The early 1980s weren’t the best of times to be an aspiring guitar player. Twenty years earlier, the head of Decca records, Dick Rowe, had made the biggest A&R gaff in pop history with the legendary clanger “Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr Epstein”. But in 1982, Rowe’s apocalyptic prophecy suddenly sounded frighteningly real. After the initial roar and storm of punk, British pop music had succumbed to a synthesizer-driven pursuit of new waves and new romanticism. In an age of Vienna’s, Tainted Love’s and Too Shy’s, the pure sound of six-stringed, melodic pop – be it as amorous as The Beatles, as lascivious as The Stones or as giddy as T.Rex – was fast becoming a lost cause with few willing to fight its corner.
That all changed with Johnny Marr.
Born in Manchester on Halloween 1963, of Irish heritage, Marr’s earliest musical memories are the get-togethers of his extended family, perhaps – as his early guitar idol Marc Bolan would sing – dancing himself out of the womb to the traditional strains of Black Velvet Band. As a child, he’d be spellbound by his parents’ record collection: the forlorn dramas of Del Shannon, the prison doldrums of Johnny Cash and the heart-popping bliss of his mother’s Four Tops singles. All these influences would linger at the back of the boy Marr’s brain, waiting for the command to attack his fingertips at a later date.
That date finally came during the early summer of 1982 when Marr, just 18 years-old, formed The Smiths after seeking out the reclusive and elusive Stretford poet, Morrissey. Musically, the sound of The Smiths was a guitar noise nostalgically familiar yet equally dumbfounding in its pristine newness. The tunes were giant, euphoric and instantaneous but woven together with such nimble flair it appeared as if the guitar was playing Marr instead of the other way round. Lost for words, early critics of the day undersold him with the words “jingle” and “jangle” when, had they tried, they might better have described the sound of Johnny Marr as that of Van Gogh’s Starry Night in angry animation. Or the echo of diamonds raining down upon zinc-plated cobblestones. Or the sound of kitchen cutlery bouncing off a gaffer-taped Telecaster (which, ridiculous as it sounds, is how Marr achieved some of the resonant clangs in This Charming Man.)
LINKS:
http://www.johnny-marr.com
http://www.facebook.com/officialjohnnymarr
http://www.twitter.com/johnny_marr
http://www.instagram.com/johnnymarrgram
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She Made Me Do It – Fun And Games
That perfect blend of dark, dirty, dance, and dirt is what you get with She Made Me Do It and their new single titled ‘Fun and Games’. The track grits your teeth as it grabs your gravy and forces you on the floor with moves that may embarrass you but enrapture your entourage. Beauty is a bitch and she made me do it.
‘Fun and Games’ was produced by Will Crewdson and mixed to perfection by the legendary John Fryer (Depeche Mode, This Mortal Coil, Fad Gadget, Love and Rockets).
The single will be released on all major streaming and download platforms on 6th September 2019.
About She Made Me Do It
Stylish and powerfully intense London outfit She Made Me Do It present their new single ‘Fun and Games’. A slamming, instant Electro Rock classic with heavy pop sensibilities.The sultry vocals of Shaheena Dax (Rachel Stamp) underpin the whole 3-minute rush while Will Crewdson (Rachel Stamp/Adam Ant band) thrashes away on guitar as a man possessed.
Shaheena and Will met when they both played in the Rock band Rachel Stamp. Bouncing song ideas off each other in that band it seemed natural to carry on as Shaheena moved from the keyboards to lead vocals and bass. Two albums, various EP’s and singles later they have sharpened their sound into a killer aural punch which is embellished by the addition of Joe Holweger – also from Adam Ant’s band – on drums.
LINKS:
https://shemmdi.com
https://www.facebook.com/shemademedoitpage
https://instagram.com/shemmdi
https://twitter.com/shemmdi -
Greystone Canyon – In These Shoes
In the 70s and 80s, Australia gave the world great hard rock/metal acts like AC/DC and Rose Tattoo. Now, joining those Aussie giants of rock are Greystone Canyon. The name Greystone Canyon is inspired by the freedom of wide open landscapes, something Australia and America very much have in common.
“It was inspired by our love for the old western films and the images these films conjure. The vast plains, endless horizons, the freedom, and heck, Greystone Canyon is one hell of a cool name for rock/ metal band!” says vocalist /guitarist Darren Cherry.
Greystone Canyon released their debut album “While The Wheels Still Turn” on March 9, 2018, in Europe, U.S.A, and Canada through Rockshots Records and on Hellfire Records in Australia on March 12, 2018.
“While The Wheels Still Turn” was tracked at the splendidly named Goatsound Studios in Melbourne, Australia, and then mixed in Canada, making ‘the album a real rock n’ roll frequent flyer. Mixing duties were undertaken by none other than Grammy-nominated producer and legend Glen Robinson, who had engineered, mixed and produced equally legendary acts like Annihilator, Queensryche, and Voivod.
Inspired by legends like Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and King Diamond, “While The Wheels Still Turn” is an album that could not only sit well beside the works of those legends, but with the current tsunami of all things the 70s and 80s inspired, Greystone Canyon is in the right place at the right time. We are traveling back to the future and they are the soundtrack!
As vocalist/guitarist, Darren Cherry proudly states.
“We really wanted to make an album similar to old Ozzy Osbourne record where songs like ‘I don’t know’ and ‘Goodbye To Romance’ can sit comfortably. This is music from the heart and soul!”
LINKS:
http://www.rockshots.eu
https://www.facebook.com/greystonecanyon
http://bit.ly/GreystoneCanyon_AMAZON -
Goldnwolf – Lone Wolf
Goldnwolf was created in a city that keeps you indoors and breeds creativity. Seattle, Washington. Home to fresh coffee, sarcasm and a desire to step away from the norm to create a unique path that one may call their own. Inspired by all different aspects of life and sound, the group brings an emotionally anthemic vibe to each song with an undeniable aggression that carries its message even through their most upbeat avenues.
The band was formed in 2016, when Austin Robert (formally of Girl on Fire), Nicholas Wiggins (formally of Aiden) and Jake Jones (formally of New Years Day) wanted to start a fresh outfit that could bring life to a new generation of music. Not only to appeal to their broad spectrum of already devoted listeners but to release something from their own creativity that resides where there are no wrong answers. By removing all limitations one would find while attempting to fit into one of many boxes of genres, Goldnwolf decided early on to break the mold and go with what they felt, creating a completely unique sound of their own.
All of the members bring a broad musical sense and experience to the table in order to form a well thought out musical blend ranging from rock, blues, electronic, and pop. Their willingness to learn and grow has been part of their philosophy since the beginning, never second guessing where the next sound may take them. The group had accidentally stumbled on its recipe to give each song its own personality by removing any fear of mistakes. Being in the moment and allowing the music to carry the listener to its destination is how each song finds its place. Like a small piece to an incredibly beautiful, yet unsolvable puzzle.
Having released their first single, “Lone Wolf” that was mixed by Jean-Marie Horvat (Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, The Weeknd etc.) and mastered by Dave Kutch (Bruno Mars, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Whitney Houston etc.) on April 20th, 2017 and the music video soon after, Goldnwolf was ready to debut via live performance. On May 13, 2017, at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle, Washington, working with local craft beer giant, Elysian Brewery the group did just that. Promoting themselves and their show every way they can from guerrilla tactics on the street, creating a heavy online presence on various social network platforms, to an appearance on Seattle’s alternative radio station, 107.7 THE END’s podcast “So You’re in Seattle” with Gregr. The group performed their debut headline set in front of a sold out crowd at the one hundred-year-old theater, featuring their recent release along side a whole other hours worth of material. Smiles ruled while folks in the audience sang along to songs they were hearing for the first time, not to mention the groups acoustic cover of John Lennon’s, “Imagine”.
The Wolf is often symbolic of creativity, intuition, compassion, intelligence, and loyalty, while gold has been associated with the Devine principles, wisdom and both good and evil. Influenced by their love for their own truths, their music speaks to awareness, acceptance and enjoying life with everyone around us. Even during their heaviest moments, the group is able to maintain a light heart after throwing the listener into the fire. These are artists that are forever driven, passionate, and focused on their ultimate goal of a graceful and endless potential.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.goldnwolf.com
https://www.facebook.com/goldnwolf
https://twitter.com/goldnwolf