Tag Archives: eighties

Album review : CRUZH – The Jungle Revolution

Posted on March 10, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 22.03.24] Welcome to The Jungle Revolution, third album on the Frontiers label from Swedish band, Cruzh, and their second with vocalist, Alex Waghorn, winner of Idol Sweden in 2017 (singing Journey’s ‘Faithfully’). Among their admitted influences … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alex Waghorn, Cruzh, eighties, FM, Idol Sweden, Journey, Jungle Revolution, melodic rock, review, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review : LIPZ – Changing The Melody

Posted on March 6, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 15.03.24] Debut album from young Swedish quartet, Lipz, in which they attempt to breathe life into a dying genre, Glam Rock. We’re told. But how do you define “Glam Rock”? Would that be the early eighties, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alex K Klintberg, AOR, eighties, glam rock, Lipz, Motley Crue, Poison, Pop/Rock, Ratt, review, Sunset Strip | Leave a comment

Album review : CLIMIE FISHER – Coming In For The Kill (4CD Boxset)

Posted on February 18, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 23.02.24] Climie Fisher’s 1988 hit single ‘Love Changes Everything”, taken from their debut album, truly was a pop classic. Still is. None of the songs on Coming In For The Kill replicated its considerable chart success. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Clearmountain, boxset, eighties, Eric Clapton, George Michael, Naked Eyes, remaster, review, Rob Fisher. Johnny Hates Jass, Rod Stewart, Simon Climie, soul, synth pop | Leave a comment

Album review : MAMA’S BOYS – Runaway Dreams 1980-92 (5 CD boxset)

Posted on January 20, 2024 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date : 26.01.24] CD1: Official Bootleg (1980) CD2: Plug It In (1982) CD3: Turn It Up (1984) CD4: Relativity (1992) CD5: Singles, B Sides and Rarities Three boys from Co. Fermanagh conquer the world. Well no, it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Belfast, boxset, eighties, Hawkwind, Irish Folk Music, Kerrang!, Mama's Boys, melodic rock, Nazareth, Phil Lynott, review, Slade, Sounds, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Album review : VENOM – Live From The Hammersmith Odeon (CD/DVD Deluxe Digipak)

Posted on October 28, 2023 by brianmc

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Cherry Red [Release date : 27.10.23] Formed in England’s industrial North East in 1979, there was none heavier, none more extreme and indeed none more influential in the heavy metal genre than Venom. The band’s reputation was born out of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged Abaddon, Black Metal, Cronos, eighties, Hammersmith Odeon, live, Mantas, Metallica, Motorhead, punk, review, thrash metal, Venom | Leave a comment

Album review : AUTOGRAPH – Beyond

Posted on November 26, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers Records [Release date 18.11.22] We all want to love this album because it’s Autograph. Even though they’re one-hit-wonders, and even though bassman Randy Rand is/was the only remaining original member. (Rand took part in the recording sessions, but died … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Autograph, Beyond, Def Leppard, eighties, Jimi Bell, Marc Wieland, melodic rock, Our Lady Peace, Randy Rand, review, Simon Daniels, Steve Plunkett, The Beatles | Leave a comment

Album review: KIDS ON THE STREET, UK POWER POP AND NEW WAVE 1977-81 (3 CD Boxset)

Posted on November 21, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 25.11.22] Kids On The Street is a great title for this 3 CD, 77 track compilation, emphasising the uncomplicated vitality of that era’s popular music. The better informed will know it’s from The Stiffs’ song of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alex Chilton, Big Star, boxset, eighties, Elvis Costello, Jellyfish, New Wave, review, seventies, The Damned, The Motors, The Records, The Ruts, The Searchers, The Skids, The Stranglers, UK power pop, XTC | Leave a comment

Album Review: C85 (3CD Various Artists)

Posted on October 18, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 21.10.22] Taking its lead from NME’s ultra successful C86, this 72 track, triple CD release, C85, celebrates the rise and rise of the Indie band in the UK. In 1986, NME scribe Neil Taylor had the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, C85, eighties, Happy Mondays, Housemartins, indie, Jesus And Mary Chain, John Peel, Neil Taylor, NME, Primal Scream, review, Soup Dragons, Stone Roses, That Petrol Emotion, The Wedding Present | Leave a comment

Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Saints And Sinners

Posted on September 9, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 16.09.22] On this, their 11th studio album, House Of Lords deliver aggressive, in your face melodic rock. The music comes out of its corner swinging, ready for the fight. James Christian now has Mark (Touch, Drive She … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, BJ Zampa, Drive She Said, eighties, Frontiers, James Christian, Jimi Bell, Mark Mangold, melodic hard rock, review, Touch | Leave a comment

Album review: LESSMANN VOSS – Rock Is Our Religion

Posted on July 24, 2022 by brianmc

Atomic Fire Records [Release date: 22.07.22] This Lessmann Voss, Rock Is Our Religion album would be easy to write off because it seems so out of time. Bonfire’s Claus Lessmann and Mad Max’s Michael Voss are clearly not keen to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bonfire, Claus Lessmann, eighties, FM Radio, Mad Max, melodic rock, Michael Voss, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ICON – Icon (Remaster)

Posted on May 1, 2022 by brianmc

Rock Candy Records [release date: 18.03.22] Icon’s debut album from 1984 has recently been remastered by leading UK Reissue label, Rock Candy Records. The fact that the band’s set list in those early days included material by Deep Purple and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews | Tagged album, Classic Heavy Metal, Dan Wexler, Deep Purple, eighties, John Aquilino, Judas Priest, Mike Varney, remastered, review, Stephen Clifford | Leave a comment

Album review: RONNIE ATKINS – Make It Count

Posted on March 19, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [release date: 18.03.22] When Denmark’s Paul Christensen founded the Pretty Maids with Ken Hammer, he changed his name to Ronnie Atkins. And this despite assurances that his birth name sounded pretty cool. None of this matters now, he lives … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Chris Laney, Covid, eighties, Ken Hammer, melodic rock, pop, Pretty Maids, review, Ronnie Atkins | Leave a comment

Album review: FIND ME – Lightning In A Bottle

Posted on March 10, 2022 by brianmc

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Frontiers [Release date: 11.03.22] Find Me is Robbie LaBlanc, a rock vocalist who enjoys iconic status, and Daniel Flores (and his band) who’s on the same path, if not the same trajectory. The duo have been breathing new life into … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, eighties, Frank Stallone, Frontiers, Mark Free, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Robbie Blanc, Signal, Staying Alive movie, Vince DiCola | Leave a comment

Album review : DEGREED – Are You Ready

Posted on February 9, 2022 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date: 11.02.22] Are You Ready is Degreed’s sixth album, and their first on Frontiers. Robin Erikkson, Mats Erikkson, Mikael Blanc and Daniel Johansson have come a long long way in six albums. Their focus is clearly on the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brother Firetribe, Degreed, eighties, Frontiers, Harem Scarem, Leverage, melodic rock, Queen, review, Robin Erikssen, Wigelius | Leave a comment

Album review: FASTER PUSSYCAT – Babylon, The Elektra Years (4 CD boxset)

Posted on January 30, 2022 by brianmc

Cherry Red [release date: 25.02.22] Faster Pussycat were one of a number of apparently identikit Glamrock bands who emerged from the LA Club scene in the mid eighties. Many fell by the wayside, but some stood out. Faster Pussycat … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, boxset, Bret Muscat, eighties, Faster Pussycat, glam, Greg Steele, LA Club scene, metal, review, sleaze rock, Taime Down | Leave a comment

Album review: KENT HILLI – The Rumble

Posted on June 13, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 18.06.21] After two albums fronting A Perfect Plan, Kent Hilli has gone solo (helped by wunderkind, Michael Palace, who has arranged and produced), with The Rumble, on which he has written the bulk of the material. Unsurprisingly, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Perfect Plan, album, AOR, Crown Of Thorns, eighties, Foreigner, Frontiers, Giant, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Michael Palace, review, Survivor, the Storm | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Wide Awake

Posted on June 11, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 14.08.20] Johnny Hates Jazz’s return in 2013 was well received, with a comeback album ‘Magnetized’ gathering airplay and even a short tour in 2016 (when we saw them in downtown Darwen Library Theatre) and a handful of festival … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 80s, album, Clark Datchler, eighties, interview, Johnny Hates Jazz, Mike Nocito, pop, pop rock, review, synth pop, Wide Awake | Leave a comment

Feature: Albums that time forgot – KEATS

Posted on May 1, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

EMI [1984] Released in 1984 the eponymous album by Keats might be considered as an Alan Parsons Project off-shoot. It was produced by Parsons and includes the core band members that feature on most of the Project albums, Ian Bairnson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged Alan Parsons, Alan Parsons Project, album, Colin Blunstone, David Paton, eighties, Ian Bairnson, interview, Keats, pop rock, review, soft rock, Stuart Elliott | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLIGHT BRIGADE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 4 October 2019

Posted on October 5, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

What’s not to like? An architecturally interesting venue for food, drink and music. A beer festival. And a free gig!! The first thing you might say about Flight Brigade, two days into a 14-date tour, is “where are the girls?”. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 October 2019, alternative, Chester, eighties, Flight Brigade, gig, indie, pop, review, synth, synth pop, Telford's Warehouse | Leave a comment

Gig review: TREVOR HORN – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

Posted on August 1, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

TREVOR HORN BAND - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

It may be somewhat exaggerated to say that Trevor Horn single-handedly created the soundtrack to the eighties. What is certain – as this concert demonstrated – he was associated with key artists and albums from that decade. This gig was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31 July 2019, Bridgewater Hall, eighties, gig, Lol Creme, Manchester, Matt Cardle, pop, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Trevor Horn | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE KORGIS featuring James Warren – Bristol Folk House, 27 April 2019

Posted on April 30, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to James Warren in June 2017 for an hour special on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. This includes tracks from all aspects of his career including Stackridge, The Korgis and solo. James Warren may well have channelled … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 27 April 2019, Bristol Folk House, eighties, gig, James Warren, pop, review, The Korgis | 1 Comment

Album review: HOW WE LIVE – Dry Land (Steve Hogarth)

Posted on October 16, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Steve Hogarth about his career in July 2014. In this hour special, tracks include How We Live and Marillion, plus Steve’s solo work. Esoteric [Release date 26.08.16] ‘How We Live’ is an important part of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Colin Woore, Dry Land, eighties, How We Live, Marillion, pop, reissue, review, rock, Steve Hogarth | Leave a comment

Album review: RUN LIBERTY RUN – We Are

Posted on August 1, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 22.07.16] There’s something in the ether. Having just reviewed goth/metal revivalists Sinnergod I’ve also been privy to a new German band and their debut album. The read across – albeit with less heavy guitars – is quite … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, eighties, electronica, pop, review, rock, Run Liberty Run, We Are | Leave a comment

News: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Interview Feature and UK Tour (28 February – 25 March 2016)

Posted on February 25, 2016 by GRTR! HQ

A special feature is broadcast in the first hour of ‘Assume The Position’, presented by David Randall on Sunday 28 February on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. The sequence is repeated on Friday 4 March at 22:00 or you can … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview | Tagged 28 February 2016, Clark Datchler, eighties, feature, interview, Johnny Hates Jazz, pop, radio, UK tour | Leave a comment

Album review: MISSING PERSONS feat. Dale Bozzio – Missing In Action

Posted on February 5, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 04.03.14] The digipak at the top of the stack didn’t look that inviting. Could it have been Dee Snider’s half-brother on the cover? There’s an awful lot of ivory around that lady’s neck. The name Dale … Continue reading →