Friday 29 December 2023

Friday 29 December 2023. FREE ENTRY gig at The Cavern , Raynes Park , London SW20. HEAVY METAL KIDS (who still feature two original members on drums and guitar) . I saw Heavy Metal Kids in the 1970s when Gary Holton (RIP) was on vocals. They were playing 1972–1985 (until when Gary Holton died) and reformed 2002–present. Uriah Heep + Heavy Metal Kids Hammersmith Odeon, London 22.06.1974 ...this tour was to promote new album " Wonderworld" . support group had the great Gary Holton as lead singer who later starred on TV in Auf Weidersen Pet but who sadly died . Alice Cooper + Heavy Metal Kids Wembley Arena , London 11.09.1975... fantastic rock package This is more like it . Great rock songs with a great stage show . Alice Cooper + Heavy Metal Kids Wembley Arena , London 12.09.1975..."Welcome To My Nightmare " is the current album He played all his 4 Top 10 hit singles and it was just brilliant . Heavy Metal Kids,Stray,Dirty Tricks Roundhouse, London 11.07.1976. ----------- Oddly this was the first time I have been to this old school rock music pub. Well worth keeping an eye on their gig list, as 75 % of their shows are free entry. It has music memorabilia adorning all the walls. My friend MARK TAYLOR from Record Collector is here , and he warned me it was a late start late finish venue, which is ok for the locals, but not ideal for those like me who have made a proper trek. THE EDLINERS arrived on stage at 9.05pm and played for around 50 mins. Blues rock trio started off with a couple of their own tracks , then it was all cover versions , including The Rolling Stones, BTO, David Bowie and Led Zeppelin. The guitarist played some stunning riff's and solos on his Gibson Les Paul. THE HEAVY METAL KIDS arrived on stage at 10.10pm and played for around 75 mins. This meant they came off stage at the mental time of 11.25pm. Really great to be up close to the stage. The guitarist is one of those that does not use any effects pedals. Their current singer is younger and has a nice tall , slim, front man vibe. Early songs in the set included ' Chelsea Kids', 'Blow It All Away ', ' Hit The Right Button' , and the best tunes were in the second half of the set ,so we had 'Squallidy Inn' , ' Houseparty' , 'She's No Angel ' and 'Delirious '. Really good to see The Heavy Metal kids are still playing. ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Thursday 28 December 2023. 2023 was the best year for vinyl album sales in the UK since 1990. Top 10 best-selling vinyl albums 2023, with Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones taking the top two positions. Taylor Swift - 1989 (Taylor's Version) The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds Lana Del Rey - Did You Know There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Taylor Swift - Speak Now (Taylor's Version) Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Blur - The Ballad of Darren Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon Taylor Swift - Midnights Olivia Rodrigo - Guts Lewis Capaldi - Broken by Desire to be Heaven Sent The BPI said cassette sales were also picking up again after dying out in early 1990s, while the decline in CD sales had begun to slowdown, "plateauing" at most 11 million units in 2023. Take That's This Life is the year's top selling CD, while Olivia Rodrigo's Guts was the best performing cassette. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Wednesday 27 December 2023. Happy Birthday to JANET STREET PORTER who is 77 today. Janet was the presenter of the LWT TV show in 1976 that featured The Sex Pistols at The Notre Dame Hall in Leicester Square. You can see me in the TV footage jumping around front of stage. Stills of the footage with me in them were used in The Sex Pistols 'Pretty Vacant ' poster ' Dance to The Sex Pistols' and the picture cover for Sex Pistols ' Pretty Vacant' in New Zealand.

Posted 27th December 2023