News – NEAL SCHON, HEART, MAGNUM, THE DARKNESS (December 2020)

News - Album News

Journey’s Neal Schon (pictured) releases his new album ‘Universe’ this month.

Dream Theater have started work on their new album. In the meantime they have released a seasonal medly ‘The Holiday Spirit Carries On’, available for download at dreamtheaterofficial.bandcamp.com

Magnum have released ‘On Christmas Day’ from the upcoming compilation album ‘Dance Of The Black Tattoo’, which is released on January 8.

Lewis Clay releases a new five song EP ‘Idle Hands’ on Christmas Day which can be pre-ordered here.

Former Trouble vocalist Eric Wagner is planning to record a solo album, the songs for which he has been working on the past few years.

Evergrey release their latest album, ‘Escape Of The Phoenix’, on February 26 via AFM Records.

Greta Van Fleet’s second album ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’ is released on April 16.

Downes Braide Association (DBA) release their new album ‘Halcyon Hymns’. The CD/DVD is out on 5 February, and 2LP White Vinyl edition on 26 March.

Evanescence release their new album ‘The Bitter Pill’ on March 26.

Cherry Red Records release a posthumous album from former Uriah Heep member Ken Hensley entitled ‘My Book Of Answers’ on March 6.

Helloween release their new single ‘Skyfall’ on April 2 via Nuclear Blast, with the new album due next summer.

Arc Of Life release their self-titled debut album via Frontiers on February 12. The line-up includes Yes members Billy Sherwood and Jon Davison.

Saxon release their covers album ‘Inspirations’ on March 19 via Silver Lining Music. They have just released ‘Paint It Black’ as a single.

Doro Pesch has written six songs so far for her next album.

Exodus plan to release new music in June next year.

Lionheart have released ‘Mary Did You Know’ as a 7″ single with proceeds going to the Little Havens charity.

IQ have just released a new live Blu-ray ‘Live Like This’, recorded at the band’s two shows earlier this year.

‘Fanfare For The Uncommon Man’ - the 2016 tribute concert to Keith Emerson - will now be released on DVD/CD as well as Blu-ray/CD on March 11 through the Keith Emerson Estate and Cherry Red Records.

Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins releases his debut solo album ‘One Shot’ via Frontiers on March 12.

Krokus release a new live CD/DVD ‘Adios Amigos Live @ Wacken’ on February 19.

Former Japan and Porcupine Tree musician Richard Barbieri releases a new album ‘Under A Spell‘ via Kscope on 26 February.

Storm Force, who include guitarist Greg Fraser (Brighton Rock) and vocalist Patrick Gagliardi amongst their line-up, have released a cover of Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’.

Hammer King have signed with Napalm Records who will release the band’s fourth album next year.

Jacob Bryant releases his debut album ‘Practice What I Preach’ on 5 February via Snakefarm Records.

Ozzy Osbourne is halfway through his next album according to a recent interview with the album’s producer Andrew Watt. Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins are among the guest performers on the album.

Triumph’s Rik Emmett will release a remastered edition of his 2012 album ‘Then Again…‘ in January, which features his versions of Triumph classics.

Recording starts soon on the new project masterminded by Frontiers that features Strpyer’s Michael Sweet and Nathan James of Inglorious. They will be joined by Whitesnake guitarist Joel Hoesktra and the rhythm section of Marco Mendoza and Tommy Aldridge.

Newman will release a new album next year on AOR Heaven.

News - Tours and Gigs

Rescheduled UK & Ireland tour dates:

Bill Bailey (Jan 2021 London shows cancelled), Bonfire (Jan 2021 to Aug 2021), Cats In Space (Mar 2021 dates postponed), Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Apr 2021 cancelled), Epica + Apocalyptica (Apr 2021 to Mar 2022), Samantha Fish (Mar 2021 to Sep 2021 & Feb 2022), Freedom Call (Jan 2021 cancelled), Heavy Pettin (Dec 2020 postponed), Massive Wagons (Mar 2021 to Sep 2021), Paul Weller (Mar 2021 to Nov/Dec 2021),

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Rescheduled US & European tour dates:

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Apr/May 2021 cancelled), Freedom Call (Jan 2021 cancelled),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

Great British Rock & Blues Festival 2021 is postponed to Fri 14-Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Duran Duran play London’s Hyde Park on Jul 11 supported by Nile Rodgers & Chic and Grace Jones.

Suzi Quatro plays the Royal Albert Hall on April 20 2022.

The Darkness perform a live concert and stream from London’s Indigo at The O2 on December 18. It will also be recorded for a live album ‘Streaming of a White Christmas’ out in April 2021.

Steven Wilson has announced UK dates for next September.

Bryan Adams plays a series of outdoor shows next summer including Cornbury festival.

Rosfest has has announced it is saying “goodbye for now” due to the coronavirus pandemic and the increased difficulty for overseas bands to get the required permits.

Journey are set to headline next year’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago,

Other Stuff

Heart have announced a biopic is being planned on the band to be shown on Amazon Prime.

FX are working on a Rolling Stones biopic that will focus on the band’s formation and their 60′s era.

There will be two versions of Alcatrazz as the current line-up, minus singer Graham Bonnet, have enslisted former Rainbow vocalist Doogie White, whilst Bonnet is set to announce his version of the band next spring.

Napalm Records have announced they have bought fellow metal & rock label SPV/Steamhammer.

Congratulations to Bill Bailey who won this years BBC TV’s ‘Strictly’ dancing to Queen’s ‘The Show Must Go On’. The previous week he and his dance partner danced to Metallica’s ‘Nothing Else Matters’!

News - RIP

Mountain guitarist and vocalist Leslie West

Sax player Alto Reed, a long time member of Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

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Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


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