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METAL ARCHIVIST & OLD SCHOOL METAL HEAD … OBSESSED WITH HEAVY * THRASH * DEATH * BLACK * DOOM * HARD ROCK *
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
APRIL WINE (1981)
Maxine Photo I took during the Nature of the Beast Tour. (Was 16 at the time, and spent the day outside the doors to be the first so I could get the coveted spot in the front) St. John's Memorial Stadium. Three years later I had it printed to a 5x7 and brought it to another April Wine Concert and had Myles and Steve sign it after the show.
IRON MAIDEN (HIT PARADER, SEPTEMBER 1988)
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PATREON MEMBERS
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FERAT (CZE) (ROCK REPORT #1) < TRANSLATED TO ENGLISH
Rock Power was a magazine from Czechoslovakia and written in Czech. But here's an interview translated to English for you!
FERAT (CZE)
It doesn't seem like it, but it's a fact. Years fly by quickly and four and a half years have passed since the birth of the Pilsen thrash formation Number One - the four-member FERATU, whose initial line-up was formed on the ruins of Fata Morgana. Despite countless personnel changes in this context, it is worth remembering at least a few of its ex-members: Daniel Krob, Marcel Šaman and Michal Pošvář - it has retained its fans to this day, even though it has not yet managed to record a major album. On the black disc you can only find it on the Ultrametal sampler (Monitor), where it included its "hits" from the latest demo Rychlá rota.
Ferat has never been a big fan of studio work, he has always focused mainly on touring. After all, apart from the aforementioned demo tape, he has only recorded one other single during his career - three years ago it was a "live" simply called Ferat-live. The boss of the band, bassist Roman Velinov, who is sitting with us in his Skrábná apartment, most fondly remembers the concerts where several thrash bands came together. For example, last year's Attack of Fire festival in Bzenec na Moravě, but also the "strings" with Kreyson, Arakain, Debustrol, Kabát and others.
FERAT (CZE)
It doesn't seem like it, but it's a fact. Years fly by quickly and four and a half years have passed since the birth of the Pilsen thrash formation Number One - the four-member FERATU, whose initial line-up was formed on the ruins of Fata Morgana. Despite countless personnel changes in this context, it is worth remembering at least a few of its ex-members: Daniel Krob, Marcel Šaman and Michal Pošvář - it has retained its fans to this day, even though it has not yet managed to record a major album. On the black disc you can only find it on the Ultrametal sampler (Monitor), where it included its "hits" from the latest demo Rychlá rota.
Ferat has never been a big fan of studio work, he has always focused mainly on touring. After all, apart from the aforementioned demo tape, he has only recorded one other single during his career - three years ago it was a "live" simply called Ferat-live. The boss of the band, bassist Roman Velinov, who is sitting with us in his Skrábná apartment, most fondly remembers the concerts where several thrash bands came together. For example, last year's Attack of Fire festival in Bzenec na Moravě, but also the "strings" with Kreyson, Arakain, Debustrol, Kabát and others.
The bands debut album from 1993.
Please report dead links!
Please report dead links!
"You don't have to remind me that these bands have had an album for a long time. And not only them. We've kind of missed the mark in that regard." We more or less put studio work behind us, which in its own way took its toll on us. Now we're trying to catch up quickly, but the competition is huge. We recently shot three proven things at Şamson Lenk in Starý Pizenec: Stín těl, Zvedni svů duší and Ninja. We'll see, we're planning to send them to Gung-ho and Plzeňský roz-las.
"And as for the album, we should be recording it at Monitor at the end of the year, but that's what the contract says. It could be on the market in December. We have the repertoire ready, all we need is a title and a cover."
The songs prepared for the album are of course also part of the FERATU concert program. Roman Velinov-bg, Leoš Válka-g, Alan Reisich-dr and Ota Husák-g,voc, in addition to the many events they will participate in over the summer, would like to organize a large metal "congress" in Pizna at the Česká hospoda (ex Svazáček) at the turn of August and September. This will at least partially compensate for the thrash fans' this year's fasting, which is mainly due to the Pilsen PKO. The annual regular concerts in the Lochotín amphitheater have been replaced by discos for financial reasons, so that heavy metal music fans have no choice but to "get off" in the dirty Pilsen "fours". -Harry-
PHOTO: JOSEF KŮDA
FAIR WARNING (UK) "ROCKING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT" [12"]
NWOBHM band from Swindon, Wiltshire, South West England, UK.
Label: Areba Records - ERA 2
TRACKLIST:
Side A:
Rocking at the Speed of Light
Side B:
Tongue in Cheek
Breaking the Law (Judas Priest cover)
Breaking the Law (Judas Priest cover)
LINE-UP
Steve Shearan - Vocals
Lee Jackson - Guitars
Dean Martin - Guitars
Phil Peters - Bass
Danny Archer - Drums
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METALLICA & EXODUS
Make sure to support the legendary and independent book publisher Bazillion Point, by buying the book "Murder in the Front Row". Click Here!
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| Members of Metallica and Exodus at the Uli Jon Roth show at Wolfgang's S.F, May 16, 1985. |
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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Monday, May 18, 2026
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IRON MAIDEN ... THE SPACEWARD DEMO STORY
Recorded over New Year's Eve in 1978, the famous Spaceward Demo was Iron Maiden's first recording session. It cost the band £200 to record four songs at Spaceward Studios in Cambridge. Its underground popularity ignited the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and paved the way for their debut EP.
THE SESSION
In late 1978, finding gigs difficult to book outside East London, the band decided to invest in a professional demo. To save money, bassist Steve Harris booked an overnight weekend session at Spaceward Studios over New Year's Eve (December 30–31).
The official story is that the 4-piece lineup of Steve Harris, singer Paul Di'Anno, guitarist Dave Murray, and drummer Doug Sampson recorded four songs: "Prowler", "Invasion", "Iron Maiden", and "Strange World".
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| Iron Maiden outside The Clarendon Arms, December 31st 1978, right next to Spaceward Studios were The Soundhouse Tapes were recorded. From left to right: Paul Di’Anno, Paul Cairns (with his dog, Nelson), Dave Murray, Steve Harris and Doug Sampson. Photo: Spaceward Studios |
Other information suggest that it isn’t really so. The credits for The Soundhouse Tapes tells you that the now infamous demo, Iron Maiden’s very debut as recording artists, was recorded by the personnel Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Paul Di’Anno and Doug Sampson. As it happens, several sources are now claiming that there was a fifth person involved in the recordings, Paul Cairns.
According to former Iron Maiden roadie Steve “Loopy” Newhouse the band toured as a four-piece for several months in 1978, but Steve Harris decided that they needed to go back to the original configuration with a two guitar line-up so they could pull of the harmonies. Subsequently an add was placed in Melody Maker and auditions were held.
Paul Cairns was chosen, a guy with both the skills and the looks. Newhouse remembers the ordeal in his blog:
“Then suddenly, just when things were about to wrap up for the evening a guy called Paul Cairns turned up with his dog, Nelson.
If I could describe his look, Paul, not the dog, the shaggy hair style and opened shirt, I would say that Jon Bon Jovi stole Paul Cairns’ look, without even knowing it. Even though Bon Jovi came along a few years after Maiden and musically was of a different genre, they went on to become a huge selling act and, after my stint with Iron Maiden, I worked for them a couple of times. But that’s another story.
Paul slotted in quite well during the initial audition. He had everything. Musically, he was what the band wanted, and he looked the part too. But that was where it ended as far as I was concerned.”
In a later blog post, Newhouse details the events in Cambridge and points to several factors that suggests that Cairns actually was involved in the recordings too:
– The photo of Paul Cairns with the rest of the band, standing outside the pub next to the studio was not doctored in any way. Nelson, Paul’s dog taking center stage, was a clue. I actually remember Paul saying he had slept in his van, and Nelson had kept him warm. I have no idea what triggered this memory, but I’m stuck with it now.
And then there is Paul’s account of his part in the recording of the Demo, according to Stjepan Juras‘ book, The Clairvoyant.
– Paul’s very detailed account of the part he played on each track was enough to get me thinking that the only way he would know this stuff was if he was actually there.
If it is the case that Paul Cairns was involved in the recordings, why is he not credited for his effort on the EP? One possible explanation was that he was booted from the band before the the demo was printed as The Soundhouse Tapes and thus the band didn’t want to profile themselves with a member that was no longer in the band.
(The Paul Cairns story is from maidenrevelations.com)
THE LOST MASTER
The band returned to Cambridge a week later to mix the tracks but needed an additional £50 to do so. While they scrambled to raise the cash, the studio owner accidentally deleted the original master tapes. As a result, the demo was released in its rough, unmixed form.
The band returned to Cambridge a week later to mix the tracks but needed an additional £50 to do so. While they scrambled to raise the cash, the studio owner accidentally deleted the original master tapes. As a result, the demo was released in its rough, unmixed form.
Another version of this event comes from Mike Kemp:
THE SOUNDHOUSE TAPES
The band made copies of the tape and handed them to DJs, most notably Neal Kay. Kay played the tracks at his heavy metal club in London, prompting "Prowler" to hit #1 on the club's charts. To satisfy fans asking to buy the music, the band self-released three of the tracks in November 1979 as the The Soundhouse Tapes EP. The three tracks - "Prowler",
THE LEGACY
Only 5,000 copies of the original EP were printed. The overwhelming demand from fans and the buzz created by the Spaceward Demo caught the attention of manager Rod Smallwood, ultimately securing the band a major record deal with EMI in 1980.
"There have been some cruel comments by IRON MAIDEN that "they went back to get the multi-tracks some weeks after the sessions (because they couldn't afford them at the time) but the nasty studio had wiped them". My side of the story has never been heard - i.e. that we were as poor as they were and couldn't afford to keep £60 multitrack tapes for every band either! (A session cost about that I recall) We did our best - I think for £5 a week we would hold them until either they were paid for or the band decided not to keep them any longer, e.g. after a remix. Presumably they did not take that option."
THE SOUNDHOUSE TAPES
The band made copies of the tape and handed them to DJs, most notably Neal Kay. Kay played the tracks at his heavy metal club in London, prompting "Prowler" to hit #1 on the club's charts. To satisfy fans asking to buy the music, the band self-released three of the tracks in November 1979 as the The Soundhouse Tapes EP. The three tracks - "Prowler",
"Invasion" and "Iron Maiden" - appear in rougher form than they would later be heard on the first album and subsequent singles. The tracks are played a bit slower and therefore more groovy as they appeared later on their debut. "Invasion" was not used until 1980, when it was released as a b-side to the "Women In Uniform" single. The fourth song from the demo - "Strange World" - would also be re-recorded for 'Iron Maiden'. The song was not included in 'The Soundhouse Tapes' because the band was not happy with the recording quality.
THE LEGACY
Only 5,000 copies of the original EP were printed. The overwhelming demand from fans and the buzz created by the Spaceward Demo caught the attention of manager Rod Smallwood, ultimately securing the band a major record deal with EMI in 1980.
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Sunday, May 17, 2026
PLAYING RIGHT NOW ... MANILLA ROAD "OPEN THE GATES" [LP]
Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 1984
Country: USA
Note: For me, Manilla Road is the most underrated Heavy Metal band of the 1980's. They should have been up there on the big stages with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy etc. More or less all their releases during this period was nothing short of FANTASTIC.
Year: 1984
Country: USA
Note: For me, Manilla Road is the most underrated Heavy Metal band of the 1980's. They should have been up there on the big stages with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy etc. More or less all their releases during this period was nothing short of FANTASTIC.
LITA FORD (OKEJ MAGAZINE #10, 1983) < TRANSLATED
English translation from the Swedish Pop Magazine OKEJ. OKEJ was more or less the only music magazine in Sweden during the 1980’s and almost 90% of Swedish youth read it and then talked about in school.
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LITA FORD
MAKES A CONVINCING COMEBACK
She graduated from Runaways and since then she has developed musically, gained self-confidence and ideas and is now debuting with the album "Out For Blood" and her new group, The Lita Ford Band.
Lita Ford's album is now in the record stores and in the charts and it's actually a very pleasant return - "Out For Blood" is a visually convincing comeback!
"We're not at all what Runaways fans expect," says Lita. "Neil and Dusty are so insanely talented sometimes I can't believe this is my band!"
INVALUABLE ASSET
And certainly musically this band is significantly better than the Runaways ever were, even though the focus and spirit are the same. It's about hard and tough rock'n'roll from the first track to the last, the bass is heavy and pumping, the guitars scream and whine and Dusty Watson's thunderous drums create a compact and impenetrable wall of sound.
The songs on the LP are written by Lita and bassist Neil Merryweather, with two exceptions: "Rock'n'Roll Made Me What I Am Today" is written by Pete Heimlich and the fine "Any Way That You Want Me" is written by Chip Taylor.
Neil is a very experienced and talented rocker and he has been an invaluable asset to The Lita Ford Band since the beginning. He writes songs, is a fast and creative bass player, produces and was even the group's manager until very recently. That role has now been taken over by Allen Kovac.
GOOD GUITAR PLAYING
The album "Out For Blood" doesn't really offer any direct surprises, but it doesn't matter much, this is well-played and brutal hard rock, exactly the way the audience wants it. It rocks best in the title track, "Ready, Willing And Able" and in the closing "I Can't Stand It", and Lita's guitar playing is consistently very good. She was praised for that already in The Runaways and she has always had the ambition to develop and mature as a musician.
- With Runaways, I always knew I could be much better, she says.
I wanted to try new things and develop myself.
Since the group's split in 1979, Lita has disciplined herself and practiced hard every day, which has also paid off on the new LP - she is cheeky and cheeky enough to occasionally play the part of several of her male colleagues!
ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING
As far as the singing is concerned, there are a few shortcomings here and there. Lita is far from a great singer and her voice often sounds too thin and uncertain amidst the noisy, high-pressure music. Neil, however, disagrees with this:
- Lita is absolutely outstanding, he thinks instead. A few years ago she didn't care one bit about her voice, now she's become a fantastic rock vocalist. I think she's even surprised herself!
She is the absolute toughest girl in the hard rock scene and the title of the album suits her perfectly - as does the photo job. Lita is dressed in mesh and leather with hundreds of studs, her hair is blond and bushy, she is heavily made up and she seems to have her sights set on one thing only - to be the best and toughest!
So listen to Lita Ford - the girl who plays bleeding hard rock!
Photo: Polygram, SPS
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SWEDISH THIN LIZZY FAN CLUB SHOP (1981) < TRANSLATED
Courtesy of Jörgen Holmstedt, who run the Swedish Thin Lizzy fan club. Here are two pages from their shop, translated to English. The original ones in Swedish you can find down below. And for those who are curious, the prices stated in Kr (Swedish Kronor) is today about $1 = 10 kr. So a T-shirt was about $4 in 1981.
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SWEDISH ORIGINAL
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