Album review: JON BUTCHER AXIS – Stare At The Sun

JON BUTCHER AXIS - Stare At The Sun

Escape Music [Release date 25.05.18]

The second Jon Butcher Axis album, originally released in 1984, gets a first time release on CD by Escape Music, following on from the self-titled album released earlier this year.

Joining Jon Butcher on the album were drummer Derek Belvins and bassist Christopher Martin. The album made no. 190 on the US Billboard album charts, not a massive hot but it did lead to support slots back then with the likes of Rush and Def Leppard, the latter were on a massive upwards swing in popularity on the back of their ‘Pyromania’ album.

There are so many classy songs on here, be it the uptempo ‘Stay Low’, with a Big Country approved riff and a chorus bigger than a skyscraper, or the wistful ballad ‘Dreams Fade Away’.

‘Don’t Say Goodnight’ would have given Foreigner a run for their money back in the day. In fact it is a real mystery why the Jon Butcher Axis didn’t make bigger inroads into the US market given they had the songs to fit the growing rise in all things melodic and hard rock in the mid-80′s.

No bonus songs, however it is the album’s first proper release on CD and that is a good enough reason to own it.

An album that should be in any self-respecting melodic rock fans’ collection, Jon Butcher Axis mixed melodic rock with the pop sensibilities of the early/mid 80′s.  ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Album review (Jon Butcher Axis)


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 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 7 April 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 2 April 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 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


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



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply