GLAD I DIDN’T

 

Here at Chez Aged Rocker it isn’t unusual to hear the delicate strains of AC/DC blasting out. Be it the vocal tones of the late lamented lead singer Bon Scott or his ebullient replacement Brian Johnson, ‘TNT’, ‘Highway to Hell’, ‘Back in Black’, ‘Shoot to Kill’ and more recently ‘Black Ice’ and ‘Rock or Bust’. All of them are cracking albums, ‘Black Ice’ one of their best, ‘Rock N Roll Train’ a track that typifies everything the band was and is.

And whilst the old AR regards ‘Rock or Bust’ as an album that comes nowhere near to those that went before, with the announcement of AC/DC’s ‘Rock or Bust’ tour it was cautiously decided that acquiring tickets for the Manchester leg were in order. Let’s face it this tour could well be their last so it was a case of now or probably never. To say that having not got round to buying them was one of the best things the AR didn’t do is one hell of a sense of relief. With Brian Johnson’s hearing under threat until his doc’s have dug around his lugs a bit more it might have been an idea if the band had postponed things.

On no, let’s fire ‘Our Brian’ after thirty years of being the gravel voiced front man and draft in ‘Fatsel Crows’. What a good idea since there’s every chance the loyal AC/DC fans won’t have a clue or even notice that the tub of past its sell-by-date lard croaking about on stage isn’t who it should be. Wrong, old Fatsel’s own come back hasn’t exactly been a roaring success so as to why someone things this 80’s has-been will cut it fronting AC/DC defies belief. G’N’R were great in their day so leave it that way!      

Since the band of Scottish origin formed back in 1973, from their raucous, raw beginnings to becoming the biggest rock band on the planet, AC/DC have done it all and taught the world how to do it and do it right. However, with one member under house arrest, another having lost the plot and the forced, irreverent and less than respectful departure of Brian Johnson it’s the AR’s opinion that AC/DC should call it a day if only to maintain their seemingly fast diminishing self respect.

If I’d gone as far as to buy a pair of tickets and made a bloody great dent in my wallet only to have been confronted by ‘Fatsel Crows’ there’s every chance I’d have walked out of the auditorium in complete disgust. Some bands such as the Rolling Stones and various members of the Beetles just won’t take the hint. Its high time all of these respected old rockers sat back, counted their millions and basked in the rosy glow of the music they made, the stadiums they filled, the epic shows they staged and the enjoyment they gave their thousands if not millions of fans. Could you imagine the horror and the outcry if Motorhead announced they were looking for a replacement for Lemmy? The Gates of Hell would open up for Beelzebub himself to pour demonic molten venom and vitriolic scorn on humankind. 

Equally, with the information or lack of it AC/DC and its management put out, it’s not so much a case of the show must go its more a case of it doesn’t matter what we do they’ll still come and spend money. Here at the Aged Rocker HQ we wish Brian Johnson all the best and hope that he’ll do something on his own. A voice that the Devil himself created for rock and roll and sheer entertainment, Brian should have been the new face of Top Gear, his previous motoring shows demonstrating his knowledge and passion for cars and racing. Instead just like AC/DC, fans are going to end up with another past their prime, half arsed front man that nobody’s interested in.

So take some advice from the Aged Rocker himself, bugger off and grow old disgracefully. We’ll all have far more respect for you than we have now and think back to the good times every time we spin an album and crank up the volume. There's plenty of new and talented rock bands out there looking for their break, a chance to prove themselves and start on the road to genuine rock and roll fame. If some of the old bands had any sense they'd make space for someone to take their place and make their way in the business just as they did. And yes, I’m more than glad I didn’t buy the tickets……!    

Stone Broken Rock Band at the Rebellion Manchester

THE STORY SO FAR…….

 

To describe them as meteoric would be a cliché and an under statement but until November of 2015 Stone Broken were in many ways just another rock band. From the band’s formation in 2013 when members of two other bands came together and the release of their EP ‘The Crow Flies’, Rich Moss, Chris Davis, Kieron Conroy and Robyn Haycock have gathered in some serious hard rock status.

 

Now followed around the country by the ‘Broken Army’, all four members of the band typify everything that’s right about the scene whilst to listen to their album is to hear them live. As soon lead guitarist Chris strikes the first chord Stone Broken’s ability to fill each and every venue with quality sound and sheer, unbridled energy is addictive, Robyn one of the best hardcore drummers on the scene. In fact it makes it all the more embarrassing for other so called drummers when you find out Robyn is a girl, her ability to maintain an hour and a half of relentless beats putting others to shame.

 

Produced and remastered by Romesh Dodangoda who has previously worked with such rock luminaries as Motorhead, Bring Me The Horizon and Bullet For My Valentine, the end result is awesome. Add in plenty of airtime and exposure; let’s face it, if you ain’t any good Planet Rock won’t be playing your new single ‘Not Your Enemy’ plus a burgeoning reputation as one of the bands to go and see, Stone Broken’s current path is increasingly becoming more clearly defined.

 

 

Interestingly, they haven’t as yet signed to a record label, but do they really need to? Buy it at one of their gigs or buy direct via their website stonebroken.com and you part with your cash safe in the knowledge that no A&R Executive has stuck their nose in. What you hear is what Stone Broken want you to hear which is why the band is all the more remarkable.

 

So take a look at some of their recent live images, a few video clips and listen in to what Rich and Chris had to say to the Aged Rocker when they filled Rebellion over in Manchester a few nights ago……..     


 

 

 

SALTLAKE –

THESE BROKEN BONES-THE EP

 

Collectively known as Saltlake, Henry Gottelier, lead singer and guitar, bass player Liam Quinn and Ash Powell on the drums are a trio taking the hard road to hard rock from their base in Brighton. Together for the past four years and friends since school days, their entrance on the Rebellion stage hit the Manchester venue like a sledge hammer, their hour long set relentless in its delivery and sheer raw enthusiasm.

 

 

Released in November 2015 on indie label Regent Street Records Saltlake’s EP ‘These Broken Bones’ offers up five self-penned tracks that take the listener through the complete Saltlake journey. Starting with the first two ‘Circles’ and the title track ‘These Broken Bones’, although the band don’t lay claim to any particular influences, there’s some serious Sabbath licks and overtones making themselves felt. But so what, it’s worked for years for Ozzy and Co so bring it on.

 

 

But whilst the first two songs pummel the senses announcing in no uncertain terms that Saltlake have arrived the remaining songs ‘The Catalyst’ and ‘How the West was Won’ show off the trio’s genuine abilities. Hard rock, soft rock and dare I say it, a hint of ballad, not only do these three tracks back off on the audible acceleration by a fraction they let the thing that makes Saltlake what it is come to the fore. For me the track of the EP is ‘The Unknown’, a song that shows the bands abilities to vary tempo and demonstrate a level maturity that so often eludes many so called up and comers.

 

 

For more details and to get your hot and sweaty mitts on Saltlake’s new EP visit www.saltlakeuk.com. The site also contains a full listing of their forthcoming gigs and venues. Henry, Liam and Ash rocked at the Rebellion so there’s no reason they won’t do the exact same whenever and wherever they appear.     

MAN ON THE MIC

 

For those who feel the need you can now meet the old git himself, the Aged Rocker and ‘Oily Rag on Tour 2016’ is down to be the man on the mic and provide live commentary at four major classic cars and bike shows. Starting out with the Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show on Sunday 29^th May this is followed up by the Hoghton Tower events on Sunday 12^th June and 14^th August and the Father’s Day Wirral Classic on Sunday 19^th June.

So if you find yourself at any of the above with nothing much better to do, go and introduce yourself. And if you’ve a spare bus pass you can hand out the old AR will be most appreciative. He’ll need to get back home somehow or other!

 

 

 

SOUTHERN ESCAPADES-

 THE REVIEW

 

What better way to review a travel book than by traveling yourself, ‘Southern Escapades’ by Zoe Cano the perfect companion for an extended business trip to Prague and Frankfurt. Where this narrative of an intimate and personal journey differs is that unlike most books sent for review, I met the author which places a completely different slant on proceedings. Even when the meeting was a few spare moments it enabled me to ascertain how the author came to pen each word along with the briefest of glimpses inside the actual person and the excitement that drives her.

 

One of life’s naturally inquisitive adventurers, Ms Cano has lived and worked in Paris, New York, Boston along with spending time in Brazil, set up a charity, walked along the Great Wall of China, trekked in the Amazon rainforest along with horseback expeditions in the Andes and Atlas Mountains. In turn these adventures highlight the author’s natural inquisitiveness, passion to experience the fullness of life and encounter even fleetingly the lives of others.     

 

 

 

Having previously written ‘Bonneville Go or Bust – The Roads Less Traveled’, a ten thousand kilometer journey using nothing more than old National Geographic maps and an aged 860cc Triumph Bonneville T100. Criss-crossing the American continent, the resultant book was picked up by Road Dog Publications, Ms Cano’s writing and style of travel fitting neatly within their portfolio.
 
Exhibiting an easy, flowing style of writing all sixteen chapters keep the reader fully entertained, an unfettered almost literary innocence and her sheer pleasure of ‘being there’ conveyed to the reader with the author’s unique fervor. Reason being the author has thankfully not succumbed to the needs and demands of commercialism or the need to write as little as possible for as much as possible. Astride a modern Bonneville ‘Southern Escapades’ commences in Florida before making its back roads way into Alabama, Georgia and back where the trip started all the while taking in locations and gatherings in such places as Panama City, Sarasota, Birmingham, Bessemer along with the motorcycle show at Barber.   

Equally, there’s the evening spent at Gip’s Joint, a traditional blues juke joint in Uniontown, a quiet few days alone at Longboat Key along with sights, sounds and characters the conventional traveler will never encounter. Weaving equally between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast, the book opens up a side of the Florida Panhandle that time and highways have left behind, plunging the author into a rich cultural mix. The end result is a book that takes the reader on a ride, each turn of the wheel and twist of the throttle resulting in a vivid, intimate description the author passionately passes onto the reader, to a degree you share the sun on her face and each grain of sand on her skin.  

An accomplished photographer with a natural eye for colour, composition and detail, if criticism had to be made it’s the fact the publisher has failed to capitalise on Ms Cano’s visual abilities. Completely outside of the author’s control, a travel book should be replete with imagery but for various reasons the publishers have has failed to capitalise on their literary investment. All the more surprising since the publisher himself was her intermittent traveling companion.  

The minimal number of black and white photographs doesn’t however detract from what is a book that entertains and enthralls on every page, each reader a brief pillion on Ms Cano’s ever expanding journey through these southern states. There’s a line in a song that says ‘never let your dreams grow small’, I for one hoping the author will continue to live her dreams and pass on her adventures. I also feel that the now pair of books will soon become a trilogy, the third potential volume something to be looked forward to, Ms Cano’s capacity to inspire verging in infectious, travel, biking and writing as liberating to Ms Cano as it is absorbing for the reader.

 

‘Southern Escapades’ by Zoe Cano is published by Road Dog Publications USA ISBN No: 978-1-890623-49-4 and is priced at $21-95 USD or £15 via the author’s online bookstore. Copies of both books can also be acquired by visiting with Zoe Cano at one of her numerous book signings, the benefit of which is that you’ll get to meet her in person. For further details visit www.zoecano.com or www.roaddogpub.com.    

ME AND MY MATE GRAHAM

 

For whatever reason I keep being asked what it like to appear on the radio...well it's nothing extra special especially when you've been doing for as long as the Aged Rocker. But for those so interested appearing on BBC Radio Lancashire's Breakfast Show with my mate Graham Liver the format is as follows.....

 

 

Alarm goes off at 5:15am with the usual shower and pot of coffee. Out of the door no later than 6:10am and drive to the BBC Radio Lancs studios in Blackburn, a journey that usually takes about twenty minutes. Park round the back and hit the security switch on the staff entrance door, let the production booth staff see the face on their monitors and one quick buzz later you're in!

 

 

Head into the Library Theatre nodding to producers Leanne and Kate before gathering up the morning's papers and a paper cup of coffee. The name of the game is to find about eight stories that can be discuss making sure you lay off politics, troubles or anything controversial. Draw a red ring round them, remove the pages from the paper and sort into order, then wait. With a live feed running throughout the building it's easy to work out the show's running topic, this morning being the first record you bought since its Record Store Day tomorrow. A nob from Kate and it's through the production booth and in with Graham, red lights on meaning you keep as quite as possible since all the microphones are live. Sit down, position the mic where it needs to be, wait for Graham to cue me in and away we go. Ten minutes later the first stint is done with twenty minutes or so before doing it all again. And that folks is how it's done!

 

Alarmingly, Graham was at pains to explain that as soon as he gets home he changes into some work out traccy bottom along with the fact he wanders round the studio in odd socks. Graham's a nice lad but there are one or two things that do cause the old Aged Rocker to worry about him!

The big thing about this morning's appearance was hooking up with a guy called Paul Townsend from Townsend Records in Clitheroe. With vinyl making a serious come back which means turn tables are once again the thing to have, Record Store Day is when real music fans will be able to get themselves some new limited edition proper LP's and EP's such as the Iron Maiden one I've just got for myself. According to Paul, it's these student types who have brought about this retro revolution, mainly because it's the sleeve artwork that gets them going, most of the sleeves ending up displayed on their walls.

Great thing is, is that it's sky rocketed the value of old collections, the old Aged Rocker's original LP copy of Pink Floyds' Dark Side of the Moon now worth about forty quid. This new interest in vinyl also means fewer of those poxy downloads. Vinyl has a warm, more mellow tone and since LP's and singles have to be played on a turntable, through an amp and listened to using proper speakers, no more of this ear piece lark. If you've never done vinyl or real records, get yourself out there and buy a few and listen to the next best thing when it's not live! Better still go visit Paul and start your own collection and do make sure you listen in when the Aged Rocker is on the airwaves!