Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Feature: Bands that time forgot… LOVE AND MONEY (James Grant)

Posted on April 15, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Love And Money formed out of Glasgow-based ‘Friends Again’ in the early eighties and whilst their debut album ‘All You Need is…’ hinted at the funky tunesmithery to come it wasn’t until 1988′s Strange Kind Of Love that the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES | Tagged feature, introduction, James Grant, Love And Money, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Feature: Bands that time forgot…RIVER CITY PEOPLE

Posted on April 15, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

River City People consisted of two brothers Tim and Paul Speed (guitars and drums respectively)and Dave Snell (bass) who in 1987 were all studying at Liverpool Polytechnic. Vocalist Siobhan Maher had previously worked with Snell in a band called Peep … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Bands that time forgot, FEATURES | Tagged feature, introduction, Liverpool, pop rock, River City People, Say Something Good, Siobahn Maher, This Is The World | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to NIGHT RANGER

Posted on April 15, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Night Ranger - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018

Andy Nathan favourites Night Ranger remained a largely USA-based phenomenon until their reformation in the late 1990s. Their UK gigs from 2011 onwards would make grown men cry… When Night Ranger played their first-ever headline show in England at the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged AOR, Brad Gillis, feature, introduction, Jack Blades, Jeff Watson, Joel Hoekstra, Kelly Keagy, melodic rock, Night Ranger, review | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to RORY GALLAGHER

Posted on April 14, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Rory Gallagher’s legacy has been maintained with a raft of posthumous releases including the more recent ‘Blues’ anthology. Joe Geesin takes up the story. Irish born blues/rock guitarist/vocalist Rory Gallagher made his name in the 70s and 80s, and is … Continue reading →

Posted in Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged blues, blues rock, discography, feature, Gerry McAvoy, guitar, guitarist, introduction, review, Rory Gallagher, TASTE, Ted McKenna | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – PRIDE OF LIONS – The Roaring Of Dreams

Posted on April 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers (2007) With his Pride of Lions project, former Survivor keyboardist and songwriter Jim Peterik recreated the glory days of eighties AOR with no concession to 2000′s musical trends other than updated production values. As a result both their first … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES | Leave a comment

Album review: THREE COLOURS DARK – The Science Of Goodbye

Posted on April 12, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

www.threecoloursdark.com [Release date 27.03.20] In downtime in his Panic Room/Luna Rossa schedule, keyboard maestro Jonathan Edwards has revisited his roots in pairing up once again with fellow Karnataka founding member Rachel Cohen. Following casual reminiscence just over 12 months ago … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Karnataka, Luna Rossa, Panic Room, review. soft rock, singer, songwriter, Steve Balsamo, The Reasoning, The Science Of Goodbye, Three Colours Dark, Tim Hamil | Leave a comment

Feature: What GILLAN mean to me

Posted on April 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Gillan (the band) made an impression on a young Joe Geesin but he maintained his interest interviewing band members and writing their sleevenotes. Here he recounts an enduring hard rock and collecting passion. Gillan in 1978 (left to right) Liam … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, What a Band/Artist means to me... | Tagged albums, Bernie Torme, Colin Towns, Deep Purple, discography, feature, Gillan, Ian Gillan, introduction, Janick Gers, John McCoy | Leave a comment

Feature: What THE MOTORS mean to me

Posted on April 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Geesin reveals his first vinyl purchase and a longer term love of the pop rock band The Motors Many will remember the track ‘Airport’, by The Motors, or at least recognise it, a pop track often played on television … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, What a Band/Artist means to me... | Tagged albums, Andy McMaster, Bram Tchaikovsky, feature, introduction, Nick Garvey, pop, rock, The Motors | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGENTA – Acapela 2016 and 2017 (CD/DVD)

Posted on April 8, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Tigermoth Productions [Original release date 04.11.19] Magenta are one of those bands who have influenced many other prog wannabes whilst sometimes getting overlooked themselves. They’ve never had significant wider acclaim, never employed big time PR or appeared on major labels, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Acapela 2016 and 2017, Acapela Studios, album, Christina Booth, Magenta, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed | Leave a comment

Quick plays: THE LOVETONES, JOE EDWARDS, PATSY THOMPSON

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

THE LOVETONES Myriad Cleopatra Records [Release date 28.02.20] I can’t say I’m familiar with The Lovetones – an Aussie indie psychedelic rock band previously active between 2002 and 2010. But main man Matthew J Tow’s song writing has been compared … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, country, Fabulous Day, Joe Edwards, Keep On Running, Myriad, Patsy Thompson, pop rock, psychedelic, review, rock, roots, singer, songwrityer, The Lovetones | Leave a comment

Album review: MISSING PERSONS featuring Dale Bozzio – Dreaming

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 20.03.20] A ‘household name’ back in the early days of MTV – as lead singer of Missing Persons – Dale Bozzio is said to have influenced Lady Gaga via Madonna. Also known for her work with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dale Bozzio, Dreaming, electronica, Missing Persons, review, synth, synth pop | Leave a comment

Album review: ROB COTTINGHAM – Back Behind The Orchard Tree

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 03.04.19] You have to hand it to Rob Cottingham. He doesn’t like to sit idle, and this re-working of the Touchstone/Cairo founder’s debut solo album has been on his bucket list for some time. Having learnt a shed … Continue reading →

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Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to WISHBONE ASH

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

WISHBONE ASH - The Tivoli, Buckley, 3 November 2018

GRTR!’s melodic rock maestro Andy Nathan charts the progress of Wishbone Ash, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary Wishbone Ash may have a criminally low profile in the wider world, but there aren’t many bands that can boast both a history … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged albums, Andy Powell, classic rock, feature, introduction, Laurie Wisefield, Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Ted Turner, Wishbone Ash | 1 Comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to COZY POWELL

Posted on April 6, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Joe Geesin recalls Cozy Powell’s long career, the key albums, and a friendship with one of rock’s finest drummers Colin Flooks, better known as Cozy Powell, was a renowned rock drummer who, like many, lived like he played – hard … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Black Sabbath, classic rock, Cozy Powell, discography, drummer, drums, feature, hard rock, introduction, Rainbow, Whitesnake | Leave a comment

News: Singer songwriter JOSH TAERK plays live for Get Ready to ROCK! (Sunday 5 April, 21:00 BST, GMT+1)

Posted on April 3, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Canadian singer songwriter Josh Taerk plays an exclusive live session via Get Ready to ROCK!’s Facebook page on Sunday 5 April at 21:00 BST (GMT+1) Josh was born in Toronto, Canada. He is an official Recording Academy/Grammy Member and his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, Video | Tagged acoustic, Facebook, gig, Josh Taerk, live, pop, rock, session, singer, songwriter, Sunday 5 April 2020, video | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect: An introduction to FOCUS

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

In their own words, Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman discuss the early days of Focus and their wider success…and demise in the late 1970s. This feature is based on interviews in 1990 for a ‘Record Collector’ article published in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged Bert Ruiter, Dutch, feature, Focus, Holland, introduction, Jan Akkerman, Pierre van der Linden, prog, Progressive Rock, Thijs van Leer | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE SATRIANI – Shapeshifting

Posted on April 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Music [Release date 10.04.20] We’ve always commented on the energy displayed by Satriani not least sustained during a two hour live show. Recent albums have been pretty convincing too. That energy permeates this latest offering and will surely translate … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, hard rock, heavy rock, instrumental, Joe Satriani, metal, review, Shapeshifting | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to MAGNUM

Posted on March 31, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall has followed Magnum since the 1990s when they consolidated their earlier successes. They split in 1995, subsequently re-generating in 2001. Since that time they have gone from strength to strength, maintaining a consistency across several albums and touring … Continue reading →

Posted in Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Bob Catley, Dennis Ward, feature, hard rock, interview, Lee Morris, Magnum, Mark Stanway, melodic rock, pomp rock, Rick Benton, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Feature: What NAZARETH mean to me…

Posted on March 30, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Nazareth - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL Day 1 - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 25 July 2015

Joe Geesin revisits one of his favourite bands – Nazareth – and discusses the impact they made on his musical interests and signposting their recommended albums. The long enduring Scottish rockers Nazareth have been around since the late 60s (and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, What a Band/Artist means to me... | Tagged albums, Dan McCafferty, hard rock, Nazareth, Pete Agnew, review, Rodney Matthews | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2020 – March 2020)

Posted on March 28, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

In his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 29 March David Randall featured a selection of tracks from “Albums of the Month” (January-March 2020) (29:45) BLIND EGO Preaching To The Choir (Gentle Art Of Music) As with … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio encourages listener participation during self-isolation (March 2020)

Posted on March 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is inviting listeners to host their own show during extended periods of self-isolation, as a result of the virus pandemic. The radio station broadcasts a wide mix of classic rock music for 18 hours a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged broadcasting, coronavirus, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, pandemic, playlists, programme, requests, show, virus | Leave a comment

Album review: THE REVEREND SHAWN AMOS & THE BROTHERHOOD – Blue Sky

Posted on March 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Put Together [Release date 17.04.20] Americana tinged with a little bit of everything – electronica, reggae, ambience, psychedelia, the blues. And that’s the just gently flowing opener ‘Stranger Than Toda’y. Shawn Amos is a New York songwriter and record producer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, Blue Sky, blues, electronica, gospel, psychedelia, reggae, review, The Reverend Shawn Amos & The Brotherhood | Leave a comment

Album review: THE DANBERRYS – Shine

Posted on March 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Singular Recordings [Release date 08.05.20] The third album from Americana husband and wife duo The Danberrys (Dorothy Daniel and Ben DeBerry) is something of a ‘game changer’. While their previous two outings – The Danberrys (2013), and Give And Receive … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: GENTLEMEN’S ACADEMY, NELS ANDREWS

Posted on March 17, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

NELS ANDREWS Pigeon And The Crow Probably the most interesting thing about this fourth studio endeavour by Californian singer songwriter Nels Andrews is that it was recorded at Whispering Pines Studio in LA which was originally built for Sam Cooke … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, album, folk, Gentlemen's Academy, Joy, Nels Andrews, Pigeon And The Crow, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: EILEEN ROSE – Muscle Shoals

Posted on March 17, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Holy Wreckords [Release date 17.04,20] Looking back, I had my last encounter with Eileen Rose with the release of her third solo album, Come The Storm, a record I had down as a strong contender for my 2005 album of … Continue reading →