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Stonedeaf Productions Ltd proudly announces that energetic Swedish melodic hard rockers H.E.A.T will be coming to Stonedead Festival 2020.

H.E.A.T have established themselves as one of the hottest melodic rock bands on the scene and we are thrilled to announce that they will play at Stonedead. With their self produced 6th album ‘H.E.A.T II‘, released in February 2020 to critical acclaim, H.E.A.T bring powerful melodic vocals with a huge sound.

The album has gained plaudits world wide, returning to a heavier style and cementing their place in the Melodic Rock genre. H.E.A.T will be bringing their high octane live show to Stonedead 2020.

Black Star Riders special guests: Terrorvision and GUN with H.E.A.T, Kris Barras Band, Blaze Baily, Tygers Of Pang Tang, Myke Grey featuring Kim Jennett, Opening Poll Winner Dead Man’s Whiskey.

Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire, Saturday 29th August 2020

Stonedead 2020 is an outdoor, one day, one stage, monster of a festival where rock music reigns eternal. Stonedead is firmly placed on the rock festival map and places the rock fan experience at its core. Come and see it for yourself! Stonedead aims to excite both classic and new rock fans in providing a unique one day, one stage festival where the music is the focus, the beer and food are priced competitively and you can camp / park 5 minutes from the level ground arena.

The festival is solely organised by volunteers and created for music fans, Stonedead is a festival experience not to be missed.

• Free signing tent brought to you in conjunction with Planet Rock Radio

• Dedicated covered wellbeing area with seating and sun cream!

• Bring alcohol into the arena – 4 cans of ready mixed spirits, beer / cider

• Large free car parking

• Included with camping ticket purchase is exclusive access to the Friday night party with Midlands Metalheads Radio

Tickets: www.stonedeadfestival.co.uk/tickets

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STONEDEAF PRODUCTIONS LTD is delighted to announce that GUN will appear as special guests at Stonedead Festival 2020 at Newark Showground on Saturday, 29 August 2020.

Legendary Scottish rockers GUN will bring an arsenal of hooky riffs and catchy songs to the Stonedead 2020 Tommy Vance stage. Celebrating 30 years since the release of their 1989 debut album ‘Taking on The World‘, which saw the band tour with The Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels tour in 1990. Momentum continued to gather when the band released ‘Gallus‘ in 1992 and an arena tour with Def Leppard followed. The Glasgow quintet recently released the double album ‘R3L0ADED‘, featuring an amalgamation of their best singles from the band’s seven albums such as ‘Steal Your Fire‘, ‘Better Days‘ and ‘Don’t Say It’s Over‘, and a collection of cover songs, including the song that gave them a household hit ‘Word Up‘ by Cameo, for which the band won the prestigious MTV Europe Music Award for Best Cover.

Dante Gizzi (vocals), Jools Gizzi (guitar), Paul McManus (drums), Andy Carr (bass) and Tommy Gentry (guitar) never fail to deliver, and are guaranteed to put on one hell of a show for the Stonedead faithful!  Jools had this to say about Stonedead: “We’ve heard so much how good Stonedead Festival is. The fact that we’re playing along with other great bands is very exciting. We can’t wait to play this festival. See you there!”

Stonedead 2020 is an outdoor one day, one stage, monster of a festival where rock music reigns eternal. Stonedead is now firmly placed on the rock festival map and places the rock fan experience at its core. Come and see it for yourself!

Stonedead Festival is carrying on its solid tradition of bringing both well known and new rock bands to Newark Showground. Stonedead’s unique line-up aims to excite both classic and new rock fans in providing a spectacular one day, one stage festival where the music is loud, the beer and food are priced competitively and you can camp / park 5 minutes from the arena. The festival is being solely organised by volunteers, created for music fans and is a festival experience not to be missed. With a free signing tent brought to you in conjunction with Planet Rock Radio. We have a dedicated covered wellbeing area with seating and sun cream! We allow alcohol to be brought into the arena – 4 cans of ready mixed spirits or beer / cider.

Tickets: www.stonedeadfestival.co.uk/tickets

With free car parking and only a small excess of £2 per van for caravans / campers Adults: £50 Arena (+£10 camping) Children: under 4 are free (all under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult) £35 Arena (+£5 camping)

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GUN, FM, and Dan Reed Network’s The Big 3-0 Tour, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their iconic 1989 albums ‘Taking On The World‘, ‘Tough It Out‘ and ‘Slam‘ kicks off today at the O2 Academy, Bristol. All three bands will be performing the albums in full!

Last night Dan Reed Network tour the roof off Planet Rockstock with their usual energetic, entertaining style:

The Big 3-0 Tour – December 2019
9 Bristol – O2 Academy
10 Southampton – Engine Rooms
11 London – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
13 Wolverhampton – KK’s Steel Mill
14 Norwich – LCR UEA
15 Nottingham – Rock City
17 Newcastle – O2 Academy
18 Leeds – O2 Academy
20 Manchester – Academy 2
21 Glasgow – Barrowland

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Legendary pioneering funk rock five-piece Dan Reed Network’s self-titled debut and much celebrated second album ‘Slam’ have just been totally remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Miles Showell and lined up for release on Universal Music on October 25th on CD, double vinyl LP, download, plus for streaming – for the first time ever.
Dan Reed Network are then set to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of ‘Slam’, by playing the album in its entirety when they top the bill of the co-headline ‘Big 3-0 Tour’ with Gun and FM in December.
Dates are:
8th December Porthcawl, Trecco Bay Holiday Park
9th December Bristol, O2 Academy
10th December Southampton, Engine Rooms
11th December London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
13th December Wolverhampton, KKs Steel Mill
14th December Norwich, University Of East Anglia
15th December Nottingham, Rock City
17th December Newcastle Upon Tyne, O2 Academy
18th December Leeds, O2 Academy
20th December Manchester, Academy 2
21st December Glasgow, Barrowland
Dan Reed Network, who were formed in Portland, Oregon in 1984, soon began packing out local clubs with their infectious mixture of high-end funk with stadium rock hooks and muscle. The band signed to Polygram / Mercury Records early in 1987, who put them in the studio with producer Bruce Fairbairn (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi) to record Their self-titled debut album, which was hugely acclaimed when released in the winter of 1987 and spawned the band’s first Top 40 Billboard hit, ‘Ritual’.
While at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in January 1989 in New York, Dan Reed met up with producer Nile Rodgers (David Bowie, Duran Duran, Madonna) and this meeting led to the creation of ‘Slam’, produced by Rodgers. ‘Slam’, which better represented the group’s sound and accelerated Dan Reed Network’s growing status in Europe, led to Bon Jovi adding the band as their main support on the European leg of their ‘New Jersey Tour’ in 1989 and then The Rolling Stones adding them to their European ‘Urban Jungle’ tour as special guest act in 1990.
While thirty years down the line both albums more than stand the test of time, the ethos of ‘Slam’ is as relevant as ever. Dan Reed notes that “Out of all the DRN tracks I am probably most happy with the lyrics and intention of the title track ‘Slam’, which I am sad to say is as valid, if not more so, than it was thirty years ago. The current political climate of building walls both physically and in our mind seems to have gotten even more prevalent than it was back in 1989, and for that reason alone I am looking forward to going out on the road and sharing these songs and thoughts. Because we often perform many songs from ‘Slam’, I feel a lot of the tracks hold up well after all these years, especially ‘Cruise Together’ and ‘Rainbow Child’, which often seem like the audience’s favourites, judging by their reactions. It’s going to be a full-on night of hard driving grooves and soaring melodies and a celebration of past, present and future.”
Official Website

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GUN, FM, and Dan Reed Network’s The Big 3-0 Tour, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their iconic 1989 albums ‘Taking On The World‘, ‘Tough It Out‘ and ‘Slam‘ has been annonuced for December 2019. All three bands will be performing their albums in full!

Yes it’s a bit of a shock to the system when you realise it’s actually 30 years ago that all three albums were released, but what a hell of a way of celebrating the fact that both albums and bands are much loved in the rock community. Unchanged: Yes it’s a bit of a shock to the system when you realise it’s actually 30 years ago that all three albums were released, but what a hell of a way of celebrating the fact that both albums and bands are much loved in the rock community.

Planet Rock will be offering a presale this Monday Here

The Big 3-0 Tour – December 2019
9 Bristol – O2 Academy
10 Southampton – Engine Rooms
11 London – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
13 Wolverhampton – KK’s Steel Mill
14 Norwich – LCR UEA
15 Nottingham – Rock City
17 Newcastle – O2 Academy
18 Leeds – O2 Academy
20 Manchester – Academy 2
21 Glasgow – Barrowland

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Gun – Favourite Pleasures

Caroline (Sept 2017)

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

Being from their hometown and knowing a few of the guys, I am pretty familiar with Gun and their career output. Admittedly, I wasn’t that keen on the band while Toby Jepson sang with them and was pretty glad the he left and even more delighted when it was announced his replacement was Dante Gizzi. While there is a constant debate about the merits of Gun without original vocalist Mark Rankine, I have liked what Gun have produced so far. And just to throw my tuppence worth in, Dante is technically a far superior singer to Mark!

The press release with this album states that it’s a return to the bands rockier roots and the opening track ‘She Knows‘ just completely knocks your socks off. With a superb riff the song rattles a long at fair pace with bass and drums firmly driving it. New boy Tommy Gentry absolutely rips it up during the solo. Primetime Gun! Next up is ‘Here’s Where I Am‘ which revolves around an almost 70s drum beat and while it rocks, there is a tip of the hat to their pop sensibilities. The title track ‘Favourite Pleasures‘ funks up proceedings with a crisp, hard-edged rhythm and Gizzi almost spitting out the words. The album continues with ‘Take Me Down‘ which again for me is primetime crossover Gun combining their rock roots with a whole range of contemporary influences, which is basically the Gun hallmark. ‘Silent Lovers‘ bounces along on a bouncing rhythm and sounds like it draws on influences such as 70s pop rock and punk/new wave while rocking along.

‘Black Heart‘ stomps along on an almost walking rhythm and then bursts into a real stomp for the short bridge and powering into the chorus before dropping back into the opening riff. It also has some great string arrangements. Next up is ‘Without You In My Life‘ which starts with a slashing guitar riff that wouldn’t sit out of place on an early Clash album. However, with all the other elements of the arrangement it sounds edgy, contemporary and original. ‘Tragic Heroes‘ opens up like it could have been on any of the first two Gun albums but sounds fresh and modern rather than a band trying to just re-tread their own footsteps. They also cleverly cram a lot into just over three and a half minutes. Next up is the vitriolic ‘Go To Hell‘ with Dante sneering the lyrics at whoever has to go to hell with the juxtaposition of the chorus and the ‘love, love, love, love’ chorus. Rocks but has an almost new wave feel too it. The final song on the album proper for me is quite possibly the standout track. Entitled ‘The Boy Who Fooled the World‘, it opens with just piano and vocals. Melody-wise, it reminds me of Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins at their sublime best. A fitting closer for the album proper and sublime in its own right.

The review version of the album has five bonus tracks with it. First up is a cover of ‘(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)‘ with a guitar sound that the Young Brothers would be pleased with! This is followed by ‘20 Storeys‘ which I thought might have been a variation on the Jelly Piece Song (Glaswegians over a certain age will know what I am talking about)! ‘Come Undone‘ is next and is the pick of the bonus tracks for me. The throbbing bass line is contrasted by the almost muted guitar picking across the top and with a grooving chorus – great stuff! ‘Next is All I really Need‘ and we get the classic Gun crossover sound drawing a range of any one of a number of alternative rock influences, but rocking all the same. Last, and by no means least there is ‘Whisky and a Prayer‘. This has an awesome edgy groove with the riff and the vocals and all crammed into just three minutes!

So, do I think this album lives up to its billing of being a return to Gun’s rock roots? Damn tooting and then some. However, in returning to those roots, the sheer diversity of influences that have always been there still remain. Being an old fart I can hear influences from the 70s as diverse as Slade, Bowie and Zeppelin as well as alternative stuff such as Manic Street Preachers and the Clash. There are also more contemporary influences I can hear such as Muse. However, what the guys do is take these influences and carve out a little niche of their own and sound like…well, they sound like Gun! Just as they always have done! This is easily the best Gun album since they reformed and definitely since they burst on to the seen with Taking on the World. If you really are a Gun fan, set aside your hankering for Mark Rankin, and get with the programme. If you don’t, your missing some quite stunning sounds and in age of quantised, digitised, soundalike bullshit where it is becoming rarer and rarer!

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hrh-11

Even as Hard Rock Hell‘s triumphant flagship celebration of their first decade comes to a close,  HRH looks to the future with next year’s festival.

It’s no surprise that HRH have partied loud and hard in 2016, celebrating the landmark first 10 years of Hard Rock Hell on Earth.  The fans’ ears are still ringing,  hearts pounding, and the awesome buzz and energy of the festival is still in the air as the fans head home, but head honcho Jonni and his team are already loading up for the eleventh Hard Rock Hell.

HRH are proud to announce another kickass, fan-picked line-up for 2017: Australian powerhouse rockers Airbourne and classic 70s American hard rock/heavy metal band Y&T (originally formed as Yesterday & Today, and known as “one of the hardest-working blue-collar bands in hard rock history.”) From the U.K. come Glaswegian hard rockers GUN; also Syteria: the dynamic, female-fronted rock band from South Yorkshire. Then, adding European flavour to the proceedings, are The New Roses: Germany’s most exciting, successful new rock act.

HRH XI will take place between Thursday 9th and Sunday 12th Nov 2017, amidst the beautiful landscape of North Wales, at Camp HRH in Pwllheli. Once again the HRH community and family will come together for the ultimate mash-up of loud, live music and malarkey that makes up an HRH event, along with the quality accommodation you’d expect from Europe’s leading residential festivals.

“We’re not resting on our laurels or anything else: 2017 is going to be the biggest adventure yet!”  promises CEO Jonni Davis,  with trademark passion, “We’re taking the HRH experience out to Australia, NZ and Singapore; meanwhile some fresh new branches are growing from the HRH tree here in the U.K. – new genres and niches of rock and metal that our community want us to add into the mix. It’s going to be a Hell of a year, and of course we’ll still be delivering our core events. HRH XI is going to be the best yet! Bring it on!”

All hail the Eleventh Coming! All hail Hard Rock Hell 2017!

Further details, ongoing updates, and bookings can be found at:

www.hardrockhell.com

Ticket hotline:

0203 287 6684

N. B.  HRH events sell out very quickly, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

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HRH AOR 5

With only 18 rooms left on an even bigger site, HRH AOR, now in its 5th cycle are pleased to announce its first round of bands as demanded by its fans.

Leading the charge are some rare and much anticipated performances by the Queen of Rock n Roll herself, Lita Ford, the incredible talents of Finnish Sleaze Lord, Michael Monroe, plus Melodic Riff Machines, Autograph, Bang Tango and the multi million record selling outfit, Slaughter who have not been in the UK since 1992.

or Melodic Rock Fans, HRH AOR 5  will be an epoch of Melodic Rock which will also feature sister brands on separate arenas, HRH Sleaze & HRH Glam.

Other bands performing include the Legendary Quireboys, GUN, Love/Hate, Mike Tramp, Bonafide, Romeos Daughter, Chase the Ace,  Vega, Psycho Kiss & Dante Fox.

With another 20 plus bands to come, HRH AOR 5 will be the pinnacle event for Melodic Rock enthusiasts.

With only 18 rooms left, you’ll have to move quickly to make sure you reserve your AOR Throne for cycle 5.

HRH AOR 5 takes place at Camp HRH, Pwllheli, North Wales between 9th – 12th  March 2017 and tickets can be booked online at  www.hrhaor.com or by ringing Fleur very quickly on 0203 287 6684

Current line so far is

Lita Ford

Michael Monroe

Slaughter

Quireboys

Autograph

Bang Tango

GUN

Love/Hate

Mike Tramp

Bonafide

Romeos Daughter

Vega

Chase the Ace

Psycho a Kiss

Dante Fox

Plus more to be announced shortly

 

 

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Copyright© Peter Scallan
                 Copyright© Peter Scallan

Review: Gun

Sala Arena, Madrid 30 Oct 2015

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

GUN and I go back a long way having known three of the guys for well over 30 years and had the privilege to play the odd gig with Giuliano Gizzi. Consequently I have seen them many times in a number of locations including of course Glasgow Barrowlands which is always something special. I had heard that Spain was partial to a bit of GUN and that Madrid was a favourite city for the band and was looking forward to both the gig and enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of Madrid!

I must admit, with about 30 minutes to gig time I was getting worried that the place was empty with barely 60-70 people in when the local support act finished. However, in the space of about 20 minutes the place filled up and it was rammed. The band hit the stage with the opening song from the latest album Frantic called Let It Shine and what an opening! The place erupted and became even more frantic when they quickly launched into Don’t Say It’s Over which really had the place bouncing and singing. The fever pitch increased even further when Better Days kicked in with the crowd singing the words with Dante Gizzi. Another new song followed in the shape of One Wrong Turn before another GUN classic was rolled out in the form of Seems Like I’m Losing You from the Swagger album. A superb rendition of Something To Believe In followed with the place really bouncing and was dedicated to local boy Luis Diaz who is a diehard GUN fan and was our personal Madrid tour guide for the first couple of days. Next up was single Everyone’s a Winner which was followed by the awesome title track from Frantic, which I just love and is even better live than on the album. The roof nearly came off the venue when the Giuliano opened Money and the crowd was bouncing like it was 1977 and the punk revolution and shouting every word as it was sung. These were quickly followed by a further two songs from Frantic with Hold Your Head Up and then Labour of Love again both sounding raunchy and rocking. Another song from Taking On The World was rolled out in the shape of Inside Out leading to the penultimate song Word Up with the crowd joining in. The guys then closed the set proper with Steal Your Fire which is one of my personal favourite before leaving the stage. However, the place erupted like it was the second coming when the encore started with Taking On The World followed by Welcome To The Real World. And there was one more song which brought to crowd to the boil as no GUN gig would be complete without Shame On You. And so it was ended and GUN seriously rocked Madrid!

Now admittedly it was always unlikely that I was going to be impartial with this gig review given a lifetime of history with some of the guys. However, while the band served up an absolutely awesome set, the real surprise was the Madrid crowd who rocked even harder than the band. I found myself just looking about at people’s reaction to the band and it was fanatical. GUN’s Xmas gig at the Barrowlands has always been special but this year Glasgow you will have to go one helluva way to out rock Madrid. Madrid – you were pure dead gallus and made a happy man feel very old!