RUSHONROCK.COM|CLASSIC ROCK * METAL * THRASH * PROG * GLAM * SLEAZE – IF IT ROCKS IT RUSHONROCKS!

Black metal legends Venom have joined fellow Geordie boys Quireboys on the increasingly eclectic bill that is this summer’s High Voltage festival – with six new acts announced today.

Cronos (pictured) and his crew join Spike’s mob for the London two-dayer alongside UFO, Transatlantic, The Union and Zappa Plays Zappa.

And fans can already look forward to sets from ZZ Top, ELP, Heaven & Hell, The Answer, Foreigner and Marillion to name but a few. Read the rest of this entry »

Just how many rock festivals can one country take?

That’s the question on everybody’s lips right now as a nation in the grip of recession continues to embrace a succession of top class events showcasing the world’s very best bands.

No sooner had Sonisphere announced itself as the major rival to Download than plans were in place to launch the classic rock-themed High Voltage festival for 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

Sonisphere may have stolen a march on its rivals in the race to become crowned the summer festival of 2010 – naming Iron Maiden, Rammstein and Alice Cooper among its confirmed acts – but next year’s new kid on the block has hit back in some style.

The Classic Rock conceived High Voltage two-dayer had already named ELP and ZZ Top as co-headliners and now Foreigner, Focus, Black Label Society and Clutch have been added to the bill.

And all of this at a time when the likes of Kiss and Europe are being touted to deliver main stage sets at Download! Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve been backing the Black Stone Cherry boys for some time now and it’s safe to say there can’t be many bands who’ve entertained us so often and so brilliantly throughout 2009.

With a new record in the pipeline for the second half of 2010 and no doubt yet another round of quality shows and festival slots to come we can only see the Edmonton, Kentucky quartet getting bigger. And bigger. And bigger.

But before they do we caught up with frontman Chris Robertson for a final bite of the ‘Cherry this year. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve only just recovered from one festival when, would you believe it, word reaches rushonrock about what could well be our summer gig fest of choice. Backed by our favourite monthly music mag and promising in excess of 40 bands over two days, High Voltage is billing itself as the prestige festival for classic rockers.

Headliners ELP and ZZ Top don’t quite do it for us but there’s bound to be a raft of hard rocking talent on the undercard – with acts like The Answer, Stone Gods and Quireboys hotly tipped to bag sought after support slots. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s 20 years since the Quireboys went from rock and roll hopefuls to household names with the release of their classic A Bit Of What You Fancy album.

With that seminal record remastered and re-released and a UK headline tour selling out fast in December it’s been another landmark year for one of the hardest working Brit bands in the business.

rushonrock checked in with axe slinger Paul Guerin before the band headed off to Spain for yet another tour… Read the rest of this entry »

Tora Tora – Walkin’ Shoes (Douglas/Corder/Francis/Patterson) b/w Love’s A Bitch (Corder/Douglas/Francis/Patterson) 1989

Mixing hair metal excess with a cool Southern rock vibe, Tora Tora landed a major record deal out of Memphis and their debut album Surprise Attack hit the top 50 on America’s Billboard Top 200.

This single sounds like it could have come straight of NYC mob White Trash’s 1991 record with vocalist Anthony Corder a dead ringer for the Trash’s Dave Alvin and it’s a catchy little tune with a great guitar hook. Read the rest of this entry »

Band of the moment, melodic rock superstars Europe, are keen to play Download in 2010 after admitting to casting envious eyes in the direction of this summer’s Classic Rock Sunday.

In his latest chat with rushonrock, singer Joey Tempest revealed the band will tour new hit record Last Look At Eden until spring next year before hitting the festival circuit full on.

And the veteran vocalist said: “I’d love to do Download. I’ve told our management that I’m interested and asked them to make a few enquiries. Read the rest of this entry »

More than 70,000 expectant punters always hoped it would be something special. First came the news that the final day had a Classic Rock flavour, then the big name headliners were confirmed and finally the baking hot sun arrived right on cue. If ever Download was going to deliver a day to remember then this day would surely be it.

In fact it was better than that. Way, way better. This is what watching live rock music is all about and while I admire those who packed in all three days without barely breaking into a sweat, it’s just as well I decided to forgo Faith No More and sidestep Slipknot. Read the rest of this entry »

rushonrock’s debut at the UK’s biggest metal festival generated almost as much excitement as the appearance of new retro supergroup Steel Panther (pictured) - only we somehow forgot our spandex pants and faux animal skin bandanas. Maybe next year.

But despite the conservative dress style of our team we managed to mix it with the biggest – and some of the smaller – names in rock without ever truly embarrassing ourselves. Plus One’s neck might have been redder than Journey’s grand piano but that was the biggest crisis we faced at our much heralded Download debut. Read the rest of this entry »