The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 516

An all Scandinavian show this week. “It’ll be easy” I thought. I thought wrong. Who do I play was easy, but as I was going along I kept remembering other bands that needed to be heard. I think I forgot all about Iceland! So it was a case of “What don’t I play”. Even so this week’s show stretchs to the 90 minute mark and I apoligise inadvance if I’ve left out a band you deemed should’ve been on. Yes I know Turbonegro. Oh the shame. Below is the list of bands that I play. I hope you enjoy them as much as me.
Hanoi Rocks,
The Flaming Sideburns,
The Backyard Babies,
The Hellacopters,
The Defectors,
The Peepshows,
The Turpentines,
The Robots,
The Royal Cream,
The Curse,
Gluecifer,
Bloodlights,
Smoke Mohawk,
Imperial State Electric,
Wrecks,
Midlife Crisis,
Union Carbide Productions,
Soundtrack of Our Lives,
Free Fall,
Mary’s Kids,
The Nomads,
Sator,
Hardcore Superstar.              

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 515

I start this week’s show off with two classic tracks; firstly, Motörhead and then Whitesnake. New music comes in the shape and form of Indoria who feature Chuck Mosley on vocals, who contrary to what I said on last week’s show is now playing a London date this October. Swiftly following on straight after are Suicidal Tendencies and a track from their soon to be released “World Gone Mad” album. Off the back of the Richie Ramone track that I played last week Pete from The Gobshites got in contact with a link to his band’s “The Whistle Before The Snap” album that features Richie Ramone. “Guinness-inspired Celtic rock with a punk-ass twist that gives your pants and pints a kick” is how The Gobshites have been described and who am I to argue? A couple of Facebook nominations lead me to air a track from “Parts Unknown” by The Hydromatics before I home back in on new releases with The Radicals, who celebrated the 1^st Anniversary of their demise by issuing an ep of stuff they wished they’d put out when they were still a going concern. Obviously I play a track from it. Up next it’s the Dead Pirates with a track from their debut album “Highmare” then St. Tropez provide us with the last new track of this week. Thanks to Henry Rollins’ KCRW Radio Show from the 14^th August I play an Alternative TV track which I hadn’t heard for years. However, it’s that little known ex-Croydon based Beat Combo The Damned that takes us to the hour mark and the end of Episode 515.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 511

In a fun filled packed show this week which, fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view, exceeds its hour mark by five odd minutes. Getting things off to a flying start are the Watts and a track from their third album which is swiftly followed by The Drama Clubs Rejects a band that features ex Wildheart and an ex Almighty members. Keeping the interconnection going The Main Grains are up next who also sport an ex Wildheart member with a track from their “Don’t Believe Everything You Think” mini album. For the next section we move into the live arena with the debut live performance of Hey! Hello! Mkiii up at the Brooklyn Bowl. As you know Hey! Hello! features Ginger, The Rev, Ai, Toshi and new vocalist Cat. Let’s hope Cat has the staying power of Jeremy Corbyn as she has the vocal ability of Victoria and the stage presence of Hollis. Following Hey! Hello! were Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors. Ryan looked familiar in a Ginger Birthday Bash guest kind of way but two of his Traitors were recognised straight away as Rob Lane aka Laney 74 and drummer Michael Richards played with Johnny Monaco back in 2012. Of course closing the show were The Ginger Wildheart Band that for this tour features Electric Boy and ex Hanoi Rocks guitarist Conny Bloom, Toshi with Denzil sitting on the drummers’ stool. The last time I saw Ginger in full electric band mode was at his re-arranged Birthday Bash in April where I came away disappointed. Nothing could’ve been further from the truth this time around as I came away veritably skipping down the road as it was probably the best I’ve seen Mr. Wildheart in a long-time. Back into the realms of studio land and the Hip Priests, who I saw last night and you’ll probably hear next week, were selling an 8” Record. That’s right, 8”. Obviously I play it. A band that I’ve known all about since 1987 when they played the Clarendon in Hammersmith are Dinosaur Jr. No I didn’t go as I was over the road at Hammersmith Odeon seeing King Diamond. However, I’ve never owned anything by them. That was until “Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not” arrived in my inbox. Bearing in mind I’ve never knowingly heard anything by them I think that Dave Grohl probably spends most of his free time exactly doing that. Great stuff. Perversely I own all (no pun intended) of the Descendents releases but have never listened to any of them, that was until I received “Hypercaffium Spazzinate”. I blame Andy from the very excellent “Fear & Loathing” for me not listening to any Descendents…… It’s a fun filled punk pop album which means I’m going to slowly listen to the rest. Following on from the Descendents are The Reaction who were active between 1980-1981 releasing two eps in the process. Fortunately, these two eps along with a host of demos and live records were made available in 2011 by Cheap Records as the “Saturday’s Gone Wild” LP. Up next more new music in the shape and form a track from the new Bouncing Souls album “Simplicity” and don’t forget to look out for them at Rebellion with UK dates either side. The Sides Eyes and Redd Kross have just issued a split 7” called “Songs That Chargo Taught Us”. The Side Eyes tackle “Don’t Talk To Me” whilst Redd Kross blast us with the Go-Go’s classic “Screaming”. I only play one side, to find out which one you’ll have to listen……Henry Heston, former Virus frontman and rhythm guitarist who now resides in LA has just put together The Henry Heston Hollywood All-stars who also, amongst others, features his former Virus sparring bassist John Hess. Only one song so far has sneaked out which obviously I play. Closing this week’s show, even if I do run over my self-imposed one-hour mark, are The Head Cat that of course features Lemmy on vocals and acoustic guitar, Danny B Harvey electric guitar, Slim Jim Phantom drums and Jonny Bowler on Bass and a track from their live album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Riot on Sunset Strip”.  

Ther Paranoid Squirrel ep 510

Some live acoustic Jesse Malin recorded at The Borderline in London last Friday gets this show underway and then, in a six degrees of separation Brijitte West & the Desperate Hopefuls and an exclusive new track, that features some bloke called Rich Jones, from their still pledgable “From N.Y. With Love” album, which is due out in September, gets an airing. Daniel Lioneye who sport various members of H.I.M. have a brand new album out shortly. Proceeding it the band have just released a single from it which obviously I play. Dave Kusworth is up next as one of his previous bands, TV Eye that also featured Black Bomber Dave Twist, are about to get the re-issue treatment. The track I play ended up being recycled by Duran Duran…..Canada is the next port of call with Billy Talent telling us they are “Afraid of Heights”. Power-Pop joy as I discover an American band called Slick! who take me back to the early 1970’s Top of the Pops and Junior Choice. (Ask your Grandad). Following straight on afterwards are Apache who along with Slick! and the BTs will be playing in London on the 4^th September. I played a demo by the Curse on last week’s show; this week it’s the turn of a full blown, fully mixed track from the band’s 2014 album “World Domination”. As I took ownership of the “We Are Twisted Fucking Sister” DVD last week I discuss it and play a song by them to accompany it. Fantasy Lane make their debut appearance on this week’s show and I apologise to Dead Furies for playing a lo-res version of “Listen To T-Rex” by playing a new track from their soon to be released “Devil’s Musik” ep. As a sequel to one of my all-time favourite films, that’ll “Izzat”, is due out on DVD in September I play some Gluecifer and as we hurtle towards the end of this week’s show it is Forbidden Dimensions and The Right Here that take us up to the hour mark.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 502

It’s the Bank Holiday Weekend which means one of two things; it’s pouring with rain and ITV are showing a James Bond film. So to alleviate you from this, well for an hour, for your listening pleasure I have The Damned live in session for BBC 6Music. Then The Witchdoktors unleash a new track from their soon to be released “Voodoo Eye” album. Dom Daley from Über Rock, who I bumped into at The Royal Albert Hall, pointed me in the direction of Mink Daggers and Rough Kids. A track from each band is therefore aired. The Ramones debut album is getting the “40^th Anniversary Box-set” treatment so I get carried away tripping over myself to order it from the most expensive site I could find. Of course to illustrate this a Ramones tune is played. Staying in NYC; D-Generation are all set to release their first new album since 1999s “Through The Darkness”. “Nothing Is Anywhere” is due to hit the real and virtual record stores on July 29^th and features the classic line-up of Jesse Malin, who I’ll seeing at The Borderline on the 15^th July, Howie Pyro, Richard Bacchus, Danny Sage and Michael Wildwood. 13 tracks of well, what D-Generation do best and to prove it I play a track from said album. Swiftly following D-Generation are The Outside Hours who hail from Barcelona and a song from their “Devil’s Right Hand” CD. More new music and Ulysses’ “Law And Order” LP is out next Friday which is guaranteed to keep you “Smiling”. After an absence of maybe one or two years, sorry I mean weeks The Hip Priests have released yet another new single. Of course I play one of the two tracks in question and to be honest this is the finest couple of tunes the band has put out. Adam Bomb’s gear is no longer “Stranded” in Mainland Europe having successful crowd funded enough money to have sent back to the States. In recognition I air an Adam Bomb track which he has just shot a video to. Back to new music and The Claypool Lennon Delirium, who feature Les Claypool from Primus and Sean Lennon, Neil Diamond’s Nephew have a tracked played from their debut album “Monolith of Phobos”. Mrs A. thinks they sound like “Syd era Pink Floyd if he’d taken even more hallucinogenic drugs.” Watts new album “The Black Heart Of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is due out on the 10^th June and to get you in the mood I play a track from it. Wrapping this week’s show up is a track from an album that is already out by one day which comes courtesy of the Black Bombers self-titled debut. Enjoy.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 501

Welcome Episode 501 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show and on Friday, which was the 20^th May future listeners, The Damned played the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate 40 years of Anarchy, Chaos and Destruction. This is what happened………

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 499

To celebrate I’ve got a new portable music player that has my entire iTunes library on* I play some AntiProduct and Brides of Destruction. On the new musical front as The Chuck Norris Experiment, King Mastino, The Hip Priests and The Bitch Queens have a 4-way split 7” out at the moment I decide that you should hear it. Whilst checking out Strange Magic Records I stumbled across Swedish band CC Company who I’d not heard of before. A track of theirs is obviously played. Johnny Hayward of über Rock notoriety post a link on Facebook to The Lovesicks BandCamp site which I followed and thoroughly enjoyed what I heard. To whit I share a song with you. Making a rare appearance on the show are The Damned...who are swiftly followed by the Anti-Nowhere League and The Living End. As Cheetah Chrome has just announced some European dates with The Knobs as his backing band, who comprise of basically The Hydromatics (minus Nicke and Scott), I play a track from his “Alive In Detroit” CD. Keeping in the “Classic Punk Artist” vein, I play a track from The Last Ditches debut album “Spilt Milk”. The Last Ditches are; Walter Lure, Binky Philips, Randy Pratt and Bobby Rondinelli, a veritable pedigree of awesomeness. The Stonewall Orchestra impress me with a track off their soon to be released “The Machine The Devil & The Dope” album with this week’s show ending with a Hanoi Rocks track in tribute to Tarzan/OldFashionEd who sadly left us this week.  

*Not strictly true as you will hear

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 496

Welcome to another hours’ worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t. A bit of an odd show this week, or it could just be me. Take that as you will. Up first is a John Lennon track that features Elton John in a context that won’t get me sued, with The Damned swiftly following on after. I then bang on about Record Store Day, breaking my Washing Machine and a Goth in a Laundrette before playing The Nasty Bits who were the “house” band from the just finished Vinyl TV series. D Generation that’ll be Jesse Malin, Danny Sage, Howie Pyro, Richard Bacchus and Michael Wildwood, are up next with their first collective single in 17 years. The 69 Eyes’ new album “Universal Monsters” was released yesterday so obviously another track from it is aired. Hawkwind also had a new album released yesterday based on EM Forester’s book “The Machine Stops”. The band actually played it in its entirety at the Islington Assembly Halls yesterday as well. Ace Frehley has just unleashed an album of songs that that got his creative juices going to whit I play something from it. The MC5 get my juices going with a live TV recording which is quickly followed by The Black Bullets. Closing this week’s show is three live tracks by The Black Halos recorded at Rich Jones Birthday gig at The Black Heart on the 18^th. 

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 495

“I Come Along On Saturday Morning Greeting Everybody With A Smile” Kicking things off this week I have two Helsinki bands; one old, one new. First up its Smack with a classic from their debut album “On You”. Secondly it’s 69 Eyes with a new track from their soon to be released “Universal Monsters” CD. A couple of shows ago I played some Pure Hell, well I play some more but this time it’s a track from their unreleased “Black Box” album that Lemmy helped produce and indeed added vocals to the song in question. Shooting back over to Scandinavia and new music I play you a track from“Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie” LP byVolbeat. I only own the debut album by Flotsam and Jetsam subsequently I’ve forgotten what they sound like, having not played in in 25 plus years. However their new self-title album I’m really enjoying. I’m not sure if it’s just me but I’m hearing, apart from some great Thrash drumming, hints of Progness. More Queensrÿche than Dream Theater I think. Obviously I play a track for your consideration. Gustav Wremer guitarist with Grande Royale contacted me with a “Check out my band” e-mail, so I did and was mightily impressed, with NickeAndersson at the production helm of their soon to be recorded third album, but it’s a track from their second album that I air. Pledge Music time and Brijitte West &The Desperate Hopefuls have just ventured down this route for album number two. Brijitte kindly sent me a track from said album which I of course play. Joining the former NY Loose vocalist in the Desperate Hopefuls are Richie Hudson, Keef Gibbs and Robin Guy from the Fiascos, although Robin can normally be found sitting on Sham 69’s drum stool. Following straight on afterwards is the title track from The Breakdowns new single “Charity Case”. The WitchDoktors new album “Voodoo Eye” and first since 2008s “$3 Hooker” is all set for release with a gig to launch it at The Alley Cat in Denmark Street on June 2^nd and to whet your appetite I play a song from it. As promised on last week’s show I play a track from Desert Rockers the Mojave Lords album “Unfuckwithable”. Zen Motel make a much welcomed return to The Paranoid Squirrel with a track from their just released “Choking On The Chrome (Part 1) ep. Looking forward to part 2 if part 1 is anything to go by. A new, previously unheard live gig from Sonic’s Rendezvous Band recorded in April 1976 is just about to be officially released by Easy Action Records. Joining Fred “Sonic” Smith, Scott “Rock Action” Asheton and Scott Morgan on this recording is original bassist WR Cooke. Finishing things off this week its Vice Squad and a track from the Sophie Lancaster Foundation Charity CD which is due for release this Summer.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 494

On this week show for your delectation I have The Wildhearts as I talk about Ginger Wildheart’s gig at The Forum on the 1^st April. I then take you into Crowd Funding mode with a track from the Role Models, I bumped into Role Model main man Rich Rags at Ginger’s gig and he has to be the most enthusiastic person in Rock, then it’s two tracks from the UK Subs, one from the bands soon to be released last album “Ziero” and one featuring Captain Sensible. No it’s not “Party In Paris”. Former Radio Birdman guitarist Chris Masuak and The Viveiro Wave Riders’ fund to get “Brujita” released on CD has come to fruition, so obviously I air a track from it. The last band in this week’s Crowd Funding section comes courtesy of Last Great Dreamers who are out and about at the moment supporting Tigertailz. A band that contacted me with a view to playing a track of theirs were A Capital Threat from Sweden. I’m glad they did as I thoroughly enjoyed them and I hope you do too. Moving over the Channel to France I play you a track by a band that I know next to nothing about. The band in question is called Western Machine. Their debut album “From Lafayette to Sin City” is chock full of New York Dolls & Stooges Rawk! Good stuff. The Mutants, whose core members consist of  Chris Constantinou, Paul Frazer, and Mr Rat Scabies, have for their third album “Your Desert, My Mind” gone all Desert Session and enlisted the likes of Chris Goss. So far I only have the title track to play you and that’s only an instrumental, but I love it and can’t wait for the full album in September. Bath 70s inspired reprobates Ulysses have a brand new album out on 3^rd June called “Law and Order” via Black Glove Recordings. To celebrate this fact I play a track from it. Following straight afterwards is a song from Plague Vendor who have just started a UK Tour. Moving North of the Border to Edinburgh the Heavy Drapes sight The Sex Pistols, The Damned’s first album, The Ramones, the MC5, Iggy Pop and The New York Dolls as influences. Obviously this got me interested and they did not disappoint me as hopefully you will hear. Up next it’s a quick blast from The Mants with Cheap Trick and The London Orion Orchestra featuring Alice Cooper and Rick Wakeman finishing things off for you this week.