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Rising stars of the region’s rock scene and rushonrock faves Fables Last Stand return to action on Tyneside tonight when they provide the soundtrack to the Hell In High Heels burlesque event.

Staged at Newcastle’s Venue, the guys will be performing a selection of their modern classics in front of a crowd dressed to impress in outfits which wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood vampire flick.

No doubt Roachie and the boys will add to their growing reputation as sleaze rock heroes after management showcased their talents in Europe earlier this month. Read the rest of this entry »

Self Made Man is back and this week he wonders why we like what we like and dislike a whole load more. Luckily here at rushonrock we all love our favourite blogger’s barmy notions and leftfield views - hell, that’s why we let him loose every seven days…

If you’ve got an appetite for rock then SMM will feed that hunger right here every Friday. Just click on the page link above and enjoy a healthy diet of opinion to suit all tastes.

It  might be one of the daftest band names we’ve heard in ages but Nico’s Alchemy could well have served up one of the albums of 2009 in the shape of retro classic Fundamental Darkness.

Landing at rushonrock earlier this week we couldn’t resist slapping it in the CD player and what we discovered was a 70s-inspired gem of a release fusing elements of Deep Purple, Rainbow and Zeppelin with a dazzling array of guitar wizardry. Read the rest of this entry »

So Iron Maiden are launching a boutique hotel aimed at rockers looking for a good night in and fans keen to pay over the odds to share a lobby with the stars.

On the face of it the £6.5m London-based project – called Sanctum Soho – is a marriage made in commercial heaven. The biggest names in rock and metal have always loved a classy place to kick back with a 24-hour bar. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle o2 Academy, January 28 2009

First off there’s nothing more frustrating than standing in a queue for 15 minutes and missing the bulk of the opening set and yet that’s exactly what happened as the mist rolled into Newcastle tonight. In Case Of Fire could have set the world alight but on the evidence of one and a half songs it’s too hard to say.

But Black Tide certainly did and it’s frightening to think that frontman Gabriel Garcia is still a sweet 16 as he confidently blasts his way through a string of old skool metal anthems. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s happened before (sort of) but that hardly softens the blow on the day we’re very sorry to report that blues rock giants Thunder are calling time on their prolific career.

Those who witnessed the band on the Bang! tour before Christmas can testify that the four piece has rarely sounded so good. And with new EPs and albums coming thick and fast it seemed like Thunder could last forever. Read the rest of this entry »

Tonight’s the night when Japanese superstars Dir en grey get the chance to show Tyneside what all the fuss is about. One of four bands on what promises to be a cracking Kerrang! Tour bill, the five-piece is huge back home and in the US but 2009 is when they intend to break Britain. But there’s no Bring Me The Horizon in Newcastle after illness the struck the young rockers.

Here at rushonrock we’re very excited about the prospect of retro metallers Black Tide taking to the Academy stage but we’re expecting Dir en grey to get the biggest cheer as they plot their next move from underground heroes to mainstream rock kings. Read the rest of this entry »

If you don’t know by now that US heroes Shinedown are going to be one of THE bands of 2009 then you’re obviously new to rushonrock.

We’ve been tipping the Florida foursome for big things for some time now and next month sees the release of their second UK single Sound Of Madness following a mini headline tour this month.

Not surprisingly we’re able to bring you the video right here, right now and it’s one of the classiest clips you’ll see all year. But it won’t be all you see of Shinedown during the next 12 months as a band which has already hit the big time back home prepares to conquer Europe once and for all.

With three big selling albums already under their belts in their home country and three top five rock singles to date it’s only a matter of time before British audiences switch on to to the Jacksonville posse’s classic metal sound. Read the rest of this entry »

As befits a band on the crest of a creative wave word reaches rushonrock that local faves the Quireboys are getting the re-release treatment to celebrate the 20th anniversary of mega-selling album A Bit Of What You Fancy.

Hot on the heels of back-to-back UK tours and that charity FA Cup single with Blyth Spartans, it seems EMI are poised to follow up last year’s double CD compilation with an all new version of the band’s brilliant debut.

And lead singer Spike is convinced 2009 will be even bigger than last year for one of the North East’s true giants of rock. Read the rest of this entry »

It is 25 years since iconic German label SPV first brought us bands like Sodom and Destruction but over the years the innovative firm has brought rock fans of every persuasion the music they love.

From thrash metal to melodic rock, Slime to Whitesnake, Kamelot (pictured) to The Answer, the Hannover-based imprint has supported rock and metal through the good times and bad but these days they’re on a roll.

And to celebrate their anniversary in 2009 – dubbed 25 & Alive – SPV are re-releasing a slew of classic albums on vinyl – starting with four absolute crackers in March! Read the rest of this entry »