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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: MARIACHI EL BRONX – Mariachi El Bronx IV
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Album review : JON ANDERSON – Survival And Other Stories / Earth Mother Earth (2 CDs / remasters)
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Album review: MYRATH – Wilderness Of Mirrors
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Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Live At The Great Hall
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Album review: JAMIE WILLIAMS AND THE ROOTS COLLECTIVE – In The Moment
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Album review: JOE HICKS – Before It Gets Dark
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
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Gig review: A VERY SPECIAL EVENING OF MOTT THE HOOPLE – Riverside Studios, London, 27 February 2026
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Gig review: EMERALD MOON – Le Marquee, Peyrignac, Dordogne, SW France, 7 March 2026
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Gig review: MILKFEST, Indigo2, London, 1 March 2026
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GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Tag Archives: classic rock
Single reviews: BAD TOUCH, DEEP PURPLE, VEGA
BAD TOUCH – Strut Norfolk’s favourite retro rockers are back with this delicious little slab of bluesy classic rock. Perfectly titled, the track rolls along, boasting some really great little classic 70’s and 80’s touches and is the most mature … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged alternative, Bad Touch, classic rock, Deep Purple, melodic rock, reviews, rock, singles, Vega
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News: QUEEN, MARILLION, HELLOWEEN, DEVIN TOWNSEND (April 2020)
Hawklords release a new live album ‘Hawklords Alive’ on May 29. Marillion have started work on a new album during the current lockdown and are posting regular updates on their social media. Pattern-Seeking Animals (who feature current and former members … Continue reading
Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to BLUE OYSTER CULT
Jason Ritchie picks out some of the key albums from the heavy metal masters Formed from the late 60’s band Soft White Underbelly, Blue Oyster Cult (BOC) are often dubbed ‘the thinking man’s heavy metal band’. But for me they … Continue reading
Album review: LIAR – Sunset Plaza Drive
Escape Music [Release date 20.03.20] Liar originally formed in 1975 and recorded two albums prior to this one, with extensive UK and European tours. Now after 42 years, the long-lost Liar album from 1978 finally gets its debut appearance on … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, classic rock, Liar, melodic rock, review, Steve Mann, Sunset Plaza Drive, Triumph, UFO
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Album review: TESLA – Five Man London Jam
Universal [Release date 27.03.20] Tesla are a band who write songs so good that they can be played in any style and still sound great. The world of rock music discovered this way back in 1990 when the band released … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Abbey Road, album, classic rock, Five Man London Jam, live, review, rock, Signs, Tesla, The Beatles
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DVD review: ZZ TOP – That Little Ol’ Band From Texas
Eagle Vision [Release date 29.02.20] Brilliant. Buy/Stream right now. Nikk Gunns. 5 out of 5. Now that would be the quickest review I have ever written, and yet how true that simple statement is. Newly released ZZ Top documentary “That … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged blues, boogie, classic rock, Dusty Hill, DVD, Frank Beard, Frank Gibbons, review, rock 'n' roll, That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, ZZ Top
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Album review: KEN HENSLEY – Tales Of Live Fire & Other Mysteries
Cherry Red Records/HNE [Release date 27.03.20] Most will know keyboard player/songwriter, Ken Hensley from his ten year (1970-80) stint as a key component of Uriah Heep. This 5 CD package revisits Hensley’s work much later in his career. It focuses … Continue reading
Album review: JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUES BREAKERS – Road Dogs
EAR Music [Released 20.03.20] The first thing I wrote as I heard the title track “Road Dogs” coming through the speakers was “authentic”. Then I had to chuckle. If ANY British man playing the blues is authentic! Mind you, along … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, classic rock, Eric Clapton, guitarist, John Mayall, review, Road Dogs, the Blues Breakers
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Album review: JETHRO TULL & IAN ANDERSON
JETHRO TULL – Living With The Past (CD&DVD Collector’s Edition Gatefold Digipac) EarMUSIC/Edel [Release date 20.03.20] Germany’s Edel/Ear Music continue their ambitious “Classics Range” with a double Jethro Tull whammy. These two boxsets add up to several hours of high … Continue reading
Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Agents Of Fortune, 40th Anniversary
Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] CD/DVD As any fan knows, the key to a band’s longevity is an enduring ability to write great songs. That and the talent to leave more out than they put in. Once they get into the … Continue reading
Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Heaven Forbid
Frontiers [Release date 06.03.20] Blue Oyster Cult originally released ‘Heaven Forbid’ in 1998 on the CMC label, so it never got a widespread release and the band had left the label by their next album. Although there are no bonus … Continue reading
News: KANSAS, FISH, HEATHEN, OZZY, BRIAN WILSON (March 2020)
Ozzy Osbourne’s latest album ‘Ordinary Man’ debuted at number 3 in both the US Billboard and UK album charts. Fish is now hoping to release his long-awaited final studio album ‘Weltschmerz’ in July. Carcass have named their new album ‘Torn … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged AOR, Brian Wilson, classic rock, Fish, gigs, Heathen, Kansas, March 2020, melodic rock, metal, news, pop, rock, tour dates
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Album review: STATUS QUO – Rock Till You Drop & Thirsty Work
UMC [Release date 06.03.20] “Rock Till You Drop” was something of a love/hate album for the band. Rossi loved it, Parfitt hated it. It was a look back in the band’s rear view mirror. It was never uncomfortably reverential, but … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, pop rock, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, Rock Til You Drop, Status Quo, Thirsty Work
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Album review: STATUS QUO – Perfect Remedy
UMC [Release date 06.03.20] Albums nineteen, twenty and twenty one. How many bands can say that? Each one now reissued, and expanded to within an inch of its life. With added liner notes and pics. “Perfect Remedy” (1989), “Rock Till … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, boogie, classic rock, Francis Rossi, Perfect Remedy, re-issue, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, rock 'n' roll, Status Quo
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Album review: STEVE HARLEY – Uncovered
Absolute [Release date 21.02.20] While Cockney Rebel never really made the A grade, The Psychomodo – an album that languished amongst my 1970s LP collection – has always been one that I’ve always felt a strange affinity for, even if … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, Cockney Rebel, cover versions, Covers, review, singer, songwriter, Steve Harley, Uncovered
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Book review: ON TRACK…Toto/The Solo Beatles/Steely Dan (“Every album, every song”)
Sonicbond Pubishing [Publication date January/February 2020] Liked and loathed in equal measures by the music press in the 1970s and 1980s, ultimately the band may have had the last laugh. As author Jacob Holm-Lupp reiterates, their latest offering – XIV … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, book, classic rock, Donald Fagen, fusion, George Harrison, Jazz rock, John Lennon, melodic rock, On Track, Paul McCartney, pop, review, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, The Solo Beatles, Toto, Walter Becker
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Gig review: BLACK SABBATH 50TH ANNIVERSARY PLAYBACK – Number 10, Hackney, 11 February 2020
Most of us listen to music while distracted by other things. Commute to work, at home or live venue. But what if there were no other distractions around you? Just you and the music, in the dark – would you … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged Bill Ward, Black Sabbath, blues, classic rock, event, Geezer Butler, heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne, playback, review, rock, Tony Iommi
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Album review: BIFF BYFORD – School Of Hard Knocks
Silver Lining Music [Release date 21.02.20] One of British heavy metal’s finest icons, vocalist (and occasional bassist) Biff Byford has fronted Saxon since the mid 70s, when they were called Son Of A Bitch. And after talk of a solo … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars
Tagged album, Biff Byford, classic rock, interview, metal, NWOBHM, OPETH, review, rock, Saxon, School Of Hard Knocks
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Album review: ROBERT HART – Pure
Escape Music [Release date 20.02.20] Vocalist Robert Hart sang on one of my all-time favourite albums, ‘Under The One Sky’ by The Distance, added to his solo album ‘Cries & Whispers’ is still revered in AOR circles. He has also … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bad Company, classic rock, FM, funk, Power Station, Pure, review, Robert Hart, rock, synth pop, Tommy Denander
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EP review: STONE THIEVES – Church Of The Medicine Man
3MS Music [Release date 14.02.20] Stone Thieves are a London band who have been building a solid reputation with their Americana repertoire. One might argue that the music is American rock or even Southern Rock, rather than pure Americana, but … Continue reading
Album review: JOHN VERITY – Passion
Vavoom Records [Release date 14.02.20] www.johnverity.com “A summary of my influences” is how John Verity describes his latest album in what is his 50th year as a solo artist. We saw John at Giants of Rock in January and were … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Argent, blues, blues rock, Charlie, classic rock, guitar, guitarist, John Verity, Passion, Phoenix, review
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Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] “Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014” is Blue Oyster Cult’s sixth live album. Not many in a 50 year career. Maybe that’s why it’s a sumptious, 2 CD + DVD affair, housed in a sturdy gatefold … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, DVD, Eric Bloom, Frontiers, hard rock, Hard Rock Live In Cleveland 2014, live, review, rock
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Album review: DECARLO – Lightning Strikes Twice
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] DeCarlo are Tommy DeCarlo (who has been a member of Boston since 2008) and co-founder (and son) Tommy DeCarlo Jr., along with drummer Dan Hitz. The songs have been written over a number of years, the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, Boston, classic rock, debut, DeCarlo, Frontiers, hard rock, Lightning Strikes Twice, melodic rock, review, Tommy Decarlo
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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 24-27 January 2020
Another Cold January and another Giants Of Rock. Enough to warm the cockles following a respectable respite after Christmas and New Year. This was our fourth Giants, although intrepid GRTR! reviewers have reported since the festival’s inception in 2014. After … Continue reading
Album review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Cult Classics
Frontiers [Release date 24.01.20] Surprising and exciting news was announced in the autumn of last year in that Frontiers have signed Blue Oyster Cult for a series re-issues (including their hard to find 1998 album ‘Heaven Forbid’ which is re-issued … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Blue Oyster Cult, Buck Dharma, classic rock, Cult Classics, Eric Bloom, hard rock, melodic, reissue, review, rock
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