Gig review: VARDIS – Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Band reformations always form differences of opinions but the few thousand people watching Vardis on the main stage at Hard Rock Hell delivered their overwhelmingly positive verdict.

After being apart for almost 30 years, drummer Gary Pearson, after a lot of detective work managed to track down lead guitarist Steve Zodiac and a rehearsal was arranged with the second bass player Terry Horbury. It went so well that their comeback gig was arranged, headlining Brofest last March.

So two summer gigs at Keep It True fest in Germany and another headlining spot at the Custom Rock and Blues fest in Pentrich Derbyshire kept Vardis nicely warmed up for Hard Rock Hell.

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Hitting the stage with a raucous ‘Situation Negative’ they seemed even tighter than the earlier 2014 dates with some of the songs stretched out a bit to allow for some jamming. Steve Zodiac belied his 57 years by throwing some serious guitar shapes as he stalked the stage wringing the neck of his guitar.

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Gary Pearson seemed intent on demolishing his custom built drum kit as Terry Horbury chose to play his bass guitar as a lead instrument, not content to stand in the shadows providing a steady foil. His Jack Bruce influences were there to hear with some thundering runs and at one point some ear piercing feedback.

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014
Their 11 song set was half based on their debut live album 100MPH. Released in 1980, Vardis still play with the intensity they did 30 years ago. The remainder of the set was built on studio albums ‘The World’s Insane’ and the recently remastered ‘Vigilante’ whichfeatured my song of the set ‘Don’t Mess With The Best, Cos The Best Don’t Mess’.

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

A slow burning ‘World’s Insane’ gave Steve the chance for some lengthy lead work which was followed by a storming ‘Love Is Dead’. The classic ‘Let’s Go’ should have been followed by possibly their most famous song ‘If I Were King’ but strict stage times did not give them time to play it unfortunately.

No new songs were played from a forthcoming studio album set for a 2015 release but maybe some will get aired when they play a homecoming gig at the Unity Halls in Wakefield on December 13th which is being recorded for a live album release also in 2015.

Review by Dennis Jarman
Photos by Simon Dunkerley

Hard Rock Hell (16 November 2014)


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 3 March 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 5 March 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”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
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 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply