Thursday, October 20, 2011

THE WEREWOLF WHISTLE

Howdy people.
We're back again with some more excellently edifying excavations from the deepest recesses of the vintage Rawk mine.
Grab your picks and rock hammers & dig in!
For starters, EXPORT were a classy Hard Rock/NWOBHM act formed in Liverpool in 1979 by ex HARD STUFF vocalist Harry Shaw.
The following year saw the band release their debut self titled self financed album on His Master's Vice Records.
The band spent the rest of the year touring the UK, with glowing reviews of the album helping to swell the club audiences they played to.
1981 saw the release of the "You Gotta Rock" 7" single, and more live work supporting the likes of WILD HORSES.
The band's show at London's Paris Theatre in June 1981 was recorded by the BBC and broadcast on Radio 1's "In Concert" programme.
All this activity brought Export to the attention of the American arm of Epic Records who signed the band.
The first fruit of this liaison was to be 1984's more overtly AOR styled "Contraband" album.
1986 saw the band release their third and final album, the critically acclaimed, Lance Quinn produced "Living In Fear Of The Private Eye".
Despite the album's quality, Epic decided to drop the band at the years end, as sales didn't match the label's expectations.
Sadly, this in turn then hastened the band's 1987 demise.
Guitarist Steve Morris then went on to produce the debut TORINO album, and later joined ex DEEP PURPLE vocalist IAN GILLAN's band.
Drummer Lou Rosentahl later formed 2 AM with ex RAGE & NUTZ vocalist Dave Lloyd.


EXPORT - Export (1980) UK


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=43SAA1XY


Irishman Bernie Tormé is a hugely talented guitarist renowned for some particularly wild axework and theatrics.
Such showmanship brought him close to 'guitar hero' status whilst in GILLAN in the late '70's & early '80's.
After a spell with the Dublin based URGE, Tormé relocated to London from Ireland, forming SCRAPYARD in 1976.
A Hard Rock trio of Tormé, bassist Bernie Hagley, and drummer Roger Hunt, Scrapyard gigged solidly throughout the London area.
Hagley was to depart and the band were swiftly brought back up to strength with the addition of former ZZEBRA bassist John McCoy.
However, this union lasted only a matter of months with Tormé striking out on his own as THE BERNIE TORMÉ BAND.
McCoy meanwhile soldiered on with Paul Samson on guitar as Scrapyard became McCOY.
The Bernie Torme Band managed to release two singles and contributed tracks to the Punk compilation album "Live At The Vortex".
The Bernie Torme Band, still a trio, then put in some British supports to Gillan, the headline act now featuring McCoy on bass.
An album was recorded for Jet Records but remains unreleased.
Disillusioned, Tormé took up his old colleague John McCoy's offer to hook up with Gillan.
After leaving Gillan in 1981, Tormé joined ATOMIC ROOSTER, appearing on their "Headline News", album and undertaking two tours of Germany and Italy.
Whilst trying to assemble another solo band, Tormé was asked to fill in for Randy Rhoads in OZZY OSBOURNE's band following the American guitarist's tragic death.
Torme's stint on Ozzy's American tour lasted but two weeks, with the pressure being too much for the Irishman.
Returning to London with Osbourne's blessing, Tormé, set back to work on his own band ELECTRIC GYPSIES.
The "Turn Out The Lights" album, released under the "Bernie Torme" name, featured future SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Phil Spalding and Bernie's ex-Gillan partner Colin Towns on keyboards.
For live work Electric Gypsies consisted of Tormé handling both vocals and guitar, Everton Williams on bass and drummer Frank Noon, the latter being on temporary loan from STAMPEDE.
In 1982 Tormé appeared on ex-Gillan keyboard player Colin Towns' solo LP 'Making Faces', which only saw a Japanese release.
The "Live", album, (released during 1984), featured original IRON MAIDEN member Ron "Rebel" Matthews on drums.
A later British tour saw the addition of bassist Chris Heilmann, later to turn up in US act SHARK ISLAND, and ex-FRAMED drummer Ian Whitewood with vocalist Kef.
In 1984 former GIRL vocalist Phil Lewis joined the band on a temporary basis following vocalist Kef's sudden departure before joining on a full time basis.
Two albums (using the TORMÉ handle rather than Electric Gypsies) and successive British touring kept the band in the press, but momentum seemed to be waning.
Lewis then relocated to Los Angeles to join American act L.A. GUNS.
Tormé formed the shortlived RUSSIAN HIPPIES in 1988 with Bennet, vocalist Gary Owens and ex-BOMBSHELLS bassist Marc Russell.
However, progress was minimal so Tormé and Russell travelled to America at the request of former TWISTED SISTER vocalist DEE SNIDER to join the vocalist's DESPERADOS outfit.
The DESPERADO project of Tormé, Snider, Russell and ex-IRON MAIDEN drummer Clive Burr initially scored a huge deal with Atlantic Records.
However, after more than two years the band had switched to Elektra and, having laid down an album, discovered the label had no intention of releasing it.
The DESPERADO album was finally released posthumously on an independent label at a much later date.
Although Snider offered Tormé a position in a new act he was putting together, WIDOWMAKER, the Irishman opted to return to London.
Upon his return Tormé put in a guest guitar appearance on guitarist RENE BERG's "The Leather, The Loneliness & Your Dark Eyes", album in 1991.
Another project band was titled MUTANT with Blacken and Magpie of MOURNBLADE.
The year 1994 saw another solo album release, "Demolition Ball".
Early 1997 found the guitarist involved in Mick Underwood's reformation of the cult act QUATERMASS.
Although Tormé wrote material for the album, "Long Road", he was to opt out before recording of the album.
The guitarist's own solo album of that year, "Wild Irish", recorded with Pearce and Jones, came out limited to merely 500 numbered copies.
Maintaining this renewed momentum a further studio album was issued in 1999, one track including lead vocal from Dee Snider.
Torme returned to the band format for the 'all star' SILVER project.
The band also witnessed a welcome return to action by former MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP vocalist Gary Barden.
Joining Torme and Barden would be H-BLOCKX drummer Marco Minnemann and MAD MAX, CASANOVA and DEMON DRIVE bassist Michael Voss.
Keyboards were in the hands of as true veteran, Don Airey of RAINBOW, OZZY OSBOURNE and DEEP PURPLE fame.
in 2007 Torme formed GMT with his former Gillan colleague bassist John McCoy with drums handled by Robin Guy of RACHEL STAMP and the BRUCE DICKINSON band.

BERNIE TORMÉ - Turn Out The Lights (1982) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MZ85ZDSV

Next, we bring you another contibution courtesy of Weaselkin1, as always, many thanks!
Leamington Spa's CHEVY were a five piece NWOBHM band best known for appearing on the "Metal For Muthas II", compilation album.
Founded in 1979, this is not the same Chevy that released the obscure "Out On The Street", 7" single the same year, even though for many years some publications led everyone to believe it was.
As they demonstrated on their lone album, 1980's "The Taker", Chevy were a little older, wiser and classier than many of the bands lumped in with the NWOBHM.
More of a Hard Rock band with Metallic leanings, they proved to be a formidable live proposition, touring hard in 1980 and '81 with the likes of WILD HORSES and HAWKWIND.
Their label, Avatar Records, released 3 Chevy singles during these years, and the band were also broadcast live on BBC Radio 1's "In Concert" programme twice.
In September 1981 both Steve Walwyn and Andy Chaplin quit, to be replaced by guitarist Barry Eardley and drummer Ted Duggan.
A projected second album was recorded, but the tapes were never finished and the band split.
In 1987 Poole, Cure, Shanahan and Duggan re-emerged to form RED ON RED with ex-BADFINGER guitarist Bob Jackson and keyboard player Mark Stead.
Whereas Walywn went on to become a member of perennial R&B rockers Dr. FEELGOOD.
Later Bob Poole was a member of NAZARETH guitarist Billy Rankin's BILLY RANKIN BAND, before emigrating to Germany where he now performs a solo act.
Chevy reformed in 2010 to play a one off charity show in Leamington Spa in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support.
It was never intended to be any more than a one off event, and despite the overwhelmingly positive reception they received, they went their separate ways again after the gig.
This show is NOT the commonly circulated 1st BBC concert that was broadcast as the second half of the programme where Chevy shared the 1981 bill with TYGERS OF PAN TANG.
This is their recently unearthed 6 song 1982 show, their second and final appearance on the BBC's "In Concert" show.

CHEVY - BBC In Concert (1982) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=43ILVHDB

WINTERKAT were a Hard Rock/Pomp Rock band formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1982.
The group rose from the ashes of LIQUID SKY, a band that had appeared on the "KISS Homegrown" radio station compilation LP in 1981.
Guitarist Jonathan Grell had appeared in that group and formed WINTERKAT with vocalist Ric Swanson, drummer Gerado Ramirez and bassist Dean Vallecillo, the latter pair both being ex-HEYOKA members.
The following year saw the band release a self-titled five song Mini LP on their own Winterkat Records label.
Although Gerado Ramirez played keyboards on the album, MYTH man Ruben Castaneda was used for live shows.
Ric Swanson left to form AOR band NIGHTWORK in 1985, releasing a self-titled album in 1986.
He was replaced at the Winterkat microphone by Michael Steele Grothues, another former Heyoka member.
A further Mini LP, "The Struggle", was issued on Monument Records in 1986, featuring a cover of JIMI HENDRIX's "Little Wing", alongside six originals.
The band struggled on until the early '90's, but by this time many of the band's key players had moved on to other projects.
Bassist Dean Vallecillo went on to join Minneapolis band DARE FORCE, performing on their 1989 "Firepower" album.
Jonathan Grell founded DIRTY WATER with singer Rhett Forrester, formerly of RIOT.
This band demoed material but the project came to a screeching halt in 1994 when Rhett was tragically murdered.
After Winterkat, Grell founded SUITE 16, an alliance with ex-S.A. SLAYER and RIOT members Bobby Jarzombek and Don Van Stavern.
John Grell later went on to join the Southern Rock group MUDPIE, which included former members of MSG, SALTY DOG and STEELHOUSE LANE, releasing a self-titled CD in 2002.

WINTERKAT - Winterkat Mini LP (1983) USA

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AVNOHE52

PROUD FLESH were a German Heavy Rock band formed in 1969 in the city of Bonn-Bad-Godesberg.
The group was made up of musicians who had previously played with local bands COOL STOVE, DESPERADOS, HANGMEN and RATS.
The band's early repertoire consisted of interpretations of DEEP PURPLE, SPOOKY TOOTH, LED ZEPPELIN, TEN YEARS AFTER and BLACK SABBATH, alongside their original compositions.
Proud Flesh toured all over Germany, did gigs in Luxembourg and were the supporting act for famous European bands such as THE LORDS, THE RATTLES and GOLDEN EARRING.
The band signed with the Cologne based Resondo Records label, and released a debut single, the untypically lightweight "Happy", in early 1970..
The band then contributed a track to the "Wir im Scheinwerfer" compilation LP, but were dissatisfied with the thin sound of these early recordings.
This was remedied in 1971 with the release of the "Devil Flight" 7", a furious proto-Metal pounder in the vein of SABBATH or URIAH HEEP.
The B-Side, "Blind", was equally impressive, and the band seemed poised to have a crack at the big time.
Sadly, although a further single, "On The Run", was recorded in 1972, it went unreleased and the band split up.
In the early 1990's interest in the band amongst collectors saw the prices of their releases soar, a trend which only intensified after their appearance on the 1995 "Prae-Kraut Pandaemonium Vol. 5", compilation album.
Another compilation appearance, this time on "Obscured by Krauts", brought the bands name to the attention of another generation of music fans in 1998.
In 2006, the band self-released a remastered collection of their 1971-72 recordings under the title "Digitalized".
The five song Mini album contained both sides of the "Devil Flight" single and finally, both sides of it's unreleased follow up, "On The Run".
Since then the band's members have been tentatively working on material for a proposed new release.

PROUD FLESH - Digitalized Mini LP (1971-72) Germany

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7FYLGBSK

Swiss Heavy Metal sextet WITCHCRAFT were formed in the town of Wetzikon, Zurich in 1983.
They debuted later that same year with the rare 7" single, "Runnin' Away", on Musk Project Records.
Whilst the A-Side was a typical rocker in the SPIDER/Dr. FEELGOOD mould, it was the excellent flipside which made the record worthy of investigation.
B side, "Dead End Street", is a slow burning mini-epic with some excellent guitar playing and vocals which bring to mind "In Your Face" era TKO.
After this release Witchcraft changed their name to BLOODY SIX.
In 1984 Bloody Six issued their lone album, "In The Name Of Blood", on Camel Records.
The album attracted positive reviews with it's ACCEPT and JUDAS PRIEST blueprint enlivened with some great individual performances and strong songwriting.
The Belgian Mausoleum label then picked up the album, and released it Europe wide in early 1985.
To support the record's wider release, Bloody Six toured Europe that year as support to FAITHFUL BREATH.
Vocalist Peter McTanner then joined HEADHUNTER, a band featuring ex-KILLER members for their lone eponymous 1985 album on the Bacillus label.
This in turn sadly led to Bloody Six splitting up and going their separate ways.
Guitarist Claudio Matteo went on to form the Hard Rock act CHINA in 1987 with former members of HEADHUNTER, KROKUS, KILLER and STORMBRINGER.
With China, he recorded six albums between 1988 and 1995 and toured Europe extensively before their split.
They occassionally reunite to play festival or club dates, but no new recordings have surfaced since '95.
Former Bloody Six vocalist McTanner later dropped the 'Mc' from his surname and joined KROKUS for their 1990 album "Stampede".
As Tanner he also contributed vocals to THE HEAVYS side project of Krokus guitarist Fernando Von Arb and keyboard player Jürg Naegeli.
Tanner was later to be found fronting Mr. PERFECT, an act featuring former U.D.O., CRAAFT and SINNER members.
By 2000 Tanner was in collusion with another ex-KROKUS vocalist Marc Storace issuing the DC WORLD eponymous album.
Quite surreally the whole affair was a medley of AC/DC hits with Tanner aping the part of Brian Johnson whilst Storace handled the Bon Scott parts.
Along with some other ex-Krokus and DC World members, Tanner now operates on the live circuit as tribute band AC/CD!

WITCHCRAFT - Runnin' Away 7" (1983) Switzerland

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=EJ99A06C

Finally tonight, some excellent Southern Rock courtesy of contributor Jorge Larionda. Thanks mate, NILOOB salutes your generosity!
There have been a great many bands called "Southern Cross Band" or "Southern Cross" down the years.
Here's what little we know about this particular SOUTHERN CROSS BAND, who were skillfully adept at blending Southern Rock with Hard Rock.
It transpires that the band was based in Long Island, New Jersey, (a strange locale for a Southern Rock act), and were formed by the Prewitt brothers who had moved to New York from the South.
Both Prewitt brothers, Joe and Sonny were accomplished singers and guitar slingers.
They were very active on the live circuit from the late 1970's to the mid-1980's, building up a big live following, especially in the tri-state area.
Sadly, it doesn't seem that there were any official releases from them besides this, the two song promo "Lady Killer"/"Outlaw (Josey Wales)" 7".
However, these same two songs also turned up on a few different compilation albums of local acts put together by various New York radio stations at the time.
The A-side, "Lady Killer", is quite commercial, but still gutsy, with a really catchy chorus and a nice Hammond solo too.
The epic flip side, "Outlaw (Josey Wales)", is excellent, sounding like a beefed up version of THE OUTLAWS, with some great tempo changes and extended soloing.
It also reminds me a little of the band ASHBURY, who recorded the album "Endless Skies".
During their time Southern Cross Band supported Southern Rock legends THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and THE WINTERS BROTHERS BAND at shows in the NY area.
Singer/guitarist Joe Prewitt is still active, having fronted a band called THE MANGOS for the last 20 years or so, apparently still playing in the Southern style, and they've just released an album called "Ain't Dead Yet".

SOUTHERN CROSS BAND - Lady Killer/Outlaw (Josey Wales) 7" (1982) USA

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J05Y9S3M

So that's another post of distinction for you all to pore over.
Thanks again to Weaselkin1 & Jorge Larionda for their contributions, i'm sure you've made many of our visitors very happy with your shares, as well as lightening my work load a little.
Thanks also to everyone who takes the time to share their thoughts, praise, gripes and remembrances about the blog and the music we post.
Keep them comments coming.
It's what keeps me, (and thus the blog), going.
See you all back here again in 2-3 weeks for even more great vintage Rawkin'.
You won't believe some of the stuff that we'll be bringing you in the not too distant future!
O'er & oot.

12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Chevy Concert. Looking forward to the Friday Rock Show sets you mentioned. Best wishes, Blofeld.

Thursday, October 20, 2011 4:14:00 PM  
Anonymous MisterManiac said...

Export...ex-member of Hard Stuff? Very cool. I love (and have) all of John DuCann's work with Rooster, Andromeda, Attack, Daemon, 5 Day Week and the aforementioned Hard Stuff...great heavy prog/rock in the vein of Uriah Heep. Interested to hear this band with Shaw on vocals (although I always thought it was DuCann who sang on the 1st Hard Stuff album...have to take another look at my CD since I'm told I'm wrong). Thanks for posting this piece from the DuCann family tree, and look forward to hearing it.

Thursday, October 20, 2011 5:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for WITCHCRAFT , this is a new Swiss band to me .Good Swiss bands are not so many made, at least now we got the chance to listen to it , thanks for the info and sharing with us ! Cheers !
Peter

Friday, October 21, 2011 8:40:00 AM  
Anonymous nightsblood said...

Neat stuff as always 'kit! CHEVY has always had a good following among NWOBHM fans. I'm listening to the SC BAND single right now, definitely a cool find and a nice slice of southern hard rock! I'm not well-versed in that genre, but I do like some of the recordings you post in that style, like the incredible LPs by ASHBURY and IMPECCABLE. For anyone looking for a copy of 'Endless Skies', I think the band has some for sale online priced around $100, which is reasonable IMO.

Saturday, October 22, 2011 5:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

thanks a lot for proud flesh !!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011 2:12:00 AM  
Anonymous porosimetal said...

Greetings from GREECE, NILOB!! Sorry for being a lazy ass and didn't coomment about all the stuff i dl from your perfect blog in the past!!Many thanx for all these superb & rare stuff you uploaded,be blessed!This new post is awesome too!Now,i had EXPORT already,a mega lp,very underrated back in it's release days,because for AOR fans it was a bit heavy and for NWOBHM fans a bit mellow with american pomp leanings!I always loved"WHEELER DEALER","LIGHT IN THE DARK" and consider them from the best of the british scene back then!I have this and most of TORME works and really dig his flashy, yet sloppy and street blues influenced rough edged sound & style!A real axe hero!CHEVY was a band i worshipped and really pissed my pants with this unburied BBC show(a brilliant one)!This band possessed the class of veteran hard rockin bands and the gutsy power ,married with melody and catchy hooks from the new emerging NWOBHM combos!WINTERKAT simply is the ultimate Metal-Hard Rock crossover with two perfect albums,graced with thoughtfull compositions and fluent/flashy lead guitars from JONATHAN GRELL(shamefully unknown guitar hero)!!PROUD FLESH is a nice surprise,never knew of them!!Superb BLACK SABBATH/BIRTH CONTROL/ATOMIC ROOSTER style mix their sound!A real hidden jewel!WITCHCRAFT is a cult band,searched for them since i bought and heard the BLOODY SIX vinyl!I love both the tunes deliver here and i agree with you that the flip side is the real killer!Loved also their"BOOM BOOM" part they attached to their"RUNNIN AWAY"arrangement(classic in PAT TRAVERS live set!)!!SOUTHERN CROSS BAND comes last, but both their sungs are southern rock classics (even if none knows them!)with LYNYRD SKYNYRD/HENRY PAUL BAND/OUTLAWS style guitars and song structure!!Especially the b-side is the absolute southern hymn!!!Many thanx guys for making us happy with your treasures and forgive our laziness!Maybe we're too overwhelmed with the offered sounds to respond,eh!!Keep up the good work guys,you know you should be praised for that!God bless you! porosimetal

Friday, October 28, 2011 4:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the feedback folks, as always it's great to hear what you think of the latest batch of goodies.
Blofeld, stay tuned, courtesy of Weaselkin1, those Friday Rock Show Sessions i mentioned will start appearing in the next post.
Mister Maniac, i'm unsure if Export's Harry Shaw sang with DuCann's Hard Stuff or with another band who shared the same name. Either way, i'm pretty sure he's not present on either of the two Hard Stuff albums.
Nightsblood, if you enjoy Ashbury and Southern Cross Band, fellow commenter Porosimetal is spot on in comparing them to Henry Paul Band & The Outlaws. If you seek more in this style, try the 1st two Henry Paul Band albums and an Outlaws best of. You won't be disappointed.
And to porosimetal, thanks very much for your in depth comment, i'm in complete agreement with everything you said about the current post and the comparisons you made.
Musically, it seems we are cut from the same cloth my friend, i appreciate you taking the time to contribute.
See you all again in couple o' weeks for more o' the same then?
Cheers,
Bigfootkit

Friday, October 28, 2011 4:15:00 PM  
Anonymous MisterManiac said...

Thanks for the clarification on Shaw and Hard Stuff...certainly would explain things. Didn't think it was him , but glad I downloaded Export anyway...it was a damn fine album that I may have otherwise missed if it wasn't for the mixup. Very impressed and thanks for sharing.

Monday, October 31, 2011 10:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kit - I can hardly wait for the Friday Rock Show stuff and as ever I'll keep checking back! Yours is still the best Metal blog out there for the true believers. You should be getting far more comments really because what you provide is consistently first rate and a real treat for aficionados - and you can quote me on that, my friend. Best wishes from the metal Midlands. Keep on rocking, Blofeld.

Monday, October 31, 2011 4:14:00 PM  
Anonymous online pharmacy said...

It is a fantastic record, one of my favorites from that year.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 11:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info on the Rock War and Tommy Vance, I used to listen to it in the 80s, I have just found a tape with it, was playing it and all those memories came flooding back, it was great in the UK back then.
THank you for all your info and rock on.

Monday, March 19, 2012 6:29:00 AM  
Anonymous jersey shore season 6 episodes said...

Great post thansk

Friday, June 01, 2012 2:26:00 AM  

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