Metal legends to re-form for summer 2007 show

Bands re-forming, eh? Is it the the money (as it certainly was for the Pistols on their 'Filthy Lucre' tour in '96)? Or are they simply trying to relive their younger, sexier heyday? They're all at it again this year: The Police, Genesis, Sabbath/Dio (aka 'Heaven & Hell'), three quarters of Van Halen... er, the Jam without Weller, anyone??

Well, there's another reason to rock and roll in 2007: that mid-Sussex metal machine 'Beyond Therapy' will be lighting up the live stage for the first time since 1988. (L to R) Powerhouse drummer Dan Mulligan, front man/rythym guitarist Gary Masters, virtuoso lead axeman Jon Piercy, and rock steady bassist Mark Piercy, will be performing a set of Therapy classics including 'The Schizoid Man' and 'The Shadow of Fear' at an outdoor venue to be confirmed (if wet, in village hall). Tickets are strictly limited to the number we can sell or give away.

Mark has promised an even more spectacular lighting rig than the legendary 'two Mini headlights screwed to a plank of wood between Dan's bass drums' which gave Motorhead's bomber and Saxon's eagle such a run for their money at the time.



Beyond Therapy: Live. But still brain dead.

Monsters of Rock

With the recent news that Iron Maiden will be headlining Sunday at this year's Download festival, I received yet another reminder (as if I needed one) that I am well and truly into old fartdom and my headbanging heyday is receeding faster than my gums. Christ, it was fifteen years ago that I watched Maiden headline in that same muddy field at Donington Park - only then the festival was called 'Monsters of Rock'. In fact I first saw them on Saturday March 20th 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon, on the 'Beast on the Road' tour - £3.75 for a seat in the circle. Last December, by comparison, a standing ticket at Sheffield Arena for the 'Matter of Life and Death' show was £32.50, plus £3.25 booking fee. ("I remember when you could get a return from Three Bridges to Victoria, a return on the District Line from Victoria to Hammersmith, have a pre-show pint in the Swan, see a live concert, buy a T-shirt and tour programme, eat a hot dog afterwards and still have change from a farthing...etc. etc.")

The picture at the top of this post was taken at Donington 1992, and features the Bedford crew who congregated around the Esquires club in that town in early 90s - a great bunch of people. From L-R standing: Rob, his brother Dave, Sarah, Mark (obscured), Tom, Jackie, Lisa, Alan. Not forgetting me kneeling - and Lisa B, my significant other at the time, who took the photo. The Bedford standard is visible above us, to guide us back from the beer tent or ablutions (such as they were).

Anyway, MOR - more affectionately known as just 'Donington' - was heavy metal mecca for any serious headbanger in the 80s and 90s. I made it five times in all: 1984, 1985,1986, 1988, and 1992. For the record:

1984: AC/DC, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Y&T, Accept, Motley Crue.
1985: ZZ Top, Marillion, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Ratt, Magnum
1986: Ozzy Osbourne, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Motorhead, Bad News, Warlock
1988: Iron Maiden, KISS, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns N' Roses, Helloween
1992: Iron Maiden, Skid Row, Thunder, Slayer, W.A.S.P., The Almighty

Now, I know everyone reckons music was better when they were younger, and call me an old stuck-in-the-mud if you will (Reader's voice: "you're an old stuck-in-the-mud"), but these were PROPER rock bands: long-haired, tight-trousered, powerchording, drum-soloing, foot-up-on-the-monitor, Harley-riding, Jack Daniel's-swigging, "scream for me Donington" bands: as opposed to half the baggy jean-wearing, shoe-gazing, mumbling, cant play a guitar solo/won't play a guitar solo, boring nonsense we seem to get nowadays.

We shall never see their like again. Except for Iron Maiden of course. (And Slayer. And Ozzy. And didn't the Almighty play a couple of shows last year? Actually, now I come to think of it...)