The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 482

The Rollins Band who are swiftly followed by Iggy Pop start things going this week and as I recently saw Henry Rollins in is spoken word capacity I play a five minute segment of Mr Rollins pearls of wisdom. The Jack Tars, who up until last year were called Deadmen Walking, but still feature Captain Sensible, Slim Jim Phantom, Mike Peters and Chris Chaney, have a track off their recent tour CD aired. Going a bit mainstream I play some Metallica from “Master Of Puppets” as this year it’ll be 30 years old. Meaning it’s been nearly three decades since they released a decent album…… Jake Starr and The Delicious Fullness are live in session. Unfortunately not with me but WFMU, New Jersey. We then have a bit of a Norwegian Fest with firstly Razorbats who Dom Daley of Űber Rock turned me onto, with a track from their debut full length release “Camp Rock”. Talking of debuts; Märvel those three masked men from Smell City are playing their first English/Wales dates which are; The Pipeline, London on the 10^th March, Hairy Dog, Derby 11th and the 12^th sees them at Hard Rock Hell in North Wales. Obviously a track from their latest offering “The Hills Have Eyes” is played. Rounding up NorFest are Bloodlights with an exclusive track taken from their SkullCandy Headphone Promo CD which I picked up in 2008. For some reason, probably Blackmail, I have the urge to play some brand spanking new Hip Priests, so I do. (The cheque’s in the Post.) Into the home stretch its Little Richard morphing into Slade, with The Ruts actually closing proceedings.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 481

Having been born in Beckenham and lived there, on and off, for the last 30 years David Bowie’s life and death had an impact on me. Whilst mainstream Radio Stations celebrated his life with great but obvious songs I go for a different approach by starting this week’s show with a Davie Jones With The King Bees song before going into a Motörhead track from “Bad Magic”. It’s not all doom and gloom with The Supersuckers and something from their “Holdin’ The Bag” album. Thee Martian Boyfriends are up next with an injection of some Farfisa organ. The Michael Monroe Band are bound for the United States next month, so to get our American chums in the mood and even more excited a track from “Blackout States” gets an airing. The Boys have just released a brand new video to whit I play the audio equivalent from “Punk Rock Menopause”. Non PC band Childbirth from Seattle have two tracks played one from each of their albums, which are “It’s A Girl” and “Women’s Rights”. Slade, who were the first band I got into back in March 1973, have that track, which set me on my musical journey played. A band who would be right at home in the early to mid 70’s are The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell who just so happen to have released a brand new 7” on Rise Above Records. Obviously the A-Side gets a good going over. Captain Blood, from Denver, Colorado, with their Horror Punk make their debut onto The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Turbonegro once again grace the airwaves with their latest single which came out last year. Sonny Vincent’s Son, Daughter-In-Law and Grandson were involved in a serious Apartment Fire suffering 50-80% burns, so Sonny has set up a GoFundMe Campaign to help with their Medical expenses, which you can donate to Here. Ghost Highway Recordings are also chipping in by giving all the proceeds from the “Lines On My Mirror” 7”, which I play, to the fund. The Royal Republic are the latest band to have a gig that clashes with an already booked ticket. (Ghost on March 2^nd) Even so I play another new track from their up and coming album. AC/DC finish things off this week because.....well just because.        

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 479

My battle with Man-flu is the underlining theme on today’s show. On the musical front though DENIMGOAT, who sport Danne McKenzie, Nicke Borg, Richie Puzz, Max Diesel and Ida Evileye in their ranks have just released a cover of Phil Lynott’s “Nineteen” which obviously I play. Can you believe it’s been 30 years since he died? Even more worrying is that later on this year it’ll be Cliff Burton’s. Hey! Hello! have a track aired from their second album, “Hey! Hello! Too!” which has me more than excited. As the latest Classic Rock Magazine reviews Dirtbag Republic’s debut album for the second time I feel the need to play something off it. Up next are the LLUNATIKS who hail from Villalonga, Spain and a track from their “Ultra Rock” album. Then as I’m seeing the UK Subs tonight at the 100 Club as part of the Resolution Festival I hold my own mini one by playing classic tracks from the Anti-Nowhere League, GBH, Discharge, Chelsea and the UK Subs. Missing from the Festival were the Damned and or associated former or current members, so I redress the situation by playing the last recording that Captain, Rat and Paul Gray did together. It’s a riot. There’s a clue for you. As the World and her husband are talking about Guns ‘n’ Roses I join in with my two pennies worth playing one of their tracks in the process. The Cruel Intensions, who feature former Vains of Jenna vocalist Lizzy DeVine, make their second appearance on The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show with their new single. I finish this week’s show off with The Heavy Eyes who last fm describe as “psychedelic bluesy rock from the delta that sounds similar to a skeleton driving a speed boat on a flaming Mississippi River headed back to 1969.” Sold to the man with the snotty nose and cough!  

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 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 467

Welcome to Episode 467 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show, where, even though the news about The Hellacopters one off Sweden Rocks gig is over a week old, I go off on a complete tangent, not playing was I was planning to but Bands and Records that have shaped, if not changed the course of my life. Therefore for the first part of this week’s show I play; The Hellacopters, The Ramones, Motӧrhead, The Damned, The Beatles, Ginger Wildheart, The Hydromatics and Cinderella. Fortunately I do leave myself enough room for new music that you should hear on the Radio but don’t in the form of Brian James and a track from his latest album “The Guitar That Dripped Blood”, The Dirty Strangers and something from their just released “Crime And A Women” album. If you think that the Rolling Stones haven’t released an album of decent tunes this century The Dirty Strangers will restore your faith. Scott Sorry, he of Sorry and The Sinatra and sometimes Wildhearts Bassist, has the first fruits from his Pledge Music solo album aired and I finally manage to play a track from the Black Bombers 7” that their Bassist and Walter Lure’s, Darren Birch sent me a couple of months ago. Well worth the wait. As we plunge head long toward the end of this week’s hour the Zodiac Panthers, all two of them, give us some Primal Garage Punk with The Beladeans blending some modern/vintage Pacific Northwest Garage Rock to actually bring proceedings to a close.

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 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 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.