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The Firewind and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist joins as Andy LaRocque is thanked for his 40 years of contributions

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King Diamond announced that he and guitarist Andy LaRocque have parted ways after more than 40 years. According to the King’s post, the split was mutual, and he continues:
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Known as Boom Boom, he recorded a string of hits in the 1950s and ’60s, including “Tallahassee Lassie,” which began as a poem by his mother.

Waylon Jennings, Lil Wayne and more are among the 2027 class.

The post Linkin Park, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ramones & More To Receive Stars On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame appeared first on Theprp.com.

Watch your two-step.

The post Madball Drop “Don’t MisStep” Music Video appeared first on Theprp.com.

That record will feature guest spots from various members of Amorphis and is due out in October.

The post Insomnium Debut “Gleam In The Black” Video From Their New Album “Netherworlds” appeared first on Theprp.com.

A music video for it has just gone up.

The post Allt Launch Final “Ataraxia” Advance Single “Avalon” appeared first on Theprp.com.

While 1977 was the release of one of Hawkwind’s most important albums, ‘Quark, Strangeness and Charm’ (which was actually the first album of theirs I heard), it also saw the band having some issues with more line-up changes, a poor American tour, and Calvert collapsing onstage suffering from mental issues. Hawkwind stopped touring for a while and Calvert was recovering, so Brock’s thoughts turned to having a side project for a while. He had built a relationship with local Devon band Ark, some of whom had played with him and Calvert at the Stonehenge Free Festival the previous year, so not why do something with them again. Brock and Calvert contacted three members of that band, bass guitarist Harvey Bainbridge, drummer Martin Griffin and keyboard player Paul Hayles, and as Sonic Assassins they played Queen’s Hall Barnstaple on 23^rd December 1977. It was recorded for posterity, and three tracks were released in 1981 as the ‘Sonic Assassins’ EP, but it is only now that all still-existing recordings have been made available. Given the importance of both Bainbridge and Griffin in the Hawklords resurrection which led back to Hawkwind, this is a historically important recording indeed.

The sound quality is excellent, and the highlight is undoubtedly one of the finest concert performances of Robert Calvert ever recorded. He may have been led astray at one point by announcing “Master of the Universe” when the band instead went into a lengthy improvised piece,  but Robert was more than up to the task and provided lyrics on the spot for a number to be known as “Over The Top”, which after more than seven minutes finally segued into ‘MOTU’. There are early versions of “Freefall” and “Death Trap” along with classics such as “Golden Void” and “Magnu”, and at no point does this sound like anything apart from a full band which had been rehearsing and recording together for months. It is difficult to comprehend that two musicians had asked three from another band to come and play their music, yet that is exactly what happened.  

Special credit must be given to Ben Wiseman for mixing and mastering this album from the original tapes, as I cannot imagine that was an easy task, but the result is sonically very good indeed and thoroughly enjoyable. This is one of those rare instances when a much sought after recording is definitely worth hearing for its music as well as just the scarcity value, and Hawkwind fans will certainly enjoy playing this. I did.
8/10 Kev Rowland

It seems like an era may be coming to an end. Industrial metal pioneers Ministry have announced Hate to Go (Take Out or Delivery) as what is expected to be their final studio album. The record is scheduled for release on October 30 through Cleopatra Records. At the same time, Al Jourgensen and the band have unveiled… Continue Reading →

I am not quite sure as to whether to view this as a new studio recording or a compilation, or both, as what we have here is a combination of unheard recordings, newly reworked classics and fresh material from the current line-up, and I am not sure exactly who plays on what. I am aware that the vibrant and upbeat “Hurry On Sundown” is the final recording to feature Huw Lloyd- Langton, who left the band in 2002 and died from cancer in 2012, but have no information as to where and when it was recorded.

Hawkwind as a band have probably suffered more than most from having compilations released over which they have had no control, along with many live recordings (some of which have poor sound quality at best), so much so that anyone who says they have a complete collection is either lying or demented, which means that there is always a certain level of trepidation when approaching any of their albums which have been compiled. However, this is a fascinating viewpoint into one particular style of their music, with new songs such as “Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad” and “There Are Fairies In The Garden” happily sitting alongside reimagined versions of the likes of “The Demented Man” and “Those Days Of The Underground”. The former is one of the highlights on the album, and it is difficult to think that the original take was on ‘Warrior on the Edge of Time’ which is now more than 50 years old. This still has an acoustic guitar at its base, but feels vita and modern.

The album also includes tracks drawn from associated projects, including Dave Brock’s unreleased ‘Dance and Trance’ material (“Land Of Min”, “Out Of Luck”) and Magnus Martin’s “Ocean’s Spiral”, but the absolute highlight is a driving live-in-the-studio take on “PSI Power”, which was originally the opening track on ’25 Years On’ and has long been one of my favourites. Here it is still high energy and clearly demonstrates the current line-up is continuing to add to the legacy, even though David Brock is now 84 years old and still shows no sign at all of slowing down either recording or gigging. This is a set any fan of the band will thoroughly enjoy.
8/10 Kev Rowland