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Category Archives: NEWS
Album review: REX BROWN – Smoke On This

[Release date 28.07.17] Judge a book by its cover at your peril, especially when that man is former Pantera/Down bass-slinger turned six-stringer, Rex Brown – who comes off an entire life of rocking the road with a firm vow to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Down, Pantera, review, Rex Brown, rock, Smoke On This, southern rock
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News: STACKRIDGE release The Final Bow (July 2017)

Pop prog rockers Stackridge played their “Farewell” Tour in late 2015 and their gig at The Fiddlers Club, Bristol on 19 December 2015 is released on 14 July by Angel Air Records. The band appeared at the formative Glastonbury Festival … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged Andy Davis, Angel Air Records, James Warren, pop, progressive, Stackridge, The Final Bow Bristol 2015, The Korgis
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Gig review: PANIC ROOM – Citadel Arts Centre, St Helens, 2 June 2017

Tour preview broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 4 June 2017 (9:47) It is two years since I last saw Panic Room, and, musically, what a difference two years can make. Back then, the band played a fantastic ‘double … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The Best of 2017
Tagged 2 June 2017, Anne-Marie Helder, Citadel Arts Centre, Dave Foster, gig, Panic Room, progressive, review, rock, St Helens
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Gig review: ERIC GALES BAND & Gary Hoey Band – Nells Jazz & Blues, London, 2 June 2017

This may well be the first time two American label mates who have known each other down the decades make their UK debut’s on the same night. And while the evening brings a sharp contrast in styles, the two guitarists … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged AJ Pappas, blues, Bootsy Collins, Bryan Adams, classic rock, Cody Wright, Cream, Eric Gales, Focus, Freddie King, funk, Gary Hoey, gig, guitar, Jaco Pastorious, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, LaDonna Gales, Led Zeppelin, Matt Scurfield, R&B, review, Robin Trower, The James Gang
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Gig review: BOOTLEG BEATLES – Royal Albert Hall, 1 June 2017

The Bootleg Beatles were performing tonight with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic albums of all time, ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. The sold out Royal Albert Hall providing … Continue reading
Gig review: IRON MAIDEN – O2 Arena, London, 27 May 2017

Ariana Grande had been due to play the O2 on the previous two evenings and given the horrific events at her Manchester Arena show earlier in the week, it was no surprise that the atmosphere outside the venue was subdued. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged 27 May 2017, Book Of Souls, Bruce Dickinson, gig, Iron Maiden, live, Number of the Beast, O2 Arena, review, Shinedown, Steve Harris, The Trooper
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News: TODD RUNDGREN: New album and interview (May 2017)

The full version of this interview is broadcast as part of the 500th ‘Assume The Position’ presented by David Randall on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Repeated Monday 29 May, 22:00 GMT and Friday 2 June, 22:00 GMT (5:22) Now … Continue reading
Posted in Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview
Tagged album, interview, may 2017, radio, Todd Rundgren, White Knight
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Album review: HAREM SCAREM – United

Frontiers [Release date 12.05.17] This is Harem Scarem’s second album since reuniting back in 2013 – three if you count their re-recording of their classic ‘Mood Swings’ album they did to get back their ownership of the songs. Original members … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, review, rock, United
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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Penylan Hall, Meiford, 19 May 2017

In a lifetime of gig-going you invariably encounter unusual venues. Village halls, churches, some that are literally off the beaten track. Some that defy sat-nav. It is when you find in these places artists of a certain stature, or your … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged 19 May 2017, acoustic, Eleanor McEvoy, gig, Meiford, Penylan Hall, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Album review: COCO MONTOYA – Hard Truth

Alligator Records [Release date 24.03.17] Coco Montoya’s ‘Hard Truth’ is a career highlight for Coco Montoya. It’s an object lesson in old school dynamics and an album glued together by an essential flow. It’s given a contemporary sheen by drummer … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged Albert Collins, album, Alligator Records, Allman Brothers, Billy Watts, blues, Bob Glaub, Coco Montoya, Dave Steen, Deb Ryder, funk, Hard Truth, John Porter, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, Mike Finnigan, review, rock, Ronnie Earl, soul, Teresa James, Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel, Warren Haynes
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Album review: DEEP PURPLE – inFinite

earMUSIC [Release date 07.04.17] 2013′s ‘Now What?!’ found Deep Purple in rude good form and backed up by a well received UK tour. With more UK dates in November 2017, inFinite doesn’t quite match the sheer audacity of that album … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Deep Purple, Don Airey, hard rock, heavy rock, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, inFinite, progressive, review, Roger Glover, Steve Morse
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Album review: RICH HOPKINS AND LUMINARIOS – My Way Or The Highway

Blue Rose [Release date 27.01.17] You can tell a ‘serious’ musician when their album credits lists both the guitars and amplifiers they use, but Tuscon guitar slinger and songwriter Rich Hopkins comes across as one laid back dude. He might … Continue reading
Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – Sub89, Reading, 27 April 2017

Sub89 is a decent sized venue in a less than salubrious part of Reading, McD’s and Nandos being the classier places in the street! It has a decent sized stage and the only downside was the sound which wasn’t great … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged 27 April 2017, Craig Blundell, gig, John Mitchell, Lonely Robot, Louder Still, progressive, reading, review, rock, Sub89, the Big Dream
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News: STEVE HACKETT on tour in the UK from 28 April

Steve Hackett commences his UK tour on Friday 28 April. Promoting his new album ‘The Night Siren’ the tour is also billed as “Genesis Revisited with Classic Hackett” and culminates in a sold out show at The London Palladium. The … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged Genesis Revisited, gigs, guitar, guitarist, may 2017, prog, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett, The Night Siren, UK tour
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Gig review: LED ZEPPELIN MASTERS – London Palladium, 19 April 2017

Tribute bands often divide music fans as some see them as poor imitations of the original acts, however as time takes its toll on many musicians and bands, tribute acts keep the music of these classic bands alive and well. … Continue reading
Album review: LONELY ROBOT – The Big Dream

Inside Out Music [Release date 28.04.17] After a two year wait we get the second part of the trilogy from Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (Frost*/Arena/It Bites). He again plays all instruments bar the drums, played by the ever reliable Craig … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Craig Blundell, Frost*, John Mitchell, Kim Seviour, Lonely Robot, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, the Big Dream
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Gig review: THE MAGPIE SALUTE – Under The Bridge, London, 13 April 2017

Despite having to venture way too close for personal comfort to this very interesting venue situated in the guts of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge home, the London debut of Rich Robinson’s new travelling band of musical gypsies, The Magpie Salute, gave … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, The Best of 2017
Tagged gig, London, Marc Ford, review, Rich Robinson, rock, southern, Sven Pipien, The Black Crowes, the Magpie Salute, Under the Bridge
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Album review: ECLIPSE- Monumentum

Frontiers [Release Date 24.03.17] He may be the most prolific, in demand writer and producer on the melodic rock scene, but no-one could accuse Erik Martensson of neglecting his day job as lead singer and guitarist with Eclipse. Two years … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, Eclipse, Erik Martensson, Magnus Henriksson, melodic rock, Monumentum, review
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Album review: MAGENTA – We Are Legend

In June 2012 Rob Reed chatted with David Randall for his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio when the current Magenta album was ‘Chameleon’. He was also poised to release the major project ‘Kompendium’. They covered Magenta, the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, The Best of 2017
Tagged album, interview, Magenta, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed, We Are Legend
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News: PAUL RODGERS captures the Spirit of Free on tour in May 2017

In April 2011 David Randall chatted to Paul Rodgers for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio’s “Heroes” series. In this exclusive edit, Paul chats about Paul Kossoff, the formation of Free and the hit single ‘All Right Now’. (11:23) Paul Rodgers … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview
Tagged blues rock, classic rock, Deborah Bonham, Free, interview, may 2017, Paul Rodgers, radio, Tour
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Gig review: HOLY HOLY – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 30 March 2017

“He’s fucking sacked us,” Spiders bass player, Trevor Bolder, was seen to mouth when David Bowie announced at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 1973 that it would be the final Ziggy show ever. Tragically, like Bowie, Bolder and his former … Continue reading






