The Paranoid Squirrel

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 508

It’s Saturday and that can only mean one thing; well probably on reflection Saturday can mean a whole host of different things to different people, but for me as the weekly Tesco shop is put away it’s time for me to play an hours’ worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t, even if it is super late this week. Reason being my day job Boss treated us all to free drinks and free food at The Meantime Brewery yesterday to celebrate the company being 19 years old. As you can imagine, put me in a situation with the combination of those two ingredients even with Mrs A. there to keep me relatively on the straight and narrow things aren’t going to end well. Fortunately I didn’t wake up with an 8.2 but in my state of “Fuggness” I forgot the shopping list so spent twice as long in the Supermarket trying to remember what I needed to buy if we were going to eat this week. But I digress. First up are The Turbo ACs and a track from their forthcoming “Radiation” album. I then regale the “Fuck it, let’s get drunk” Team Rock Radio Breakfast Show drink up a couple of weeks ago that had me bumping into former Rachael Stamp, current Scant Regard, She Made Me Do It and Adam Ant Guitarist Will Crewdson where I managed to purloin a She Made Me Do It CDs which I don’t play opting for their current one instead. Sad news reach me last week that The Pipeline in the City come the 23^rd of July due to a massive rent increase will cease to be. I was up their last on the 1^st July to see the Razorbats who were on route to Slugfest 9 with Flash House in support. Of course I review said gig with a Flash House demo and a live Michael Monroe cover courtesy of the Razorbats. Chuck Norris Experiment have a split acoustic single out at the moment (with Trigger McPoopshute) a track of which I play. Unintentionally the next five bands all have links to The Damned. Up first is Stiv Bator, obviously his Damned connection is forming The Lords of the New Church with original Damned guitarist Brian James, with a track from his “Disconnected” album. I then move on The Black Bombers and a track from their debut Easy Action self-titled CD.  The Black Bombers on Wednesday supported Brian James up at The 100 Club and that tenuous link isn’t the only thing that connects them to the Damned. Black Bombers’ bassist Darren Birch also plays in The Godfathers that used to feature Kris Dollimore who played with The Damned between 93-95. So yes Brian James celebrated the 40^th Anniversary of The Damned’s first ever gig which appropriately enough was at The 100 Club supporting The Sex Pistols. Brian had issued an open invitation to Rat, Captain and Dave to join him. Captain on Facebook the day before reminded everyone of the gig, even if he thought it was a day earlier, to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the release of “New Rose” d’oh. He also quite rightly paid tribute to what Brian had musically achieved back in 76-77. I think we all knew that he’d respectfully declined Brian’s offer. Rat was an obvious yes having played with Brian up until a few years ago. As for Vanian? Even if he is in a Business Partnership with Rat regarding the Stiff back catalogue, the chances of him turning up were nil. It turns out that the One Show had been in earlier filming and interviewing, with a transmission date of September, when who should turn up but Dave Vanian. Also pencilled in was Ginger Wildheart and if he was in the Country Jesse Malin. Of course Vanian was never to be seen of again come show time and with Jesse Malin still on route to the UK it was left to the two Gingers of the Wildheart and Scabies variety to join Brian for the encore of “I Feel Alright” and “New Rose”, the latter of which I play. The Dirty Strangers, who Brian James has been known to join live, have had their “Crime and a Women” CD officially released for the second time. The first was late last year but thanks to Record Label Fucktarderry it was only available for about 5 minutes. Fortunately it’s now readily available on all the normal platforms. Naturally I play a track from it. The last Damned interconnectedness comes from Johnny Moped and a track from their BBC6 Music appearance on July 4^th. I got an e-mail from The Ramones Store informing me the 40^th Anniversary Box-set that I had order has been pushed back to September 9^th at the earliest. Cue gnashing of teeth and wailing. But I still manage to play a Ramones track to cheer me up. I got a very vague e-mail in the week purporting to be from a band that I should check out. The e-mail didn’t inform me of who the band was let along any links, so I copied and pasted the guy who sent me the e-mails name into Facebook and lo and behold he is in a band called Missiles of October. I play the title track form the bands last album. At this point I’m starting to flag, so I play some Dio Sabbath so I can put the kettle on for a cup of tea that hopefully will spring me back into life. It doesn’t, so I end the show this week with some Hellacopters. I’m now going to spend the rest of the day, rest being the operative word, lying down.     

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 507

Welcome to this week’s Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show and as I expected ½ hour after last week’s episode finished the UK Subs 7” featuring the bands 1^strecordings that I’d been waiting to play you turned up, so it’s the b-side of which that kicks things off this week. Up next it’s Izzy Strandlin, the original heart and soul of Guns ‘n’ Roses, who has just released a brand new single, obviously I play it. Legendary Los Angeles Glam Punk band Redd Kross are like the UK Subs in the Vinyl frame with a track from their super limited “Hot Issue - Turn of the Century Rarities” LP getting an airing. In a six degrees of separation I play a track from the latest Melvins album “Basses Loaded” that features six different Bass players. I then move onto the two bands that supported Radio Birdman at the Dome last Sunday, that’ll be the Fuckin’ Godboys from the US of A and Los Chicos from a bit closer to home, Madrid Spain. Of course I play some Birdman as well. Following straight on from Radio Birdman is some Remarquable Records Johnny Thunders.Then “Compare & Contrast” makes an (un)welcomed returned with yet again The Damned in the Dock being prosecuted by The Electras. Moving onto more new music and it’s The Lovesores, The Amorettes and Angels In Vein. Winding things up for this week it’s The Dogs and The Dead Furies.  

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 506

Welcome to Episode 506 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show and on this week’s show I bring you firstly The UK Subs, not the track that I was intending to play as it hasn’t turned up in the post, yet. Over the last week, give or take, I’ve seen three bands that were jaw droppingly good. The first was The DeRellas who I hadn’t seen with Stevie and Bish supporting The Supersuckers last Friday, then last Saturday I wandered up to the o2 in Greenwich to The Stone Free Festival primarily to see The Michael Monroe Band who I knew were going to be good, but I wasn’t prepared for them to be that good, with Alice Cooper pretty much the icing on the weekend’s cake. Obviously I throw in some live DeRellas, Michael Monroe and Alice Cooper. I even find time for some studio Supersuckers. On the Pledge front Brijitte West & The Desperate Hopefuls are front and centre with a new track from their as yet unnamed second album. Next weekend sees Slugfest 9 at The Dolls House, Abertillery in Wales. Three days of Glunk mayhem, to whit I play the Chuck Norris Experiment, The Razorbats and as Baz Francis from Magic Eight Ball is headlining Sunday’s acoustic shenanigans I play something by them. As The Damned were recently in Abbey Road recording a 3D (sic) version of “I Just Can’t Be Happy Today” I play the Radio Edit/Mix of the original 1979 single. Keeping with The Damned connection I play a track from Chris Constantinu, Paul Frazer & Judy Nylon aka The Mutants mini album “Time For A Drink” that features Rat Scabies on drums. The Misfits have a brand new ep out called “Friday 13^th”. I did hope the line-up that recorded it was going to be Jerry Only, Danzig and Wolfgang Von Frankenstein as they are reuniting for a couple of Riot Fest dates. It isn’t but the ep is still good, hence I play a track from it. Richie Ramone has a new album out in a couple of months called “Cellophane”, but to whet our appetite has just released a single of it which obviously I play. And that’s your lot for this week.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 505

Once again I’m on the “Hurry Up” as I head towards The o2 for today’s Stonefree Festival. However, I still manage to deliver an hour’s worth of music that you should hear on the radio but don’t. Before I get into the music side of things I rant on about a “Playlist” that Team Rock Radio posted on Twitter and FaceBook prompting me to post my own. Starting things off this week on the musical front are the Role Models and a track from their just released pledge album “Forest Lawn”. Up next it’s The Breakdowns as a way of an apology for missing them and the Role Models supporting Duncan Reid and The Bigheads at Some Weird Sin #42 on the 25^th which is swiftly followed by The Phobics as I will be missing their gig also on the 25^th at the New Cross Inn as part of the 2^nd HIV/Aids Charity Punk Festival. Danish Rockers Volbeat have just released the “Seal The Deal & Let’s Boogie” album on Spinefarm Records, of course a track from it is played. We then go Country with The New Black 7’s new single “We’ve Got Tonight”. As I was mightily impressed with the London SS’s live shenanigans at Camden Rocks a couple of weeks ago I went ahead and bought their 40 years in the making “No Beards, No Beerguts, No Beginners” debut 4 track ep. Only founding member guitarist Brady survives from the 1975 line up with others going on to form The Damned, The Clash, Chelsea and The Boys. Still in 2016 the London SS are still relevant as you will hear. Former Howling Mad lead guitarist Paul Elphick posted on my FaceBook Timeline that I should play some Bend Sinister. I was hurt that he didn’t remember that I’d ready played them on Episode 409 and saw them live with Big Elf at The Garage in November 2014, actually come to think of it Paul was the Merch Guy on that tour. Anyway. Bend Sinister, who are Canadian, have a brand new follow up album to 2014’s “Animals” waiting in the wings and the point Paul was trying to make was a new tune from it was available which obviously I play. Following straight on after Bend Sinister is a new track from The Watts’ new album “The Black Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. It’s been 8 years since The Hellacopters released any new material and 19 since the original line-up last put needle to vinyl. To coincide with the bands reformation to celebrate 20 years since “Supershitty To The Max” a two track 12”,on seven different coloured vinyl, was released earlier this month of new material that was written “at the time” but never officially released. As I’ve already played “My Mephistophelean Creed” I turn my attention to the b-side. Moving onto more new music and I play a track from Ulysses’ new album “Law And Order”, then as The WitchDoktors latest album “Voodoo Eye” came out yesterday it is only right and proper than I play something from it. As we head into the home straight The Members give us a new musical genre in the form of Deadpan Disco, but it’s Motörhead that finishes the hour off after I popped up to Hammersmith Odeon on Monday for the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. As a tribute to Lemmy, Biff Byford and Nibbs Carter from Saxon were joined by Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee for a run though of “Ace of Spades”, “Born To Raise Hell” and “Overkill”. Credit to Nibbs for not trying to sound like Lemmy but playing the bass parts straight. I still don’t think we’ve had the fitting testimonial to an outstanding career from an outstanding gentleman yet. If we do I will be there.

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 504

Welcome to Episode 504 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. On this week’s show I head up to Camden for this year’s Camden Rocks; 200 bands spread over 20 venues and if you bought the “Super Early Bird” ticket it would’ve only set you back £20. The first band on my “To do/to see” list were London SS, the band who in 1976 would give us The Damned, The Clash and Chelsea. Only guitarist and ex-Hollywood Brat Brady survives in the band from those days. After the London SS I wandered up the road from Dingwalls to see Alive With Eyes who were playing the downstairs Bar at The Barfly. The band are a four piece London based band that are stupidly young, I’m sure all of them are still at Secondary School. However for a young band they certain know all about Power Pop. Doubling back on myself I head for The Crowndale to see The DeRellas but never make it as I get side tracked by classic era Quireboy and sometime Peckham Cowboy Bassist Nigel Mogg and together we put the world to rights before watching ex Cherry Bombz vocalist Anita Chellamah along with Timo Kalito and his son play The Cuban. Following on straight after is the first of three sets from Ginger Wildheart who feature GWB drummer Ai on Tambourine and Toshi on acoustic Bass. Technically difficulties result in 15 minutes of Tambourine, Bass and vocals only with The Cuban crowd leading the vocals. Timo and Nigel re-emerge along with Marc Eden for some serious South London Action as The Peckham Cowboys. It’s the turn of The Dublin Castle to acquire my feet as I see Black Foxxes who were recommended to me by their Record label Boss and my one time employer. The Pacific Northwest meets Devon. Reckless Love are up next at The Electric Ballroom and as much as I think their new album “InVader” sounds like a demo/work in progress CD, live I think the band are at the top of their game. I forgot how stupidly hot The Proud Gallery could become as I waited for the third and final Ginger Wildheart set. Fortunately the Kettling Policy of last year had been rescinded. This time around Ginger had no guitar issues and even managed to get Ai to play a cymballess drum kit for “Suckerpunch”. Former Wildheart Bassist Danny McCormack’s new band The Main Grains were up next and hearing Danny play reminded me how much I’ve missed seeing him live. Camden Rocks highlight of the moment? Ginger and Danny giving each other a great big hug. My last port of call was back at The Cuban for The Godfathers with Black Bombers and Walter Lure Bassist Darren Birch standing in for the currently unavailable Chris Coyne. The Godfathers were for me, thee band of this year’s Camden Rocks.     

The Paranoid Squirrel ep 503

Please excuse me if on this week’s show I come across like I’m in a rush, if not a hurry. If I do it’s because as soon as I say “Thank you” and “Goodbye” even if I don’t, I’m jumping on a Bus then a train heading for Camden to try and catch the London SS up at the Dublin Castle at midday for the start of this year’s Camden Rocks.
Right onto what I’m playing on this week’s show; first up it’s the Biters with a track from “It’s All Chewed Up OK”, which is swiftly followed by Black Explosion who count former Dollhouse member Chris Winter in their ranks with a track taken from their new album “Atomic Zod War”. Wales is out next port of call for some Helen Love who Classic Rock describes as the “Welsh Ramones”. But are they right? Thanks to Billy Hopeless of The Black Halos who shared the link on FaceBook, Dee Dee Ramone is up next with his tribute to Metallica. I kid you not! Then Ratt Face come crashing in with a track taken from their new album “Motorpsycho” and yes when I first got it I thought Motorpsycho had released a new album called “Ratt Face”. Hot on the heels of last week’s outing of “Golden Black” by The Hip Priests I play the other track on the band’s latest and in my opinion greatest, just released 7”. Keeping it Glunk; The Razorbats from Norway have a track from their latest three track ep “This Is High” aired before I move over to Paris for some Iron Lizards and something from their “Red” ep. Sticking with animals I play another new track from The Monkees new album “Good Times”. In a Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show World Exclusive I play the first fruits from the Fiascos. “Who are The Fiascos?” I hear you cry. Well it’s what happens when four guys buy the cheapest, highest volume Wine know to budget supermarkets and after just one rehearsal go and support CJ Wildheart in Hoxton at the end of February playing all originals. The band members are nearly all familiar to this show in the form of Richie Hudson, Keef Gibbs and Robin Guy who can also be found in Brijitte West as her Desperate Hopefuls and previously Kitty Hudson, with Robin also playing drums for Sham 69, Rachel Stamp, Bernie Tormé and even Faith No More. New, as yet unmet, member is bassist Ben from Spizzenergi. The band claim to be like Motörhead let loose in a Sweetshop…..Michael Kane from The Cheap Cassettes has just released his second solo single with some help from fellow Cheap Cassette Kevin Parkhurst on drums, obviously I play it. Up next it’s Petter Baarli from The Backstreet Girls with a track from his just released his new solo album “Frankly My Dear, I Don’t Give A Damn!”. Joining Petter are some heavyweight helpers in the form of his brother and original drummer in The Backstreet Girls Bjorn along with Ed Tudorpole, Glen Matlock, Paul Rooney-Angel, Honest John Plain and Casino Steel. In a complete mix up, I miss read a band name, discovering the Belgium band The Backseat Angels in the process and their debut album “Saturday Night Shakes”. Information on The Backseat Angels is scarce but I have discovered that the band are into Sweet, Slade, The Boys, The Undertones and The Knack. On that basis I got the album and share a track with you. Winding up this week’s show is former Soundtrack of our Lives vocalist Ebbot Lundberg and the Indigo Children who are playing The Half Moon in Putney on the 25^th June and a track from their debut album “For The Ages To Come”. 

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 500

Blimey O’Riley! 500 Episodes! Well this show is no different from the other 499 as you’ll hear music from bands that you should hear on the Radio but don’t. Getting the celebrations underway are Rumney Rock City’s most wanted The Sick Livers who get a helping hand from Andy Cairns. Texas Terri Bombs in with song then it’s the turn of The Main Grains featuring Danny McCormack to up the ante. It’s then a quick trip over the pond to NYC for The Threads then we return home to Abandon Cause and a track from their debut ep. New singles from Turbonegro and Imperial State Electric unfortunately don’t live up to my expectations. I play them anyway to see if it’s just me. Radio Birdman, who are over here in Dear Olde Blighty next month, have their Record Store Day 7” aired. I recently read that great swaths of Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor’s personal effects were being auctioned off in the States. Surely the estates of Lemmy, Phil and even Würzel could’ve got together for a Motörhead Museum? Obviously a Motörhead track is played which is swiftly followed by The Hydromatics with the very first track I played on Episode 1 of The Paranoid Squirrel Rock Show. As Hey! Hello! have announced Hollis replacement, I was surprised in a “I didn’t see that coming” kind of way, I play a track from “Hey! Hello! Too!” which will soon be re-worked, re-recorded with additional songs. The Ruts DC have a stonkingly good new single out which I play, with the last song this week coming from Andy Shernoff written about Joey Ramone who would’ve been 65 on the 19^th May.

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