The Paranoid Squirrel

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Right, let’s get straight into the first Fan Funded segmentation of 2017. I have three artists for you to choose from; Up first is The Sly Persuaders, a London based 4 piece, gnarly, garage, surf, Rockabilly band that on the track I play from their self-titled debut has the most direst bass sound since Lemmy discovered distortion. If we’re talking distortion then Ginger Wildheart and Exit International’s Scott Lee Andrews in their Mutation guise take things to a different level with “Mutation III”. The final piece of the pledge jigsaw this week is Chris Catalyst and a track from his just launched “Life is Often Brilliant” campaign. If truth be told I actually sneak in a track from Hellbound Hearts’ non pledge album “Film Noir” between “Mutation III” and Chris’ tracks. Johnny Moped get honoured by a band called Hamsters, not to be confused with The Hamsters those fine purveyors of Blues/Rock and Hendrix/ZZ Top covers and a track called “Basically, Johnny Moped” which celebrates the legendary outsider status of Johnny himself along with Slimy Toad, Dave Berk, original bassist Fred Berk with his replacement Jacko, the mysterious Rock ‘n’ Roll Robot and Xerxes. Top Riffmeister Tony Iommi has just released a Classical Choral piece that he wrote for the Birmingham City Cathedral Choir. A bit of a departure I think you’ll agree. However, after listening to it, it works really well. I can’t help but think that the icing on the cake would’ve been Ronnie James Dio adding some vocals had he been alive. A Band that you might not be familiar with is The New Piccadillys who were/are to Edinburgh what The Beatles are to Liverpool. Now you may think that they wouldn’t even warrant a foot-note in the History of anything and you’d be right but for two things; 1960’s versions of two songs that The Ramones and The Clash would record for both their debut albums. Of course, as you’re all familiar with the Punk tunes I play The New Piccadillys. As I remembered it is The Backyard Babies that are preventing me seeing The Yorkshire Rats on the 17^th March (listen to last week’s show) I play a track from their “Four By Four” album. A band that got me all in a tis were The Empire Strikes from Finland who had me contacting their record label asking for mp3s even though said Record label had sent me an e-mail with all the links I needed. Naturally I play a track from their soon to be released “High Tide” LP. The Boys round this week’s show off with a track taken from their “Punk Rock Menopause” album whilst I discuss their 100 Club appearance on the 6^th January along with the fall and rise of Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog Magazines.    

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So, here we are; the first Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show of 2017 and I kick this year off with The Ramones, a choice I hope you agree is a good one. The first new music of the year comes courtesy of a new band to me called Yokocola who are Dutch with their debut album “Cellarsounds” hitting the real and virtual record stores on the 2^nd January. The band has been described as “Proto Punk, Psychedelic, Industrial and Experimental Kraut-Rock”. Eight Rounds Rapid also have some new music to impart with us as do the Yorkshire Rats. Up next it’s Faz Waltz and So What! who are part of the Glam Stomp revival scene. Of course I can’t help myself and play some Slade just to remind everybody who was/is the best in this genre. Smoke Mohawk, who sport Danny Young and Rolf Yngve Uggen formerly of Gluecifer, pay tribute to late Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt. I play catch up with Berwanger and The Pale Lips both of whom released an album at the beginning of November. Facebook recommendations this week comes from Hell Nation Army and a track from a forthcoming release with Glunk Records el supremo also tipping us off over the new Wyldlife album “Out On Your Block”. This week’s show is well and truly rounded off by the Billy Hopeless & the Bad Beats/Star Mafia Boy ft. Kory Clarke split 7”, who cover a classic song each. Great stuff, even if I do say so myself.

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Of course this week’s show could not begin, sadly, without some Status Quo. Also Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Lemmy’s passing which has not gone unmarked with the Bitch Queens, Hip Priests, King Mastino and The Chuck Norris Experiment releasing a split 7” of their favourite Motörhead track and Zen Motel issuing a mighty fine charity tribute song called “L.E.M.M.Y.”. I couldn’t let the show go without some actual Motörhead, even if it is them doing a cover. After a brief story involving a Brewery, the Stalkers CD, the Helltrain LP, Tom from the Phobics and an eccentric on a train, I segue into Aztec Death and a track from their new album “Machines” CD which is reminiscent of early Joy Division and Warsaw. Well it is to me. Following swiftly on is Stiletto Farm who is a new band to my ears even if they did issue an album back in 2014. More new music comes from a new band called Alley Cat LV who features an ex Faster Pussycat and a Cats In Boots. Peter Black from the Hard Ons under took on the 1^st January this year to release a new song everyday for the whole of 2016. Well he did it, with some songs over. We’re not talking rough studio outtake demos but full on studio recordings. Pledgemusic time and the Vibrators let us have a listen to another track from their soon to be released “Past, Present and into the Future” album. However, rounding of this, the last show of 2016, are The Nomads and Sator with a track each taken from their Ghost Highway Recordings split 7” which is due out any second now.

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Happy Chrimbo one and all! As it is the season this week’s show will be littered with festive songs but not the ones that are normally played on “Normal” Radio. The Damned and Vice Squad get things off to a flying start before The Sonic Beat Explosion, thanks to a post on the Hellacopters Community Facebook Page, are the first non-seasonable band with a track from their 2014 “Electrophonic Soul” album. Hanoi Rocks are up next with the Bad Mongos, who are 100% Costa Brava Punk Rock, swiftly following in their wake with something from their “Shoot The Bullet” CD. The UK Subs return us to the festive mood before the Main Grains wish they were in Sunny climes. Playing The Greedies one and only single seems apt at this time of year. For those of you who are unaware The Greedies, or to give them their full title – The Greedy Bastards, featured from Thin Lizzy Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham and Brian Downy and from the Sex Pistols and soon The Professionals Steve Jones and Paul Cook. I air a Hey! Hello! track that was due to be played last Saturday up at the Forum as part of Ginger’s Birthday Bash but was omitted due to the Birthday Boy suffering from a serious case of up chucking. The Young Doctors in Lust debut single, a band that features various members of the Curse and the Shemales, “Christmas Song” once again gets played but this time I know all about it. Dirt Box Disco were my biggest surprise at the aforementioned Birthday Bash having previously avoided hearing them as they looked like a Poundland Insane Clown Posse. Musically though, top draw stuff as you will hear as I play a track from their “People Made of Paper” album. The brothers Davies, that’ll be The Kinks to the likes of you and me, have their Christmas song aired before the Wildhearts take us into the final quarter of this week’s show. No Christmas show would be complete without The Ramones’ take on the subject before I put my two pennies’ worth on the TeamRock administration saga. The Dollyrots have released a Christmas song but I don’t like it so instead I play their Crystals/Ramones medley as it sounds much more Christmassy. But it’s the Flame Pilots who finish this year’s Christmas show with their Seasonal offering.

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France’s Soggy get this week’s show underway with a track from their one and only album which has finally been released on CD. The band look and sound like a hybrid of The Stooges and the MC5 with frontman Beb sporting Rob Tyner’s hair and Iggy Pop’s stripped the waist torso, although I can also hear elements of Motörhead and Venom and in six degrees of separation The Shrine follow on who play the sort of music that would suit a fan of Black Flag, Black Sabbath and Fu Manchu. Thanks to Tom from the The Phobics I’ve been turned onto the Stalkers. A bit late in the day as the band broke up in July but still, it’s the thought that counts. As a way of saying “Cheers” I play a track from Tom’s pre Phobic band Helltrain but its Johnny Moped with a 6Music session track that actually proceeds it. The DeRellas work their way into the show with a track from their recently released “Freakshow” mini LP. Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is making his way over to the UK next year with an as yet unnamed band, although John Proctor from the Dirty Strangers is playing bass to whit I play a song from the Sticksman’s solo album. Another new band, well to me, are The Richmond Sluts. Think of a mixture of The Stooges and Primal Scream with the occasional slide guitar putting a spanner in the works and that’s what the band’s latest album “60 Cycles of Love” sounds like to me. Of course I play a track so you can judge for yourself.  Todd Youth, formerly of The Michael Monroe Band, Danzig, D-Generation and my personal favourite The Chelsea Smiles has resurfaced in Bloodclot along with John Joseph from the Cro-Mags, Nick Oliveri and Joey Castillo formerly of Queens of the Stone Age. The band’s debut album is due out next year, the title track of which I air. It looks like three of The Frantic Four (Status Quo) are about to step into the recording studio with the possibility of a tour to promote said album. Of course I’m talking “Lancaster, Coghlan and Parfitt”. No Ice-Cream mogul..... Therefore “Caroline” gets played, but by who? As we enter the final furlong, or as The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show can now be heard on White Line Fever - Rugby League’s Rockingest 24 hour-hour Radio Station, subscribe here: http://tinyurl.com/huepgsp, we are heading for the final try, The WitchDoktors help us along with a track from “Voodoo Eye”. Even though I played some Helldivers last week, I play them again this, but it’s Dream, probably the first Norwegian supergroup and a track from their one and only 1967, just about to be re-issued LP “Get Dreamy”, that tidies things up for another week.

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This week I try out a new intro by the “DEMONS” which I completely fail to edit correctly. The “DEMONS” also just so happen to be first up with a demo tune. Last Sunday I travelled down to Exeter to see The Damned (who knew?). Support came from Emptifish a track by them I play along with of course a song by The Damned as I review said gig. The Rolling Stones have a track from their just released “Blue & Lonesome” covers album as I talk about Guns ‘n’ Roses ticket prices. Thursday saw me up, or should it be down, at the Underworld in Camden where I fell back in love with Nicke Andersson as I watched Imperial State Electric do their thing with support courtesy of Gentlemans Pistols. A track from each I obviously air. Jo Dog & the Desperados featuring ¾ of the Dogs D’Amour have their debut single played which is followed by the Tyla J Pallas band, well it would be rude not to. Ginger Wildhearts & Ryan Hamilton have just released a charity single with all profits going to the Samaritans, of course I play it. A new band to me are Desert rockers Avon who I’m gutted to report I have missed seeing live. Great stuff as you will hear. Helldivers have a new single out which needs playing so I do. As Hunters latest album is now available on vinyl thanks to Glunk Records I play something from it. Other formats are available, namely CD and probably download. Last week I played Håkan Göstas from the Curse and various members of the Shemales Christmas song. In the interim I’ve been told the name of the band is Young Doctors In Lust and the track is called “Christmas Song”. Check out the video on YouTube. I purchased Enuff Z’Nuff new album “Clowns Lounge” last week, the album that Johnny Monaco quit over. Sorry Johnny but it’s a great album. Although former vocalist Donnie Vie isn’t best please with it to whit has recorded a parody of the first song on the album. Both of which I play.    

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Penetration gets the show started this week as I talk about my Birthday gig up at the Brixton Academy seeing The Damned who I obviously play. I then bring you up to speed with the connection between Los Morüchos and Bone Talk, two bands I played tracks from on last week’s show. New music comes courtesy of Borracho with a track from their just released “Atacama” album before The Prehistorics also hit us with somethingnew. Pledge Round up has me talking about The Damned and Bernie Tormé’s latest inclusions with me playing a track from The Vibrators forthcoming pledge album “Past, Present and into the future” which is swiftly followed by a track from Ryan Hamilton & the Traitors “The Devils in the Detail” pledge album.Normally at this time of year I’m making plans to see Motörhead. Of course, with Lemmy’s passing last December the band came to a juddering halt. I did think about seeing Mötorheadache at the end of last month, but no tribute could ever fill those Cowboy Boots. Instead I’m nailing my flag of allegiance to Asmovel who are playing the Dev next month. The Motörhead song that is the soundtrack to the above is covered by The Lucky Strikes. Tuesday took me up to the Underworld to see Richie Ramone begin his current UK/Ireland tour. Support came from Tequila Mockingbyrd who a few months ago were residing in Australia but have now upped sticks and relocated to Blighty. Mad fools who just so happen to be great! To whit I play a track from their, not quite released over here, debut album “Fight and Flight”. With only 3 remaining Ramones left if one comes to town you better cut along and see them. Since Richie was here last, which was only in February, things have changed; guitarist Alex Kane left shortly after the recording of Richie’s new solo album “Cellophane” had been completed, being replaced by Ronnie Simmons. Ronnie plays with an expression that would sour milk in a true Johnny Ramone manner and jumps and leaps around like Dee Dee. A perfect fit, with Clare still counting in at break neck speed.Straight after a track from “Cellophane” I air my favourite Mike Patton era Faith No More track. In a shock move The Hip Priests have just released a brand spanking new 7” which of course I play. As it is coming up to thee Season I thought I’d get in quick and play a couple of Christmas tunes (Only 3 weeks to go) courtesy of former Hanoi Rocks guitarist Andy McCoy and HIM vocalist Ville Vallo and then winding things up for this week Håkan Göstas and the Shemales and a song so new and downright exciting, I don’t even know what it’s officially called.

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It’s my Birthday today. Huzzah! To whit I’m not go to spend much time, if not thought, into this week’s show notes as I wish to lounge around in my Tracky Bottoms and Bath Robe being fed peeled grapes until I make way to Brixton to see The Damned who generously are playing at my Birthday Bash.......So, it’s The Divine Brown, The Hip Priests, Andrew J Gallagher, Los Headaches, Radkey, The Meeps!, The Promdates, The Sex Pistols, Los Morüchos,  Bone Talk, Thieves and The Damned who are the Soundtrack to my Birthday this year.

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On this Man-flu induced show I start things going, through cups of Lemsip, with The Roolettes who I mistook for The Rubinoos, then the Rubinoos themselves. Last week I had three gigs all on the same day, one of which was on at the same time. The bands in question were The Electric Boys, The Fiascos and Warrior Soul. A track, plus a running commentary, from each is played, with The Fiascos being a live one. Then this week’s pledge segment comes courtesy of a demo recorded in a toilet by Rich Rags for the Role Models. Who incidentally have album number three all written ready to be recorded with a release date of August/September 2017. The Pink Floyd follow swiftly afterwards with a track from their “Early Years” Box Set. A band whose recordings were almost lost in the mists of time is The Ghosts of Lovers. Thankfully their former drummer Steve Pegrum has just released them on his Angels In Exile record label. Very much a band of their time (early 90s) influenced by the likes of The Lords of the New Church and Hanoi Rocks. Up next is Steevi Jaimz and a re-recording of the Tigertailz classic “Living Without You”. As Deathwish are just about to have both their albums re-released on Back On Black I played something by them but end this week’s show with three live songs that were recorded at The Bowery Electric as part of the “Evening of The Heartbreakers – LAMF” featuring Walter Lure, Wayne Kramer, Clem Burke and Tommy Stinson who were aided and abetted by Cheetah Chrome, Handsome Dick Manitoba and Jesse Malin.

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As last week I played the Big 3 UK seminal Punk bands I thought it only right and proper to include my top 3 US Punk bands. Obviously The Ramones were at the top of my list, with The Dead Boys and then The Heartbreakers following. However it is Captain Sensible that starts this week’s show, before I turn my attention to the second wave of US Punk in the shape and form of new songs by Poison Idea and D.R.I. Then it’s back to Dear Old Blighty for some American flavoured Wildhearts and Main Grains. I then take you back State side for a track from CRX debut album “New Skin”. Can anybody tell me how CRX is pronounced? JOANovARC, who thanks to The Dark Lord of Barnet I have been hearing about for what seems like years, have just released their debut album so naturally I play you something from it. I was extremely flattered that Black Bombers have just officially released the recording I made of them up at the 100 Club back in July as the “A Smile In The Rearview Mirror” live CD which they gave away free at their gig at the Hare & Hounds in Birmingham last night. To whit I play a track from their self-titled debut album. A band who have been going on and off since the late 70’s are Chron Gen. Up until recently the band had only released one album, well that all changed with the stonkingly good “This Is The Age” album which I purchased and subsequently play something from. I received in the post a French Punk compilation CD called “The First Wave of Punk 1977-80” and once I got past the language barrier I found surprisingly good. Motörhead and “1916” finishes this week’s show as it is Remembrance Sunday tomorrow.