wonderful to be reminded of all that. Hopefully, it will stir some good memories for readers too”.
“Closest Thing to Heaven’ is a book evoking simpler times. I thought all I saw then was lost, but Mick and I did find photos of that time”.
“I was reminded that these bands, these times, seemed to come and go in an instant. It was fascinating to revisit it all and reconnect with the excitement of a glorious era and, of course, the hungry optimism of my own youth”.
“The bands that I loved; the bands that I thought would be huge. Sobering, that few got further than Stockton. But those nights spent waiting for bands to come on, watching them play, just being there and connecting with people was such a pleasure”.
Some North East musicians who featured in the book got in touch and talked about their memories of the photos.
‘My old band Sneeze (1969-1971) is pictured – at least the lead vocalist Rod Foggon is. Sneeze were regular performers at the Mayfair in the lifetime of the band supporting some top bands of the era’ saidRoger Smith, author of music blog ‘Ready Steady Gone’.
‘A young Jimmy Nail was a Sneeze fan back then and mentions the band and one of its popular covers in his autobiography. He also refers to the ‘mighty Sneeze’ in a post on Ready Steady Gone. Coincidentally a picture of Jimmy Nail’s band The Prize Guys is next to the Sneeze pic in the book’.
Dance Class frontman Dave Taggart looks back at their picture…
’This is a still from the eponymous Tyne Tees Television’s live music show The Tube. When? I would say 1983 as we played a new song from the forthcoming second album’.
‘On that show were Steve Strange, Southern Death Cult – who later became The Cult – and The Stranglers. We finished the show and had our own fan base in the audience which created a great buzz’.
‘We were green as grass. For instance, every act had to supply their own PA system. We faced our speakers out to the audience which was totally unnecessary as it was for TV and The Stranglers just had a massive monitor system for themselves as they were seasoned performers and knew the score! But what an experience’.
‘We had a gig that night at one of the University Hall’s in Newcastle, Kid Jensen was DJ’ing and presenting added Dave.
He said on his radio show he had ‘just witnessed a band who performed not only on The Tube but also for a massive student audience and they are destined for great things’. What a damn shame’.
‘But that second album I was talking about, we have just got it back after all these years and its being remastered and we are thinking about putting it out on vinyl, CD and Apple tunes’.
The book is available direct from Tyne Bridge Publishing:
Released on 20 October 2023 Lockdown is the new studio album since Something Wicked This Way Comes in 2017.
Drummer Barry Graham Purkis, AKA Thunderstick, best known for being a member of Samson who were part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene (1979-83). Samson played in the UK and the US and released one of the first NWOBHM albums in 1979.
The new album features brand-new material plus never released compositions written by Purkis in the 1980s.
“I believe that it’s been worth the wait. 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 that I’ve the good fortune to listen to. She is the real deal both in terms of voice and stagecraft. The next chapter in our story is now ready for the writing.”
Thunderstick are renowned for their female-fronted power rock. Raven Blackwing took time out from rehearsals for their forthcoming gigs……
‘I’m very excited about the album which is my first with the band. I always struggle a little being in the recording studio as I actually don’t like the sound of my own voice. Although my colleagues and friends would probably tell you different!’
‘It’s something I’ve always been paranoid about since childhood. I’ve learnt to appreciate the power I have as well as my range but it’s not the ‘pretty’ voice I dreamed of as a child!
‘I do however love the whole process. We had great fun in the studio but of course there are parts of the album that were actually having to be done from our home studios due to lockdown. The opportunity to just play around with stuff as and when needed was awesome’.
‘You’d suddenly wake in the night with a harmony part going round your head or lyrics and could get it down to send across and build the song from there’.
‘I know Mr Stick (Barry) had the hard job because as stuff was recorded remotely he then had to try and bring it all together’.
How do you think the album turned out? Are you happy with it or could you have worked on it more?
‘I think as a musician you always think there could be some improvement but I am so proud of what we have achieved. The album sleeve is beautiful, the imagery within really encapsulated each song. Also to have had the opportunity to write a couple of the tracks was beyond what I could have envisaged happening’.
‘I like the diversity on the album. I’m happy with it. it’s been a long time coming’.
Are you taking it out on the road?
‘We’ve got gigs lined up for next year, Mearfest, Hard Rock Hell and Poland again but unfortunately not sure we will be able to do a tour as such. Although certainly wouldn’t rule it out’.
‘We are currently all getting together to create our new show. There are several numbers from the album that will be added. I can’t wait to see which songs become fan favourites and hopefully a few of these will be what we’ve chosen.’
‘Due to lockdown a lot of gigs we had in the diary had to fall by the wayside but we’re excited with the new album coming out that we are now getting back out there’.
‘I’m loving being out with the boys! I can’t wait to make the show bigger and better for this album. There’s new costumes coming and new shocks!’
‘I’ve been in the band about four and half years now, which just seems to have flown by. I very much look forward to seeing all our Thunderstick friends at a venue soon’.
The album also features a number of guest appearances from former Thunderstick guitarists, Dave Kilford and Vinny Konrad, ex-Iron Maiden guitarist, Terry Wapram, Dave John Ross from NWOBHM band, More and solo heavy metal guitarist, Marius Danielson.
Thunderstick 2023 line-up: Raven Blackwing – vocals, Pete Pinto and Dave Butters – guitars, Rex Thunderbolt – bass, and Barry Graham Purkis – drums.
Lockdown is released by Roulette Records on 20th October 2023, in CD format and on all the main digital platforms.
On Friday 13 October Newcastle Trillians Rock Bar host a deadly night of NWOBHM with Witchfynde and openers Millennium.
Also at Trillians on Friday 3 November a triple bill with Millennium, Spartan Warrior and bringing the flame in middle order are Tytan. This is gearing up to be one of those loud, hot metal nights that leave blood on the walls.
With fire still in his belly Chief Tytan Kev Riddles explains… “Have to say this is a gig we are really looking forward to as we always get a great reception at Trills, and as guests of Spartan Warrior it should make it a belter gig plus sharing the stage with Millennium should be a hell of a night”.
Later that month Tytan are paired on a double bill with fellow NWOBHM band Praying Mantis at the Black Box in Hastings on Wednesday 22 November.
But next up for Tytan is Poland this month (6th ) opening for Metal Church on their Annihilation world tour, a week later they are back in the UK at Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend on Friday 13 October.
Kev Riddles’ Baphomet open the show followed by Tailgunner, then Tytan put the hammer down until the last shots ring out from closing headliners Trespass.
“2023 is shaping up to be our busiest ever year so far with over 25 festivals and gigs” added Kev.
”We start work on the third Tytan album soon. We’re in the studio in the coming weeks to knock the ideas into shape and hope to record before Christmas. A release in spring 2024 – that’s the plan. And we are booking for 2024 as well”
Already coming down the pipe is a triple bill of powerhouse metal monsters Tytan, Troyen and Trojan will be running amuck at Bradford’s Nightrain on Saturday 2 March 2024.
ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST MUSIC & CULTURE 