News - Album News

ABBA release a 50th anniversary edition of their ‘Waterloo’ album on April 5 via Polar Music International. The reissue will include a limited edition box set of three vinyl singles originally released in 1974.

Anvil release their new album ‘One And Only’ via AFM Records on June 28.

Armored Saint release a Four Tops cover in June digitally via Metal Blade Records and their new album is expected in 2025.

Jimmy Barnes is currently recording a new album with producer Kevin Shirley.

Bywater Call release their new album ‘Shepherd’ on August 9.

John Cale has announced a new album, ‘POPtical Illusion’, which will be released through Double Six/Domino on June 14.

Can release ‘Live In Aston 1977‘ on vinyl, CD and digitally on May 31 via Mute and Future Days.

A posthumous Johnny Cash album ‘Songwriter’ will arrive through Mercury Nashville/UMe on June 28. It features 11 songs written over many years, recorded as demos in early 1993 in Nashville, during a time when Cash was between contracts.

Category 7, a new band featuring guitarist Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex-Machine Head), guitarist Mike Orlando (ex-Adrenaline Mob), vocalist John Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax), drummer Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall) and Exodus bassist Jack Gibson, have signed a deal with Metal Blade Records. They release their debut single on May 2, with an album to follow in the summer.

Cats In Space have signed to Esoteric/Antenna, a division of Cherry Red Records, who will release the band’s next studio album in November. There are also plans to re-issue the band’s back catalogue.

D-A-D will be celebrating their 40 years together with the release of ‘Greatest Hits (1984-2024)’, which will be released via AFM Records on May 10.

Deep Purple release a new studio album ‘=1’ on 19 July via earMUSIC. It will be the first studio album to feature guitarist Simon McBride.

The Eternal release their new studio album, ‘Skinwalker’, on June 28 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Evergrey release their latest album ‘Theories Of Emptiness’ through Napalm Records on June 7. Ahead of this they have released the single ‘Falling From The Sun’.

Fu Manchu release their latest album ‘The Return Of Tomorrow’ on June 14 via the band’s label At The Dojo Records.

The Georgia Thunderbolts have announced their new album, ‘Rise Above It All’, is set for release on August 23 via Mascot Records.

David Gilmour is to release his first studio album in nine years. ‘Luck And Strange’ is released on September 6 on Sony Music, whilst lead single ‘The Piper’s Call’ was released on April 25. The lyrics were composed by his wife Polly Samson.

Graham Gouldman releases a new solo album, ’I Have Notes’, through Lojinx Records on July 5. The album features guest appearances from Ringo Starr, Brian May, Hank Marvin and Albert Lee.

HammerFall will release their 13th studio album, ‘Avenge The Fallen’, on August 9 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Imagine Dragons release their new album ‘Loom’ through KIDinaKORNER/Interscope on June 28.

Rhino Music release a 3CD/3DVD ‘Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition’ from Jethro Tull and it will be released on June 21.

Leprous release their eighth studio album ‘Melodies Of Atonement’ in August via InsideOutMusic.

Lindisfarne release a new three-disc box set, ‘Brand New Year: The Mercury Years 1978-1979′, through Cherry Red Records on May 24.

Pat Metheny has announced that he will release his latest album, ‘MoonDial’, through BG Records on July 26.

Motley Crue will release a new song called ‘Dogs Of War’ on April 26 through Big machine Records.

Bill Nelson will release a new solo album, ‘Powetron’, through his own Sonoluxe label on May 5.

Deko Entertainment release ‘Nektar – Journey To The Other Side – Live At The Dunellen Theatre June 10, 2023′ on May 10.

Nightingale, the prog rock/metal band put together by producer and multi-instrumentalist Dan Swanö, are to have their back catalogue reissued through InsideOut Music. ‘Nightfall Overture’, a collection of re-recordings from the band’s first four albums, originally released in 2005, will be available on June 21. ‘I’, the band’s third album, originally released in 2000, will be available on vinyl for the first time and is available on August 23.

John Oates will release his latest album ‘Reunion’ on May 17.

Orange Goblin release their latest album ‘Science, Not Fiction’ on July 19 on Peaceville Records.

Phish have announced their 16th studio album, ‘Evolve’, which is released on July 12 via JEMP Records.

Powerwolf’s new album ‘Wake Up The Wicked’ is released on July 26 on Napalm Records.

Shiraz Lane release a five song ‘Acoustic Archives’ EP on May 17.

Status Quo release ‘Vol. 3 – Live At Westonbirt’ on 12 June via earMUSIC.

Sunbomb - vocalist Michael Sweet, guitarist Tracii Guns and drummer Adam Hamilton - have released a new single ‘Unbreakable’ from their upcoming album ‘Light Up The Sky’, which will be released via Frontiers on June 28.

Sunburst will release their new album ‘Manifesto’ via Inner Wound Recordings on June 14

Tyketto plan to record their new album later this year for a release in 2025.

UK Subs release a live album, ‘The Last Will And Testament Of UK Subs’, through Cleopatra Records on May 3.

Voyager release a 4CD set entitled ‘The Early Years’ on June 21 via Season of Mist. It covers the band’s albums between 2003 and 2011.

A new live set by Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention is released on June 21. Featuring nearly five hours of material, most previously unreleased, it is entitled ‘Whisky a Go Go, 1968′.

News - Tours and Gigs

Newly announced UK tours (2024 unless stated):

the Blockheads (May), Joe Bonamassa (Sat Jun 15 Basingstoke), Boston Manor (Sep), the Commoners (Jul), the Cult (Oct, Nov), Dream Theater (Oct 20 London), Godsticks (Jun, Sep), Gun (Dec), Haken (Sep), Lindisfarne (Apr-Dec), Mammoth VH (Jul), Duff McKagan (Oct), Motionless In White (Feb 2025), KK’s Priest (Aug), Public Service Broadcasting (Oct), Steeleye Span (May), Tyketto + Little Caesar (Sep), Tyla’s Dogs D’Amnor (Jul), Midge Ure (Nov, Dec), Rick Wakeman (Nov, Dec), Kim Wilde (2025),

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Newly announced US & European tours (2024 unless stated):

Aerosmith (US), Asia (US), Pat Benatar (US), the Black Keys (US), Bullet For My Valentine + Trivium (EU), Cancer Bats (AU), Chevelle (US), Clutch + Rival Sons (US), Alice Cooper (US), Deep Purple + Yes (US), Dream Theater (US), Drowning Pool + Saliva (US), Evanescence + Halestorm + the Warning (CA), Extreme + Living Colour (US), Foreigner + Lita Ford + Loverboy (US), Fozzy (US), Greta Van Fleet (AU, NZ), GWAR (US), Haken (US), Heart + Cheap Trick (US), Marko Hietala & Tarja Turunen (EU), In This Moment + Ice Inch Nails (US), Kittie (US), Leprous (US), the Lonely Ones (US), Megadeth + Mudvayne + All The Remains (US), Motionless In White (EU 2025), Opeth (US), Public Service Broadcasting (EU), Smashing Pumpkins (US), Chris Stapleton (AU, NZ), the Struts (US), Underoath (US), Paul Weller (US),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

AC/DC sold over 1.5m tickets on the first day of sales for their upcoming UK & European tour.

Glastonbury organisers have revealed the line-up for the Field Of Avalon, which will include Skindred, Frank Turner, Elles Bailey, The Feeling, The Magic Numbers, New Model Army and Toyah & Robert.

Sweden Rock Festival (Sölvesborg, Sweden June 5-8) have announced that Talisman – A Tribute To Marcel Jacob will appear at the festival. The surviving band members - singer Jeff Scott Soto, guitarist Fredrik Åkesson and drummer Jamie Borger – will be joined by Evergrey’s bassist Johan Niemann.

Steve Grimmett, the producer, songwriter and vocalist of Grim Reaper, will be remembered at the Wings Of Angels Festival in Swindon on November 23. Headlined by Chris Holmes Mean Man (ex-W.A.S.P.) and the line-up includes Fury, Tysondog and the Darker My Horizon.

Keyboard player Geoff Downes has announced a brand new Asia line-up featuring John Mitchell (It Bites, Lonely Robot, Frost*), Planet X drummer Virgil Donati and Harry Whitley, who performed with the Asia line-up at last year’s John Wetton tribute show.

Postponed/cancelled gigs & tours

The Steel Woods have announced they will disband after their tour dates this year. Their US dates remain unaffected, however, they will no longer be supporting Blackberry Smoke on their autumn dates in the UK & Europe.

My Dying Bride have cancelled all their planned 2024 live dates.

A new documentary about the Beach Boys will air on Disney+ on May 24.

A documentary on Air Supply is in the works. Entitled ‘All Out Of Love: The Air Supply Story’, it is scheduled to air in 2025 to mark the band’s 50th anniversary.

‘Moments That Shook Music: Kurt Cobain’ is a one-hour documentary by Touchdown Films that’s told exclusively through rare archive footage, some of which has never aired on British television before. It forms the centrepiece of an evening’s tribute to Kurt Cobain on BBC Two on Saturday 6 April – 30 years and a day after Kurt Cobain’s passing aged 27.

Erik Grönwall has announced he is leaving Skid Row, “The main reason being that it’s proved difficult to prioritize my health and full recovery as the lead singer of the band.” Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale (pictured) will front the band for their next four gigs.

Bruce Springsteen has become the first non-British songwriter to become a Fellow of The Ivors Academy. He will formally receive the honour at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards in London on 23 May.

The Hold Steady are to publish a children’s book called ‘Stay Positive’, based on their song of the same name.

KISS have sold the rights to their music catalogue, brand name and intellectual property to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group AB for a reported $300m.

Music retailer Rough Trade has announced that its new Liverpool store will open on 18 April, just in time for Record Store Day on 20 April.

John Farnham’s memoir ‘The Voice Inside’ with Poppy Stockell is published on October 30.

Disney+ will air ‘Let It Be’, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about the Beatles, on May 8.

Steve Dawson, a founding member of Saxon, and the band’s bassist between 1975 and 1986, has been jailed for six years for historic child sex offences.

Phil Mogg has stated UFO have officially finished in a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock - “I think it’s come to a conclusion. We did that last U.K. tour in 2019, just before COVID. So that was kind of the end of it and the time was right.”

This year’s Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductees will include Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Dave Matthews Band and Ozzy Osbourne.

Anthrax has announced that, due to personal reasons, bassist Frank Bello will not be able to accompany the band on its upcoming South American tour. Filling in on those dates, as well as two U.S. festival shows in May, will be Anthrax founding member and original bassist Dan Lilker, marking his first appearance with the band in 40 years.

Vocalist Dave Moras has left Hell In The Club.

Trouble have announced Garry Naples as their new drummer

News - RIP

Singer songwriter Mark Spiro, who wrote songs and produced for many artists including Julian Lennon, Bad English and Cheap Trick

Drummer Gerry Conway, former member of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and Jethro Tull

Co-founder and bassist of Ultravox, Chris Cross

Firehouse vocalist CJ Snare

Max Werner, former vocalist and drummer with Kayak

Allman Brothers Band co-founder Dickey Betts

Mike Pinder, keyboards player in the original line-up of the Moody Blues

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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 1 December 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 3 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)