Please sign the petition to keep a local college campus open…

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?sfeashfd&1

Blackburn 0-0 Stoke City

Not as drab as the scoreline or Stuart Hall would have you believe as Pulis dropped Beattie for Big Mama and Lawrence started in place of Delap. Blimey two attacking wingers! Even the returning Faye started on the bench although he replaced Shawcross in the second half who as ‘feeling his groin’ to use football speak. What next Tuncay getting a start? He may well do against Arsenal away next week…

Loanee Dave Kitson bagged two for Middlesboro in their 2-2 draw, taking his season tally to date to five goals now.

Tom Soares goes on loan

Another player goes on loan, this time Tom Soares who has joined Sheff Wed until the end of the year.  Signed from Crystal Palace with Clint Hill going the other way, he’s never really shone in a Stoke shirt to date.

GRTR! Reviewers Best Of 2009 picks…

www.getreadytorock.com/best_of_2009.htm

Albums by Magnum, Saxon, House Of Lords and Europe are popular choices som far with more reviewers still to add in their selections.

Stoke City 1-0 Portsmouth

Lucky win for us but it is still three points as Ricardo Fuller scored his first goal of the season from an Etherington assit. Pompey missed a penalty early on but at least it wasn’t a Spurs scoreline – nine one they beat Wigan! Stoke are never likely to score nine (or even three) goals under Pulis

The Ginger Ninja and Tonge depart on loan

The Ginger Ninja aka Dave Kitson has joined Middlesboro on loan and Michael Tonge has also go on loan to Preston. Both players must feel they have never had a real chance to shine at Stoke and Kitson in particular has shown great form earlier this seaosn only for him to be dropped. Pulis can be a hard one to call when it comes to his team choices…

Hopefully Lawrence can make his way back into the team and it maybe time to drop Delap. No Faye against Pompey on Sunday as he serves his one match ban with Huth likely to take his place and Wilko back at right back. Come on Stoke!

The Faces touring next year & Dio UK tour cancelled

The Faces will tour next year according to Ian McLagan in a recent Billboard interview but without Rod Stewart.

Dio has been hospitalised and as result his upcoming UK tour has been cancelled.

Jeff Scott Soto appears the Camden Underworld, London on 20th January.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor releases a new single next week, ‘Everything Is Unbroken’. He has also revealed he wants to work with fellow drummer Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters.

Seems former TYKETTO/JOURNEY vocalist Steve Augeri could replace Hugo in Valentine.

BAD COMPANY + JOE PERRY

Thursday 1 April Birmingham LG Arena
Friday 2 April Manchester Arena
Sunday 4 April Sheffield City Hall
Monday 5 April Cardiff CIA
Wednesday April 7 Newcastle Arena
Thursday 8 April Glasgow Clyde
Saturday 10 April Brighton Centre
Sunday 11 April Wembley Arena

Bad Company & Kiss heading for the UK next year

Not on the same bill but Bad Company look set to announce an April tour whilst Kiss are due over in May.  Muse have just anounced two UK dates for next September as well.

Joe Bonamassa

HMV APOLLO HAMMERSMITH – LONDON – FRI 28TH MAY
MAGNA CENTRE – ROTHERHAM – SAT 29TH MAY
WINDSOR HALL – BOURNEMOUTH – SUN 30TH MAY
NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA – BIRMINGHAM – MON 31ST MAY

Finally vocalist Hugo has left melodic rockers Valentine. Not sure who they will get in as a replacement as Hugo’s voice is what makes the band!

Judas Priest To Bring British Steel Home

Judas Priest To Bring British Steel Home.

My top 30 albums of the year…

1. Duckworth Lewis Method – superb cricket themed album that includes the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon. Perfect quirky pop bliss.

2. Places Of Power ‘Now Is The Hour’ (Frontiers) – the best album Foreigner never made.

3. Jeff Scott Soto ‘Beautiful Mess’ (Frontiers) – an album that JSS shows his more funkier side. Worth it alone for the song ‘Gin & Tonic Sky’.

4. W.E.T. (Frontiers) – its that man Mr Soto again doing his melodic hard rock thing and sounding at times how you’d imagine Journey sounding had he been able to record with the band. Essential.

5. House Of Lords ‘Cartesian Dreams’ (Frontiers) – their best album since reforming and nearly as good as ‘Sahara’!

6. Dream Theater ‘Black Clouds And Silver Linings’ (Roadrunner) – made me fall in love again with the band as they focused again on melody.

7. Magnum ‘Into The Valley Of The Moonking’ (SPV) - they just keep getting better since they returned. Good to see a couple of straight ahead hard rockers on this album.

8. IQ ‘Frequency’ (GEP/SPV) – their best album to date and just marvel at the soundscapes they create.

9. The Jokers ‘The Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Show’ – amazing debut album that mixes 70’s Aerosmith/Stones with a more modern feel. No a single filler.

10. Cheap Trick ‘The Latest’ www.cheaptrick.com – they just keep getting better. The masters of pop rock.

11. On The Rise (Frontiers) – top notch AOR.

12. The Wildhearts ‘Chutzpah!’ after a couple of average release they are back on top form. They even mix pop with thrash metal on one song!

13. Astra ‘From Within’ (Lion Music) - the only band I know to successfully meld melodic metal with AOR/melodic rock. Includes a cracking tribute to Freddie Mercury.

14. Radio Silence  (Escape Music) – AOR/pop rock – damn fine tunes whatever you label it as.

15. Sacred Heart ‘Darkness Falls’ www.sacredheartband.com – UK based hard rockers who have pulled out the stops to produce their best album to date.

16. Saxon ‘Into The Labyrinth’ (SPV) – Biff & the boys come good again. They were frankly s*** in the 90’s but have found their muse again.

15. The Trews ‘No Time For Later’ – amazed this band never break in the UK as they have the songs to  appeal to a wide audience.

16. 101 South ‘No Un Turns’ (AOR Heaven) – perfect US AOR and not a duff song in sight.

17. Kiss ‘Sonic Boom’ (Roadrunner) – never though these guys would make one of my year end ‘best of’ lists but this is a damn fine album.

18. Firenote S/T – another top Finnish band and not unlike Brother Firetribe with their 80’s rock sound.

19. Danger Danger ‘Revolve’ (Frontiers) – not a band I have liked much before but this album is melodic hard rock with a smile

20. Kyle Vincent ‘Where You Are’ – laid back pop.

21. Steel Panther ‘Feel The Steel’ – definitely not PC and a 80’s hair metal tribute band meets a foul mouthed Spinal Tap.

22. Oliver Weeks ‘Get Ready’ – Swedish X Factor finalist unleashes a debut album chock full of catchy hard rock tunes.

23. Saga ‘The Human Condition’ (Inside Out) – new vocalist but still these Canadian prog rockers delight.

24. Queensryche ‘American Soldier’ (Rhino/Atlantic) - their best album in ages.

25. Mastedon ‘3′ (Frontiers) – not the US metal band but the long lost Christian hard rock band return. Pomp up the volume…

26. Aynsley Lister ‘Equilibrium’ - blues rock meets pop by a very talented UK bluesman.

27. Jon Amor – mixes blues, rock, acoustic and pop to make a satisfying listen.

28. Govt. Mule ‘By A Thread’ – if you like classic 70’s rock by bands like the Allman Brothers this album is a must.

29. Grand Design ‘Time Elevation’ (AOR Heaven) – the best album Def Leppard never made.

30. Masters Of Reality ‘Pine’/'Crossed Over’ – the musician’s band and sadly underrated. They mix stoner rock with Beatles harmonies and some frankly bizarre lyrics

Top 5 Reissue Albums

Twisted Sister ‘Stay Hungry’ – some of the unreleased tracks should have made the original release

Europe ‘Out Of This World’/'Prisoners In Paradise’

Uriah Heep ‘Celebration’ (yes they are re-recordings but the songs are old)

The Storys ‘Town Between The Trees’ Angel Air (great album and just catching up on an album raved about by fellow GRTR! reviewers)

The Babys re-issues on Rock Candy – they still sound great today.

Top 5 Gigs

Rick Wakeman @ Hampton Court OTT as you’d expect and a close call as to who stole the show, Rick Wakeman or the narrator, Brian Blessed

Chris Singleton @ Troubador – good to hear some new tunes which bode well for the new album

Ultravox @ Hammersmith Apollo waited years to see them live and they were superb

Power Quest @ Islington Academy – new line-up did extremely well and can’t wait for the new album

Europe @ Relentless Garage – a very hard rocking set and included a cracking UFO cover

Plus Guilfest which is always a pleasure to attend and this year enjoyed sets by the Lightning Seeds & Brian Wilson.

 

 

Signed Pendradon CD’s

Thanks to Nick Barrett and Pendragon for donating two signed CD’s to raise funds for the National Tremor Organisation -

Double live ‘Concerto Maximo’ -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367150033&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

The excellent ‘Pure’ album -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367150613&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Plus signed Gary Rhodes photo -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367145668&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

The final signed Mammoth t-shirt signed by John McCoy -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300367146232&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

More items soon and as ever any contcats for sigend donations always welcome.

Three players sign new contracts…

Good to see defenders Ryan Shawcross and Danny Higginbotham along with goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen all signed new and extended contracts. Great news about Shawcross, who has signed until 2014, as he is highly rated and has been linked with Man Utd, his old club, recently.

Robb Johnson releases a new album, ‘Ghost Of Love’

The press release is below…if you like thought provoking folk/rock this is the man for you.

Hi All,

the Ghost of Love (irregular records irr076) is going to be available 30/11. distribution by Proper, & already play.com are selling it for £7.99! & it it awesome. we’re all really excited & chuffed about this album. & erm.. personally, um err, as a writer, err um, i think this is one of the best albums wot i writ. & the playing by the Irregulars is immaculate – awesome bass & drums courtesy of messrs Forrester & Waygood, decorated by Mr Watson’s magnificent melodeon, concertina & harmonica, Ms Browton’s splendidly emotive cello, & the blood & fire & soul of Mr Walker’s brass playing. Be really great if you ordered it in advance ( & if you’re stuck for an extra xmas present or two – order more!) as the xmould rush may well clog up the Proper system, & anyway the shops are bound to be submerged anyway in the usual xmould slush.

Plus there are some gigs as well!!!!

20/11: Gaslight & Coke Building, Kelso Place, Bath (the Irregulars 3 piece)

21/11: The Acorn Arts Centre, Penzance – children’s gig afternoon, Ghost of Love (3 Irregs) eve.

22/11: a pub near Dorchester (3 Irregs)

29/11: somewhere in East Grinstead, solo, tbc

06/12: The Coach & Horses, Brentford (the Irregulars – Ghost west london launch gig) pm tbc

10/12: The Komedia, Brighton, (the Irregulars, Ghost of Love)

12/12: Orange St, Canterbury, (the Irregulars, Ghost of Love)

13/12: The Drill Hall, Chenoes St, London (the Irregulars, the Ghost of Love + RJ children’s gig, pm)

20/12: Bah! Humbug! @ the Dook, Shoreham, pm (RJ solo)

27/12: The Latest Bar, Brighton (Irregulars + Lomans + Sarah Michelles + special guests)

Steve Tyler denies leaving Aerosmith & ELP reform

Rumours that Steven Tyler had quit Aerosmith to concentrate on a solo album and autobiography both due sometime next year, have now been denied according to the band. This one could run and run like the on/off Faces reunion…

Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) will reform for a ‘Classic Rock’ magazine sponsored festival on 26th July in London at a venue TBC. More bands TBA and doubtless a few off the magazine’s own Powerage label.

The Kinks have started recording a new album although no news on whether Dave Davies will be joining his brother Ray on this album. To say the pair of them don’t get on is an understatement.

Another band hard at work in the studio are the Scorpions with a new album due in the first half of 2010.

Keel’s new album is out via Frontiers in January and Giant’s new album is due in Feb/Mar on the same label.

Robert Cray has announced a UK tour for next July…

PHILHARMONIC HALL – LIVERPOOL – FRI 2ND JULY
DE MONTFORT HALL – LEICESTER – SAT 3RD JULY
THEATRE ROYAL – NORWICH – SUN 4TH JULY
BRIGHTON DOME – BRIGHTON – MON 5TH JULY
THE BRIDGEWATER HALL – MANCHESTER – THU 8TH JULY
SYMPHONY HALL – BIRMINGHAM – MON 12TH JULY
ROYAL CONCERT HALL – GLASGOW – TUE 13TH JULY
THE SAGE – GATESHEAD – WED 14TH JULY

Tangerine Dream appear at the Royal Albert Hall on 1st April.

Hull 2-1 Stoke City

The Tango Clown lives to fight another day as we implode - Faye sent off, Beattie looking a shadow of last season and Colins & Huth all over the shop. But Etherington was a star again, Kitson looked good and Tuncay came on although at the expense of Fuller. Even a former player scored, yes Ollyfinjana.

Onwards and upwards…Pompey after the international break.

Albums of the Year Part One

2009 has been another great year for albums and comebacks. There will be albums released this year I haven’t heard yet (eg Foreigner) which could have made my list. Where to start?

Melodic rock wise Places Of Power (Frontiers) was a stunning start to the year – an album to keep Foreigner fans happy that’s for sure. Lovers of Def Leppard look no further than Grand Design (Metal Heaven) who set out to create an album paying homage to the Mutt Lange era Def Leppard and they did in in style.

House Of Lords ‘Cartesian Dreams’ (Frontiers) is their best album since they reformed and harks back to ‘Demon’s Down’, hardly surprising as the co-writer on that album features on this new one.

For pure AOR try 101 South’s ‘No U Turns’ (AOR Heaven), this shows how AOR should be done. Bad Habbit (AOR Heaven) also produced a highly polished and enjoyable set of AOR/melodic rock tunes with some stunning ballads.

Covered Call came from nowhere to produce an album that is not only melodic hard rock but managed to add a couple of  moments of classy pop rock. Speaking of pop rock the masters returned with their best album since the 80’s, yes Cheap Trick ‘The Latest’ (Indie) is a delight with never a dull moment. This leads nicely into one of Cheap Trick’s biggest fans, Ginger and his band the Wildhearts released a real return to form with ‘Chutzpah!’ This has the band really firing on all six with catchy choruses, massive riffs and err some thrash metal.

Of the debut albums the Jokers really hit a chord with me and if you like 70’s Aerosmith and the Stones, in fact classic 70’s rock, this band will appeal to you. Draven also made a splash with another album steeped in classic rock influnences although they do have some more modern rock songs in their armoury. In a more melodic vein, Firenote give bands like Brother Firetribe and the Poodles a run for their money. A very accomplished debut ad looking forward to the next one already.

I do like a varied listening base and thanks to Bill Leslie over at the excellent Rock Of Ages I discovered Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy’s latest work, the Duckworth Lewis Method. It is all based around cricket and is simply wonderful – ‘Jiggery Pokery’ and ‘Test Match Special’ should be on everyone’s IPod/MP3 player.

One band whose last couple of releases I have not been that taken with are Dream Theater but their new album ‘Black Clouds And Silver Linings’ (Roadrunner) is one of their best. The musicianship is top notch as you’d expect but now the band have found their melody again rather than drift off into endless solos.  Staying prog the Sine Star Project sounds like Muse but they add their own melodic and weird spin on the music. IQ’s ‘Frequency’ (GEP) is another band back on peak form and if you have never tried an album by this band this is a recommended starting point. Lots of big production and lush musical arrangements, sheer bliss. Roswell Six ropes in a whole host of musical stars including John Payne (Ex-Asia), Erik Norlander and James LaBrie (Dream Theater) amongst others. Based on a bestselling fantasy novel series and it is great fun to listen to!

Giant are back!

Medlodic rock legends Giant release a new album early next year and they have announced their line-up. Joining original members David Huff (drums) and Mike Brignardello (bass) are vocalist Terry Brock (Strangeways/The Sign/Seventh Key) and former Winger guitarist John Roth. Dan Huff is still involved in the writing and production side. With Terry Brock on vocals this could well be a monster album!

Stoke City 2-2 Wolves

Stoke threw away a two goal lead in a classic case of a game of two halves. Stoke dominated the first half with two goals – an own goal aided by James Beattie and a lovely goal by Matthew Etherington. But the second half belonged to Wolves as Jody Craddock bagged two goals and it could have gone either way as Ab Faye missed a sitter late on. Wolves fan Robert Plant was spotted in the away end….

The Tango Man steps closer to the Order of the Golden Boot as Hull lost 2-0 at Burnley and who do they play next? Us

10Q’s with MARTY PARIS

Guitarist Marty Paris is one half Paris Keeling (that’s vocalist Kelly Keeling of Baton Rogue fame)  who have just released ‘End Of The Ride’. An album well worth a listen. 

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)

Right now I am in the studio working on a new album with the band Permanent Reverse. The line up includes Corky McClellan (Baton Rouge) Maxx Mann (Trans Siberian Orchestra) Greg Cerenzia and Mike Arrington. The music is progressive – rock – soul. Really cool stuff. And of course I’m promoting the new Paris Keeling album!

2. Could you take us through the songs on ‘End Of Ride’ (e.g. ideas behind the songs, songwriting process etc)?

‘Life’ is a song I wrote about a time in my life where I was looking for something and I didn’t know just what. I had an affair on my wife and it’s kind of an apology to her. ‘Morning Song’ is a song that Kelly brought to the album. He told me he wrote it while spending time in a temple in San Diego. I wrote ‘Tears of Heaven’ on September 11th 2001 – I knew a lot of people that worked at the World Trade Center. I can’t understand the thought processes of terrorists – so it just kind of came out with a lot of emotion. When we got in the studio to record it Kelly and Don added the brilliant chorus that was missing.

‘Color Blind’ was written on the spot at 3:00 AM in the morning one night Kelly and I were hanging out in the studio – pure magic! ‘End of Ride’ is three songs. Kelly brought the intro that he recorded in his studio as well as the ending. We wrote and recorded ‘Middle of the Road’ and then stitched it all together with the help of Erik Norlander. We brought in Corky McClellan (from Kelly’s band Baton Rouge) on drums and finished the track shortly after. That song was A LOT of work, but came out miraculously. ‘These Days’ was a song that Kelly worked on with George Lynch while touring with George Lynch. We wrote the lyrics for that one on a Saturday afternoon while completely sober – pretty ironic huh? It’s a message about addiction and where addiction leads.

‘I Learned From The Inside’ is a song that I recorded a couple of years before we started working on the album. It took nine guitar tracks to accomplish that one and it is one of my best instrumentals. I ended up licensing that one to ESPN – but they haven’t used it yet. ‘Free’ is a song idea Kelly brought to the project. We decided that it needed strings so I got Matt Goeke (my cello guru) to score the string parts and we recorded it in New York City on May 5th 2006 – coincidently the same day Kelly auditioned for TSO. We dedicated that one to the troops, and it is probably KK’s best vocal performance on the album. ‘She Was’ is a song I wrote for a movie soundtrack completely on spec. ‘I’ve Found’ is a Kelly and Don Dokken collaboration.

‘Head Straight’ came straight from Kelly’s head – does that make sense?? ‘Feel’ was a song that we considered on the first release. It’s all Kelly – I just scored and produced the cello tracks – one of my KK faves. I wrote and recorded ‘Alive’ as a tribute to all of us who have been able to do what we love to do – at any price. Al Pitrelli played lead guitar on that one and it is a favorite of mine. It goes over really well live.
 
3. How did you first hook-up with Kelly Keeling? 

I met Kelly in 2005 shortly after he recorded Furious George with Lynch. I heard the album and reached out to his manager. It was my first exposure to his unbelievable pipes.
 
4. Who decided on the cover of ELO’s ‘Telephone Line’? Did the band record any other cover versions?

No that’s our only cover. Kelly and I were drinking Grand Marnier one night after a show and I told him that we should do a cover of an old song that we both loved. And I swear that we simultaneously said Telephone Line. We recorded the piano that night and Kelly actually played the drums that night too. I recorded the synth later and we started tracking vocals separately. That song almost killed me as a producer. It took so many tracks to get that song right. But I think it was worth it.

Full interview now online at Get Ready To Rock!

10 Q’s with CARMINE APPICE

Drumming legend Carmine Appice is currently touring with his own drum show Slamm! plus going on the road with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus. His Guitar Zeus Project albums have just been re-released as well.

1. What are you currently up to? (recording, gigs, plans)
I’ve been doing gigs with my drum show slamm! 
http://www.slammusa.com

  2. How did the whole Guitar Zeus idea come about? How did you decide which guitarists to approach and how much freedom were they allowed in the song for their own ideas/soloing?
I GOT THE IDEA BECAUSE DRUMMERS NEVER GOT TO DO SOLO ALBUMS ..ALWAYS THE GUITAR PLAYERS AND SINGERS…SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO DO A GUITAR ALBUM BY A DRUMMER…IT WORKED..ONLY THE GUITARISTS WERE USED TO BRING ATTENTION TO GREAT SONGS, PLAYING AND EAR CANDY AS WELL AS GREAT SOLOS.
I HAD GUITARISTS I LIKED AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD DO IT. THEN AS WORD GOT AROUND ABOUT THE ALBUM. IT GOT EASIER. SOME PEOPLE CALLED ME. EACH GUITARIST PLAYED WHAT THEY WANTED TO…
 
3. The compilation is out now but will there be any future Guitar Zeus albums at some stage in the future?
DON’T KNOW AS THESE ALBUMS BOTH COST OVER $100,000  DOLLARS EACH. I WOULD NEED A BIG BUDGET FOR IT. LABELS DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY ANYMORE UNLESS YOUR A POP IDOL OR RAPPER !!

You can read the full interview here… http://www.getreadytorock.com/10questions/carmine_appice.htm

GMT live

GMT – Bernie Torme, John McCoy and Robin Guy:

FRI 6 NOV 2009: THE GAFF CLUB, Holloway, London
382 Holloway Rd London, N7 6PN, Venue 020 76071555, thegaffclub@hotmail.co.uk,
Support: ACHILLA, CATFIGHT, BANGTOY
Info and Tickets from Venue, (text 07869249706 for personal delivery)
Online Tickets www.ticketweb.co.uk

SAT 7 NOV 2009: MUSIC LIVE, NEC, Birmingham
National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, B40 Venue 0121 780 4141
GMT Onstage @ 2 pm.
Info and Tickets www.musiclive.co.uk

SAT 14 NOV 2009: YARDBIRDS Grimsby,
Yardbirds Rock Club, Church Street, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN32 7DD Venue: 07771520374
Support: The Virgin Marys,
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/yardbirdsrockclub

SUN 15 NOV 2009: The Tut N Shive Yeadon, Leeds,
The Tut N Shive, 11 Kirk Lane Yeadon Leeds, LS19 7 EP
Venue: 0113 250116052
Info www.myspace.com/thetutnshive

SAT 28 NOV 2009: THE DIAMOND, Ballymena, N.I.
Diamond Rock Club, Ahoghill, Ballymena, Antrim, Northern Ireland BT42 1JZ Venue 07989588931
Info and Tickets www.myspace.com/thediamondbar

THURS 3 DEC 2009: HARD ROCK HELL III, Prestatyn, North Wales
HRH III, Pontins, Prestatyn, North Wales, LL19 7LA
GMT headline HRHIII VIP Party Thursday 3 Dec 2009
Info and Tickets www.hardrockhell.com

Best of the Noughties

Looking back at the best of the first decade of the 21st century and first up are GRTR! reviewer & photographer Ian Pollard plus a few album selections from singer/songwriter Chris Singleton…

Best of the decade in… Albums – I’ve thought about this one for ages, with many fine albums invading the thoughts, but I always somehow managed to come back to one album which is absolutely 100% awesome from start to finish, so the winner is… Uriah Heep’s “Wake The Sleeper“

Gigs – So, album was hard, this was nearly impossible! I am going to go for a festival performance that is unlikely to be repeated, never came to the UK, and was an absolute privilege to see… Tobias Sammett’s Avantasia at SRF 2008

Films/DVD’s – going to keep this one simple, Magnum’s “Livin’ The Dream“. Easy choice

Books – Anything not written by Dan Brown

Comebacks – The Boston Red Sox in ‘that’ ALCS vs the Yankees. Simply amazing!

Sadly missed – All the British service personnel who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sporting events – England beating Australia in the 2003 RWC final. Never expended so much nervous energy in my life.

Person of the decade – Clare, my wife… at least that is what she told me to say!

Chris Singleton’s album choices (check out his ‘Twisted City’ album, a definate highlight of the past decade music wise)…

Soulwax ‘Much Against Everyone’s Advice’

Aimee Mann ‘Magnolia’

Supergrass S/T

Eloy return and the Faces reunion rumours rumble on…

German prog rockers Eloy return with their first new album in ten years. ‘Visionary’ is released via Laser’s Edge Records on January 12th. A band worthy of a place in any prog rock fans collection.

Rod Stewart has said he wants to reunite with the Faces next year as this on/off reunion rumbles on…

Peter Gabriel finally releases a new album due early next year. Looking forward to this one!

Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke City (Carling Cup 4th Round)

Oh well back to the league…

Ten changes to Saturday’s line-up and we were by all accounts pants. Tuncay started as did Dave Kitson with Big Mama Sidibie back after a long injury for a second half appearance. Lets hope we get back to winning ways against the Dingles….sorry Wolves on Saturday.

Sacred Heart’s new album ‘Darkness Falls’

SACRED HEART’s new album/CD “Darkness Falls” will be available for pre-order from MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2009.

Prices start at (UK) £10, (Europe / Scandinavia) €13 & USA / Rest Of World $17 – with postage & packing/shipping & handling INCLUDED, and….. …to be shipped – with EXCLUSIVE FREE PRE-ORDER GIFT!!! (Other SPECIAL OFFERS & prices will also be available!)

Features 17 tracks:

1. DOWN 2. BEST IN ME 3. LAY IT ON THE LINE 4. NO-ONE KNOWS (WAR) 5. TV MOVIE 6. WHAT IT TAKES 7. TOP OF THE CLASS 8. FOREVER 9. EVERYBODY 10. ON MY WAY 11. MUSIC MAN 12. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 13. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AWAY

bonus track (the original 2004 demos): 14. LAY IT ON THE LINE* 15. WHAT IT TAKES* 16. FOREVER (acoustic)* 17. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AWAY* *only available on CD – not as part of digital downloads (iTunes, AmazonMP3, Spotify etc)

Release date for “Darkness Falls” is MONDAY 7th DECEMBER 2009 (just in time for Christmas!) – you will receive your copy on or before this date! You will be able to pay/pre-order the album at www.sacredheartband.com from MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2009.

Listen to samples at www.myspace.com/sacredheartshakes

Signed drumsticks finish at £103

Thanks again to Claire Lee and drummer Harry James (THUNDER/MAGNUM) for the signed drumsticks which finished at £103 on Ebay and all monies go to the Donna Louise Trust.

Spurs 0-1 Stoke City

What an amazing win for Stoke and so late in the game – Glen Whelan scored in the 84th minute. Wilkinson started for the suspended Huth and Steve Simoneson was in goal after Thomas Sorenson fell ill during the warm-up. Good to see Tuncay get a decent run out although Kitson again stayed on the bench.

Loanee Ryan Shotton was sent off at Barnsley and Stokies will be adopting Denmark in the World Cup after they qualified with Thomas Sorenson in goal.

John McCoy (GILLAN/MAMMOTH/GMT) charity auctions

Signed Mammoth t-shirt…

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300359304899&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

and a sigend copy of his anthology CD…

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300359228311&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Both kindly donated by John McCoy (GILLAN/MAMMOTH/GMT) and all funds raised go to the RNIB.

New Steve Thorne CD

Artist: STEVE THORNE

Album title: INTO THE ETHER

Release date: 19 OCTOBER 2009

Record label: FESTIVAL MUSIC (www.festival-music.co.uk)

Tracks: Kings Of Sin [4:54] / Feathers [4:05] / Paper Tiger [4.05] / Into The Ether [4:13] / Granite Man [6:14] / Black Dahlia [4:45] / Sons Of Tomorrow [6:45] / Valerie [3:21] / Victims [5:53] / The End [5:00] / Curtain [5:14]

You can listen to ‘Granite Man’ from Into The Ether at www.festival-music.co.uk

This is Steve Thorne’s third album, his first on the Festival Music label. Steve achieved critical acclaim with his first two CD’s ‘Emotional Creatures 1 & 2′, but ‘Into The Ether’ takes his songwriting abilities to a whole new level. As with ‘Emotional Creatures’, Steve has assembled an amazing list of accomplished and well know musicians to enhance his songs, including Pete Trewavas (Marillion / Transatlantic / Kino), Nick D’virgilio (Spocks Beard / Genesis), Gavin Harrison (Renaissance / Porcupine Tree / King Crimson), Tony Levin (King Crimson / Peter Gabriel / Liquid Tension Experiment), John Giblin (Peter Gabriel / Brand X / Fish / Jon Anderson / Alan Parsons / Kate Bush), John Beck (It Bites / Alan Parsons Project / Kino), John Mitchell (It Bites / Kino / John Wetton), Gary Chandler (Jadis).

The production, songwriting and presentation of ‘Into The Ether’ is a significant step up from the first two albums. Thought provoking lyrics, very strong melodies and lush arrangements are all used to great effect, more so than ever before. The CD comes with a 28 page booklet and ‘O’ Sleeve packaging, and is of particular interest for fans of Spocks Beard, Marillion, Porcupine Tree and It Bites, but if you love great music and memorable lyrics and melodies, this is one that will not disappoint!

101 South ‘No U-Turn’

This little beauty is out via AOR Heaven on 20th November but I have a review copy and can happily confirm it is the best yet by this top notch AOR band. Featuring Harlan Cage’s Roger Scott Criag and vocalist Gregory Lynn Hall, this album has it all – passionate vocals, layers of keys, stunning guitar solos and catchy melodies. Full review soon but for lovers of classy AOR get this one next month…