10 Q's with JIM PETRIK (PRIDE OF LIONS/SURVIVOR)

Jim Petrik rose to fame as part of Survivor who had a struing of hit singles and albums in the 80's. Since leaving Survivor he has toured with his earlier band the Ides of March, formed the melodic rock band Pride of Lions plus released a very good solo album 'Above the Sorm' earlier this year.

1. What are you currently up to? (E.g. touring/studio, etc.)

RIGHT NOW I AM BUSY WRITING NEW MATERIAL FOR THE NEXT PRIDE OF LIONS CD- IT IS TENTATIVELY CALLED "THE ROARING OF DREAMS" AND GOES BACK A BIT TO THE HOOKIER APPROACH OF OUR FIRST ALBUM- AND A BIT OF VITAL SIGNS AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER ALBUM. OF COURSE THERE'S PLENTY OF PRIDE OF LIONS IDENTITY AS WELL. I AM ALSO DOING SHOWS WITH THE IDES OF MARCH AND PREPARING FOR A BIG PRIDE OF LIONS SHOW ON OCT 7TH AT MORAINE VALLEY COLLEGE NEAR CHICAGO.

2. Could you take us through the songs on the new Pride of Lions live CD/DVD eg how did you chose the tracklist etc-

I WANTED TO OF COURSE FEATURE SONGS FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND POL ALBUM AS WELL AS BLACK RIBBONS- BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SHOW MY LEGACY BY INCLUDING SOME FAVORITES OF MINE FROM MY SURVIVOR DAYS. WE EVEN PULLED OUT A REALLY COOL VERSION OF MY IDES HIT FROM 1970- VEHICLE. AS FAR AS THE POL STUFF- I REALLY THINK "GONE". "UNBREAKABLE" AND "GIFT OF SONG" REALLY WORKED WELL ON THE DVD.

3. Your latest solo album has been gaining rave reviews and rightly so! Any plans to tour this album and which songs would you really like to perform live given a chance?

I AM DOING A SET WITHIN THE POL SET ON OCT 7TH FEATURING STUFF FROM ATS. LIVE LIFE FOR SURE- AND PROBABLE THE TITLE TRACK AS WELL AS STAND AND BE COUNTED.

4. Survivor have changed vocalists again now meaning fans can hear Survivor songs in three different bands - Survivor, Jimi Jamison band and yourself. Do you think this dilutes the band's heritage/image in anyway and what is your take on Jimi Jamison leaving for the second time and so soon after the new album?

I AM NOT SURE WHAT EFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE IMAGE ETC. I HAVENT SPOKEN TO EITHER FRANKIE OR JIMEI SINCE THE SPLIT SO I REALLY DONT KNOW THE STORY- BUT I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT IT HAPPENED.

5. Would you ever consider a joint tour with Pride of Lions and Ides of March on the same bill? How do you manage your time and songwriting skills between the two bands?

I WOULD LOVE THAT- BUT I THINK I WOULD COLLAPSE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT! I WRITE A LOT - SO MATERIAL IS NO PROBLEM.

6. Have you been pleased with the progress Pride of Lions have made so far eg fan reaction, live shows and has the band achieved what you imagined it would do?

IT HAS GONE BEYOND MY DREAMS. IT HAS ALSO SET A HIGH STANDARD- AND I ALWAYS WANT TO EXCEDE THE AUDIENCES EXPECTATIONS- THATS WHY ME AND TOBY ARE WORKING SO HARD RIGHT NOW TO PUT TOGETHER NEW SONGS.

7. You have written many classic tunes down the years. What are your particular favourates and how do you approach yuor song writing?

I LOVE MOST OF THEM LIKE MY OWN CHILDREN- SOME HAVE DONE BETTER THAT OTHERS- BUT I AM DEEPLY CONNECTED TO EACH ONE. I PARTICULARLY LIKE I CANT HOLD BACK- THE SEARCH IS OVER- EVER SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN- OCEANS- REBEL SON- HOLD ON LOOSELY AND WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK.

8. What piece of advice would you pass onto budding musicians wnating to satrt out today in the music business?

DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT- NOT BECAUSE YOU HOPE TO BECOME FAMOUS AND GET RICH - THOSE MOTIVES RARELY WORK FOR LONG. KEEP THE PASSION FOR WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR HEART AND PLAY IN FRONT OF PEOPLE EVERY CHANCE YOU GET- EVEN IF ITS FOR FREE.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I LOVE TO CYCLE WITH MY WIFE- TAKE MY 16 YEAR OLD MUSICIAN SON COLIN TO ROCK SHOWS- COLLECT GUITATRS- AND SEE GREAT INSPIRING MOVIES- OH YEAH AND EAT GREAT FOOD AND ENJOY AN OCCASIONAL GIN MARTINI

10. Message to your fans...

THANK YOU A MILLIONS FOR BELIEVING IN ME- AND LISTENING TO MY MESSAGE. I BELIEVE IN YOU- 100% LOVE- JIM

10 Q's with DEREK SHERINIAN (BILLY IDOL/DREAM THEATER/PLANET X)

A true keyboard legend, Derek Sherinian he has appeared with Alice Cooper, Kiss, Dream Theater and currently part of Billy Idol's band. All this and his solo albums plus Planet X.

1. What are you currently up to? (E.g. touring/studio, etc.)

I am currently on tour with Billy Idol, and promoting my new CD "Blood Of The Snake"

2. Could you take us through the songs (e.g. ideas behind the songs) on the new album 'Blood of the Snake' (including the wonderful ocver of 'In The Summertime'!)...

Summertime was my favorite song when I was a kid. One day, Billy started singing it at rehearsal, and we decided to cover it for my record. We brought Slash in to play guitar, and he sounded awesome. We just shot a video for Summertime. The rest of the music is instrumental metal/fusion. There is one other vocal song called "Man With No Name" that features Zakk Wylde on vocals and guitgar. It is very Black Sabbath influenced.

3. How did you get the gig with Billy Idol and how has the current European tour been going? Are there many keyboards parts to do with his music as it is very guitar led.

The tour has been going great! Billy is always fun to work with. There are a lot of keyboards on his classic hits.

Read the full interview here

Blue Oyster Cult London Astoria 23rd July 2006

What a treat to see the mighty BOC twice in the space of a week! After seeing a good but short set at the Guilfest last Saturday night it was time to see a full set. Not a bad turn out crowd wise although the first level of the Astoria was closed. Support came from John Young (Asia/Scorpions/Bonnie Tyler/Fish), doing a solo set with just his keys and his band played via Mini Disc. He was honest about this saying he wanted the audience to hear the songs in full band mode as they should be heard. A good set featuring ‘When I Was Young’, the epic ‘The Unknown Solder’, a moving rendition of ‘Underside’ and ‘Open Skies’. After a lukewarm reception form the crowd he had soon won them over and hopefully picked up a few new fans in the process. A brave move appearing solo and on keyboards before a full on rock band!

BOC finally came on at 8.45 but minus keys/guitars man Allen Lanier who we were told was ill but as Eric Bloom said the band ‘liked to rock’ and wanted to play the gig. The set list has some of the Guilfest tunes including opener ‘I Love the Night’, ‘O.D.’d On Life Itself’, ‘Burnin’ For You’ and ‘Cities On Flame With Rock ‘N’ Roll’ along with a few tunes I have not heard them play before or in a long time like a superb rendition of ‘Black Blade’ and ‘Then Came Last Days of May’. Relative new bass player Richie Castellano is a real find for the band with his fast playing and occasional funk touches – I even enjoyed his bass solo during ‘Godzilla’, although a ‘hit all my drums and cymbals loudly’ drum solo by Jules Radino I could easily have done without. Please drummers unless you do something different like the late, great Cozy Powell’s ‘Mars’ drum solo stop doing solos! Great to hear one of my favourite BOC tracks ‘This Ain’t the Summer of Love’, plus ‘Harvest Winds’ of the ‘Heaven Forbid’ album, ‘Shooting Shark’, ‘Harvester of Eyes’ and ‘7 Screaming Dizz-busters’. Due to the poxy curfew at this venue (10.15 tonight) the band finished on ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ with the promise to be back soon.

Always worth going to see BOC live if you get the chance as they are one of the great rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time and hopefully we can hear a new album soon. Finally, get well soon Allen Lanier.

Guilfest gig review

Guilfest is everything a good festival should be - eclectic mix of bands, sunny weather, friendly security/stewards (who don't confiscate food!) and lots of weird and wonderful stalls, oh and a lot of food and drink stalls. Friday night featured Embrace who by all accounts were shocking!
We started our weekend on Saturday and first up was the Storys - not bad but a typical festival band ie you like the music at the time as it wafts over you but a day later you can't remember anything of the tunes! Hop over to the Ents 24 stage for Steve Morano, who was not bad at all and tunes that fitted the summer sunshine perfectly.


The Kids Zone is a must see with our daughter leading the charge! Again there are circus themed itmes to play with like juggling balls, unicycle (very dicey on the adult frame I can tell you!) and some colourful ribbons to wave like a madman! Show wise there is a show every hour right up until 9pm - the kids should be in bed by then surely??? We watched three very talented musicians from Ghana. Amazing acrobatic and balancing skills.
Back to the music and more summery tunes with the Cosmic Rough Riders. Great harmonies in this band! We then nipped off to our hotel - well it was a mangement conference centre called Horsley Towers. This is let out to weddings, leisure guests at weekends and the quieter summer months. Very nice place as we don't do camping..


Early evening and it was the pap, err sorry pop of Sophie B Hawkins - moving swiftly onto ex-Squeeze vocalist Glen Tilbrook & the Fluffers. Very likeable music - similar to say Crowded House or indeed Squeeze. The Rock Sound tent features the louder end of music and I had a quick check of the Hedrons. Very good all girl rockers who can pen a decent tune. Sadly missed the band with the name of the festival Chop, Chop: Bear Touch?
Gary Numan was second to last on the main stage and he was very good I have to say. Like an English Rammstein! His latter day music is very metal meets industrial and although no natural frontman he does pour his all into the vocals. His hits 'Cars' and 'Are Friends Electric?' of course got the biggest cheers of the day - the latter interestingly had a piano replacing the main synth riff prior to the chorus. A-Ha were headlining but as much as I like them the boys from New York city were starting up on the Ents 24 stage...Blue Oyster Cult!


Strange choice of headliners given the very non-rock bill that preceeded them (but they maybe a bit too old for the hip and happening Rock Sound tent!). Good mix of BOC classics including 'OD'd On Life Itself', 'Shooting Shark', 'ETI', ‘Cities On Flame With Rock ‘n ‘Roll’, 'Burnin' For You' and 'Godzilla'. The latter featured an extended drum/bass solo which maybe okay in a normal set but at a festival with an hour to play is a bit of a luxary. '(Don't Fear) The Reaper' closed the short set (only a hour - criminal!) and they seemed to have won over some new fans. Only downside was the mix - guitars were barely audible at times and you could not tell they had three guitar players on some songs! The new bass player and drummer seemed to slot in well although they miss Danny Miranda as he was very good at getting the audience involved.


Sunday was very hot (so much so we had to leave early due to heat induced illness). But we did see the Ukuele Orchestra of Great Britain who are simply superb. Do go and see them live if you get a chance. They take a classic song and give it whole new life. 3 Men and Black may not be a name you know but they do feature some known names in former Alarm man Dave Sharp standing in for the absent JJ Gilmour plus Nick Welsh (Selector/Bad Manners) & Eric Falkner (Bay City Rollers) with Pauline Black (Selector). They play ska and add some good acoustic tunes including the Alarm's 'Stand' and a Bay City Roller's number 'Shang A Lang'! An enjoyable set and a pleasant surprise.
60's singer/songwriter Donovan (resplendant in bright green) was very good as well and in fine form and voice. He went down well with the crowd including his standard 'Sunshine Superman'.


Sadly the heat was too much and we had to head home sadly meaning missing Billy Idol (although a bonus was missing the Stranglers for the umpteenth time at Guilfest!). That is one thing the organizers could do with more of is shady areas or more protection from the sun at peak times of the day.
Another wonderful Guilfest and roll on next year...

PS Can I suggest any of these for the festival next year...John Otway, Twisted Sister, Tears for Fears, Undercut, Paul Liddell & Elbow. Well I can but hope :)

All change...

Jeff Scott Soto is now singing with Journey on the latter's current US tour with Def Leppard. Current Journey vocalist Steve Augeri has had some vocal problems and so the band have drafted in the extremely talented Mr Soto. Check out JSS any solo work or any Talisman album for further proof.

Survivor have jetisoned Jimi Jamison for the second time, just over month after releaseing their new album - the band's first since 1988! In his place comes ex-MSG vocalist Robin McAuley. The band plan a new album next year, which given their current work rate is superhuman! Most probably due to the fact that they what to get the new band's sound out there. I like both vocalists so be interesting to see how the Survivor sound develops. Bassist Barry Dunaway has also been gven the golden handshake as Billy Ozzello returns (he was the band's bassist prior to Dunaway!).

Stoke 2 - 0 Newcastle Town

Stoke got their pre-season friendlies underway at local neighbours Newcastle Town (managed by former Stokie Nigel Gleghorn) with trialist Nathan Blake (ex-Leeds/Bradford) and 'Big Mama' Sidebe getting the goals. No new faces bar Nathan Blake (who due to injury had no club last season) and Pulis's only signing so far Vincvent Pericard, who judging by match reports hardly had a great start to his Stoke career - early days yet.

Stoke have been rebuffed in an attmept to sign former player Andy Griffin from Portsmouth and we have been linked with a fair few players including another former player Clive Clarke, currently at West Ham and John McEveley & Paul Gallagher at Blackburn.

Meanwhile on Saturday my daughter and myself went along to see Staines Town beat Brentford 3-1. Hardly the greatest game of football, even by friendly standards and Brentford looekd very poor defensively at times (their no.14 whoever he was has certainly been at the pies over the break!). Another team with a new manager and they have seen half a dozen regular first team players leave already since the end of the season including the highly rated Jay Tabb.

10 Q's with ROBIN GEORGE

Remember the single 'Heartline' in the mid-80's? Robin George is a very talented guitarist/singer/songwriter. His new album is out now & well worth getting. Over to the man himself...

1. What are you currently up to? (E.g. touring/studio, etc.)

I’m in the studio mixing the Damage Control album…I think it’s the best band/album I’ve ever been involved with, but then I always say that!

2. Could you take us through the tracks on the new album 'Crying Diamonds' (BTW a superb album & back to your best UIMHO) and any stories behind the songs?

Thanks for the compliment. They are my versions of the songs Robert Plant, Glenn Hughes and other great singers had performed but not released (yet!) so I knew the songs were good enough to be heard. In a different time I’m convinced tracks like Haunted and Learn the Dance would have been hits, (but it aint over yet!)

3. This album has seen a release before on Zoom Club Records. What changes did you make for the Majestic Rock release and any plans to tour around this release?

It’s been re-mixed and mastered and I’ve added a couple of tracks to make it worth while for people to listen to (I hope). Zoom Club didn’t really release the album, it sort of escaped!
It wasn’t available in most shops, and so Geoff Gillespie (he was A&R at Zoom Club at the time) thought it was too good to waste, so now he’s at Majestic Rock, he asked to re-release it through them, so here it is.
I’m planning to do some gigs with a major British act later this year…watch this space.

4. Damage Control - how is this album progressing and how did you hook-up with Pete Way? How did Spike of the Quireboys get involved?

As I said we‘re at final mix stage and it really rocks as an album.
The ideas started to flow during the Waysted back from the dead mixing session (I was mixdown producer). At the end of each day, I’d play Pete a few of my tracks, and in return he’d attack one of my beautiful guitars and execute some of his ideas. We started recording straight after we finished the Waysted mixes and really liked how the songs sounded. I was singing lead, which Pete really liked, but I felt we needed a stronger voice, and a power front man.
Enter Spike. He and Pete have been friends for years and Pete suggested he did some backing vocals on the album…the rest is history…as soon as I heard Spikes’ voice, I knew he was the man for the gig.
Chris Slade is a superb drummer and also fantastic to work with.

5. Are there any artists/bands out there you would like to work with if given the chance and why?

I’m sticking with Damage Control for now even though I’ve had a few great offers lately…typical!

6. What have been the most memorable gigs and why?

The ones I can’t remember! I can’t remember why!!

7. Why do you think the 'Heartline' single never became the hit is so rightly deserved?

Bronze records went broke as it was breaking as a single wordwide, so the money ran out…shame; I really liked Gerry Bron and his team.

8. You have worked with two of the most famous vocalists in rock, Phil Lynott and David Byron. What was it like working with them and what are your fondest memories of them both?

It was an honour and a privilege to have worked with both Phil and David, and a tragedy to lose them so young. I have so many memories, all of them fond; it would take all day to recount them.
They were both real stars, but I’m proud to say they were also my dear friends who taught me lots about this business.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Making music.

10. Message to your fans...

Thanks for all your support and goodwill over the years… it’s priceless to me.

FOREIGNER gig review

Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 30th June 2006

Looking forward to seeing Foreigner for the first time and although Lou Gramm has left after recovering from his brain tumor and finding religion, the reviews of 'newboy' Kelly Hansen (Hurricane) have been glowing. But first up Deborah Bonham and her band (who featured ex-Humble Pie man Jerry Shirley on drums). They played a
tight set of blues based rock and in Deborah Bonham they have a very powerful yet melodic vocalists. Sadly though this band are out if time in that had they been around in the early 70's they would have been massive with their brand of music. Still very enjoyable and a band worth seeing live (Jerry Shirley on drums was a joy to watch).

Now Foreigner 2006 are a different beast than the last time they toured the UK in the 90's. Gone is original vocalist Lou Gramm leaving guitarist Mick Jones as the sole original member. Joining him are long time Foreigner sidemen Jeff Jacobs (keys) and Tommy Sobel (guitars/flute/sax) with newboys Jason Bonham (Bonham/UFO/Virginia Wolf) on drums, Jeff Pilson (War & Peace/Dokken) on bass and Steve Tyler doppledanger Keyy Hansen (Hurricane) on vocals.

Were they any good? Just a bit & them some! Playing a very rocky set (mind you Foreigner were never a ballads band it was more the record company after hit singles) including 'Cold As Ice' (complete with spot on harmonies), 'Headgames', 'Starider', 'Feels Like the First Time', 'Double Vision', 'Urgent' and 'Blue Morning Blue Day'. Yes we had a few slower moments like 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' and an acoustic run through 'Say You Will' which gave the song a whole new lease of life. The band clicked from the off and in Kelly Hansen they have a frontman who not only gives the songs justice but works the crowd well. Jason Bonham and Jeff Pilson fit together hand in glove and Pilson is like a jack-in-the-box bouncing all over the stage. These three new members have given the band a whole new lease of life and I for one hope they record new music.

The extended 'Jukebox Hero' was the only slight lull as the band slipped in Led Zep's 'Whole Lotta Love'. Encore time bought a nice surprise as original bassist Rick Price (since his Foreigner days he's has toured with bad Comapny and is now in Kenny Jones' new band) came on for the closing number 'Hot Blooded' and with his tan he nearly outshone that of the Tango like Mick Jones.One of the best gigs I have seen in a long time and go see this band as they ROCK!