News: JESSE DAMON, NICKY HOPKINS, NEIL YOUNG (October 2024)

Dream Theater - Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

News - Album News

After Lapse release their new album ‘Pathways’ on December 13 on Frontiers.

Arch Enemy release their twelfth studio album, ‘Blood Dynasty’, on March 28 via Century Media Records.

Joan Armatrading has announced that her new album, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean’, will be released by BMG on November 22.

Biohazard have signed with Frontiers new label offshoot BLKIIBLK. The band will release their new album in 2025.

Blondie are currently working on a new album for release next year.

Kate Bush revealed in an interview on BBC Radio 4 that she is ready to create new music.

Candlemass release a new EP entitled ‘Black Star’ in May through Napalm Records.

Silent Rage frontman Jesse Damon releases ‘Anthology’ in November. The limited edition CD includes two previously unreleased studio tracks and a live bonus track.

DeWolff release their latest album ‘Muscle Shoals’ on December 6 on Mascot Records.

Doro will release a new single ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll X-Mas Party’ (digitally & 7″) on November 22.

Dream Theater (pictured) will release their sixteenth studio album, ‘Parasomnia’, on February 7 via InsideOut Music. They released the first song from the album ‘Night Terror’ on October 10.

G3 (Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson & Steve Vai) release ‘Reunion Live’ on January 31 via earMUSIC.

Ghost release a physical edition of their debut feature film ‘Rite Here, Rite Now’ on December 6 on DVD, Blu-ray and VHS!

A seven disc Gillan box set entitled ‘Gillan 1978-1982′ is released on February 14.

David Gilmour plans to start working on his next album next year.

Jinjer will release their fifth studio album, ‘Duél’, on February 7 via Napalm Records.

JOANovARC release their new EP ‘Escape The Fire‘ on October 18.

Lacuna Coil will release their tenth studio album, ’Sleepless Empire’, on February 14 via Century Media Records. Guitarist Daniele Salomone has also been confirmed as a permanent member.

Less Than Jake release their ‘Uncharted’ EP  on November 15 via Pure Noise Records.

Jessica Lynn releases her new album ‘All I Own’ on January 17, with the first single from the album, ‘Something ‘Bout You’, available now.

Manic Street Preachers release their latest album ‘Critical Thinking’ on January 31.

The Night Flight Orchestra release their latest album ‘Give Us The Moon’ on January 31 via Napalm Records.

Legacy Recordings release ‘See You On The Other Side V2.0′, a new vinyl box set from Ozzy Osbourne, on March 14.

The Pineapple Thief release a new EP ‘Last To Run’ through Kscope Records on November 8.

Sparks have signed with Transgressive Records and plan to release their next studio album next year, along with an accompanying tour.

Ringo Starr releases a country album, ‘Look Up’, on January 10 and it was produced by T Bone Burnett.

Storace, featuring Krokus vocalist Marc Storace, release their debut album ‘Crossfire’ on November 22 via Frontiers.

Tesla release a new EP, ‘All About Love’, on November 29.

Tyger of Pan Tang’s ‘Animal Instinct‘ will be reissued on CD, LP and digital formats on November 22 via Mighty Music.

The Unthanks release a new double album, ‘The Unthanks in Winter’,  on November 29. The  lead single, ‘Dear Companions’, was released on October 21.

Ricky Warwick will release his latest solo album ‘Blood Ties’ through Earache Records on March 14. Guests on the album include Lita Ford, Billy Duffy and Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke).

The Wildhearts release plan to release their latest album ‘Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts’ in March.

Lucinda Williams releases ‘Lucinda Williams Sings the Beatles From Abbey Road’ on December 6.

Neil Young has announced a limited edition, 50th anniversary edition of his ‘On The Beach’ album. It will be released on November 8 via Reprise and will be on a limited edition clear vinyl.

News - Tours and Gigs

Newly announced UK tours (2025 unless stated):

Bryan Adams (May), Babymetal (Wembley Arena May 30), Elles Bailey (Feb-Apr), Biohazard + Life of Agony (Feb, Mar), Blossoms (Jun, Jul),  Blue Oyster Cult (London Palladium May 25), Dan Byrne (Feb), Elbow (Jun, Jul), Hawkwind (Apr, May), Richard Hawley (Dec 2024), Billy Joel (Jun), Robert Jon & the Wreck (Apr, May), Lenny Kravitz (Wembley Arena Feb 28), Limp Bizkit (Mar), Manic Street Preachers (Apr, May), the Offspring + Simple Plan (Nov 2025), Parkway Drive (Oct), Primal Scream (Mar, Apr). the Rasmus (Nov, Dec), Rise Against (Feb), Ronnie Romero (Mar), Sigur Ros (Sep 30-Oct 3 Royal Albert Hall), Simple Minds (Jun, Jul), Skunk Anansie (Mar, Apr), Bruce Springsteen (May), Stereophonics (Jun), the Stranglers (Jun, Jul), Texas (Jun, Jul), Robin Trower (May), Adrian Vadenburg (May), Wilco (Royal Albert Hall Sun 22 June), the Wildhearts (Mar), the Wombats (Mar),

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Newly announced US & European tours (2025 unless stated):

Ayreon (NL), Babymetal (EU), Biohazard + Life of Agony (EU), Jerry Cantrell + Filter (US), Gary Clark Jr (AU), Coldplay (US), the Corrs (AU), Chris de Burgh (AU), Disturbed (US), Fontaines D.C. (AU), Foreigner (US), Gang of Four (US – farewell tour), PJ Harvey (JP, AU), Hed Pe (AU), Jinjer + Kittie (AU), Robert Jon & the Wreck (US), Kerry King  + Municipal Waste + Alien Weaponry (US), Larkin Poe (US), Cyndi Lauper (AU farewell tour), Leprous (US), Metallica + Evanescene + Suicidal Tendencies (AU, NZ), Michael Monroe (US), Graham Nash (US), New Order (AU), Oasis (US, AU), Our Lady Peace + Collective Soul (US), Parkway Drive (EU), the Rasmus (EU), Rise Against (EU), Saxon (EU), Sigur Ros (EU), Southern Sons (AU), Bruce Springsteen (EU), Geoff Tate (US), Visions of Atlantis (US),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

Wacken Open Air 2025 has already sold out.

Bearded Theory festival (May 21-25 Catton Hall, Derbyshire) have announced Iggy Pop, Manic Street Preachers, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, the Sisters of Mercy, Ash, Leftfield, Yard Act and more for next year’s line-up.

Malmo Melodic festival (25-27 July) includes Degreed, Cruzh, Brother Firetribe, Treat, FM, Kissin’ Dynamite, Crazy Lixx, Daytona and more.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO have announced their final show will be on Sunday 13 July at London’s Hyde Park.

Postponed/cancelled gigs & tours

Public Enemy’s forthcoming Australian tour has been postponed as frontman Chuck D requires urgent eye surgery.

Other Stuff

Elton John: Never Too Late, the new documentary about the legendary artist and songwriter, will premiere on Disney+ on December 13.

The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins will premiere in North America on November 5 on Amazon Prime. It chronicles the life of Hopkins, who appeared on hundreds of albums including ones for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck and many more.

ABBA Voyage attracted over one million visitors in 2023, bringing in over £100m over 374 performances.

Royal Mail have released a set of twelve stamps commemorating the Who.

The BBC have expanded their sound archives. It now contains over 33,000 samples which can be downloaded for free. The sound effects were released under a RemArc License, meaning that the soundbites can only be used for research, educational purposes and personal projects.

Pink Floyd have sold their rights to their recorded music to Sony Music for $400m. The deal includes Pink Floyd’s recorded music, the band name and the artists’ “likeness”, meaning that the label will have the rights to merchandise and spin-offs.

Johnnie Walker told listeners that he’s decided to step down from presenting his two Radio 2 and BBC Sounds shows later this month. Walker has been diagnosed with terminal pulmonary fibrosis. Shaun Keaveny will be the new presenter of The Rock Show with Bob Harris taking over on Sounds of the 70s.

WHSmith has announced it will start selling vinyl again in 80 of its High Street stores.

Band founder and lead guitarist Randy White has announced that CobraKill have broken up due to personal and musical differences.

Mark Brzezicki has announced he has left Big Country after more than forty years in the band.

The current line-up of Ten Years After (Chick Churchill, Ric Lee, Marcus Bonfanti and Colin Hodgkinson) have announced that they’re splitting up after 10 years together. Original member Ric Lee will form a new line-up of the band in 2025, with a new album also planned.

Bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff and drummer Nick Pierce have left As I Lay Dying.

New data from Billboard indicates a decline in vinyl record sales in the U.S. Between 2023 and 2024, US vinyl sales dropped 33.3%.  CD sales were down 19.5%) and digital albums  8.3%.  Streaming only showed a 7.2% increase.  Rising vinyl prices may be the reason, fuelled by erratic supply and multiple formats issued by certain big name artists.

Artists are playing 11 shows on an average tour on the grass roots circuit this year, compared with 22 in 1994.  This was highlighted at a recent industry conference when the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy noted more than 100 music venues had closed last year.

News - RIP

Kris Kristofferson, actor and country singer songwriter, who was also part of The Highwaymen country supergroup.

Original Anvil guitarist Dave Allinson.

Johnny Neel, a member of the Allman Brothers between 1989 and 1990, appearing on their ‘Seven Turns’ (1990) album.

Lead singer of Catfish, Matt Long.

Jack Ponti, who was a member of Surgin’ and Baton Rogue, plus wrote songs for Alice Cooper, Doro, Bon Jovi and many more.

Paul Di’Anno who was vocalist with Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. Since leaving Maiden he had released a number of solo albums, as well as fronting Battlezone and Killers.

Guitarist Joshua Perahia, who recorded the classic album ‘Intense Defense’ under the Joshua band name.

Bassist and Grateful Dead co-founder Phil Lesh


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.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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 November 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 29 October 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 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)



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