Category Archives: Music news

Combining elements of classic rock, folk rock and blues: Parkbridge

Folk music, Music news, Rock music, , , , , ,

Lead single: ‘Why Do You’ released 18th August 2023

Coming together through a shared love of classic rock, folk rock and blues, bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention and Free, Parkbridge is a four-piece from Greater Manchester. Formed in 2022, all four members had cut their teeth playing in local bands for many years. But after some informal jam sessions working on songs that had been written by vocalist and guitarist, Robert Carter, Parkbridge rapidly evolved into the fully-fledged band it is today. After a series of well-received live gigs, work soon began on putting together the band’s debut album.

Parkbridge is: Robert Carter (guitar, vocals), Sean Dyer (lead guitar), Ian Turford (bass) and Dave Johnson (drums). The name comes from the area of Park Bridge on the outskirts of Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester, where the band was originally formed. The area of Park Bridge was founded during the industrial revolution and for nearly two hundred years the village was home to the famous Park Bridge Ironworks. This local foundry provided essential components for a number of the world’s great engineering projects, giving the band not only its name but the inspiration for the title of its debut album, too.

“If you ever go to Paris, in the museum at the Eiffel Tower there is an inscription that says “Rivets made by the Park Bridge Iron Foundry, Ashton-under-Lyne” and so Rivets For The Eiffel Tower became the obvious name for our first album,” says frontman and vocalist/guitarist, Robert Carter.

A single from the album, ‘Why Do You’ is released on 18th August.

Commenting on the single, Robert Carter says: “It’s about obsession, angst and in a way about dishonest love. Things aren’t always as wonderful as they first seem and control becomes more important than the relationship. It isn’t about anybody in particular, more about witnessed experiences and observations and it nicely showcases the musicianship in the band.”

The album itself is a collection of eight original tracks – a mix of acoustic, rock, folk-rock and blues.

Commenting on the album, Robert Carter adds: “I have long had an ambition to release an album of music containing songs that I’ve written. Thanks to the guys in Parkbridge, that dream is about to become a reality. All three are great musicians and it’s a privilege for me to work with them. There’s a couple of songs of what you would call folk rock. There’s a couple that are classic rock in style. There’s a couple that could be classed as indie rock and there’s a couple of blues songs. We’re probably a little different to most of the newish rock bands you hear these days. We try and be melodic. We try and tell a story in the lyrics. We try and offer something different. So if you’re into that classic rock sound with style, have a listen and tell us what you think!”

Read full interview with Robert Carter here

Rivets For The Eiffel Tower is produced by Buzz Hawkins at Hawkins Studios 215 in Mossley.

Rivets For The Eiffel Tower will go on general release on 6th October 2023 with a limited-edition CD available from 18th August. The album is available via: www.parkbridgemusic.com

Upcoming live dates:

Cream of the Crop Festival, Cropredy Oxfordshire – Friday 11th August, 2.30pm

Colne Blues Festival at The Venue, Friday 25th August, 7.00pm

Tameside Beer Festival, Hyde Town Hall, Friday 22nd September, 6.00pm

Launch event: Tapsters Bar, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Friday 18th August, 7pm

Web: www.parkbridgemusic.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Parkbridgemusic

Related post:

Interview with Robert Carter of folk/rock/blues band Parkbridge

‘Reap The Whirlwind’: new single from KK’s Priest ahead of second album and UK tour

Music news, Rock music, , , , , , , ,

Former Judas Priest guitarist, K.K. Downing, made a dramatic return to the frontline of heavy metal with the launch of KK’s Priest and the release of the Sermons of the Sinner album back in 2021. Reviewing the band’s debut album I concluded, “Every riff, every yell, every beat, every second of the album encapsulates the spirit of Priest and is executed with power, panache and pure class.”

And the very welcome news is that a second album, The Sinner Rides Again, is scheduled for release on 29th September, accompanied by a short UK in October. Fans already had a taste of what’s in store from this album with the release of the ‘One More Shot At Glory’ single earlier this summer and that’s now followed up by a second single from the album, ‘Reap The Whirlwind’.

K.K. Downing says of ‘Reap The Whirlwind’: “’If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind’ – this is a common phrase that has been familiar with me from a very young age. Obviously it’s very meaningful – it’s a warning that if you mistreat people, or really whatever you do in life, you need to be very careful, because whatever sufferance you inflict on anyone, it could come back to haunt you, and your suffering could be even more severe. Everyone knowingly or unknowingly has made the mistake of thinking they can get away with small misdemeanors to suit their selfish pursuits, but if justice is to be served, you will reap exactly what you sow. That is the message of this song.”

KK’S PRIEST is K.K. Downing (guitar); former Judas Priest vocalist, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (vocals); A.J. Mills (guitar); Tony Newton (bass); and Sean Elg (drums).

Discussing the forthcoming album, Downing recently said, “We’ve lost a lot of great people – Dio, Lemmy, for example – but this amazing and unique style of music must be preserved for as long as possible and I feel it within me to continue to play my role, as I always have, and to defend this metal genre, which we all know and love.” The Sinner Rides Again is a testament to this call for the classics while speeding full force into the future, delivered by some of heavy metal’s most essential performers.

KK’S PRIEST UK tour dates:

October 7, 2023 – Birmingham @ O2 Institute

October 8, 2023 – Glasgow @ SWG3

October 10, 2023 – Nottingham @ Rock City

October 11, 2023 – Manchester @ O2 Ritz

October 12, 2023 – London @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

KK’s PRIEST – Jul 16, 2021. Photo credit: George Chin

The Sinner Rides Again released 29th September 2023 and available for pre-order via:  https://lnk.to/KKsPriest-TheSinnerRidesAgain/napalmrecords

https://kkdowningofficial.com

Related posts:

Album review – KK’s Priest ‘Sermons of the Sinner’

Album review – Spirits Of Fire ‘Spirits Of Fire’

Album review : Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls

Live review: Judas Priest at Brixton Academy 2015

Live review: Les Binks’ Priesthood at Minehead 2020

Book review: ‘Confess’ by Rob Halford

This week’s featured artist: The Artist Formally Known as Vince Band – new album ‘A Problematic Opera’

Album reviews, Music news, Rock music, , , , , , ,

Combining elements of glam, punk, power-pop and rock and roll, The Artist Formally Known as Vince Band (or TAFKAVince Band for short) formed in 1996, releasing their debut album in 2002 and building a reputation as a fearsome live act in their home-town of Chicago as well as out on tour around the US. TAFKAVince is Vince SanFilippo (vocals and guitar), Lauren Kurtz (vocals), Brian Chinino (drums, percussion and backing vocals) Chris Geisler (bass, percussion and backing vocals) and Vee Sonnets (guitar, backing vocals and keyboards).

The band’s latest album, A Problematic Opera, is a six-track album released in May this year and features guest performances from Brian Smith, Joe Vitti, Yoko Schmadeke, and Maureen Grady. I instantly warmed to the band’s brand of trashy glam-punk and, hopefully, this latest album should bring them to the attention of a wider audience and win them plenty of new fans.

Vince tells Darren’s music blog:

“The tracks from A Problematic Opera came quickly in a songwriting binge. I chose these six songs as they seem to all mesh together and cover all aspects of what the band does. There is variety yet consistency; late-night thoughts and late-night experiences; theatrical imagery that always slips in. I envisioned these songs together on a 10-inch record so we headed into the studio to make this album. A couple long weekends in the studio gave us time to add a little extra to the solid base we worked out in our rehearsal room. Every band member individually suggesting “A Problematic Opera” as the title really brought it to completion.”

A Problematic Opera – released 26th May 2023

https://theartistformallyknownasvince.bandcamp.com/album/a-problematic-opera

https://www.facebook.com/theartistformallyknownasvinceband

‘Burn The World’ a compelling slice of eco-themed prog from Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate

Music news, Rock music, , , , , , ,

Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate are a UK-based progressive rock outfit featuring Malcolm Galloway (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer), Mark Gatland (bass, Chapman stick, backing vocals, additional guitar, keyboards and co-producer), and sometimes accompanied by Kathryn Thomas (flute, backing vocals).

Their forthcoming album, the band’s seventh, is The Light Of Ancient Mistakes which is set for release on 9th September. A first single from the album is the excellent ‘Burn The World’ with it’s compelling climate-themed message. All proceeds from sales of the single (at least until the end of 2024) will be donated to the Prog The Forest fundraising initiative (which donate funds to the World Land Trust, to support their work buying threatened habitat to put into protective trusts in collaboration with local communities).

Malcolm Galloway tells Darren’s Music Blog: “Of all the balls of rock in the sky, ours is the only one we know for certain harbours life. We seem so reckless in how we act. We know that increasing CO2 in the atmosphere warms the planet, and warmer air leads to more extreme weather events. Every forest is part of our life-support system. Saving rainforests from being burned down for short term financial gain helps in the fight against climate change and against the mass extinction of other species.“

Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate are co-organisers of Prog The Forest, the annual progressive music environmental charity fundraising festival that has raises money to protect over 40 acres of threatened habitat.

“We work with Chris Parkins of London Prog Gigs to organise an annual fundraising progressive music festival in London. The festival donates all profits to the World Land Trust, which acquires threatened rainforests and other valuable habitats to place them in protective trust in collaboration with local communities. We will be donating all the earnings from the Burn The World single release until at least the end of 2024 to this fundraising. So far, Prog The Forest has raised enough to save over 41 acres of threatened habitat.”

Tickets: https://www.ents24.com/festival/prog-the-forest-23/6793332

The Light Of Ancient Mistakes album is available to pre-order on Bandcamp, and will be on general release on 9 September 2023. The centrepiece of the album is ‘Walking To Aldebaran’, inspired by the science fiction novella of the same name by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The tracks ‘Avrana Kern Is Made Of Ants’, ‘The Requisitioner and the Wonder’ and ‘Gothi and Gethli’ are references to a character, two spaceships and a pair of crow-like creatures which insistently deny they are sentient in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s ‘Children of Time’ series.

Science fiction author Iain M Banks’ novel ‘Look To Windward’ is the inspiration of the title track. The track ‘The Man Who Japed’ is named after the Philip K Dick novel. The childhood experiences of David Cornwell, who wrote as John le Carré are the inspiration behind ‘Sixteen Hugless Years’. ‘The Glamour Boys’ was inspired by Labour MP Chris Byrant’s book of the same name about the experiences of a group of mostly homosexual or bisexual Conservative MPs who argued against appeasement, despite the threats from Chamberlain’s government to expose their secrets. Many went on to risk, and in some cases lose their lives in the Second World War.

The album also features ‘Sold The Peace’, which explores how after spending and risking so much to fight the Cold War, some of our leaders seem willing to risk our democracy for relatively small sums. ‘The Anxiety Machine’, is a three part instrumental is interspersed within the album. ‘Goodbye Cassini’, isa flute led tribute to the space probe, and ‘imtiredandeverythinghurts’ s about Malcolm’s experiences with invisible disability due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and the difficulty knowing how to respond to the well-intentioned question ‘how are you’? The album ends with the climate change inspired ‘Burn The World’.

The Light Of Ancient Mistakes is released on 9th September 2023 and is available to pre-order on Bandcamp: 

https://hatsoffgentlemen.bandcamp.com/album/the-light-of-ancient-mistakes

www.hatsoffgentlemen.com

New album/DVD: 38 Special ‘Live at Rockpalast 1981’ released 30th June 2023

Music news, Rock music, , , , , ,

Fans of Southern rock are in for a treat this month as a celebrated live performance by 38 Special is released on CD and DVD for the first time.

As part of the band’s 1981 world tour following the release of their Wild-Eyed Southern Boys studio album at the start of that year, 38 Special performed at the Freilichtbühne Loreley amphitheatre in St. Goarshausen, Germany on 29th August 1981. The concert was recorded by the popular Rockpalast German music television show. While it has lain in the archives for the past four decades, the concert will finally get an official release when 38 Special – Live at Rockpalast 1981 comes out on 30th June this year. 

The 11-song collection will be available as a CD/DVD set and on digital streaming services. Tracks on the album include live versions of band classics like ‘Turn It On’, ‘Hold On Loosely,’ ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys’ and ‘Rockin’ Into The Night’ as well as covers of Chuck Berry’s ‘Around and Around’ and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’, the latter serving as the band’s encore.

Founding member, Don Barnes, who co-founded 38 Special with Donnie Van Zant in 1974 and still performs around 100 gigs a year with the band, commented:

“We are very proud and happy to see this historic live concert finally getting released. We had such a rockin time! It was a memorable experience for 38 Special and our first time in Germany.”

“Every song, every solo, all the energy was balled up in an explosive presentation. It felt like we had strapped ourselves in and the crowd took us up higher and higher. It was an exhilarating experience! After our full set and before the encore, I remember being soaked and toweling off before we went back out and took them for that last ride.”

Photo credits: Manfred Becker

“On behalf of Donnie Van Zant, myself and the band, we send our thanks and best wishes to all involved with the presentation of this show from so many years ago. We’re still out there bringing the heat and hope to be for many more years!”

In addition to Barnes and Van Zant, the 38 Special line-up at the time included Jeff Carlisi on guitar, Jack Grondin on drums, Larry “LJ” Junstrom on bass, and Carol Bristow and Lu Moss on background vocals. Fans of the band with a keen eye may notice, that Don Barnes plays the same Gibson electric guitar today as he did at Rockpalast.

Rockpalast (Rock Palace) launched as a live music television show in 1974. Almost 50 years later, the show continues to highlight rock, heavy metal, folk and jazz airing on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) and throughout Europe on Eurovision.

38 Special – Live at Rockpalast 1981 released: 30 June 2023 by MIG in partnership with  MVD (US distribution) and Believe (worldwide distribution)

https://38special.com/

‘Gotta Believe’: guitarist / singer-songwriter Jake Aaron rocks out with jazz fusion giant, John Etheridge

Folk music, Music news, Rock music, , , , , , , ,

Single release date: 16th June 2023

“Simply calling Aaron a guitarist and songwriter is a little like calling Warhol a painter. It misses the mark by miles.” Tim Carroll – FolkWords

“This album really is a proper immersive experience, way beyond good songwriting and performance.” Paul Jackson – Fatea

‘Gotta Believe’ is the latest single from guitarist and singer songwriter, Jake Aaron. Featuring a guest appearance from renowned jazz fusion guitarist, John Etheridge (of Soft Machine, Hawkwind, solo acclaim and many collaborations), it’s one of the harder rocking tracks from Jake Aaron’s newly-released album, Always Seeking . The album was released on digital formats on 17th May 2023 and is also available on CD from 7th June.

Talking about ‘Gotta Believe’ single Jake says: “I’m partial to some heavy rock now and again, so I enjoyed writing this track. In the studio, John Etheridge put aside his boutique Jazz amp which he’d used for a jazzier track on the album, and plugged his guitar into the studio’s Marshall. The solo sounds like molten lava dripping off the fretboard, lovely stuff.  Kate Kurdyak, who also sings “Lupe’s Theme” on the album, is singing backing vocals. Before we recorded it I mentioned to the musicians, who are all very fine Jazz players, that they didn’t have to play this one if they didn’t want. The drummer Marc Parnell replied “jazz players are fine playing rock, it’s rock players who won’t play jazz!”

The album itself, Always Seeking, is a collection of fourteen tracks – a mix of acoustic, rock, blues, saloon piano and a Western cinematic theme. There are some characters along the way – Parnell (‘Parnell’s Last Stand’), a young wolf Lupe (‘Lupe’s Theme’) and an old dog who’s lost his way (‘Leave the Light On’).

Commenting on the album, Jake says: “I’d say it was alt-Americana rather than straight Americana. I grew up listening to bands like The Jam, Ian Dury and The Specials rather than American country – so there are other influences in there”

On the album, Jake is again joined by the excellent team of musicians from his first album, Fag Ash and Beer. These being: Steve Lodder on keyboards, Davide Mantovani on bass, Marc Parnell on drums and Steve Waterman on trumpet. “Some of the best players in the UK,” as the BBC’s Linley Hamilton noted. There are also guest appearances from the phenomenal John Etheridge on lead guitar (‘Gotta Believe’, ‘Four Coaches’ and ‘The Revenant’); and the wonderful Kate Kurdyak of Canadian noir-pop band Vox Rea (‘Lupe’s Theme’ and ‘Gotta Believe’).

The album will be available in a limited-run CD format from 7th June – with artwork by the fantastic Anthony MacBain (Grand Theft Auto).

ABOUT JAKE AARON:

A British guitarist and songwriter who has “moved among both folk and jazz circles” (‘Cosmic Jazz’ – Feb 2023) Jake’s first EP of acoustic pieces was released in 2015 to positive reviews from folk and indie reviewers. His 2018 single ‘Give Me Your Horse’ was a bigger, jazzier number which had airplay on both folk stations as well as jazz, including the BBC’s Jazz Nights. He released his first album in 2019 Fag Ash and Beer, a collection of songs, longer lyrical offerings and instrumentals which was nominated for Debut Album of The Year by Fatea Magazine. He has released a handful of mainly acoustic singles since then.

ALBUM RELEASE NOTES:

ARTIST: Jake Aaron

TITLE: Always Seeking

CATALOGUE NO: JA10

LABEL: Jake Aaron Records

RELEASE DATE: 17th May 2023 (Digital), 7th June 2023 (CD)

FORMAT Digital: / CD

FILE UNDER: Folk / Blues / Rock /  Jazz

AVAILABLE: Online / CD

DIRECT FROM: iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify, jakeaaron.com

Lupe – Always Seeking, Jake Aaron

Album streaming link: https://jakeaaron.com/always-seeking

Website: https://www.jakeaaron.com/home

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakeaaronmusic

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jakeaaronmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6wIrG2gCGDYJ0YImaroH1

Related posts:

Always Seeking: interview with guitarist and singer songwriter – Jake Aaron

Interview: Darren talks Fag Ash and Beer with guitarist/singer-songwriter Jake Aaron


Slade in the 1970s: interview with Mike Rogers

Glam rock, Interviews, Music culture & history, Music news, Rock music, , , , , , ,

Radio host, YouTuber, writer and producer, Tokyo-based Mike Rogers has many incredible connections in the world of rock and roll.

I’ve been in contact with Mike on numerous occasions in connection with my music PR work, representing other artists. This time, however, I was the guest on the Mike Rogers Show, talking about my recently-published book on Slade.

You can catch my interview with Mike below, where I talk about my love of ’70s glam, my new book on Slade, my two previous books on Suzi Quatro and The Sweet and my segue from London politics to music writing.

Actually, as The Times noted last weekend I’m not the first ex-London politician to write a book on Slade. Before turning my hand to music writing, I did a sixteen year stint as an elected member of the Greater London Authority (GLA), representing the Green Party. But the first person to write a book on Slade was George Tremlett, a Conservative member of the predecessor body, the Greater London Council (GLC), whose own Slade book came out in 1975.

And below Here we have George Tremlett’s 1975 book ‘The Slade Story’, alongside my own book which came out on 26th May this year.

Related posts

‘Slade In The 1970s’ by Darren Johnson out 26th May 2023

Reviews round-up: ‘Suzi Quatro In The 1970s’

Reviews round-up: ‘The Sweet in the 1970s’

‘Suzi Quatro in the 1970s’ by Darren Johnson – reviews round-up

Book reviews, Glam rock, Music culture & history, Music news, Rock music, , , , , , ,

This week sees the publication of my third book for Sonicbond’s Decades series: ‘Slade In The 1970s’. It follows on from my books on The Sweet in 2021 and Suzi Quatro last year – a glam trilogy if you will!

Here is a round-up of reviews for my previous book on Suzi Quatro. All three books are available on Amazon and other major retailers as well as the publisher’s own online shop at Burning Shed.

“Darren Johnson focuses the same obsessive-compulsive attention to detail that he applied to Sweet in his earlier contribution” – Andrew Darlington, RnR magazine

“An interesting book which should appeal to a wide audience” – John Tucker, Record Collector magazine

“Fascinating read for Suzi Q fans, aging glam rockers and anybody who enjoys a good, informative rock biography.” Jason Ritchie, Get Ready To Rock

Read full Get Ready To Rock review here

“Detailed, informative and highly readable, Darren covers everything about Suzi in the 70s, plus before and beyond.” Jon Marsh, Wired Up fanzine

Related posts:

‘Slade In The 1970s’ by Darren Johnson out 26th May 2023

‘Suzi Quatro In The 1970s’ by Darren Johnson coming in July 2022

Reviews roundup: ‘The Sweet in the 1970s’

Lust for Life 2024: Clem Burke, Glen Matlock and Katie Puckrik reunite for second UK tour

Music news, Rock music, , , , , , , ,

“One hell of a gig.” – Tim Keppie, Record Collector magazine

“Puckrik leads a performance of riotous energy and no mean volume.” – Chris Roberts, Classic Rock magazine

“If you’re my generation, this is a blast.” – Neil McCormick, chief music critic – The Telegraph

“Great gig. Great band. Brilliant night.” – Marc Riley, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter

Following glowing reviews, sold-out venues and many, many fun nights, the all-star line-up celebrating Iggy Pop’s classic Lust For Life album have announced a second UK tour. Legendary Blondie drummer, Clem Burke, will once again be joined by former Sex Pistol and punk pioneer,  Glen Matlock on bass; broadcaster and Pet Shop Boys dancer, Katie Puckrik on vocals; Iggy Pop and David Bowie collaborator, Kevin Armstrong on guitar;  Luis Correia, who’s toured internationally with Earl Slick on second guitar; together with classical pianist, composer, and touring member of Heaven 17, Florence Sabeva on keyboards.

The band will again perform the Lust For Life album in full, as well as revisiting songs from across the individual band members’ careers with legendary artists including Blondie, David Bowie and the Sex Pistols. Some of them will be songs the band performed on the last tour but there will be a few surprises thrown in as well.

The Lust For Life Band – Live at The Lexington, London, March 2023

Three of the band members, Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Kevin Armstrong, have toured with Iggy Pop and each has made an album with him: Glen Matlock (Soldier) in 1980, Clem Burke (Zombie Birdhouse) in 1982 and Kevin Armstrong (Blah Blah Blah) in 1986.

Fronting the band, the irrepressible Katie Puckrik proved a rock ‘n’ roll revelation to many on the last tour. As Clem Burke said: “Katie is fantastic and she’s joined the ranks of the other brilliant women I’ve been fortunate to play with: Debbie, Annie, Nancy, Wanda, The Go Go’s and Joan!”

Katie Puckrik: “Touring Iggy Pop’s Lust For Life in 2023 felt like a homecoming. My broadcast career had long steered me away from my original calling as a performer, from dancing onstage with The Fall and Michael Clark Company, touring the world with Pet Shop Boys, and singing in Sparks’ opera The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman, both on the original cast recording and in performance. So to embody the funny/dirty/tart/smart songs of the magnificent Iggy Pop was an electrifying rebirth. Every single gig was a communion with a frothing room of Pop-aholics, and it’s thanks to the crowds who danced and hollered along to Lust For Life, The Passenger, and the rest of Iggy’s anthems, that we get to do it all over again. Once again I’ll be elevated by some of Iggy, Bowie and Blondie’s most beloved players, including Clem Burke, Glen Matlock and Kevin Armstrong, and I’m warning you—this band is a joy machine!”

Glen Matlock: “To be on stage with these fellow like-minded guys and gals and celebrate our collective musical ancestries is always a pleasure, so come on down and let’s all hit the roof together.”

Clem Burke: “I’m really looking forward to  once again playing with this great group of friends and musicians. All aboard for more Funtime!”

The full 2024 tour dates are as follows:

Thurs 29 Feb – Arts Centre, Colchester

Fri 01 Mar – Social, Hull

Sat 02 Mar – St Luke’s, Glasgow

Sun 03 Mar – O2 Ritz, Manchester

Tue 05 March – O2 Academy2, Leicester

Wed 06 Mar – O2 Academy2, Birmingham

Thu 07 Mar – O2 Academy2, Sheffi­eld

Fri 08 Mar – O2 Academy2, Liverpool

Sat 09 Mar – O2 Academy Islington, London

All tickets available via: https://lustforlifetour.com/

Photo credits: Header image taken at the Cavern, Liverpool. Other live images taken at Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh by John Scott, Upstage Photography

Related posts:

Notes from the Lust For Life Tour – Feb/Mar 2023

Tony Fox Sales re-records the Iggy Pop classic ‘Success’ with Blondie’s Clem Burke

SLADE in the SEVENTIES – with author, Darren Johnson

Glam rock, Interviews, Music culture & history, Music news, Rock music, , , ,

I talk to Gary Alikivi about my love of 70s glam, my writing and my forthcoming book on Slade for his excellent online blog here.

Alikivi's avatarALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST MUSIC & CULTURE

I was encouraged by the reaction to my Sweet book and began work on one about Suzi Quatro, another big ‘70s icon that I’ve always been a huge fan of. However, the first band I truly fell in love with was Slade said author Darren Johnson.

Originally from the North West, Darren moved to London in 1990 where he spent over twenty years working full time in politics…

My professional background was in politics and campaigning so I’d written a lot about current affairs and had various articles published in the national press – from tackling climate change to building more council housing.

After stepping back from politics Darren moved out of the capital and in 2016 based himself in Hastings, East Sussex.

When I no longer had an endless cycle of meetings to attend, one of the things I was determined to do was go to more live gigs…

View original post 944 more words