The Thunder Christmas Party
21st December 2011
Nottingham Rock City
The usual Christmas festivities in Thunder Towers resumed this year, with the resurrection of what their T-shirts call a great British tradition. And you know what? On this showing, they may just be right.
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From the minute the curtain drops, Vincent Furnier ceases to exist. In his place, Alice Cooper stalks the Earth. Alice, a man in his 60s remember, is a constant source of energy, prowling, snarling, baiting the audience. Hardly ever without a cane, a whip, or a sword in his leather clad hands, he energises the band around him. They feed off his leads and theatrics, making this more than a rock show – it’s an event. View full article »
Storm Large – Ladylike, Side One (2007)
Couple things out of the way first. Yes, Storm Large is her real name, kinda. Storm is her middle name (Susan being her first) but let’s face it, if your middle name was as cool as Storm, you’d use it too. Yes you would, and you know it.
Peter Wolf
Sleepless (2002)
It’s a dark night; a cold wind howls outside your window as the rain comes down, pattering endlessly against the window pane. You have in your hands a good book and a big mug of the finest hot chocolate known to man, or maybe even a nice wee dram of the best whisky you can afford. Over your shoulder, a couple of candles are flickering… View full article »
25 years ago this month, on the 4th to be exact, a shining light of the music industry was finally extinguished. Philip Parris Lynott died that day, although the legacy and music he left behind him will live on.
Yes folks, it’s December 31st, so it’s time to look back upon the past year and declare what I regard as my favourite albums of the year. I know you’re all waiting with baited breath to read what I liked… so here goes – my top 7. Why 7? Why not? And, as is customary with these things, they’ll be in reverse order.
Bit of a misleading title, as you’d only be crazy if you didn’t get your ass along to Edinburgh’s Underbelly during the Fringe and catch this incredible show from an incredible performer.
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Now, as you may know, in a previous life (ha!) I was/am/forever will be a HUUUUGE fan of Thunder. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and Thunder split up. I have found solace, however, in THE UNION – the new band formed by ex-Thunder guitarist, song writer and all round “top bloke” Luke Morley, and former Winterville main man and Thunder friend Pete Shoulder.
Here’s a sample of what they’re about:
Their debut release is a three track EP, cheaply priced at just £1.99 – and if that’s not persuasion enough, you can download Step Up To The Plate, the first track, free to sample their wares by simply going to their website at: TheUnionOnline.com.
Well worth a few minutes of your time, folks. Go have a listen.
The one time Toxic Twins
So Aerosmith announce a Europe wide summer jaunt including several festival slots, accompanied with a video of four members of the band being all happy and friendly, Steven Tyler even claiming that he “auditioned and got the gig”…
Well here’s the deal. I’m tired of the on/off/on again shenanigans, claims and counter claims that have surrounded them for the past few months; Tyler’s fallen off the wagon (and stage) and is out; He says he quits to do solo stuff; Joe Perry says they’re auditioning singers, and rumours fly of people being asked but declining, but with no substantial proof.
Then Joe Perry gives his latest (average at best) solo record in Classic Rock Magazine, complete with big anti-Tyler interview… Perry & Tyler release statements, lawyers letters and generally say Not Nice Things in the press… but then, suddenly they announce they’re headlining Download. And then Europe. Really? It’s all sorted that quickly?
Previously, Aerosmith have admitted that groundbreaking book “Walk This Way” was not only a way to conquer their demons, but a hell of a marketing ploy to put them back in the public eye. Given how awful Just Press Play and Honkin’ On Bobo actually were, anyone else just seeing this carry on as a snug little PR trick?
“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
That was the line from The Usual Suspects that pulled together the fantastic twist at the end of the flick. I get the feeling that this coming together and very public joining of arms and singing campfire songs is the final act. Aerosmtih need to come out with a rip roaring record within the next year to convince the me, and the world, that they are still relevant.
At the end of the day, to me it smacks of one of two things – an elaborate PR campaign (if it is, it’s genius and worked perfectly) or an ultimatum backfiring from one or both sides of the Perry/Tyler divide; someone realising that they both need each other – who really cares about Joe Perry without Steve Tyler? Who really cares about Steve Tyler without Aerosmith?
Either way, they’re back in the saddle, hopefully this time without the toys being thrown out of the pram for a while… they’ve used up all of their nine lives with me.
