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When something takes over your life that
much that you have to put your entire life on the back burner and put
others first, then this is what has made this years Rock of Ages Festival
such an important festival for me to support this year.
Anyone who knows about what Steve wanted
to achieve with Rock of Ages is to support Cancer Research and all money
from the shows going to a worthy cause. Like I said this years festival
took a whole new meaning for me as my mam was diagnosed with stage four
lung cancer just weeks before the shows and this two day festival took on
a whole new meaning for me.
Due to some god awful September weather
over the past week and on the day itself, I thought the weekends would be
a wash out, but despite the weather the event did receive support and
every band over the two days gave 110% with one exception, but more of
that later.
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The two day event put together by Steve
is aimed at putting together some of the best of new talent with some of
the more well known metal acts of yesterday and this weekend we saw some
great band living up to their household name status and some great young
talent that are destined for greatness.
Opening up day one were Beholder,
who delivered a really heavy opening set that set the tempo for the
rest of the weekend. These big guys put out an even bigger sound as
they opened up proceedings in true metal style. The band stampeded
through the set with such metal monsters as ‘Holy Hell’, ‘Let It Die’
and ‘Unleash The Hell’, before unleashing the title track off the
bands forthcoming album ‘The Code Of The Dead’, a real hammering metal
force.
The band then dedicated the final
track of their set ‘You’ll Never Take Us Down’ to Sue Lancaster who
was cowardly attacked and killed for being different, which got a real
metal response from those who had braved the elements to catch the
opening bands.
So the weekend had truly begun and
the metal just went on. |
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Next up were Tamworth’s own Mr Fixit,
a band that were introduced as "the band Def Leppard wished they
were", brave comments indeed so would they live up to the hype? Well
quite frankly no, but they did put on a show so Joe Elliot will sleep
better in his bed knowing that his band will live on.
The band were entertaining but Def
Leppard they are not. As they opened up their account with ‘She Said
He Said’, a reasonable opener before rocking things up a little with the
suitably titled 'Hard Rockin'.
The band then went on with the title
track off their forthcoming album ‘Alive’, again a good mid tempo rocker
that was liked by the crowd.
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They continue their set with the Bullet Boys-esq ‘Nothin For Nothin' and 'Heroes', before rounding off with a
rather brave cover of Van Halen's 'Talkin Bout Love', which they just
managed to carry off.
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Then it was time for Angel House
to make their mark on the day with a real hard rocking set.
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Which got underway with ‘Angel of War’,
with the trio really making their mark from the off as they powered on
through the set like an express train, with such highlights as ‘Heaven
Tonight’, the massive ‘Hit The Target’ and the groove filled ‘Suspicious
Women’.
Like most of the bands on the bill today
they were out to promote their latest album and Angel House were no
different as they carried on with ‘World Of Fire’, the title track off the
bands latest album.
The motto of leave them wanting more was
put out there as the band finished off in great style with the highlight
of the set the aptly titled ‘The Last Song’, which rounded off a storming
set.
Because of the show starting at noon and
the fact that we'd drove straight down from Wigan, we didn’t even check
into the hotel because we couldn’t until after 3pm. So one band had to
face the chop from the review and I’m afraid Tysondog were the victims and
because of Birmingham’s complex roadways, this seemingly straight forward
journey took longer than anticipated. So sorry guys, we'll catch you
next time.
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There were a total of four North East
bands on the bill for Rock of Ages over the weekend, the second of these
being Avenger, the first being of course Tysondog.
Who despite the recent accident by
bassist Huw Holding, saw the guitar tech step up and join Ian Swift, Gary
Young and Liam Thompson for a set of pure gold NWOBHM, as they opened
their account in fine style with ‘War Of Freedom’.
The bands set was a mix of old and new,
with the newer material still retaining that Avenger feel to it with the
likes of ‘Fate’, ‘Shot To Hell’ being particular standout newbees.
But the band still gave us ‘Hard Times’
and ‘Brand Of Torture’ to keep us oldies happy.
The set was finished off in style with a
storming cover of Iron Maidens ‘Killer’, which showed that you can't
keep a good dog down and Avenger were indeed back with a vengeance.
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It was soon time for some of the young
guns to really show what they are capable of and this meant The New
Generation Superstars. The band led by the tall statuesque
figure of AJ set about turning up the volume and sleaze factor with a
mind-blowing high energy set.
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Opening up with ‘How
To Hate Friends And Alienate People’,
it was plain from the off the boys meant
business as they swaggered and took control with an outstanding all guns
blazing set.
They continued in fine style with the rip
snorting ‘Always Gonna Be’ and equally superb ‘Done Before’.
With guitarist Davey Messiah trying his
damnedest to whip the crowd up into a frenzy, they continued the
high-energy rock n' roll with the storming ‘Come Over’ and my favourite of
the set ‘White Trash’.
The band were really whipping up a storm
as gave no quarter as the punishing high octane set that really was one of
the best I’ve seen from the band and with the set closers ‘Do
It 'Cause I Can’ and ‘Overload’, the band really gave the next band a
thing to think about. |
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With an extend break announced it was
time to seek out some nourishment, which we did and very nice it was too.
One thought on out minds though was we had to make it back in time to see
the next band, who we've waited a very long time to see and were really
looking forward to catching them today. The name of the band being
none other than Burn.
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Their debut album ‘Global Warning’ is
always getting an airing in our office and to finally be able to catch the
band live was something I was really looking forward to and boy did they
impress.
Opening up with ‘Down In Flames’ the band
rocked big style with Jeff Ogden leading from the front with a great Hard
Rock vocal display, along with guitarists Julian Nichols and Phil Hammond
showing what a great duo they are.
The duo once again showed their metal on
‘Forgive Me’ and the excellent ‘In Another Lifetime’, with Barney
Stockhouse lending his great keyboard skills to the latter.
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This was what I was expecting from the
band as the managed to bring the album to life as the set continued with
‘Weight Of Expectations’ a great up tempo rocker and the magnificent
‘Dangerous Times’, again the guitars of Nichols and Hammond really shined
as Ogden powered through in fine style.
And this continued throughout the set
with the towering ‘Made That Way’, a real Hard Rock classic in the making,
before rounding things off with the gentle Melodic Hard Rock of ‘Pray For
Rain’.
This was a real professional performance
from the band who delighted every single person in the room with their
outstanding performance. It was great to finally see the band in
action and hear the songs from their stunning debut album performed live.
If you haven't caught this band before then be sure to check them out and
prepare to be amazed.
Now while the band up to this point had
left any ego's at the door and got down to some seriously good rocking,
the same could not be said about the next band. Now sadly enough
this next band were actually another one of those bands I'd really been
looking forward to seeing. The band being Gypsy Pistolero’s
who's album 'Para Siempre'
I found really impressive.
But I’m afraid the band really left their
mark on all present here today for all the wrong reasons. Firstly
the guitarist came on stage smoking a cigarette and was told repeatedly to
put it out by the stage manager and from this point on the band went
rapidly downhill as they barracked the audience with such hostility how
no-one didn't punch their sad little lights out was a miracle.
The audience were none to pleased at this, as was the stage manager,
but these mighty ego-maniacs continued on oblivious and took great
pleasure in repeatedly telling us all that they'd recently returned
from a successful tour of the US. Well I’m afraid guys one tour
does not make you a rock star, because on that basis I should be
running for president as I’ve been going to the States every year for
well over a decade.
The shambolic set didn’t get any better
so much so that I stopped taking notes. The band were finally dragged off
stage and from what I heard afterwards they were escorted off the
premises. If this band don't stop playing the rock n' roll
primadonna’s then I’m afraid they will have a very short shelf life, their
car crash rock n' roll will see them crash and burn all too soon.
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With the next band you’re always in for a
surprise or two and Waysted didn’t disappoint if the Gypsy
Pistolero’s were the car crash then Finn was the multiple pileup.
If you’ve ever seen Waysted live or know
of their reputation for liking the odd tipple, then tonight they truly
surpassed all that has been written about them. Well perhaps not the
whole band, but certainly Pete and Finn.
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With Pete you always know he’s gonna have
a drink before the show, but tonight Finn excelled even the mighty Way as
he could hardly make the stage. As the band opened up Finn
immediately fell down and remained there for the entirety of the set only
getting up occasionally, but fair dues to the man, he never missed a word
or sang a note out of tune whether vertical or horizontal, as the band
went through the classics like ‘Dead On Your Legs' (somewhat appropriate),
'Toy With A Passion’, the classic of
classic Waysted songs ‘Heaven
Tonight’, which had the entire audience singing along, before rounding off
with ‘Love Loaded’.
The band all gave 110% as usual with
Chris George as spell binding as ever, as Nacho Jase simply had oodles of
fun on rhythm guitar and Pete Way, well Pete was Pete.
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The band were lead off the stage to the
chants of more but the only way I think they would have been able to
continue was if Fin was carried back on stage on stretcher. Even so
the crowd booed when the stage manager said no more. Waysted, rock n' roll
through and through and showed the Gypsy Pistolero’s how to do it.
Now after all the debauchery it was time
for a little sobriety in the form of the one and only Tygers Of Pan
Tang.
After the AC/DC intro Rob Weir and the
rest of the band walked on stage and gave us a set worthy of their
headline status, getting things underway with ‘Cry Freedom’, a great
opener from the bands excellent ‘Animal Instinct’ opus. With Jack in
superb form and Rob and Deano just in their element as they exchanged
licks throughout the set.
The set was filled with tracks both old
and new, each as good as the other and with the older songs sounding fresh
and the new songs, well they're just great.
The tremendous set continued with
something from the Spellbound album ‘Take It’. The classics have
been reworked by Weir and Robertson with each taking equal guitar licks
and this has added to the overall sound of the older material and with
Jack on vocals, the old stuff sounds so much better.
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Another classic slice of Tygers was
‘Suzie Smiled’, a renowned favourite of Weirs who when he takes the stage
these days looks ten years younger and was really enjoying being on stage
here tonight. In fact the whole band look relaxed and thoroughly
enjoying the camaraderie that has become a big factor in the bands
resurgence.
What Jack has brought to the band is a
vocalist who can take the stage and you know he’s gonna give 110% every show. He showed that tonight in
abundance as he shone through songs like ‘Slave To Freedom’,
‘Euthanasia’, the hard rocking ‘Rock N' Roll Man’.
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But songs of the set were the outstanding
‘Love Potion No. 9’ and ‘Hellbound’ with Deano towering above everyone
with some outstanding solos. The set of the day was rounded off with
the encore ‘Gangland’ which again showed the band are at their
best ever and most definitely have been drinking from the fountain of rock
n' roll youth.
And so with that it was time to take our
weary heads and feet back to the hotel and catch some well deserved zzz's
because tomorrow we were going to be doing it all over again.
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