The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 478

I don’t think that any of us thought that at the start of 2016 we would be mourning the loss Lemmy, but we are. Motörhead are now just one step away from being just like The Ramones; no one from the bands first recording experience can tell us, firsthand, what was like. Let’s hope that last step is a great number of years away. To celebrate the Birth and Demise of one of my three bands that I can’t live without, I start this week’s show off the very first song from the very first Motörhead gig recorded at the Roundhouse on July 1975 with Lucas Fox on drums and Larry Wallis on guitar before going into the very last song from the very last Motörhead concert in Berlin on the 11^th December 2015. Yes I do play other bands apart from Motörhead; up next is a new track from Anthrax’s new album “For All Kings” then as I cocked their name up on last week’s show, or did I? Helldivers from Sweden are once again brought to the fore. As promised on Episode 477 two Johnny Thunders tracks, one each from the Remarquable Records 10”’s are aired. One features Paul Gray and Steve Nicol and the other Phil Lynott. Then Liverbox from Finland make their welcome debut onto The Paranoid Squirrel who are then swiftly followed by Joy Division. A band I’ve gone all happy dance over are Beach Slang from Philadelphia. They remind me of The Goo Goo Doll circa “Superstar Carwash” and “Hold Me Up” in other words before the Dolls went shit. Two of the bands albums were very quickly purchased with a track from “Broken Thrills” making it onto the show. The last track of the first Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show of 2016 goes to Snowy Dunes (Or do I sneak a bonus Lemmy track in right at the end?) who Combined 60's Garagey Psychadelia with 70's riff-rock and a hint of love for the early 90's stoner scene.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 477

Welcome to Episode 477 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show which is also the last of 2015. Kicking off this “Back To The Studio” affair is a seasonal Ulysses, who also crop up later in the hour in a non-seasonal way.  But before we get to that The Backyard Babies who are swiftly followed by early Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers really get things going. Then it’s a Radio 1 in session track from The Damned still featuring Algy Ward but showcasing a tune that will appear on their Paul Gray forth album. The first new song of this week’s show comes courtesy of The Class of 76 who feature Barrie Masters, Steve Nicol from Eddie & The Hot Rods, Members and Vibrators guitarist Nigel Bennett and bassist Russ Strutter formerly of Wilko Johnson. Helldivers from Sweden sent me an mp3 of their latest single which I obviously air as it’s rather good in a Detroit Garage kind of way, as is the King Mastino track, who hail from Italy, that follows it.  On episode 472, which was the CJ Ramone gig, I apologised for not recording the Yorkshire Rats who were on just after openers Los Pepes and just before Vice Squad, saying that I would be playing something off their “Sea Of Souls” CD to make amends. Well making good on my promise I do exactly that. Scott Sorry, he of The Wildhearts and Sorry and The Sinatras has just released his first solo album via Pledge Music called “When We Were Kings” and quite frankly it could be a contender for album of the year, if I was to do one, which I don’t, so it won’t. If I was it would’ve probably been The Sick Livers or Michael Monroe anyway. However that’s all immaterial so crack it up from Scott Sorry and a track from the aforementioned album.  Sticking with The Wildhearts interconnectedness; CJ Wildheart has just shared a second track from his forthcoming pledge album “Robot”. To coincide with the release of the album in February he is playing in London which unfortunately clashes with The Vibrators 40^th Anniversary gig at the Islington Academy. So I’m in a bit of a quandary which gig should I go to. Please e-mail me with your thoughts so I can then apportion blame elsewhere. “They made me do it!” To celebrate the release of the new Star Wars film I play The Dollyrots’ acoustic and electric versions “Be My Leia” at the same time because I stupidly thought that they would’ve used the same mastertape therefore they’d be the same length. Oh how I laughed. Plastic Tears get us back on an even keel with a cover taken from the Christmas edition of their “Rhythm Rider” ep and in six degrees of separation Smash Fashion have their brand new single played. As we hurtle towards the end of the show and year The Black Bullets help me pick up speed with a track from their new ep “Bombshell” but it’s The Hip Priests with a brand new track that takes us over the edge and out of 2015.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 471

Turbonegro get things going this week with a Demolition 23 sounding Def Leppard following in their wake. Then my own mix of “AntiPope” by The Damned takes the world by storm. We then get back onto new music from Psychopunch, which almost didn’t happen, and The Carburetors, two bands that seem to be going hand in hand at the moment. A band that I had to miss off Episode 469 due to time constraints was The Dogbeats from Benidorm. Obviously they are included on this week’s show to make amends. More new music with the b-side to Hard Action’s “Hands Dripping Red” 7” which is due out on Bootleg Booze Records at the end of February. The Hip Priest/Billy Hopeless split 7” has finally landed on Doormats around the World but as I’ve already played both tracks in question I play The Hip Priests new track “For Life Till Deth” instead. In a Wildhearts Six Degrees of Separation I play new tracks from The Main Grains, that features Danny McCormack and The Drama Club Rejects that features Stidi. Both cracking songs! Scumbag Millionaire from Gothenburg are up next with some “Enraged and fast moving, cooking with gas and grooving Punk Rock” with the return of Royal Republic to The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show following on. Sham 69 have just released a brand new album called “It’ll End In Tears”. This is the Ian Whitewood line up. Deadbeat London, who feature Rich Rags on guitar from The Role Models, debut single gets an airing. I love finding new bands and new music with The Whipshades from Fredrikstad, Norway, being the latest band to fall into that category. It goes without saying I play track by them which comes from their latest release “Fast, Loud and Primitive”. This week’s show is wrapped up with part of an interview with Richard Strange that I attended on the 27^th that was hosted by Peter Cook from The Academy of Rock. Richard “Kid” Strange was in The Doctors of Madness that for a few gigs in 1978 featured Dave Vanian from The Damned. You also get to hear the question I posed, with the one and only studio track that Dave Vanian recorded with The Doctors of Madness that was co-written by TV Smith from The Adverts closing proceedings.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 469

Welcome to another hours worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t with Marty Robbins kicking things off. Up next it’s two split singles courtesy of Ghost Highway Recordings. Firstly Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker do battle with Driving Rain then Jake Starr & the Delicious Fullness get it on with Dollhouse. As a tribute to Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor I play a track from one of his lesser known bands The Muggers. The band also featured his Motörhead cohort Fast Eddie Clarke along with Speedy Keen on guitar and vocals who had had a huge number 1 hit with the Thunderclap Newman Band in 1969 with “Something in the Air” and on bass from The Heartbreakers and Iggy Pop was Billy Rath. Onto new music which includes Girlschool and a track off their new album “Guilty As Sin” and The Dictators NYC with their first new material in 15 years. Compare and Contrast is back, thanks Andy, with the Blues Magoos prosecuting The Dead Kennedys. Back to new music and The Local Band who comprise of Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom), Jussi69 (The 69 Eyes), Olli Herman (Reckless Love) and Archie Kuosmanen (Santa Cruz) have a tracked played from their upcoming ep of covers, then it’s off to Seattle for some Ramones inspired music from The Piniellas. Dom Daley of Glunk Records and Uber Rock’s review of Jukebox Zeros got me all excited and hopefully the track of theirs that I play will also do it for you. The Idol Dead have just released their version of the Dogs D’Amour “I Don’t Want You To Go” in aid of the Winston's Wish charity and the memory of Drugdealer Cheerleader drummer Ringo. The Eagles of Death Metal finish this week’s show off but not with the cover you might have been expecting, but then again......     

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 466

Welcome to another week of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t here on The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. As its Halloween I might as well get my token All Hallows’ Eve track out of the way courtesy of The Misfits. Then as I’m seeing Bernie Tormé tonight up at The Borderline I play a track from his latest album “Blackheart” to get me, and hopefully you, all fired up. Up next and new to the show are Thirsty who feature two ex-Quireboys Guy Bailey and Chris Johnson. At the end of last week the members of the UK Subs jointly released a statement saying on the 24^thOctober a major announcement regarding the band would be forthcoming. For the bands 26^th and FINAL album “Ziezo” fans would be able to get fully involved in the whole process via Pledge Music which goes live tomorrow (1^st Nov). Naturally I play two UK Subs track, the first was originally released as a fan club only one-sided 7” with the second taken from the bands last album “Yellow Leader”. Keeping in the classic Punk Rock mood I play a track from Chelsea’s last album “Saturday Night, Sunday Morning” which goes straight into the Dahlmanns, who hail from Norway, latest 7” single. The Last Great Dreamers have just released a new single to coincide with their up and coming support slot to Cherie Currie, obviously it gets an airing as does a track from D-Generations 2015 Record Store day 10”. A sad note I play a track from late 80’s Glam Rockers Belladonna’s debut 12” as their original and former Bad English (SA) drummer Vince Höare passed away at his home in South Africa last weekend.  Following on is Husker Du and then Anthrax with the first new song from the band’s upcoming 2016 album. Onto the home straight and it’s the Eureka Machines and the Sick Livers. The Eureka Machines track is taken from their soon to be released “Rarities” CD with the Sick Livers song taken from “Mid Liver Crisis” which has just had a video released to accompany it.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 465

Welcome back to an all studio Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. It only feels like yesterday that I was talking to you………

The Damned get things going with a track from their Black Album with Paul Gray’s latest venture in the form of the Monte Dons following on. Up next is Goy Division featuring former Adam West and current Delicious Fullness throaterlist Jake “The Suit” Starr along with Dan-O Deckelman and The Rats. New music comes courtesy of former Hardcore Superstar Guitarist Thomas Silver who is swiftly followed by an as yet unreleased track from his 2011 Rockfield Sessions that features Michael Monroe, Martin Chambers, Casino Steel, Darrell Bath and Glen Matlock. The Volcanics are up next with a track from their Rob Younger produced album “Transmission”. So if you’re into The Victims, The Scientists, The Stooges, the MC5 and AC/DC you might just love this. Born Loose have a brand new album out called “Blowout” which is available on vinyl only. Do not fret it, comes with a download code for those of you whose turntable has been packed away. Obviously a track from it is aired. Not only have Psychopunch and The Carburetors just released a split 7”, booked a German tour together for March, but both are due to release new albums on the 20^th November. The albums are “Sweet Baby Octane” – Psychopunch and “Laughing In The Face Of Death” – The Carburetors. A track from each album is played. A new band to me is The Unholy Preachers from the Czech Republic. Their one album and two eps has a certain Hip Priests feel about them. Great stuff which I hope you agree with. On the 19^th and 20^th February at the Pipeline in London there is going to be the biggest Turbojugend UK party ever in the form of Deathtime Assembly, ten bands over two days who include The Parkinsons, who seem to have reformed and have a documentary about them due for release next month, The Good, The Bad and The Zugly, Bloodlights, The Hip Priests, The Sick Livers, The Chuck Norris Experiment, Flash House, Fuck Frankie, Crude Caress and Zero Zero. Sweet innocent Jesus. Will I be there? Does a Turbojugend hang around the Docks? Hell yeah. To celebrate I play you the aforementioned The Good, The Bad and The Zugly and Bloodlights. A band I think is missing from the bill are Märvel and to prove the point I play a track from their current album “The Hills Have Eyes”. CJ Wildheart has launched a brand new PledgeMusic campaign for his new solo album “The Robot”. The title track has been released as a teaser or taster depending which I share with up. As I’m still in a bit of a Professionals mood I finish this week show off with the Sham Pistols track “Natural Born Killer” from the “Complete Professionals” 3CD and “Little Boys In Blue” by Dirtbag Republic.

The Wall Rock Radio 06-10-15

As you know The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show airs on The Wall Rock Radio for the East Midlands every Saturday for an hour at 7’o clock with a repeat Tuesday evening. As Episode 459 was nearly 1¾ hours long for The Wall listeners the show ended after “Condition Hüman” by Queensÿche. So instead of a Tuesday repeat I rerecorded the last 45 minutes, shuffling songs in the process, The BossHoss are now on first instead of last. I also added new songs like “Jet Boy, Jet Girl” by Elton Motello which was the original English version of “Ça Plane Pour Moi”, played something off Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats’ new album “Night Creeper”, swapped the Graveyard tune for anotherwith even a live Hydromatics track to end this non repeat Tuesday hour off. I did splice the original show with this new one with a view to reuploading it as it worked a whole lot better than the last 45 minutes of Saturday’s show. Towards the end I was flagging due to lack of sleep, and it shows, thanks to the Gas Board digging up the side of our house to fix a Gas leak at 12:30 in the morning. However deleting and adding again to Podbean seemed more trouble than was actually necessary. So here is the Tuesday non repeat ofThe Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show on The Wall Rock Radio in all its glory, featuring; The BossHoss, Elton Motello, Dirtbag Republic, Michael Monroe, The Shondikes, The Tartan Horde, Giuda, The Bones (Twice), Tank, Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, Graveyard with The Hydromatics live.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 459

Well today got off to a great start with the Gas Board digging up our side path to fix a Gas leak at 12:30 this morning. No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith indeed. Consequently if I sound like I’m on speed towards the end of this nearly two hour show, you’ll know why.

On the musical front Russkaja, the Austrian equivalent to The Leningrad Cowboys, start things off, then it’s some Classic Backyard Babies in demo form who are swiftly followed by some up to date UFO. A track from Operation: Mindcrime’s debut album is aired and then it’s a live in the studio song from Bernie Torme to promote his new album, Blackheart and subsequent tour. Compare and Contrast is back with The Boys prosecuting The Towers of London. Now when I started this podcast back in 2007 I never in a million years thought I’d be playing a Prog Rock track by The Pope. Yes The Pope as in his Holiness Pope Francis, but today on this episode I do. How do you follow the Pontiff? You follow him with some Barbe-Q-Barbies and a track from their new album “Driven”. (It’s a good job I’m not Catholic, how many Hail Mary’s?). Darren Birch, Walter Lure’s European bassist, e-mailed to tell me that it was in fact Ozzie who was drumming at The Jazz Cafe and not Martin Ashston as I claimed. Darren is also in The Black Bombers who are head to head with The Hip Priests tonight in Digbeth and it’s only a Fiver to get in. So Get In!  New to The Paranoid Squirrel are Swedish Garage Merchants The Deadheads with a track off their second and new album “Loadead” On the Pledge front Mustasch’s new album arrived last week, signed. Well when I say signed the CD lid was, not the actual booklet. Obviously I play a track which for some reason had me think of Sabbath. Queensryche also fan funded their latest album “Condition Human” however I bought the regular version. The band certainly seem to have found their Mojo which has been absent for most of this century as hopefully you’ll agree on hearing it. Uber Rocks’ Dom Daley pointed me in the (one) direction of The Shondikes. Who he says and I quote “If you still have a shred of life in your rock 'n' roll heart and you want to hear a great record then take a chance on The Shondikes because if you're true to yourself then you will love this record like your first born” On that review I purchased their self-released album “Psychotic Make Out Music” CD and share a track. A band that has got me all excited is from Vancouver Dirtbag Republic featuring Sandy Hazard and Mick Wood formerly of Grandma Moses. Think Rolling Stones, Cheap Trick, NY Dolls, Sex Pistols, Aerosmith, Hanoi Rocks and The Ramones. Now you know why I’m excited. They even cover a Professionals track! Michael Monroe’s latest album “Blackout States” is released next Friday. Wanna sneaky listen to a track? Oh all right.....Joyous news reach me last week that the Bay City Rollers are to reform, well three of the classic line-up are. Pre-Christmas gigs have been booked which sold out in seconds. Hopefully a London date will be forthcoming. To mark this news from 1975, The Tartan Horde’s one and only single “Bay City Rollers – We Love You” is played. If you are scratching your head as to why.....Nick Lowe and a pre Rat Scabies Chris Miller aka Mouse Modem play on it, which leads nicely into the new single by Giuda. Up next are two tracks from The Bones, one is in Germany whilst the other is the English equivalent. Rattling towards the end of this week’s show we have new music from Tank, Graveyard who are due over here with Imperial State Electric and finally it’s The BossHoss who add the full stop to proceedings.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 458

Following on from The Bermondsey Joyriders Mid-Week Special comes the headlining Walter Lure; the last remaining member from the classic Heartbreakers, recorded at The Jazz Café 17^th September. Joining Mr Lure were Jez Miller, Darren Birch and Ozzie (although I mistook him for Martin Ashton) with, from The Jim Jones Revue, Jim Jones himself and Robert Orton who joined in for a couple of numbers. Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers were never renowned for their tightness live and Walter doesn’t do anything to dispel this, with Jez, Darren and Ozzie seemingly knowing the material better than the man himself and that isn’t a criticism. Obviously choice cuts from the Heartbreakers and The Waldos one and only albums are aired, that’ll be “L.A.M.F.” and “Rent Party”, with a couple of covers sneaked in. It seems that new music is on the horizon from Walter courtesy of The Last Ditches that also features Binky Philipps and Randy Pratt. I can’t wait to hear that! But in the meantime................

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 456

As a tribute to Bassist Bryn Merrick who passed away last Saturday The Damned open this week’s show. Keeping it in a “Punk” mood; Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers along with The Ramones, well it would’ve been Dee Dee’s Birthday yesterday, sweep us along into Type O Negative. This week’s clashing gig situation involves The Boys at The Pipeline in November. As Honest John Plain will be back playing guitar with his temporary stand in Chips Kiesbye from Sator also rumoured to be accompanying his fellow band mate Kent over for the gig this trumped any other gig that I was supposed to be going to. As a soundtrack to this news a track from The Boys last album “Punk Rock Menopause” along with a Sator 7”are played. New music comes from Devil City Angels self titled debut album. Who as you know, if you listened to the last mid-week special, features Tracii Guns and Rudy Sarzo. The Hollywood Vampires whose core members are Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry have just released their first album with some help from Dennis Dunaway, Bob Ezrin, Perry Farrell, Dave Grohl, Brian Johnson, Charlie Judge, Robby Krieger, Abe Laboriel Jr., Paul McCartney, Orianthi, Slash, Neil Smith, Glen Sobel, Zak Starkey, Joe Walsh, Kip Winger, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. The album consists of all but two covers, three if you included Sir Christopher Lee’s intro, and comes over as a cross between a classic Alice Cooper Band album and a musical, as you will hear. The Black Bullets have a new EP out later this year called “Bombshell” but to wet your musical palette I let you have a sneaky listen to one of the tracks. The Browns are a Canadian band who have been around since January 1998 but I only got to hear of them thanks to Muscle Car who championed their soon to be released new album “Return Of The Browns” on Facebook, a track of which I play. Looks like I’ll be playing “Catch Up” this weekend. The Bones new album “Flash The Leather” is now out in a standard and a limited Digi-Pack. Being the tight wad that I am I bought the standard release then discovered that the limited edition had two bonus tracks, one of which was the English version of “Die Wilden Jahre”, that I required so as I could play them back to back. Even after I bought the up-grade version I played something completely different, a cross between AC/DC and Hardcore Superstar......I then talk about two former Wildhearts members; Danny McCormack and Stidi’s new bands. That’ll be The Main Grains and Drama Club Rejects respectively. Bloodlights, who include former Gluecifer guitarist Captain Poon, new EP “Somebody Else’s Nightmare” is out on the 9^th October. So I play the title track. Also out on the 9^th is Gluecifer’s back catalogue on Vinyl. Get in! More talking from me but this time it’s important as the London date for Eddie Spaghetti’s “Give Cancer The Middle Finger” fundraiser is being finalised. As soon as I know and it’s all confirmed, I will let you know. Onto the two last songs this week which are both new. First up it’s The Cruel Intentions, who feature former Vains Of Jenna frontman Lizzy DeVine with their latest single who are swiftly followed by Reckless Love with theirs.