So we are coming to the end of 2013 which means it is obligatory to start thinking about putting together a best of the year show. This isn’t easy in a year that has been chock full of great new rock and metal but we want you to help us decide. Using the poll below, we want you to vote for your top ten albums of the year. Ross will also be doing this on his blog http://www.rosskitson.wordpress.com and we will be count up the votes across both polls and play the results on the 27th December so get voting and tune in at 10pm on the 27th. You can listen online at http://www.hcrfm.co.uk or via the TuneIn app if on a smartphone or tablet and of course if you are local to Huntingdon we are on the 104fm band.
I was going to post my own choices alongside these but I thought rather than influence the decision (and to give myself some more time to decide), I would wait and post my choices another time.
The following is a short list for you to choose from but please add anything I have forgotten.
Ok so I thought that, in a bid to try and get more of you out there listening to Rock into the Weekend on your Friday night, I would start publishing our playlist every week. Hopefully you will see some stuff you like and start tuning in to hear more. The beauty of our show is that we get to hand pick every song that we play. We try to get a good mix of every sub genre that makes you guys tick and some of the best new tracks alongside all your favourites.
Of course, as any real music fan will know, however hard you try, picking the “best” songs to play will always be a subjective game so we may not always get it right, our personally biases will always show through. That is why we also like to hear from you and find out what you think of our choices and what else you think we should be playing alongside or instead of what we choose. So please use the comments section below to let me know what you think of each playlist and tell us about anything you think we have missed, what you think we need more of and anything you think we should leave out.
So here it is, the playlist for Friday 6th December 2013:
Back in the Saddle – Aerosmith
Let there be Rock – Drive-By Truckers
Killing You – Asking Alexandria
Breaking the Law – Judas Priest
Firepower – Airbourne
Blues Pills Interview
Devil Man – Blues Pills
Breakout – Foo Fighters
Not Coming In – Dayshell
Last Chance – China Drum
Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets Cover) – Nirvana
All for the Glory – Kiss
Rocks – Primal Scream
Going to Hell – The Pretty Reckless
Can I Play with Madness – Iron Maiden
Whiplash – Metallica
Loner – Black Sabbath
Halleujah – Monster Magnet
The Ravisher – Gentlemens Pistols
Feel it Faster – Verses
Been there Lately (Live at Stoke) – Slash
What do you think of that then?
You can listen to Rock into the Weekend on Friday nights from 10pm on HCR104fm. Tune in to 104fm in the Huntingdon area or listen online at http://www.hcrfm.co.uk or via the TuneIn app on your smartphone or tablet.
Nelson Mandela, the universally revered former President of South Africa, revolutionary, Nobel Peace Prize winner and iconic leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement, has died, at the age of 95 after years of declining health. The death of a man as widely loved and admired as figures such as the Dalai Lama, Ghandi and Martin Luther King will surely be felt around the world.
After spending 27 years in prison for his attempts to overthrow a deeply racist and oppressive South African Government at the beginning of the 1960’s, Mandela went on to become the first black president of South Africa and the first president elected in a fully multi-racial election.
Often described as “the father of the nation” Mandela was an inspiring figure. His release from prison is still the most vivid memory I have of a school assembly. I was only 6 at the time but I still remember my head teacher announcing Mandela’s release in front of the whole school and telling us all about Mandela’s story and I don’t even remember the Berlin Wall coming down so that says a lot for the impact this had on my life.
Following his release from prison, which was televised world wide, Mandela oversaw the rebuilding and reconciliation of a divided nation. He travelled the world encouraging foreign countries to support a free South Africa and led negotiations with the Afrikaner Apartheid regime to introduce democratic, fully representative elections to South Africa. He dedicated his life to creating peace between the black and white populations of South Africa and bringing an end to oppression.
In 1994 the first fully democratic elections took place and, as leader of the ANC party, Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president. He set about creating a ‘Government of National Unity’ seeing national reconciliation as his priority. He set out to create the broadest possible representation in his cabinet appointing a number of former government officials as ministers alongside members of the ANC – a feat not even achieved by many peaceful nations.
In what I consider to be one of the most inspiring acts in history, Mandela personally met with senior figures of the apartheid regime, that had imprisoned him for almost three decades, to offer forgiveness and reconciliation. His famous words “Courageous people do not fear forgiving for the sake of peace.” and his ability to bear 27 years of incarceration with dignity and then to forgive those who imprisoned him and oppressed his people should be an example for everyone. He was a truly extraordinary human being and the world would certainly be a worse place without his influence.
A symbol of perseverance, patience, belief, dignity, freedom and equality, he will always be an influence in my life and his passing will be mourned by millions but his legacy will live on. If ever there was a man that changed and inspired the world, it is Nelson Mandela.
I will end this post with the poem that inspired and empowered Mandela during his imprisonment, as it really is inspiring. You may recognise it from the film of the same name staring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.
Invitcus by William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul
Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Slayer and More
France’s Hellfest Open Air 2014 has officially announced the line up for next June’s offering after a leaked line up appeared last night. I was looking at the leaked line up with my jaw laying on my cold laminate flooring last night as it is without doubt the best line up I have ever seen. I was tempted to post something about this last night but decide to wait until it was officially as it really was too good to be true. The news today is, it is true and I cannot believe it. Just for starters Hellfest has two main stages which will be headlined by… brace yourself…
Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Avenged Sevenfold and Emperor. It’s like they have taken the best headliners from this and next years UK festivals and said, “fuck it, let’s have them all.” The big names don’t stop there either, other names announced include:
Rob Zombie, Deep Purple, Soundgarden, Megadeth, Status Quo, Alter Bridge, Trivium, Monster Magnet, Clutch, Soulfly, Sepultura, Napalm Death, Opeth, Paradise Lost, Electric Wizard, Phil Anselmo and the Illegals, Flogging Molly, The Misfits and more.
The festival takes place in Clisson, France between the 20th and 22nd June. Tickets cost 190 euros for 3 days including camping – a bargain compared to UK festivals given that line up. Tickets can be ordered through the official website http://www.hellfest.fr/splash/ and you can check back here for further updates or follow the festival on Facebook.
Here is the line up so far.
Now pick your jaw up off the floor and order some tickets!
The awesome Heaven’s Basement announced a full headline tour of the UK & Ireland for 2014. The “Welcome Home” tour will take in 15 shows over 18 days, kicking off on March 14th in Norwich and ending in Brighton on March 30th.
I have been following Heaven’s Basement for about 5 years now after finding them through a “Sons of Guns” Classic Rock Magazine cover mount CD. It has been great watching them evolve and improve over the years and it certainly hasn’t been dull. The band has been plagued by line up changes and more than their fair share of the ups and downs that come with life in a band trying to breakthrough. In contrast to the line up changes they have played shows in front of 50,000 people supporting the likes of Bon Jovi, Papa Roach, Thunder, Black Stone Cherry and many more. At the same time, they were also playing small clubs like my mate Dave Meredith’s “Club Revolution” in Peteborough on which occasion they had lost singer Richie Heavanz just days before so had to call on their friend Johnny Fallen who had two days to learn all the songs. The show was still very good and showed their professionalism and determination even then.
Since then they have gone through more line up changes and released their debut album Filthy Empire which is a Rock into the Weekend favourite. Ross and I both love the album and went off to see the boys headline show at the Craufurd Arms in Milton Keynes. It was a cracking show and Heaven’s Basement were in fine form, fired up and ready whip the capacity crowd up into a wild frenzy and in a year where I have had the pleasure of seeing some incredible shows, this is still one that sticks out in my mind so I will definitely being checking out this tour.
I managed to catch a few words with Drummer Chris Rivers about the tour and this is what he had to say:
‘We’re heading out on our first ever full length European headline tour this March! After having such a great time on the July UK headline tour, we’re looking forward to coming home and stepping things up even more on this one.”
They are also reissuing their Filthy Empire album on Red Bull Records so if you have picked it up already, make sure that you do. They have also just realised a new single from that album and here is the video for it. The song is “I am Electric” and I am sure you will like it.
Here are the dates for the tour on which Glamour of the Kill and The Dirty Youth will provide support for all dates:
MARCH
13 Norwich, Waterfront
14 Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
15 Southampton Takedown Festival
16 Leeds, The Cockpit
18 Newcastle, Newcastle University Union
19 Glasgow, Cathouse
20 Belfast, N. Voodoo
21 Dublin, Voodoo Lounge
22 Manchester, Academy 2
24 Chester, The Forum
25 Bristol, The Fleece
27 London, Electric Ballroom
28 Plymouth, White Rabbit
29 Birmingham O2 Academy 2
30 Brighton, The Haunt
Tickets are on-sale now priced at £10.00 (subject to per-ticket charge plus order processing fee) and are available from www.livenation.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk for London & Birmingham.
You can check out the band on their website and Facbook page here:
Post-metal prog outfit INTRONAUT have just released a new video for the track ‘Harmonomicon’ taken from their album ‘Habitual Levitation’ – check it out here
INTRONAUT are also currently on a European tour with Scale The Summit. Unfortunately, unless you live near Bournemouth or Bristol, you are too late to catch them in the UK but for anyone reading this from Europe, they will be starting their European tour this Friday. Here are the remaining dates.
INTRONAUT live:
04.12.13 UK Bournemouth, The Anvil
05.12.13 UK Bristol, Exchange
06.12.13 Belgium, Hasselt Muziekodroom
07.12.13 Germany Berlin, Cassiopeia
08.12.13 Germany Hamburg, Hafenklang
09.12.13 Germany Frankfurt, Elfer
10.12.13 Germany Leipzig, UT Connewitz
11.12.13 Austria Wien, Escape
12.12.13 Switzerland Zürich, Ebrietas
13.12.13 Switzerland Bulle, Ebulition
14.12.13 Italy Milano, Lo-Fi
15.12.13 Italy Rome, Traffic Live
16.12.13 Italy Pisa, Borderline Club
17.12.13 France Montpellier, Secret Place
18.12.13 Spain Barcelona, Razzmatazz3
19.12.13 Spain Madrid, Copernico NEW VENUE!!!
20.12.13 France Clermont Ferrand, Le Raymond
21.12.13 France Besancon, PDZ
So at 5:30 this evening, Sonisphere made their big announcement regarding the first headline acts for their return to Knebworth next July. If you missed it, a teaser appeared out of the blue on the internet last week announcing the return of the Sonisphere festival at Knebworth following its hiatus since the 2012 event was cancelled despite having revealed Kiss, Queen and Faith No More as headliners. I thought at the time that it was a huge shame as I had really enjoyed the festival when I went to the first one in 2010 as it was a really well organised, friendly festival with a great mix of music. I was definitely going to miss it.
Given that history, it was obvious that Killimajaro, the organisers of Sonisphere were going to be looking for some huge names to headline the return and that they were going to make massive first announcement. They certainly delivered on that front by announcing both Iron Maiden and Metallica, who will be playing their only UK dates in 2014 at the festival, as their first headliners. This is huge, they are undoubtedly the biggest metal bands in the world right now and have never shared a bill before also, as seems to be custom now, it is with the added gimmick that Metallica’s set will be “By Request” with their set list being decided by a fan vote (you just have to buy your tickets online in order to vote).
Iron Maiden
Metallica
Despite being a big fan of both bands, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by this announcement. It’s not that this isn’t a big announcement or that both Iron Maiden and Metallica aren’t amazing bands to have at a festival, it is just that it’s been done, they have both played major festivals in the UK numerous times in the last decade or so. Download has the same problem, none of their headliners, except possibly Avenged Sevenfold as it is their first headline festival slot, are anything new, even Avenged Sevenfold are festival regulars, just usually lower down the list.
Iron Maiden headlined the first Download in 2003, Reading and Leeds in 2005, Download 2007, Sonisphere 2010 and Download 2013. Metallica played a secret show in the tent at Download 2003 and headlined Reading and Leeds 2003, Download in 2004 and 2006, Reading and Leeds in 2008, Sonisphere in 2009 and 2011 then Download in 2012. That is 13 times in 10 years between them. Linkin Park headlined Reading and Leeds in 2003, Download in 2004 and 2007, Sonisphere in 2009 and back to Download in 2011. Aerosmith also headlined Hard Rock Calling in 2007 and Download in 2010. Even Avenged Sevenfold have played UK festivals in 2006, 2009 and 2011. We are just getting the same headline acts on a never ending sushi conveyor. When I went to Download in 2012, I didn’t even bother going to see Metallica, I chose the Union instead, who I hadn’t yet seen in contrast to the 4 times I had seen Metallica in the last 10 years. A bit of variety would be nice.
I think the problem here is conservatism, no not the political kind, the attitude kind. Promoters are just not prepared to take too many risks, they want the safe money, the bands that are guaranteed to draw hundreds of thousands of people. They are not prepared to offer bands that elevating slot from main stage warm up acts to headliners. Only twice in recent years can I remember headline choices that seemed surprising to some when first announced and that was Biffy Clyro at Sonisphere and Avengend Sevenfold at this years Download.
Still this is a huge announcement, even if a little repetitive, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the line up turns out as Sonisphere was a really good festival and I am really glad to see it return.
Let me know what you think using this poll.
Here are a few words from those involved with next years festival.
Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden:
“We all grew up in England well aware of the importance of the legendary concerts at Knebworth, and scarily it all seems quite recent! Without being clichéd, it really is an honor and privilege to return to play there with the purpose of celebrating some of the finest moments in British rock history from inspirational bands like Pink Floyd, The Who, Zeppelin, The Stones and Genesis.
This will be the last concert of our ‘Maiden England’ Tour and it is very fitting to end a long and hugely enjoyable tour in our own back yard. We have tweaked the ‘Maiden England’ set list a bit to make it more representative of our whole 80s era and to give the fans something a bit different, especially as this will be the last of our three tours with an historical perspective. If you are there on the day it is highly likely that you will hear some of these songs played live for the very last time ever. So on an occasion like this, a celebration and the end of a chapter, you can be sure we will do our utmost to give our fans one hell of a show and go out with all guns blazing.”
Lars Ulrich, Metallica:
“This just works on all fronts:
Metallica and Knebworth, Metallica by Request, Metallica and Iron Maiden.
To be invited to co-headline the 40th anniversary celebration at the legendary Knebworth House is truly a mindf*ck. Considering the iconic bands whose performances at Knebworth are part of rock and roll history, it’s not only a next level honor, but a somewhat humbling undertaking.
And what could be more fitting on our third Knebworth go-around than to play an all-request set, chosen entirely by the fans? We are soooo excited about the limitless possibilities of our friends picking what songs Metallica get to perform on this forthcoming evening from the nearly 140 songs we’ve recorded throughout our ride. Who knows what crazy challenges will be thrown our way? Maybe a song that has never been performed live before? Maybe a few deep cuts that haven’t been aired in ages? Maybe a couple of your toe-tapping favorites? An obscure cover? Whatever happens, it will be unique, it will be special, and it’s all up to you.
Add the cherry on top…co-headlining with Iron Maiden, who are a big reason that Metallica exists in the first place. Although we haven’t played together on the same day since 1988, this is the closest we’ve come for 25 years, and for all our fans who share the same love for Iron Maiden as we, the band members do, this will hopefully amount to what many rock fans would consider a dream bill.
BRING IT ON!!!”
Team Sonisphere:
“During our two year absence we’ve continued to believe in and work hard on Sonisphere. We said in 2013 that if we had the right line up then we would be back, and that’s exactly what we’ve got in 2014. The omens were obviously on our side when we secured the two biggest and best metal acts of all time in the year that also brings the 40th anniversary of the first concert at Knebworth.
Our excitement at being able to offer Metallica and Iron Maiden on the same bill for the first time ever has been hard to contain. To do so in a year of great celebration for the iconic venue is very satisfying. Sonisphere 2014 is going to be a legendary year!”
Keep your eye on this Blog for more updates and if you want tickets go along to http://www.sonisphere.co.uk.
I don’t know, I’m in the deepest darkest parts of Wales for Hard Rock Hell with no internet access for half a week and both Download and Sonisphere decide to make big and in the case of Sonisphere MASSIVE announcements.
Well this is my attempt to catch up and do a quick round up of those announcements so here we go.
Download Announces New Bands
So last week, the guys out Download announced the latest bands to join headliners, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park and Aerosmith and these latest announcements have gone some way to put some faith back into how the line up might look come next June.
The latest bands to join the bill are as follows:
The Offspring
Status Quo
Steel Panther
Trivium
In Flames
While She Sleeps
Letlive
The Black Dhalia Murder
Crossfaith
Miss May I
Bless the Fall
A bit of something for everyone in that announcement, a bit of Punk, some Classic Rock, Metal, Hardcore and some scene bands as to be expected. I can’t really argue with any of those additions, though some may not be my ideal choices, they are all the kind of bands you would expect to see at a festival such as Download. The balance seems to be right so far, despite what ever you might think about the choice in headliners, Download is doing what it does best, catering for everyone – love it or loave it, that is what Download does.
Here is what the line up looks like so far:
Sonisphere is Back!
Well no real details at the moment on this one except that Sonisphere will be back in 2014, as the banner suggests, with three days of music at Knebworth Park between the 4th and 6th July. There is supposed to be a major announcement today so look out for another blog post on this when that comes out.
I personally am very happy about this, I went to the first Sonisphere and found it to be a very good festival, the line up was fantastic, it was very well organised and had a very good atmosphere, not to mention the cleanest field based festival toilets I have ever used and they let me cook on my barbecue which is always a plus at a festival. It was also my wife Laura’s first festival so will always have some sentimental value. Anyway, I look forward to the announcement later to see which headliners they have bagged – make sure you check back later to find out!
Pixies To Headline Field Day Festival
Also in slightly smaller festival news, The Pixies have been announced as headliners of the Field Day Festival which will be held on the 7th and 8th of June at Victoria Park in London and the Pixies will headline the second day of the event on Sunday the 8th.
Personally, I have not heard of this festival myself, but after this announcement, I will be keeping a close eye on the line up for this, now, two day festival as it has been expanded since last year. Keep checking back to see how this festival shapes up.
Hobo on the Radio 