Italy bound with Witch Cross
Just a couple of weeks to catch our breath this month, and then its all systems go for WITCH CROSS again as we converge from Spain, England, Denmark and Sweden on Gallio in Northern Italy to appear at the Sun Valley Metal Fest! We’re really looking forward to this one. We’ll have exclusive copies of the new album ‘Axe to Grind’ on sale, a full ten days ahead of its worldwide official release date, and we’re going to be performing tracks from both that and the classic ‘Fit for Fight’ album for our Italian fans.
We’re really pumped with the reviews we’ve been getting for the new album. We put a lot of hard work into it, and it’s nice to see it being received so well, but the acid test is not what it means to the critics – it’s what it means to the fans…we hope you like it, and that it rocks your world!
Witch Cross in Scandinavia – Part Two: At Muskelrock, Sweden
Photo: Sofia Jonsson/Festivalphoto.net
Straight after the show in Hillerød, Denmark, we raced to catch the ferry that would take us across the water to Helsingborg in Sweden, where we would sleep at Paul’s house before driving to Muskelrock the following day. We awoke to summer sunshine, much to my joy and amazement, and began cataloging and organizing our merch for the show. Merch plays a massive role in a band such as ours.
Lars proudly holding the new album!
Paul ‘models’ our limited edition giant WITCH CROSS patch!
It’s a vital source of immediate income, necessary to keep the band on the road. With albums being pirated so freely on the net now, it’s even more important to bands as their recorded earnings dwindle.Speaking of albums, we’d received our first shipment of the new CD ‘Axe to Grind’ from our record company Hells Headbangers the day before, so we were stoked to be able to have it available to the fans a full month before its official release!
The journey to the festival site took just under three hours, and during that time the weather changed from good to bad, and back again…
As we pulled off the main road into Tyrolen, threading our way between the tent town that had sprung up around it, the grey clouds threatened. Tyrolen, used to be some random Tyrolean-themed Entertainment park, situated near the Swedish village of Alvesta, west of the town of Vaxjo,and the guys that run Muskelrock bought the land, everything in it, and turned it into a successful and fun festival, now in its fifth year. The slightly shabby buildings and faded murals of its former glory provide the perfect backdrop to a Metal Festival.
Photo: Sofia Jonsson/Festivalphoto.net
The rain teased….depositing a light shower every now and then, but never making good on its threat of a full-on downpour, much to the delight of the festival-goers! There was a superb array of bands on over the weekend. Two in particular stood out to me, but for entirely different reasons! Firstly, Barbarion, who seemed to hail from Australia, though I couldn’t be sure….they took to the stage like a herd of medieval superheroes…not the most svelte of bands, it bothered them not one bit, as we were treated to a magnificent stagewear display of studded leather braces, codpieces, togas, loin cloths, Centurion Helmets, Sporrans and Kilts. By the time they had the crowd singing “chop, chop, chop” and lamenting the demise of “Mildred, my favourite wife” I was pretty sure they weren’t taking themselves too seriously. Suffice to say, my jaw was on the floor for most of their set.
Barbarion: Better wrap up warm, lads!
Secondly, there was Death Hawks. Hailing from Finland, these guys really surprised me. Guitarist Mike Koch and I had retired to the indoor venue for a drink and a bite to eat as these guys took the stage. What followed was some truly original music…superb grooves, almost ambient metal infused with the blues, just an absolute pleasure to let wash over you. I enjoyed these guys very much indeed.
Photo: Sofia Jonsson/Festivalphoto.net
Jan, myself and Paul relaxing post-gig
When we took the stage early on the Saturday Evening, the welcome from the crowd was overwhelming. I often write about how metal fans are the best in the world, but it bears repeating. I personally felt such a vibe off the crowd that night. They sang every word on the sings they knew, and cheered the ones they didn’t…”Demon in the Mirror” as a result of the promo video finding more and more favour with them as they become familiar with it. I was pretty spent after our exertions in Hillerød the night before, but fans like these lift you up. There is no alternative. Half-measures is not an option. You give them everything because they inspire you to, and they deserve nothing less. Muskelrock, quite simply, Rocked!
Those amazing metal fans…
Witch Cross in Scandinavia – Part One: Witch Cross come home
“All dressed up, we’re gonna steal the show…..”
Our first gig to promote the impending release of the new album ‘Axe to Grind’ was a special one for the guys. Witch Cross were formed in the Danish town of Hillerød, in the North of the island of Sjaelland back at the outset of the 80′s. Now, the band was returning to its hometown for a show at the Stoberihallen concert hall. I felt a weight of responsibility on my shoulders – the only non-Dane, the ‘new boy’, re-interpreting songs laid down so impressively decades before original singer Alex Savage for an audience of friends, long-time supporters and family, not to mention original guitarist Ole ‘Cole’ Hamilton. But….. I like a bit of pressure. It sharpens the mind, focuses the senses, and if harnessed correctly, feeds the fire on stage.
The day before we’d ran the set exhaustively and felt ready. The hard work paid off, and the guys delivered a blistering, celebratory set on that Friday night, featuring songs old and new. We were also fortunate to have a guest appearance from A.C., the drummer from the ‘Fit for Fight’ album, and we stormed through classics such as ‘Fight the fire’, and ‘Nightflight to Tokyo’, side by side with our new compositions, including ‘Bird of Prey’, ‘Metal Nation’, and ‘Ride with the Wind’. They slotted in seamlessly, they belonged in the set. We left the stage, the applause ringing in our ears, soaked with the sweat of our labours. Spent, exhausted, but sated. We’d come here to revisit an era when metal mattered, and we’d served the reminder. I felt elated and proud to be fronting this rebirth, for make no mistake, that’s what it is. Witch Cross is rising again.
Photos: Jesper Callesen, john-son
Michael Schenker – Twice!
After catching German axemeister Michael Schenker live during our trip to Dublin, Miki and I decided to do another collaborative work based on him. I’ve followed his career for many years, starting with the UFO album “Force It” when I became instantly hooked on the melodic rock tones issuing from his trademark Flying ‘V’. As with my artwork of Phil Lynott, I once more continued on with the rough version I presented Miki with and created another stand alone piece myself. So here they both are for your delight! As you can see we’ve once again opted for different backgrounds: Our collaborative one recalls the venue where we saw him and his backdrop, and mine is a surreal nod to his time with the legendary German band The Scorpions..
You can buy prints and greeting cards featuring both of these artworks by clicking on the widgets below:
Trevor Bolder R.I.P. The Bass is a little quieter tonight….
I never met Trevor, though it was close-run thing. We were sharing the bill at a festival in Banja Luka, Bosnia in 2010, he with Uriah Heep, me with BC Sweet. We were appearing on different days and as luck would have it, we were scheduled to fly from Sarajevo to another show in Germany before they arrived. I know Pete, their ex-lead singer, and I was eager to meet the band – one of the stalwarts of British Rock. A band that defy the odds, particularly around that time, when they released the superb ‘Wake The Sleeper’ album. According to Andy Warhol, everyone gets their ’15 minutes of fame’, but it’s a testament to the esteem in which he was held that he got ’30 minutes’- not only a lynchpin of Uriah Heep for many years, but also one of the iconic Spiders from Mars that contributed so much to Bowie’s (in my opinion) most classic albums “Hunky Dory”, “Ziggy Stardust” and “Aladdin Sane”. Those three albums were a huge part of the musical backdrop to my youth. 62 is far too young. Another musical hero gone, and the bass is just that little bit quieter tonight.
R.I.P. Trevor
Triple Whammy – On the road with B.C.Sweet, Witch Cross & Christie
It’s that time of year…and I’m about to embark on a whirlwind of gigs for three of the bands I play with, all in the space of a few weeks! Firstly, I’ll be driving along the southern coast of Spain next Thursday to Torremolinos to perform with B.C. Sweet as part of a 70′s week there.
Witch Cross @Heavy Metal Maniacs, Holland
Then, some days later, via the UK, it’s the turn of Witch Cross, as Mike and I fly to Copenhagen for rehearsals and a show in the band’s spiritual home of Hillerød to launch the new album Axe to Grind. The day after, we perform in Sweden. I fly home for a few days, then its back to the UK to appear with Christie at the JFest in Leeds on June 6th!
Christie in Germany
Never let it be said that the life of a musician is dull! See you all out there on the road somewhere!
Dublin 3 – Scorpions over the River Liffey – Michael Schenker live
During our visit to Dublin, I was hoping to catch a gig or two, and as luck would have it, we dropped on a beauty: Michael Schenker on something of a comeback trail, 20-odd gigs in to a long tour, playing at the Vicar Street venue, confusingly located on Thomas Street (go figure!) I’d long been a fan of the troubled German’s melodic style and distinctive tone that he could wring effortlessly out of his Flying V. ‘Force It’ by UFO was, and is, one of my favourite 70′s rock albums. These days he plays a selection (4 in all) of Dean ‘V’ guitars. But the guy’s still got it. Tonight was interesting for one very special reason. Several weeks ago, never having seen or heard Michael Schenker, my partner, the French artist Miki, had chosen him as a subject for one of her successful series of musician paintings. We had no idea he would be appearing in Dublin when we booked the trip, and as he walked out on stage and stood in front of her, she remarked how touching it was to actually see him in real life, never dreaming it would happen as she’d painted him. You can see her painting below, with a link to her site if you click on the image.
Michael Schenker by Miki
A bonus for those of us in attendance tonight is the inclusion of two ex-Scorpions: Herman (The German) Rarebell on drums and the perennially smiling Francis Bucholz, playing a rather tasty top-of-the-range Warwick bass with a plectrum, and producing perhaps one of the bass live bass sounds I’ve heard in a long time. The line up was completed by Wayne Findlay, a great addition to any band with 2nd guitar/keys/vocal skills, and upfront Doogie White, delivering the Lead vocal with an almost pantomime flair. He shone particularly on the Phil Mogg tracks. What was striking was how the band seemed to be really enjoying this gig, nods and smiles all round throughout the set, which proved infectious to the watching Dublin audience.
A triple whammy of “Lovedrive”, “Another piece of meat” and “Assault attack” pretty much had everybody hooked from the off, as we were treated through a journey through classic Scorpion tracks such as “Holiday”, “Rock you like a Hurricane”, to UFO’s “Lights Out” “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot shoot”, truly justifying the “bit of a mouthful” billing as: The Temple of Rock Lovedrive Reunion tour.
It was great to see Schenker on top of his game again, and looking like he was enjoying himself. I think there is a lot more to come from the Mad Axeman, including a new album from this line up in the Summer.
Bio
(Born: 20th May,1958, Chesterfield, England) is a Bass Player and Lead Vocalist. Formerly with Tubeless Hearts, he played with English Pop band Christie from 1990 to 2003, and featured in Graham Oliver’s Saxon on two European tours, before other commitments resulted in John Ward taking over vocal duties for the resulting Oliver/Dawson Saxon CD releases. Nevertheless, he appeared on Graham Oliver’s solo album End of an Era returning the favour after Oliver had appeared on Tubeless Hearts Three CD. READ MORE….
Tubeless Hearts 1994
Christie 1990
with Graham Oliver
BC Sweet 2008
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