The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 529

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.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 528

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.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 527

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.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 526

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.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 525

Continuingwith last week’s Punk tinged theme, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damnedstart things off this week with the Urban Dogs, that’ll be Charlie Harper,Knox, Matthew Best and Alvin Gibbs following in their wake. Up next, thanks to Dom Daley of Glunk Records notoriety, are Hunters with a track form their recently released “Dead End” CD then Dee Snider takes me by surprise with his new album “We Are The Ones”. It’s almost as if Dee has written a bunch of songs for other artists and then gone “Nah! I’m gonna keep ‘em for myself”. Bernie Tormé has a new pledge and a new tour inked in for April. The Pledge is for a triple album that will consist of a disc of Acousticness, Rockness and Liveness, with the live album ready for immediate download once you have parted with your hard earned dosh. Sticking with top notch guitarists; Larry Miller, who is still recovering from last year’s stroke, has just put out a retrospective self titled album with the obligatory unreleased tracks. One of which I of course air. Metallica are no strangers to the airwaves whether it’s digital or oldschool AM/FM. Their new album “Hardwired...To Self-Destruction” (cue evi llaugh) is due out soon but the latest track to come from it “Atlas Arise” I really like in a first three albums kind of way, so I play it. Johnny Gorillar, he of erm, Gorilla and the Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Facebooked a link to Rocket Reducer which the audio I passed on. Great stuff as they come across like Black Sabbath covering the Glitter Band. Robert Pehrsson’s Humbucker released their second (sic) album “Long Way to The Light” yesterday so I obviously play something from it. Moving from Sweden we head towards Brussels where the Missiles of October hit us up with a BandCamp track from their “Better Days” album. I was supposed to be seeing the Hip Priests on the 27^th up in Archway but bizarre as it seems because our Boiler broke down I ended up in darkest deepest Chislehurst seeing Focus and being completely gob smacked by them. In a six degrees of separation I play the new Dowling Poole single before ending this week’s show with some condensed live Focus. How many radio shows do you know that will begin with the Sex Pistols and end with Focus with the host, me, being completely blown away with them both?

The Paranoid Squirrel Punk Rock Show ep 524

Welcome to this very special episode of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show, which for this week only has been renamed The Paranoid Squirrel Punk Rock Show to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of “New Rose” by The Damned which was released on the 22^nd October 1976.
Last Saturday on the actual anniversary day Croydon hosted a celebration of thislandmark event at the end of St. George’s Walk under the Nestlé’s building by the side of the now closed Greyhound venue that in its day saw the likes of The Ramones, The Damned (obviously), Motörhead, Black Flag, The Buzzcocks, ELO, Johnny Moped, Deep Purple, Status Quo, Queen and The Ruts treading its boards. Kicking things off was Captain Sensible bassist on the “New Rose” 7” with an introduction from Councillor Stuart Collinsand then a Q&A from John Bownas,before the Captain took us through an acoustic version of “New Rose”, “Happy Talk” and of course “Croydon”. Then after shortly afterwards the man and legend that is Johnny Moped, aided and abetted by Slimey Toad, ramped it up for even more acoustic shenanigans. Consequently, this week’s show is slightly shorter than usual as you just can’t substitute quality for quantity.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 523

Today marks the 40^th Anniversary release of the UK’s first ever home-grown Punk 7”. Of course it was “New Rose” by The Damned which obviously the playing of which gets this week’s show started. New music comes our way courtesy of the Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell and a track from their 3^rd album “Keep It Greasy” which is swiftly followed by The Mobbs who, even though they’re onto album number 5, make their Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show debut. As the Bad Brains have been nominated for inclusion into next year’s ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’ I play something by them, which leads us nicely into some live Chuck Mosley recorded down in Canterbury. Unfortunately there is a back story to this involving people persistently talking over Chuck throughout his set, which ultimately leads me to leave and seek solace with Flame Pilots who were playing up the road. The Flame Pilots debut album is due for release early next year but bassist Jon sent me a sneak unfinished mix of one of friend of the show and Squirrel Associate Arkwright, or is it Arcwright. 39 years of friendship and I still don’t know how to spell his name, compositions for your delectation. Facebook band of the week are Rebel Flesh who cite The Damned, Misfits, Dead Boys, Plasmatics, Johnny Thunders and Ramones as weighing heavy in their Record collections. From one internet site to another as this week’s bands from Bandcampland come from Argentina in the shape and form of Bad Motherfuckers Club and Los Bilardos. To celebrate Imperial State Electric playing The Underworld in Camden on the 8^th December I play something by them from their new album “All Through The Night” which is followed in quick secession by Demolition 23. As a tribute to Lenny Thomas who sadly passed away on Thursday I play a track by Trashlight Vision and Sorry &the Sinatras that Lenny contributed his drumming skills to. The Ramones are the last band of this week’s show, which I play for Alex from bathroomwall.com and his, now, good lady wife Emily.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 522

It’s Saturday and once again due to my shifts at work I was able to do my weekly shop yesterday, meaning I got a lie in this morning. Not much of one as we’ve a house full of 15 year olds who are heading off to Fright Night at Thorpe Park and I was on Breakfast duty. Music…..The Hellacopters with a live MC5 track to drown the sound of said teenagers get the show moving this week. Then taking a leaf out of Liar, Thief, Bandits’ book Rebel Harlot put a link to their Bandcamp site on the Hellacopters Facebook page to entice us. Entice they did with me airing a track from their just released “High Energy” long player. The Rolling Stones are up next with a track that I thought would be all over the airwaves like a Presidential Candidate’s hands. It wasn’t, so I do what others don’t. A new band to the show are The Featherz with their brand new single “Forget All You Know” and with a two Girl, two Boy line-up I think I might have finally found a band to realise my ABBA meets The Sex Pistols dream band. Sadly, Germany’s Radio Dead Ones after 12 years are calling it a day, but not before releasing one final album in the shape and form of the Rich Jones Produced “Celebrate The End”. Of course I play a track from it. Another new band to the show are The Citizens of Nowhere featuring former Godfathers Del Bartle, Grant Nicholas and Chris Burrows. If you are thinking “The Godfathers mk.ii” you would be so wide of the mark you could not believe it, as you will hear. Enuff Z’nuff have a new album out any week now. Not a new studio affair but a collection of demos and out-takes from yesteryear, all re-mastered and re-polished. One track has already been set free which I play. Following straight on afterwards it’s Mustasch with their brand new single “Midnight Rider”. The next four artists all have one thing in common; which is they’ve recently released cover albums, well one LP, two eps and a single. The bands in question are; The Dollyrots and The Descendents, Zen Motel and GOD, The Bellrays and Led Zeppelin and Joe Lynn Turner and The Kinks. Finishing things off for this week is a track from Chris Catalyst’s (The Sisters of Mercy, RoboChrist, Anti-Product, The Scaramanga Six, The Ginger Wildheart Band, The Eureka Machines and currently on tour playing guitar with Ugly Kid Joe) first solo album which is probably going to be called “Life Is Often Brilliant”.   

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 521

MorningCampers! On this week’s show I have for your delectation, if not consideration,just over an hour’s worth of kick ass tunes (IMHO).  The Stents and Thee Blind Crows, who areboth on KOTJ Records, get things underway with a track from their album and eprespectively. Then to clarify a comment I made on last week’s show I play someNew York Dolls and a track from Pernilla Andersson. Spike & Tyla in theirHot Knives guise have just released a new album with the leading title of “TheSinister Indecisions of Frankie Gray & Jimmy Pallas”. I on the other hand madeno indecision when it came to choosing which track I should play. Straightafterwards is a new song from the Helldivers. Then The Damned disappoint me ontwo fronts, one which is not their fault and one which most defiantly is. Toillustrate this, I air a track by them. More new music in the shape of new bandPublic Access T.V. and a track from their debut album, then I take you into oldschool territory with Slaughter & the Dogs who just so happen to havereleased a brand new album. Born Loose present us with more car crash intensitywith a track from their “Death From Above” mini-doodah. Coke Chains, who are onthe same label as Born Loose, that’ll be Hound Dawg Records, have a new singleout next month. However, I give you a sneak listen so you can pre-order onebefore it’s “Too Late, Too Late”. The Bitch Queens and The Hip Priests have onceagain joined forces as the Bitch Priests or is it the Hip Queens, to release asplit single. One from the Bitches and two from the Priests. Available in tworegular colours of period red and cum white. Rounding this week’s show off is atrack from Gillan featuring guitarist Steve Byrd whosadly passed away last week.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 520

On this week’s show it’s The Black Bullets that get things Rockin’ an’ a Rolling with Canterbury troubadour Maximum Martin making his debut appearance on the show following swiftly on. The Breakdowns have just embarked upon a series of unreleased recordings under the “Opening The Vault” banner. Of course a track from “Volume 1” is aired. Up next are two artists that I never in a month of Sundays thought that I would play on The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. Firstly I give you Morrissey, yes Steven Patrick Morrissey former UK President of The New York Dolls Fan Club and then secondly Shakin’ Stevens. Both, after you listen to them, I think you’ll agree deserved to be played. Getting back on track we have new music from Steve Ignorant and The Paranoid Visions and a track from The Mutants new album “Your Desert My Mind”, a band that features a certain Rat Scabies. Liar Thief Bandit who hail from Malmo ambushed me on The Hellacopters Facebook Page with a track from their soon to be released debut album which gets played. This week’s Crowd Funded, Fan Financed section comes courtesy of Michael Lee Smith/Alex Kane, Deadcuts and Last Great Dreamers. The Mission have just released a new album the title track of which gets an airing. Rounded things off for another week are Trigger McPoopshute and The Hip Priests. Enjoy!