LEO’S RED LION

SIGN OF A TYTAN  live & loud NWOBHM

/ Alikivi

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.

For more info and tickets contact:

Trillians Rock Bar (trilliansnewcastle.co.uk)

Facebook: Tytan original nwobhm

Links to NWOBHM posts:

THE WOLF MEETS THE LION – with New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band, TRESPASS | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, TROYEN | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

Alikivi   October 2023

THE WOLF MEETS THE LION – with New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band, TRESPASS

/ Alikivi

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.

Alikivi   August 2023

KEEP ON TURNING with TYTAN main man Kev Riddles | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

SOUTHERN COMFORT for 70s rock legends GEORDIE

/ Alikivi

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” said Tom.

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”.

Alikivi   2023

For further info contact the official website:

The Official Geordie Website – Keep On Rocking – Geordie Band