NWOBHM Never Dies Part Three: In The Heat Of The Night.

Diamond Head

The Hairy Dog

Derby

10.10.14.

October and November sees New Wave of British Heavy Metal veterans Diamond Head back on the road for a eighteen date tour which covers most of England, Scotland and Whales this includes the Hard Rock Hell festival at Pwllheli and a couple of dates on the continent.

Widely recognised as one of the leading lights in the plethora of NWOBHM bands back in the late seventies and early eighties Diamond Head have been chronicled as a major influence on the bands Metallica and Megadeth.

I first saw the boys from the West Midlands play live thirty two years ago at Rock City Nottingham in 1982 to be exact. Sadly after the release of their third studio album ‘Canterbury’ Diamond Head disappeared in the mid eighties, they reformed in the nineties and released their fourth studio album entitled ‘death and progress’ (1993) this second incarnation of the band was sadly short lived. In the noughties D/H came back for a third time and after two more studio albums ‘all will be revealed’ (2005) and ‘what’s in your head?’ (2007) it looks like they’re back to stay. 

The current line-up of founding band member Brian Tatler  (lead guitar) along with Karl Wilcox (drums) Eddie Moohan (bass) Andy Abberley (rhythm guitar) and Nick Tart (lead vocals) are by now well established and the most settled in the bands long history. That said I was surprised to learn that lead singer Nick Tart was not fronting the band on this tour; his replacement is Rasmus Bom Andersen from Denmark.

Tonight’s gig at the Hairy Dog in Derby is the first night of the tour and a respectable turn out has gathered to see the show. I’m looking forward to a full set of songs as last year D/H played a shorter show due to their tour being a ‘double headliner’ with Uli Jon Roth.

It’s half past nine, Showtime! There’s an air of anticipation building in the audience as the NWOBHM legends hit the stage opening up with ‘play it loud’ and ‘lightning to the nations’ both very early D/H songs. With ‘classics’ such as ‘call me’, ‘to heaven from hell’ and a mash-up of ‘devil his due’ and ‘heat of the night’ all coming in the first half of the set the Derby crowd were captivated right from the get go.

I for one had some trepidation about the stand in singer before the show started and although early on Rasmus did seem a little uneasy on stage it didn’t take him too long to get into his stride. He told me after the show that tonight was only his second performance with D/H making tonight’s rendition even more remarkable, by the end of the tour I’m sure it will seem like he’s always been there.  

This evening’s performance is packed with classics from the pantheon of D/H’s back catalogue such as ‘borrowed time’, ‘it’s electric’ ‘the prince’ and the song made famous by Metallica ‘am I evil’. A kind of middle-aged mosh pit (instigated by yours truly) started around the time D/H played ‘it’s electric’ and it continued to the end of the gig.

The newer songs ‘what’s in your head’, ‘come alive’ and ‘give it to me’ were included in tonight’s exploits to prove D/H are not resting on their laurels and the older hands in the band were definitely up for it, their enjoyment of playing live was apparent for everyone to see in fact their vivacity infected the crowd with a bonhomie felt long after to night’s entertainment was over.

Diamond Head can be seen all over the country till the end of November so if you’re an old fan from the early days or if you’ve never seen them before get yourself along to a show and all will be revealed… GD Manofmetal.

For more info on Diamond Head go to http://www.diamond-head.net/

Stop Press News…

Diamond Head singer Nick Tart quits the band

Statement from Nick

After 11 years of being the singer for Diamond Head I now feel it’s time for me to move on. As most are aware they have already started the October tour with a replacement singer and I wish them nothing but the very best. I haven’t heard the new guy yet but I’m sure he will be great; Brian has good quality control over Diamond Head and I don’t believe he would continue touring unless he had found a singer who could pull it off. They are a very powerful band to front, so the best of luck to him, no doubt I will be snooping into you tube to see what they sound like.
I was hoping to pen a third album, but making new music with the band became limited; Brian mentioned he had no interest in making a new album, he didn't feel the urge, which I can totally understand. He’s been doing it for a long time, but if there is no urge to make a new album, then an album doesn't belong. I made things even more difficult by moving to the other side of the world.
After living in Brisbane for nearly 6 years now, I've been very fortunate to still be able to fly to the UK and US for tours, thanks to hard work and determination of Karl Wilcox our drummer, without him there’s quite a lot that wouldn't have been possible for DH. When Diamond Head get offered work, festivals for example, they should be in a position to say yes, without worrying about all the hassle it will take to get me involved.
I’m very proud of the 2 albums I have written and recorded with DH and the touring we have done was way beyond my expectations, especially performing at Knebworth with Metallica. I have had some fantastic times, the guys in DH are so grounded which made the tours such a joyful ride, and we have had some laughs.
I now have my own band here in Brisbane; it’s taken me a long time to find someone to connect with musically, but I’m now writing new material and things are shaping up nicely. I’m getting quite excited, so I now need to move forward.
Love and thanks to those DH fans that accepted and encouraged me when I first joined the band and have followed us ever since, you know who you are.

All Photos and videos of Diamond Head by GD Manofmetal from the Hairy Dog Derby 2014 (Photo of Nick Tart by GD from Sheffield 2013)

Rock & Blues Festival [Videos]

All 14 of my videos from the Rock & Blues festival Pentrich Derbyshire 25/26 July 2014.

NWOBHM Never Dies Part Two: The Lion’s Share.

Vardis [Review]

Rock & Blues Festival

Pentrich

Derbyshire

25.07.14.

For the second weekend running I find myself at a festival in Derbyshire watching a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band, last week it was Girlschool, this week it’s the turn of Vardis who have returned to the fray after an absence of twenty eight years. I last saw Vardis in November 1986 at the mardi gras Nottingham which must have been one of their very last gigs, until now that is.

Formed in the 1970’s Vardis rose to their peak of fame in the early 80’s with their debut album 100 MPH which uniquely for a first LP is a live recording. I saw them back then support Hawkwind on the Levitation tour and Slade on the Till Deaf Do Us Part tour as well as opening up the Heavy Metal Holocaust festival at Port Vale in 1981.

Rumours of a reunion began last year and in 2014 it came to fruition with a successful appearance at Brofest(UK)#2 and the re-release of their 1986 album Vigilante which has been digitally re-mastered. Today at the Rock & Blues festival we see Vardis playing their third show since the comeback and lead guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Zodiac bares little resemblance to his appearance of yester year, gone is the mane of long blond hair and the bare foot and bare chest demeanour but not gone is the inimitable guitar sound that so impressed the NWOBHM audiences back in the day.

Joining Steve Zodiac on stage is Terry Horbury (bass) and Gary Pearson (drums) it was Gary by all accounts who was instrumental in finding Steve and getting the old team into a rehearsal studio.

Vardis are in good company at the Rock & Blues festival being joined on the bill by Toseland, Eddie & the Hot Rods, Acoustic TV, New Generation Superstars and many more great live bands. Headlining the main stage on Friday they follow State of Quo which was good for them as 100% of the audience have heard of Status Quo, considerably less of them have ever heard of Vardis.

It’s a testimony to the quality of their songs that not only the ‘hard core’ fans down the front were rockin’ to the hour and a half set but many of the Vardis initiates were engrossed in the show as well. Songs like ‘Let’s Go’ ‘Out of the Way’ ‘Destiny’ ‘If I Were King’ ‘100MPH’ and ‘The Lion’s Share’ standing the test of time and sounding as fresh and relevant as they did over thirty years ago. On the strength of tonight’s performance I’m sure there are now many more Vardis fans in the world, if I were king I’d have a lion’s share because NWOBHM Never Dies… GD Manofmetal.

Visit The Vardis Wbsite:

http://www.vardisrocks.com/

                          Gee It's Steve Zodiac!

 All Five of My Videos From Rock & Blues Festival...

NWOBHM Never Dies Part One: The Girls Are Back In Town.

Girlschool [Review/Interview]

Rock & Bike Festival

Carnfield Hall

Derbyshire

18.07.14.

July sees the first gig of the year for NWOBHM stalwarts Girlschool as they materialize at the Rock & Bike festival in Derbyshire. Also on the bill of the weekend festival are Snakecharmer, Psychedelic Warlords, Bad Manners, Evil Scarecrow and a guest appearance by former WASP axe man Chris Holmes to name just a few. There’s a great atmosphere at this festival with plenty to do, two stages with around thirty live acts as well as a custom bike show a Wild West display, merchandise stalls as well as real ale at the bar and many exotic food outlets.

Girlschool are headlining the main stage on Friday night, last year they toured the UK with fellow NWOBHM luminaries Raven but these days the girls tend to play more gigs abroad than in their home country so this weekend was high

on my ‘to go to’ agenda.

Playing a set of familiar songs Girlschool wow the large audience with anthems such as ‘take it all away’ dedicated to the late Kelly Johnson their original guitarist who sadly past away seven years ago this very week. Other ‘classic’ GS numbers included in the set are ‘hit and run’ ‘demolition boys’ ‘yeah right’ screaming blue murder’ and ‘emergency’ as well as the newer numbers ‘I spy’ and ‘never

say never’.

To say this band have been around for thirty six years they’ve lost none of the vim and vigour that they possessed back in the early eighties, in fact like many of the bands from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era they’re still going strong and still have an audience who want to watch and listen to them which is reassuring.

The current band line-up comprises of three of the original members of GS, Kim McAuliffe (guitar/vocals) Enid Williams (bass/vocals) Denise Dufort (drums) and Jackie Chambers (lead guitar/vocals) who took over from Kelly back in 1999 and it’s  Jackie ‘Jax’ Chambers who I managed to interview at Rock & Bike, here’s how it went…

GD: Having taken the first six months of 2014 off prior to playing the Rock & Bike festival at Carnfield Hall, what are Girlschool’s plans for the rest of the year?

Jax: Well we have a couple of gigs to do in Finland next month and then we're hoping to record a new album at the end of the year.

GD: Unbelievably its six years since Girlschool’s last studio album, the brilliant ‘Legacy’ and three years since ‘Hit and Run – Revisited’ are there any plans for a new album?

Jax: lol… and just for you I answered 2 questions in 1... there are plans but nothing concrete as yet, here's hoping!

GD: After thirty six years together what keeps the grand dames of British heavy metal going? 

Jax: I think it's because we love music and playing on stage is just the best feeling in the world. As long as the crowds want to hear us then we'll keep on playing.

GD: Do you find Girlschool get more recognition in Europe than they do in the UK these days?

Jax: Yes I think we do but lately we've done a few more gigs here in the UK and they've been well attended, let's hope there's a few more UK dates soon.

GD: Fellow all female metal band Rock Goddess have recently reformed do you think any future collaborations between the former rivals are a possibility, i.e. touring together or maybe sharing the bill at a festival?

Jax: I wouldn't say that Rock Goddess were ever rivals, in fact we're all the best of friends. Me and Den (Denise Dufort) were in a band with Tracey Lamb and Jody Turner (of RG) a few years back called No Class when things weren't busy with GS, great fun! But to answer that question I do hope we will play together somewhere along the line.

GD: Jax, I hear you have plans to form your own band can you tell me how that is going and what style of music you’ll be playing?

Jax: Yes, whilst GS aren't so busy I'd love to be playing more (love it) I've been doing some writing with a singer and now I'm looking for a drummer and bassist... It will still be good old Rock n Roll in the same vein as GS... early days yet though but hope to be gigging by the end of the year?

A huge thanx to Jax Chambers for the interview and a massive thank you to the rest of Girlschool who came off stage at the Rock & Bike festival elated by the protracted ovation they received by the enthusiastiv crowd… proof that NWOBHM never dies… ‘Cheers you lot’ GD Manofmetal. 

          Above: Enid Williams & GD Manofmetal @ Rock & Bike Fest 2014.

Visit Girlschool’s official website: http://www.girlschool.co.uk/mainindex.htm

Four Videos From Rock & Bike 2014 by GD...

Rock & Bike Festival [Videos]

All 16 of my videos from The Rock & Bike Festival Carnfield Hall.

Metal Racer [Doro Videos]

All my Doro Videos From O2 Academy Islington 19th May 2014 plus six of my archive Doro videos from the garage Islington (2012) & Wulfrun hall Wolverhampton (2009) Enjoy:

O2 Academy Islington (2014)

. . . .

The Garage Islington (2012)

. . . .

Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton (2009)

. .

GD Manofmetal.

30 Years Strong And Proud

Doro

O2 Academy

Islington

London

19.05.14

When you get the Manofmetal on an express train to London It’s got to be for something special, well it doesn’t get much more special than a one off gig by The Queen of Heavy Metal Doro Pesch. As part of the ongoing celebrations of Doro’s thirty year anniversary, it’s 1983 since she burst onto the music scene with her band Warlock; Doro is playing just one show in England at the O2 academy in Islington.

Having travelled down to the capital I find myself in the middle of theatre land where I’m staying for the night and after the disappointment of finding rock pub The Intrepid Fox boarded up plan B comes into operation, a pub crawl round Soho before it’s time to journey over to Islington via one of the nine circles of Hell that is the tube.

So the scene is set and as the Doro ‘clan’ gather we’re entertained by support act Nulldb (pronounced Null Dee Bee) a German metal band who sing all their songs in their native language, not too much of a problem except they manage to sound like a Teutonic Metallica. The guys in the band were super confident however and must have thought in their heads they were playing to an audience of thousands at Wembley stadium instead of a few hundred in the Islington O2 academy. The half hour set they played couldn’t come to an end soon enough for me, sorry guys, nice try though.

So after the Metallica flavoured starter let’s move on to the main course and boy what a main course, like an all you can eat carvery with four meats and real Yorkshire puds.

Known as heavy metal’s Queen, Doro Pesch fronts the eponymously named band Doro whose current line-up is Johnny Dee (Drums) Luca Princiotta (Guitar, Keyboards) Nick Douglas (Bass) Bas Maas (Guitars) and Harrison Young (Keyboards). They arrive on stage to a raucous reception from the crowd who’ve crammed into the confines of the venue to enjoy this special anniversary show.

Doro herself looks so happy just to be there on stage as she always does, applauding and thanking her fans at every opportunity throughout the set. A set which begins with no fewer than four Warlock songs, I Rule the Ruins, Earthshaker Rock, Burning the Witches and Fight For Rock all classics from the early period of her career. The next pair of songs are from Doro’s last two studio albums, Night of the Warlock and the titular Raise Your Fist in the Air, by now both crowd and band are hot and sweaty as the emotive show gets better and better.

More than half the material in tonight’s set comes from Doro’s Warlock albums, every one a gem, songs like Metal Racer, Für Immer, Out of Control, Metal Tango and the Anthemic chant along song  All We Are. The lyrics are so familiar to the devotees in the house, there’s singing along aplenty coupled with much chanting and raised ‘horns’ these antics are instigated and encouraged by Doro herself. Also there’s always room in her shows to pay homage to her hero’s and influences so Judas Priest’s Breaking the Law and Dio’s Egypt (The Chains Are On) were enthusiastically received by the knowledgeable audience, Warlock toured with both Priest and Dio in the past and Doro wrote the song Hero as a dedication to the late great Ronnie James Dio.

After what seemed like an infinite drum solo from the spirited Johnny Dee we are acquainted with the band members by The Queen of Heavy Metal herself while bassist Nick Douglas does the honours for Doro, with his American drawl and delivery sounding like he was introducing the heavyweight champion of the world.

Then Doro mentions her meeting with fellow metal Queen Jody Turner (I honestly thought she was gonna walk on stage) Jody is the front woman of Rock Goddess who have recently re-formed after many years and are currently working on a brand new album (plug over) Doro seemed hopeful of a collaboration of sorts ‘maybe we can do something together, I always like to do collaborations’ was I think the quote.

The show went on and on, twenty two songs in total, nearing and passing the curfew time Doro just didn’t want to leave the stage asking the crowd to suggest songs for them to play. Love Me in Black and Unholy Love seemed to bring the curtain down on a fantastical show however one more request was forthcoming, Evil a rare Warlock song eventually brought to an end a superb performance by a brilliant heavy metal band. All six members take a protracted ovation from some of the most loyal fans in the world, in fact Doro herself seems to feed off the adulation of her fans like a benign succubus, she is only a year younger than me and at fifty she still looks like she’s in her early thirties I think that portrait in her attic was painted by Dorian Gray.

As we near the halfway mark of 2014 tonight’s show has been a major highlight of the year so far for me and with the promises of a return to these shores in December as Saxon’s special guests (for the London show at least) it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

For more info on Doro visit the official website:

http://www.doromusic.de/

Doro on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DoroOfficial?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/DoroPeschOfficialGerman?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/QueenOfMetal666/?fref=ts

Doro on youTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-u4zg20RDriInftAnQUcQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoxg3Kml41wE3IPq-PC-LQw

GD Manofmetal.