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Main Stage, July 25 2010

Only Spike, the charismatic, beer-loving frontman of the Quireboys, could dedicate his band’s High Voltage set to the memory of wayward Alex Higgins.

Two kindred spirits and two consummate entertainers, the pair have thrilled millions of fans over the years. One may have wielded a snooker cue, and the other a mic stand, but what Higgins was to sport Spike is to music. Still. Read the rest of this entry »

So we’ve finally come down from the high that was High Voltage and we reckon the inaugural Victoria Park-based festival was a big hit!

So the walk from the tube was just a touch too far and the pork and stilton burgers lacked any bite but the bands were as brilliant as the weather.

We’ll be bringing you full reviews of selected artists all this week but for now here’s the list of our 2010 High Voltage High Lights. Read the rest of this entry »

He’s been leading Britain’s most successful rock band for more than three decades but Joe Elliott’s decision to take a well-earned break from Def Leppard duties is reaping rewards.

Sunday sees his Mott The Hoople tribute band Down N Outz play the High Voltage Festival main stage followed by a slot with the man himself – Ian Hunter.

In the latest of our festival previews we caught up with Sheffield’s finest – look out for another High Voltage Exclusive tomorrow! Read the rest of this entry »

This week we check out new releases from Joe Elliott’s much vaunted side project Down N Outz - available now with Classic Rock Magazine – and retro singer songwriter Chris Singleton.

There’s some sensational old skool metal from Swedes Grand Magus.

And we review and rate the latest Metal Heaven releases as Bad Habit and Wicked Sensation deliver the melodic rock soundtracks to your summer. Read the rest of this entry »

LA sleazegrinder Tracii Guns is confident old pals the Quireboys will be a big hit once the Brit band hit Brazil for the first time later this year.

The LA Guns’ guitar hero has just returned from his latest stint in South America – a trip he makes every year in return for the fanatical support of one of his most loyal fan bases.

And Guns was delighted to hear the Quireboys will follow suit later this year after revealing: “South America is starved of traditional rock and roll. Read the rest of this entry »

As revealed exclusively right here last month, Joe Elliott’s Mott The Hoople tribute band Down N Outz will play the main stage on the second day of this year’s High Voltage festival in London’s Victoria Park.

The band, featuring the Leppard frontman and various members of the Quireboys, release their debut album as a cover mounted CD via Classic Rock magazine next month. And of course the Quireboys will be opening up the High Voltage main stage on Sunday July 25 before hooking up with Joe an hour or so later.

“When Mott The Hoople announced they were reforming for a weeks worth of shows at the Hammersmith Odeon I was asked that I participate in some capacity, ” explained Elliott. “They’ve always been my favourite band and it’s nice to see the rest of the rock world finally catch up and give them their due. Read the rest of this entry »

If you can imagine Slade, T-Rex and Queen mixed with the most theatrical aspects of an Alice Copper show then it’s high time you check out the latest video clip from retro style kings Bigelf.

Superstar is released this week and features one of the sleaziest, 70s-soaked riffs you’ll hear all year, set against a backdrop of fire eaters, go-go girls and a goggled midget (!).

Frontman Damon Fox looks and sounds simply magnificent as his brilliant band roars through one of the finer tracks from their latest album. Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle o2 Academy II, March 21 2010

This was the night when one of Newcastle’s hardest gigging bands suddenly went soft. And the result was quite spectacular.

With acoustic album Halfpenny Dancer winning rave reviews the Quireboys arrived home on quite a roll and only poorer than expected ticket sales threatened to knock the boys off their stride. Thankfully those who did make it to the upstairs room of Newcastle’s vacuous Academy raised the roof before raising their glasses to one of the region’s best kept cultural secrets. Read the rest of this entry »

It looks like one of the North East’s best loved rock bands is no more despite a barnstorming acoustic set opening up for the Quireboys in Newcastle last night.

Fables Last Stand songwriting duo Roachie (pictured) and Twiggy stripped down their sound for a 30-minute set and never sounded so good.

But it is understood the band is no more after both men agreed to go their separate ways immediately after the show. Bass player Alan quit Fables earlier this year and drummer Phil The Beat has taken up the stool with fellow local favourites Remedy. But both singer Roachie and axe hero Twiggy are ready to throw themselves into new projects with the former booked into Blast! Studios later this month and the latter mulling over a move to LA. Read the rest of this entry »

As the Quireboys embark on the second leg of their latest UK tour this week – a series of acoustic shows supporting the Halfpenny Dancer release – the lads are well into their busiest year yet.

And the highlight for guitarist Paul Guerin and lead singer Spike is this summer’s trip to Brazil – the first time the band has toured South America. ”Playing Brazil has always been a burning ambition of mine,” said Guerin. “The crowds there love their rock an the Quireboys have a lot of support over there.” Read the rest of this entry »