Monday 23rd August
A
record 11.1 million idiots tuned in to watch the new series
of The X Factor last weekend. There’s been a hullaballoo
over allegations that the programme uses Auto-tune software
to affect the alleged ‘vocals’ of certain
contestants, helping the moderately talented ones to punch
above their weight and the bad ’uns to sound worse
than ever. Though I’m guilty of watching a little
reality TV, Bruce Dickinson’s recent slating of
American Idol was absolutely correct. “You couldn't
pay me enough to go on that show,” he said. “I
find it a bit sad that people enjoy it. There's another
show called Britain’s Got Talent which is clearly
just an exercise in laughing at people’s inability.
I’ve never watched [any of those shows] for longer
than 30 seconds, which is sufficient to go, ‘I can’t
believe people sit and watch this shit’.”
All
the more intriguing, then, that my current melodic rock
faves H.E.A.T. have recruited Erik Grönwall, the
winner of last year’s Swedish Idol, as replacement
for Kenny Leckremo. It’ll be interesting to see
how that works out.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday
22nd August
So
incensed by Palace’s home defeat to Ipswich, I went
home to change my shirt before making my way to Camden
for a gig by reunited UK pagan-thrashers Sabbat. Having
had a skinful of cider it wasn’t worth the risk
of getting wound up and either decking someone or, probably
far more likely, getting laid out myself. This proved
fortuitous as the Underworld no longer allows admission
to those in football colours. Besides cheering loudly
as new signing Edgar Davids was welcomed on the pitch
at half time (oh, how I enjoyed writing that!), the trip
to SE25 was memorable for another good reason –
a new centrespread of the fanzine Five Year Plan is devoted
to a lovely colour shot of
the recent demonstrations at Selhurst in which yours
truly is clearly visible.
Save
for a short and unsatisfying support slot at the Astoria
in December ’06 for which Martin Walkyier had lost
his voice, my previous sighting of Sabbat was way back
in the 1990s – possibly supporting Manowar on their
own final visit to Britain. In fact, Walkyier announced
from the stage that it had been 20 years since Sabbat
last headlined a British tour. “It’s like
an old age pensioners’ outing in the back of our
bus,” he grinned devilishly. “Except we don’t
get tea and biscuits – we have beer and metal!!”
Despite the impairment of a haze of booze (that bottle
of white wine on train was a big mistake!), it was excellent
to experience them again. With Gizz Butt, once of the
Prodigy, an unlikely choice to double up Andy Sneap’s
meaty riffing, the material from both of their albums
(1991’s Walkyier-less ‘Mourning Has Broken’
now being all but disowned) has stood the test of time
way better than it had a right to. They even threw in
‘Blood For The Blood God’, a song that had
only ever appeared on a flexidisc. Here’s the set-list:
‘A Cautionary Tale’, ‘Behind The Crooked
Cross’, ‘Hosanna In Excelsis’, ‘The
Clerical Conspiracy’, ‘I For An Eye’,
‘Do Dark Horses Dream Of Nightmares?’, ‘Blood
For The Blood God’, ‘The Best Of Enemies (Wulf’s
Tale)’ and ‘The Church Bizarre’, plus
encores of ‘Wildfire’ and ‘For Those
Who Died’.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Saturday
21st August
Yesterday
was just another humdrum day in SE25. Crystal Palace exited
administration. We signed Edgar Davids on a pay-as-you-play
deal, the former Holland international smiling as he held
up the fabled red and blue striped shirt at the club’s
official website. Oh, and two strikers arrived on loan;
Jonathan Obika from Spurs and Ipswich’s Pablo Counago.
Am I dreaming? We’ve got Edgar fucking Davids. Plus…
two other guys that know how to insert the ball into the
onion bag, Onika being highly rated and capped at England
Youth level. Davids is set to be introduced on the pitch
at today’s game against Ipswich. I repeat: AM I
DREAMING??!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday
20th August
Nearly
a month since my last indoor gig, I was champing at the
bit for last night's UK solo debut from former Emperor
guitarist/vocalist Ihsahn. Was a bit disappointed by the
size of the turnout with the Electric Ballroom's upstairs
balcony closed off and plenty of room to move about elsewhere,
but the show was fantastic. Since the seemingly final
implosion of Emperor, Ihsahn has gone down a more progressively
inclined path, releasing three quite superb solo records.
The Norwegian musicians from his backing band provided
the night's support entertainment with their own groups.
Caught the end of Leprous, who sounded really good. However,
I was really impressed by Shining – not to be confused
with the self-mutilating Swedes of the same name –
whose mixture of experimental jazz and black metal was
plain bonkers.
With
a six-piece band onstage – seven including the occasional
blasts of saxophone from Shining’s Jørgen
Munkeby – it must’ve been hell behind the
mixing console for Ihsahn’s headline set. Sure enough,
the sound at the beginning was pants but as Ihsahn’s
lead vocals – a mixture of growls and clean singing
– became more audible and the guitars were allowed
to breathe, things took shape. With all but two exceptions
the 80-minute show was culled from Ihsahn’s solo
catalogue, the Opeth-like ‘Invocation’ among
its many highlights. Surprisingly, he also included two
songs by “the boy band I was with back in the 90s”,
namely ‘The Tongue Of Fire’ (from 2001’s
‘Prometheus: The Discipline of Fire & Demise’)
and ‘Thus Spake The Nightspirit’ (a selection
from ‘Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk’ in ’97).
Here’s the full set-list: ‘The Barren Lands’,
‘A Grave Inversed’, ‘Misanthrope’,
‘Invocation’, ‘Called By The Fire’,
‘Scarab’, ‘Emancipation’, ‘Unhealer’,
‘Frozen Lakes On Mars’, ‘Citizen’,
‘The Tongue Of Fire’, ‘On The Shores’
and ‘Thus Spake The Nightspirit’.
_
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Thursday
19th August
What
a great pleasure it was to speak with Andrew Latimer…
a true English gentleman and guiding force of one of this
nation’s finest bands, Camel. Latimer has been through
the wars this past decade, a doctor having advised him
that he had 20 months to live after being diagnosed with
myelofibrosis, but after chemo and a bone marrow transplant
the 61-year-old is firmly on the mend, experiencing good
days and bad (as do we all - only more emphatically so
in his case) whilst beginning the process of making new
music again with Camel. “Now that I’m getting
progressively better, I’m starting to think about
getting out there and doing some gigs again,” he
told me during yesterday’s interview. Latimer’s
tale is a triumph over adversity. My only trouble is that
I must deliver the story by tomorrow morning… ouch.
I
had no idea that Classic Rock’s label, Powerage
Records, was planning to re-release Bigelf’s
pre-‘Cheat The Gallows’ catalogue until a
parcel flopped onto my desk. The 1996 mini-album, ‘Closer
To Doom’ now comes with enough extras to be considered
a full-length record in its own right, 2000’s ‘Money
Machine’ also has an array of bolt-ons, with ‘Hex’
from ’03 available domestically for the first time
in its original form. The only negative? The sleeve booklets
for ‘Money…’ and ‘Hex’ are
bit too flimsy, a large band pic attempting to compensate
for lyrics. Nevertheless, these CDs are exceedingly welcome
additions to the collection.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday
18th May
My
copy of the new Iron Maiden album, ‘The Final Frontier’,
has arrived. It’s the tin box-housed ‘mission
edition’… thanks a lot, EMI! Although I had
found ‘El Dorado’ a bit wishy-washy –
worrying, given that the previous three albums since the
return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith were all previewed
by quality tunes (viz ‘The Wicker Man’, ‘Wildest
Dreams’ and ‘The Reincarnation Of Benjamin
Breeg’) – I’m happy to say that the
reviews do not lie; ‘The Final Frontier’ is
blowing me away. Its final track, the almost 11-minute
‘When The Wild Wind Blows’… sheeeeesh,
that’s bloody amazing stuff.
Meanwhile,
the craziest football story of 2010 – Crystal Palace’s
potential signing of Edgar Davids – refuses to go
away. One last pay-day is the last thing on Davids’
mind, it seems (and thankfully so – the Eagles don’t
have a pot in which to urinate). He just wants to come
to London, where he has a second home, and play football
again. Boss George Burley is advising caution: “There
is nothing definite about [the deal]. This is to do with
a friend of a mate who knows Edgar and it was mentioned
that he might like to start playing again.” But
the Daily Mail reports that the 37-year-old has agreed
in principle to a pay-as-you-play contract and is expected
at the training ground tomorrow. Holy f**k! If true, that’ll
sell a few replica shirts!
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday
17th August
Sweet
Jeeeezus, a very sexy rumour suggests that the Palace
have approached Edgar Davids, one of the biggest stars
of the football world, to sign a short term deal for this
season. Now 37, the dreadlocked former Ajax, Juventus,
Milan and Barcelona midfielder has reportedly discussed
the audacious move with Eagles boss George Burley. The
bad news is that the former Dutch international hasn’t
played a competitive game for two years. However, far
more positive is that he loves London having represented
Spurs between 2005–2007 and is said to be seriously
considering the deal. This could only happen in the crazy
world of Crystal Palace FC; it’s right up there
with Puff Daddy’s now legendary attempt to buy the
club. I may have to go and have a lie down.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday
16th August
I’d
love to have spent this evening down at the Peel in Kingston–Upon-Thames
where Fish is set to perform what is, by his standards,
a somewhat low-key solo gig. Alas, although the Peel isn’t
too far from where I live, certainly as the fly crows
– um… that should probably be ‘crow
flies’? – getting there involves a lot of
complex travel connections going to plan, and work-wise
my plate is far too stacked up with albums reviews, interviews
and tape transcriptions to consider such a perilous journey.
Most annoying, but that’s what happens when the
three magazines that employ me all go to press in the
exact same week that various sleeve notes are due for
delivery.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday
15th August
Yesterday’s
game between Barnsley and Crystal Palace at Oakwell was
a big disappointment. Neither team performed especially
well and the points were settled by an own goal from CPFC’s
Paddy McCarthy. Despite having been lubricated by an inordinate
amount of alcohol, it felt like a long trip back to London.
Skin
guitarist Myke Gray was here at Ling Towers this afternoon,
filming yours truly and my eldest lad Eddie, both of us
sporting Skin T-shirts, rocking out to his group’s
new single, ‘Born To Rock ‘N’ Roll’.
The band have been inviting friends, fans and those that
supported their cause to co-star with them in the song’s
video. Myke has really got his act together these days
and grown into an extremely pleasant bloke, having been
something of a prima donna in his days as a boy prodigy
(I’m sure he’d admit that – most of
us have matured into far nicer people as the years roll
by). Gray dropped off a copy of Skin’s self-financed
farewell album, ‘Breaking The Silence’, which
is only available from the group’s website, www.skinfreak.co.uk.
Their final ever gig takes place at Nottingham Rock City
on December 18th, with Palace due to play Nottingham Florist
at the City Ground the same afternoon, so there’s
every chance I will nip up and kill two birds with one
stone.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Saturday
14th August
Much
of yesterday was spent travelling back and forth to rain-whipped
Grimsby in the north of England, where I was offered a
sneak preview of ‘Perfect World’, the new
album from reunited melodic hard rockers Strangeways.
“You know the band’s story,” said Ian
J Stewart as he reached across to punch the ‘Play’
button. “You’re going to hear some stuff that
sounds like [classic-era] Strangeways and some that doesn’t.”
The guitarist did not lie. Of the record’s dozen
songs, I counted four (‘Time’, ‘Crackin’
Up Baby’, ‘Too Far Gone’ and the record’s
excellent closing cut, ‘Say What You Want’)
that were clearly comparable to the template laid down
by the group’s seminal ‘Native Sons’/‘Walk
In The Fire’, plus a couple more borderline examples
with question marks against their names in my notebook’s
margin. The album is very good, of that there is no doubt,
and Terry Brock still boasts one of the classiest voices
in the genre, though the sheer number of heavier tunes
– particularly a monster entitled ‘Bushfire’,
the band’s answer to ‘Kashmir’ which
Stewart says is certain to be blooded at the Firefest
– is bound to set the cat among the pigeons with
the purists when it drops in October.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday
12th August
Though
my workload kept me chained to the PC, Mrs L and the Linglets
have gone away for a short camping break. Because of this,
dog-sitting duties scuppered hope of attending last night’s
London gig from Voivod and Nashville Pussy. Most annoying.
Despite vowing not to, I ended up watching the friendly
between England and Hungary. Was enjoying the game till
the second half introduction of alleged ‘striker’
Bo**y Za***a, a player with Shiteon & Homo Albion
roots. When I found myself yelling vitriolic abuse at
the television set in an otherwise empty house I figured
it might be time to change channels before the neighbours
summoned the men in the white coats (the game finished
2-1 to England, apparently).
Just
finished the sleeve notes for the re-issue of the two
albums by York-metalheads Maineeaxe (1984’s ‘Shout
It Out’ and the following year’s ‘Going
For Gold’). Whilst interviewing singer Mick Adamson,
I was intrigued to find out that the band’s second
line-up is considering a reunion. Good on ’em, that’s
what I say.
Today’s
postal haul was terrific; just what I needed with two
long trips ahead. The Rock Candy re-issues of the debut
from The Godz – no bonus cuts but Martin Popoff’s
sleeve essay is superb! – and the second album from
1994 (‘Please Stand By…’), plus the
first five Robin Trower albums edited down onto three
CDs (‘A Tale Untold: The Chrysalis Years: 1973-1976’).
‘Croweology’, a double album of acoustic re-workings
of the best Black Crowes songs is also here, plus Eagle
Vision’s latest ‘Classic Albums’ DVD,
which turns the spotlight on Rush’s ‘2112’
and Moving Pictures’… seriously, does it get
any better than that?!
Well…
maybe it does, and here’s the icing on the cake:
‘Sir’ Steve Coppell, a true Palace legend
has stunned football by walking out on his new employers,
Brizzle Shitty, after two games (both defeats, ’natch).
Fantastic news! Steve was far too good for a horrible,
pikey little club with such ill-founded delusions of grandeur.
_
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Wednesday
11th August
Unable
to make the trip to the West Country, last nite was spent
glued to Sky Sports News’ coverage of Crystal Palace’s
Carling Cup tie with Yeovil Town. With the score locked
at 0-0 extra time seemed inevitable until the 90th minute
when Alan Lee somehow slammed the ball home through a
crowded penalty box. Cue jubilant celebrations here in
Catford.
P.S.
I’m praying that there’s no truth to the rumour
that last night was the final occasion that CPFC custodian
Julian Speroni will wear the shirt. :-(
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday
10th August
With
the Heavy Metal Kids having gone public regarding their
line-up changes it’s safe for me to reveal the identity
of the band’s new frontman. Joining them, in keeping
with the theatrical nature of original singer Gary Holton,
is none other than John Altman… AKA ‘Nasty’
Nick Cotton from EastEnders! Bet you didn’t see
that one coming, eh? 58-year-old Altman, apparently an
old friend of Holton’s, says: “People don’t
know I sing but I’ve been in bands for years.”
No longer featuring keys-toting vocalist Danny Peyronel,
this revised grouping of the Kids also sees the return
of Cosmo, the guitarist who first joined in 1975, exiting
a couple of years later. There’s a new album to
be titled ‘Uncontrollable’ on its way, I’m
told.
Having
missed them at the High Voltage Festival due to an annoying
schedule conflict, I’m happy to say that the reunited
Argent have lined up a UK tour [see link].
With support coming from Martin Turner’s Wishbone
Ash and Curved Air, I’ll be at the Forum gig on
December 11.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday
9th August
With
a footie-inspired hangover gradually subsiding yesterday
afternoon was spent in the company of my friend Steve
Way and Kathy, his rock chick ‘other half’,
at the Cambridge Rock Festival. It was my second year
at this fine event. As we arrived, Keith Airey’s
band Aireya 51 were bringing their set to a close
with a guest appearance from Deep Purple’s Don Airey
– Keith’s brother – on keys. Despite
the awful pun of the group’s name, I liked what
I heard and will make a point of picking up the debut
album, ‘Crimson Tear’. Keith Airey has played
guitar for Colin Blunstone, The Zombies and Nik Kershaw
among others and, fittingly, his ensemble plays a rich
and sturdy brand of hard rock that administers a modern
spin to the trail previously blazed by Pink Floyd, Peter
Green and Robin Trower.
An
annoyingly soupy sound and a premature ending that deprived
us of the definitive ‘Captured City’ and ‘Lovers
To The Grave’ ruined my usual appreciation of Praying
Mantis, though I spoke to several folks that were
encountering the band for the first and had no problems
in savouring what they’d seen and heard. You can
call me Mr Picky, I guess. For reasons that only the organisers
will comprehend, 80s new waver Hazel O’Connor
was up next. Nothing to say but what a feeble load of
old bollocks. If only I’d had a shotgun.
After
a wait of way too many years I’d been dying to see
The Enid, and by golly the orchestral-proggers
didn’t disappoint. Their 85-minute set comprised
just three selections; a chunk of ‘Aerie Faerie
Nonsense,’ the main central theme of the new album
‘Journey’s End’ and most of ‘In
The Region Of The Summer Stars’. Although some of
their members doubled up on multiple instruments, their
sometime bassist also utilising huge Tympani drums and
wind-chimes – I’m sure that, just like Neal
Peart in the olden days his percussive armoury must have
included ‘crotales’, whatever those might
be – how on earth a five-piece band could conjure
up such an intoxicating wall of sound was truly mystifying
(and no, I’m not trying to imply that they cheat
by using tapes). That Robert John Godfrey and company
departed without an encore after such a colossus of a
performance was a major, major injustice.
The
crowd was thinning out a little by the time the headliners
brought the weekend to a close. Although I’m the
first to acknowledge a hugely differing viewpoint, for
me the promotion of former backing singer Olivia Sparnen
to the role of lead vocalist has dealt Mostly Autumn
a huge kick up the ass. The delightful Sparnen has both
an excellent voice and a pleasing stage presence –
in her skin-tight Lycra mini-skirt and knee-high leather
boots she’s also pretty easy on the eye! –
and both times I’ve encountered them since the transition,
the group’s energy has both surprised and delighted
me. I await the group’s new album ‘Go Well
Diamond Heart’ with an unprecedented set of expectations.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday
8th August
Yesterday’s
commencement of the new season was a near-perfect demonstration
of the good and bad of Crystal Palace. In a dazzling first
half display, against a side that made last year’s
play-offs, the Eagles raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to
goals from 17-year-old Wilfred Zaha, Darren Ambrose and
Alan Lee. During the break, I joined other supporters
on the Holmesdale stand in bellowing out: “We are
top of the league!” Afterwards, though, sticking
to a tried ‘n’ trusted script, the team did
its darndest to throw away the points. As the full-time
whistle blew, the home side was clinging onto a 3-2 lead
by its metaphorical toenails. An exciting game, and three
points on the board, but sheesh… I’d almost
forgotten the toll that supporting Palace exacts upon
the ol’ ticker.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Saturday
7th August
The
new football season starts today, with my beloved Crystal
Palace playing host to Leicester City. It cannot come
soon enough, especially for my eldest lad Eddie who has
spent most of the past few days on Sky Sports News awaiting
last minute signings and team news… aw, bless his
little (red and blue) cotton socks. A victory on the opening
day would be most welcome, but after the terrifying uncertainty
of the past few months – I know how you feel, Portsmouth
fans… – a beach ball-sized lump will be clogging
my throat when Paddy McCarthy leads the players onto the
fabled Selhurst turf at 2.55pm (Eddie informs me McCarthy
is “expected to shake off an Achilles problem”…
LOL!). Right now, existence is just enough. Come on you
Eagles!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday
6th August
Saraya
are no longer a part of this year’s Firefest, the
diva-like behaviour of their lead singer, Sandi Saraya,
having scuppered a planned reunion. It’s no great
loss if you ask me; even when they were here in the UK
as FM’s support act all those years ago I thought
they were overrated. The story can be viewed here.
Sandi’s ludicrous demands have infuriated even her
band-mates. She obviously had no concept of what the Firefest
stands for, nor apparently any passion for the purity
of those self-same principles. People like Sandi Saraya
make my blood boil…
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday 5th August
Well,
that’s more like it. A so-called Director’s
Cut video for Iron Maiden’s new single, ‘The
Final Frontier’, has been posted online… click
here.
Lasting just five minutes and eight seconds it’s
an edited version of the record’s opening track,
which glories in the full title of ‘Satellite 15.....The
Final Frontier’ and lasts for more than three minutes
longer still, but the video is great and the song knocks
the iffy ‘El Dorado’ into the proverbial cocked
hat. The album is out on August 16.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday
4th August
Last
nite I hopped onto a 185 bus for Crystal Palace’s
final pre-season game, against Isthmian League side Dulwich
Hamlet at Champion Hill. The Eagles fielded a very young
team with just Pinney, N’Diaye and Djilali boasting
first team experience, but had no problems registering
a comfortable 2-0 win, even missing a 90th minute penalty.
A respectable workout, all said and done.
P.S. Yay! My new Crystal Palace season ticket has arrived,
and the club has actually **bought** a new player –
an undisclosed fee bringing Ipswich’s Irish midfielder
Owen Garvan to Selhurst – for the first time in
two years. Things are looking up.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday
3rd August
Having
just closed an issue of Classic Rock there’s no
time to waste, it’s straight on with some sleeve
notes work. I’ve been playing a newly arrived finished
copy of ‘The Philadelphia Experiment’, an
excellent triple-disc live release from UK proggers Frost*.
But the album that has really taken me by surprise (in
a good way) is the solo debut from Christopher Amott.
A mellow and rootsy though deceptively hook-laden collection
of tunes, ‘Follow Your Heart’ represents a
huge departure from the guitarist’s incendiary work
with Arch Enemy, its sometimes Robin Trower-esque strains
exposing an appreciation of the classic rock of the 1970s.
I love it! Speaking
of which, check out this month’s Playlist here.
The newest YouTube is also up.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday
2nd August
Andy Beare’s car shot up the motorway towards
the final day of the Sonisphere festival like a bat out
of hell, due possibly to the fact that we’d both
had extremely hot curries 12 hours before (mine was a
chicken tikka vindaloo – lovely). I had to be on
site to review my first band at 1.35pm, but with the prevailing
wind behind us – quite literally – we arrived
at Knebworth in good time to check out Madina Lake
on the Main Stage. The Chicagoans were playing as a three-piece,
their bassist Matthew Leone hospitalised after attempting
to save a woman from being beaten up. A lovely sentiment
in principle, though the gesture only reminded us of the
importance of a good bit of ‘bottom end’ to
a group’s sound. I was intrigued to see a number
or two from Rise To Remain, who besides having
won Best New Band at the recent Metal Hammer awards also
feature Bruce Dickinson’s son Austin on vocals,
so we wandered over to a packed Bohemia tent. The Londoners
were playing a brand new Colin Richardson-produced song
called ‘The Serpent’, which really impressed
me, but before too long it was time to fulfil my editorial
remit with a dose of Skindred’s self-styled
Ragga-metal. Though on this occasion he sported a shiny
silver suit that made him look like a middle-aged, Rastafarian
bingo caller, it was hard not to be sucked in by Benjii
Webbe’s rough-shod charisma, and before too long
the fans were bouncing all the way back to the sound tower
to the sound of ‘Pressure’.
Tom Araya may still be regaining momentum after back surgery,
but Slayer remain an exercise in raw savagery.
Like the extreme metal world’s answer to Motörhead,
their conquering of a mid-afternoon festival is like feeding
rabbit to a snake. Allotted just 45 minutes at Sonisphere,
‘South Of Heaven’, ‘Dead Skin Mask’,
‘War Ensemble’ and ‘Angel Of Death’
were jumbled in with more recent offerings such as ‘World
Painted Blood’ and ‘Jihad’, but the
effect was just the same. With the search for nosebag
becoming a priority, there was time to at least sample
a tune or two from Sheffield’s own Bring Me The
Horizon, whose incendiary display made me determined
to check them out at the earliest opportunity.
Exactly how good were Alice In Chains? Well, let
put it this way: they managed to fulfil William DuVall’s
promise to “rattle the motherfucking sky.”
Serving up all the old Layne Staley-voiced classics, their
frontline of DuVall, guitarist Jerry Cantrell and bassist
Mike Inez conjured up a vocal sound that was nothing less
than spellbinding. With its jarring, monster riff, ‘Check
My Brain’ was one of a smattering of tracks from
‘Black Gives Way To Blue’ – one of this
writer’s albums of 2009. Departing with ‘Rooster’
was an electrifying, goosebumps moment.
After a frantic dart across the field – Sonisphere
has proper running times that allow you to see just about
anyone you wish, which after High Voltage was a blessed
relief… – The Cult offered one of the
surprises of the day, pelting through 45 thunderous minutes
of their best-known songs, plus a new track called ‘Every
Man And Woman Is A Star’, with completely unforeseen
fire and wit. Annoying, we didn’t spot that Sweet
Savage were over on the Jägermiester Stage till
the Irish metalheads were very nearly done, though the
offer of a few gratis Jäger Bombs from Turbowolf’s
ever-friendly publicist Nik Moore was too good to turn
down (even though we didn’t actually see his band
on the Jäger stage).
A short while later Iggy Pop had his shirt off halfway
through ‘Raw Power’, the opening song of a
riveting display from The Stooges. Having followed
it with ‘Search And Destroy’, the 63-year-old
Pop proposed a stage invasion, resulting in a ludicrous
tug of war between band and stage crew and security staff.
This is how a rock ‘n’ roll show should be,
though sadly the time to find a decent spot for the headliners
had arrived by ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’.
With
the event sold out for the third consecutive day, 55,000
fans awaited the arrival of Iron Maiden. Although
a set-list had been tweaked slightly for the band’s
arrival in their homeland, by and large it remained culled
from the last ten years, crammed with thoroughly excellent
material recorded since Dickinson and guitarist Adrian
Smith returned for ‘Brave New World’. Just
one song, ‘El Dorado’, was aired from the
forthcoming album ‘The Final Frontier, Bruce pointing
out that its uncharacteristically forgettable strains
are “in no way indicative of the rest of the album”.
Um… dare I say it: “Phew”?!
Kudos
to the crowd, though, whose enthusiasm was far from derailed
by the band’s refusal to play ‘The Trooper’,‘Run
To The Hills’ et al. Though you’d never have
guessed it, ‘The Ghost Of The Navigator’,
‘The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg’ and
‘Blood Brothers’ are lengthy, demanding pieces,
delivered by a group that was intent on stretching out
and retaining its own interest first and foremost. All
those that say musicians of Maiden’s age should
retire, do me a fucking favour. Go and watch them live
before spouting such drivel. Here’s the set-list:
‘The Wicker Man’, ‘The Ghost Of The
Navigator’, ‘Wrathchild’, ‘El
Dorado’, ‘Dance Of Death’, ‘The
Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg’, ‘These Colours
Don’t Run’, ‘Blood Brothers’,
‘Wildest Dreams’, ‘No More Lies’,
‘Brave New World’, ‘Fear Of The Dark’
and ‘Iron Maiden’, plus ‘The Number
Of The Beast’, ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’
and ‘Running Free’.
And
in conclusion? Sonisphere… yes, it gets the thumbs
up from me.
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday
1st August
Having
spent a big chunk of last nite trying to pay my tax bill
online – Grrrrr! – there’s just time
for a slice of toast, a check of the emails and it’s
off to the Sonisphere Festival at Knebworth Park, a chunk
of land I’ve not revisited since Deep Purple’s
legendary comeback gig in June ’85. What an incredible
bill we saw that day; the Scorps, UFO, Mountain, the much-missed
Mama’s Boys, Blackfoot and Alaska, plus special
guest Fat Oaf. Primarily I am there to see headliners
Iron Maiden, of course, but I shall check out most of
the bands on the Main Stage for Metal Hammer. What a shame
the rumours of Manowar being the final’s day’s
special guests turned out bogus. But there ya go…
so long as the mud of ’85 doesn’t return,
I‘ll have fun.
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