I closed out the previous digest with a question: were KISS genuinely boring when they played Donington in 1996 or was I just too sunburned to enjoy them properly? Well, I’ve listened to the Off The Soundboard recording of the show now. It’s a bit sluggish and takes a few songs to get going but, in the comfort of my own darkened living room, it’s way more fun than I remember! I’m getting the classic KISS vibes. Verdict: too sunburned.
Recent Posts
Hell – Darkhangel (Song Review)
One of the best songs of the ’10s but sadly Hell haven’t released anything since. Last I saw of them was supporting Saxon at what can only be described as a very farty Glasgow gig. At least I got some fresh air at Donington.
Running Wild – Final Gates (Song Review)
Don’t walk the plank, spank it! It’s all about the bass on this insanely catchy instrumental.
Fist – Throwing In The Towel (Song Review)
Apollo Creed’s least favourite NWOBHM song.
Shrines – Ghost Notes (EP Review)
I never got a press release for this so I’m not sure what the pitch is. A wee music theory joke for you there.
HMO Salutes
Original Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton has died aged 80. Brilliant musician, songwriter and producer on some of my favourite albums. Listen here for a great interview with the man himself, where he discusses his classic Nazareth albums and his involvement with Guns N’ Roses. Warning: Fife accent.
Artist Ken Kelly, the creator of some of my favourite album covers, has passed away aged 76. A framed poster of Love Gun graced my living room wall for many years. And where would Manowar be without his muscular and boobular artwork?
My long-running campaign to “BRING BACK ALEC” has come to a sad end with the death of ex-Bon Jovi bassist Alec John Such, aged 70. The campaign did at least achieve some closure when he reunited with the band at their 2018 Hall Of Fame induction.
New Stuff
My most exciting purchases from the last month were the new Kreator album Hate Über Alles which is really good (definitely better than advance reviews led me to believe) and Porcupine Tree’s Closure/Continuation (album of the year so far). On the reissue front, I got the Thin Lizzy package that pairs up the expanded Sydney show with the doc Songs For While I’m Away, which is essential viewing for Lynott fans. And I finally got the anniversary box set of Mayhem’s De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas which I’ve been looking forward to since pre-ordering it back in November 2021. It was worth the wait.
What I Was Listening To While I Wrote This Post
Enuff Z’Nuff’s 1985. It’s a strange one… a 1994 release that was technically their fourth album but is actually their 1985 demo recordings. I don’t really know the full story here. It’s sounds way too good to be a demo and sounds incredible for 1985 even. Re-recorded or touched up old material? Whatever it is, it’s brill and infectious glam rock.
Coming Up
I’m looking forward to the reissue of UFO’s High Stakes & Dangerous Men paired with Lights Out In Tokyo. Supposedly not the best era for the band but I’ve not heard either album before so I’ll judge for myself. Also Whiplash’s The Roadrunner Years set is an exciting prospect, I’ve wanted that stuff for ages but it’s always been too pricey.
On the review side I’ve got quite a mix coming up soon on the blog: thrash, power metal, black metal and classic prog. Stay tuned and expect no mercy!
I’m enjoying these Off The Soundboard’s which KISS is doing and I can listen to these and not get sunburned! UFO I may have had that Lights Out as thats the one with Archer on guitar? I can’t remember even if that is the guy’s name lol
Love Manny’s and Billy Rankins playing on the Snaz record..RIP Manny..
Good stuff Sir
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Yeah Snaz is a great record. Was listening to that earlier today. And agreed on the KISS soundboard, I’ve enjoyed them all. Great stuff… and a 70s one up next! Hoping for an 80s one with Uh! All Night on it.
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Better yet this just dropped today….
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And yep, think it is Archer on the UFO.
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That Apollo Creed reference hit so hard, ouch! At first I wanted Alec back in Bon Jovi, but after finding out that he didn’t really play on those classic albums, I have mixed feelings about it. Still sad knowing that we’ll never have another reunion with the classic line-up, though.
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Yeah I know he wasn’t really in there as a player but I just wanted him back 🤣 I think Alec would be too good for Jovi these days anyway!
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I mean compared to Hugh, Alec looked more like a rockstar. And despite not playing on those classic albums, he was still part of that classic line-up. Plus, Jon did him wrong!
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Yes exactly! Hugh just kept in the background and he was never even in band photos (until recently anyway). Alec was a performer.
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I’m still mad it took Hugh so long to become an official member of the band!
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I didn’t like that either.
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Mike Ladano did tell me that he got paid well as a session musician, though. So I guess there were perks to being an unofficial member for 20 something years.
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I’m sure there are. He’s done it for long enough so he must be happy.
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Thankfully the fans took note of him and practically begged Jon to make Hugh an official band member.
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Still haven’t opened Donington yet…I will soon. I was out yesterday at a record store and saw the Enuff Z’Nuff one and didn’t know what it was. Thanks for explaining…maybe I should’ve grabbed it.
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I think you’d like it, it’s in that Cheap Trick zone for me. Apart from this I’ve only got their first two albums, would like to get more.
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Could you please do a shortened digest post of this digest, it was just a bit too long for me to bother reading?
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Only my premium patreon supporters get that
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Not your Only Fans subscribers then? Damn.
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You know what they get. Stop pretending otherwise
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Woof woof!
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A farty Glasgow gig. Lol.
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