MOTORHEAD

SHORT CUTS – Hendrix & Lemmy in Shields

/ Alikivi

The music world has always had its fair share of myths, legends and hell raising antics. The time Ozzy bit the head off a dove or was it a bat? Well both actually. According to reports one was in record company offices the other was live on stage. He also snorted a line of ants. The list is endless for the Oz.

I came across a gaffer tape incident involving a music journalist and Killing Joke, as I was trying to find out who, where and when it happened – if it did! There were other short stories I read some with North East connections.

Sadly, both deceased now, Lemmy and Jimi Hendrix were two of music’s biggest characters – their spirit and influence live on. But what is their connection to my home town of South Shields?

In his autobiography ‘White Line Fever’ Lemmy recalls that in early 1967 “I went up north. I woke up one morning sitting on a beach in South Shields eating cold baked beans out of a can with my comb. I thought there’s got to be more to life than this.”

Was this just a random visit to the seaside town? Why not go to the main cities of Newcastle or Sunderland close by, or was there someone or something else in the town that attracted him?

Around the same time Lemmy was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. He explained in his biography that in early 1967 he got in touch with a friend, Neville Chesters, who was a roadie for Hendrix. Lemmy ended up dossing down at Neville’s London flat that he was sharing with Hendrix’s bass player.

Lemmy recalls “They needed a spare set of hands, so about three weeks after I landed at Neville’s, I got a job working with them. I worked for Hendrix’s band for about a year on all the TV shows and tours through England. I was only a fetcher and a lifter but still it was an amazing experience”.

Even though he didn’t expand on the beach story the timeline of the visit to South Shields and a gig sort of fits, but what we do know for certain is that Jimi Hendrix played the Cellar Club, South Shields on 1st February 1967.

When Lemmy was a roadie was that when he ended up on South Shields beach and not on a random visit? Or has he been twice? We’ve got to take in account that after a full on rock n roll lifestyle with Hawkwind and Motorhead, Lemmy’s memory might have been a bit fuzzy remembering events for his biography.

Just a couple of thoughts here – the beach is only a 5 minute drive away from the club, plus to hoy a spanner in the works was Lemmy even a roadie at the Shields gig or did he join the road crew at a later date?

He explained in his biography – ‘I worked for Hendrix’s band for about a year on all the TV shows and the tours through England’. I suppose we’ll never know for certain unless a Hendrix or Lemmy aficionado can help nail down specific dates. Anyone got access to their diaries!

A post looking further into Hendrix’s South Shields gig will be added to the site soon. Where you there in the audience? Where you a member of local band The Bond who also played that night? If you have any information, much appreciated if you get in touch.

Alikivi   March 2025

Research >>>

White Line Fever by Lemmy with Janiss Garza.

Concert Archives – Jimi Hendrix

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

/ Alikivi

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

/ Alikivi

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

LIVE BLOOD – New album from Tygers of Pan Tang

/ Alikivi

First rumble of thunder out of Whitley Bay was way back when their first single was recorded at the legendary Neat records in Wallsend. Now after nearly half a century the NWOBHM flag bearers Tygers of Pan Tang are not ready to throw the towel in just yet as they prepare to unleash a live album.

Vocalist Jack Meille explained “Recording a live album after all this time? I never thought I would experience it but with the Tygers I have learnt that the impossible is possible. ‘Live Blood’ captures all the energy we deliver while playing our favourite songs live and raw!” 

Recorded in summer 2023 at The Patriot in Wales, with guitarist Robb Weir, vocalist Jack Meille, drummer Craig Ellis, guitarist Francesco Marras and bass player Huw Holding, the set includes Euthanasia, Love Don’t Stay, Paris By Air and Love Potion No.9 from their first albums plus Edge of the World, Fire on the Horizon and A New Heartbeat from the latest album ‘Bloodlines’.

‘Live Blood’ will be released on April 26th 2024 via Mighty Music. The double LP includes three exclusive bonus tracks, it’s also available on CD and digital formats. Pre-orders and full track listing are available here.

Robb Weir added “Every time we play a show we’re asked when are we going to record a new live album. Our live show adds a new dimension to the old songs and allows us to stretch out a bit on the newer numbers”. 

The album will be preceded by two singles – the live favourite Gangland from their legendary album ‘Spellbound’ and Keeping Me Alive from ‘Ambush’.

For more info > 

Tygers Of Pan Tang – TargetShop

or check the official website >  

Tygers Of Pan Tang – The Official Site

Alikivi    February 2024

BLOOD TIES for the GODFATHERS OF THRASH – RAVEN

/ Alikivi

After 50 years in the business what gets you up in the morning?

It’s in our blood. We love being on the road and the whole process. But it’s really all about those few hours on stage. We may have been doing this for 50 years but believe me, it never gets old and we never take it for granted. We are incredibly lucky and humbled by the fact that we get the opportunity to go out and play our music all over the world! …explained Chief headbanger John Gallagher (bass & vocals)

Released in June 2023 All Hell’s Breaking Loose is Raven’s latest and 15th album.

The new album has been received incredibly well, possibly the best reviews ever and the fan reaction has been equally manic!

This year the trio are preparing for a road assault on the USA and Europe. Sharing the UK bill are Girlschool, that will bring back memories from 1982 when Raven opened?

Yeah looking forward to the UK dates in February. It’s a triple headliner with Girlschool and Alcatrazz so that’s gonna be fun as we are all mates and of course we’ve toured with Girlschool a few times!

What songs are on the set list – any surprises?

We are slotting in more new songs as we go and hope to add at least one or two oldies that we’ve either rarely or never done live too.

Are there any venues/cities that you haven’t played before?

We’ll hit the usual stomping grounds of Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, London, Birmingham and Southampton – which I think we only did once before in 1982 which was with Girlschool!

Following that is the US tour in March through to May which will be a stormer and Japan at the end of May followed by a brace of Euro festivals!

Check the official website for albums, merch & tour dates >

https://ravenlunatics.com/

Alikivi    January 2024

WICKED GAMES with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, THUNDERSTICK

/ Alikivi

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).

For further info/releases/photo/video contact:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderstickofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThunderstickUK

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thunderstick.official/

Roulette Records: http://www.rouletterecords.co.uk/

Link to 2020 interview with Raven:

THE LADY WORE BLACK with Thunderstick vocalist Raven Blackwing | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

Thanks to Darren Johnson at Crow Flies Communications.

Check out the full interview with Thunderstick at:

Darren’s music blog | News, reviews, interviews and more. From classic rock to contemporary folk. (darrensmusicblog.com)

Alikivi    August 2023

ALL HELL’S BREAKING LOOSE – new album by Godfathers of Thrash, RAVEN

/ Alikivi

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. 

Raven | Official Raven Lunatics Website

Like this – you might like these.

ALL FOR ONE at 40 with Chief Heedbangers, Raven | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK (garyalikivi.com)

FIRESTARTERS – The North East Connection from Raven & Blitzkreig to Megaforce & Metallica | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK (garyalikivi.com)

Alikivi    June 2023

ALL FOR ONE at 40 with Chief Heedbangers, Raven

/ Alikivi
All for One released in 1983.

One of the most influential New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands are heading out on a UK tour this March, but first, earlier this year there was the small matter of Raven being inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame alongside Twisted Sister and Foreigner vocalist and solo artist Lou Gramm.

Held at The Canyon Club in California on 26 January, this was the sixth annual gala, previous inductees include Dio, Lemmy and Judas Priest.

The award is for musicians and bands who have made an invaluable contribution to rock and metal and to keep inspiring fans throughout the world. I asked bassist and Chief Raven John Gallagher, how did it come about?

Bribery and corruption (laughs). It was nice to be recognized and was a really great event where we played a three song set – almost broke a sweat! 

Did you ever think you would be in this position, a tour celebrating 40 years of an album ?

Of course not! That kind of long view, you just don’t have that when you start. It just kinda crept up on us over the years. It’s quite a milestone and we are very proud of it. That and good old Geordie stubbornness!

In the set are you playing the full track listing on All for One and have you played all the songs live before?

Yes indeed! There’s actually two songs from the album we’ve never played live before, so that’s going to be fun for sure and another two that Mikes never played. 

Have you noticed any new faces at your concerts?

Oh definitely, there’s quite often three generations of fans at our shows – which is really great.

For a full list of tour dates & tickets, album releases, video, merch & more check the official website : 

Raven | Official Raven Lunatics Website

Alikivi   March 2023

TYGERS OF PAN TANG TOUR PIC’S SEARCH

/ Alikivi / 1 Comment

The Roksnaps feature on this blog has photographs sent in by concert goers who captured the atmosphere of gigs at Newcastle City Hall and the Mayfair.

Among the many bands pictured were Whitesnake, Motorhead, Scorpions and North East band, Fist.

Tygers of Pan Tang at Newcastle Mayfair 1980.

Whitley Bay’s Tygers of Pan Tang were snapped by John Edward Spence who told me “I used to go to loads of gigs at the Newcastle City Hall and Mayfair. I was lucky enough to see the bands associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal – just loved the music around then”.

John’s pics are from 1980/81 with Jess Cox on vocals who was eventually replaced by Welsh frontman Jon Deverill, and a second guitarist John Sykes joined Thin Lizzy and was replaced by former Penetration guitarist Fred Purser.

The original Tygers engine room of guitarist Robb Weir, bassist Rocky Laws and Brian Dick on drums completed the line-up.

In 1982 the five piece band recorded one of their most successful albums, The Cage. On the subsequent tour I remember catching them live on their home patch at a packed Newcastle Mayfair on Friday 3rd September 1982.

Inner sleeve from The Cage album.

Recently the Tygers management issued a plea “40 years ago this month The Cage tour began at Newcastle’s Mayfair Ballroom. At the time it was the bands most successful outing and we visited the best venues in the country including Manchester Apollo and Hammersmith Odeon.

Support came from our old mate Kev Riddles’ Tytan. It’s a pity we have no photos from The Cage tour, unless of course anyone out there has any?”

“We realise it was 40 years ago but if you can help with the request for any pic’s – maybe they’re in the loft or in a box at the back of the garage – there’s got to be some out there”.

If you can help please don’t hesitate to get in touch. All emails will be passed onto the Tygers management or contact the official website:

Tygers Of Pan Tang – The Official Site

Link to Tygers of Pan Tang pic’s featured in Roksnaps:

ROKSNAPS #2 | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK (garyalikivi.com)

Alikivi  September 2022.

TARTAN SPIRIT with former Tytan & Lyin’ Rampant vocalist/guitarist Stewartie Adams

/ Alikivi

Stewartie packed his guitar jumped on the overnight coach and left his hometown of Glasgow for what he hoped were better times in the capital….

In 1981 I got a call to go down to London for an audition as one of my drummer friends was the drum roadie for Dave Dufort of Tytan. The audition was at Edwin Shirley Trucking where we had a rehearsal room – out of all the guitarists I was the lucky one and got the gig with Tytan.

Heavy metal band Tytan formed in 1981 out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), the original line-up was former Angel Witch bassist Kev Riddles, drummer Dave Dufort, vocalist Kal Swan with guitarists Steve Gibbs and Stewartie Adams.

Unfortunately the gig didn’t go according to plan…

It was a shame as I was so privileged to get the guitar job and loved the band and the music we were playing. I got on great with the other guys but had to leave as one of my parents was diagnosed with a terminal illness so decided to go back home.

It’s something I felt I had to do even after all the hard work we put in rehearsing, photo shoots, etc. Unfortunately I never recorded or got the chance to play any live shows and I’ve lost touch with the guys but I still keep in touch with bass player big Kev Riddles now and then.

After leaving Tytan I was in Scotland this was roughly about 1983 and I teamed up with ex-Heavy Pettin’ guitarist Eddie Trainer, an old bass player friend Cami Morlotti and a couple of other musicians and we eventually became Lyin’ Rampant.

We recorded our debut album Up and Cumin around 1985 with Independent record company Prism Records in Great Driffield, Yorkshire.

We were stable mates with a band called The Mission along with a few others, after a long delay the album eventually got released in 1987.

We were delighted how the recording and the cover turned out considering it had only taken three days recording tracks in the studio.

To promote the album that summer we filmed a video in Glasgow Mayfair nightclub for a Cable TV station where I was singer and played some guitar parts on the album.

As far as I know the photo on the front cover of the album was a London model who was hired by the record company. We had given them a rough idea of what we wanted and they done the rest – unfortunately she wasn’t a girlfriend of any of us and we never met her !

We had some great times recording in the studio at Prism Records and gigging in venues like The London Marquee which we played a few times, also recording at BBC studios for The Tommy Vance Rock show for BBC Radio One.

But the final nail in the coffin for Lyin’ Rampant was in 1991 after our record company went into liquidation.

What are you doing now ?

I’m not having a great deal of luck. Unfortunately I’m back in the same situation as I was with Tytan, only this time caring for my 95 year old father who has Dementia.

I have no other family and don’t want to see him going into a care home, so once again my musical career has been put on hold.

Funnily enough I’ve been in touch with a record company in Phoenix USA who may be interested in re-releasing the Lyin’ Rampart album again, that would be great if it happens.

I’ll just have to wait and see and just hope that I have better luck this time around. When I get the chance I still write and record new songs but it’s hard in the present situation I’m in.

Original line up of Lyin’ Rampant

Looking back it was great during the NWOBHM times in London, we used to hang out in places like The Marquee club and pubs like The Ship Inn and The Intrepid Fox in Wardour Street in Soho, it was full of rock fans and musicians it had a great atmosphere. We managed to see bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Girlschool – yeh good times.

There were some great bands to come out of the NWOBHM movement which have stood the test of time. One of them are Tytan who have reformed and are back on the road again with a new line up just like a few other bands from back then that are doing well.

For more info check the official website:  www.stewartieadams.co.uk

Interview by Alikivi  March 2022