STILL ALIVE & WELL

Saturday, 28 May 2011

POOKIESNACKENBURGER In... HELL BENT (1985)

POOKIESNACKENBURGER In... HELL BENT (1985) Channel 4 TV UK

Just found an old episode of a 1980's UK comedy music show called "POOKIESNACKENBURGER" on Youtube.
The episode in question is from 1985 and is called "HELL BENT".
It concerns itself with a spoof "Black Metal" band called IRON LUNG who are recording their latest album in a haunted abbey which has been converted into a recording studio, whilst the band try to raise Satan to do their bidding.
The songs are quite amusing, although overall the show isn't as funny as i remembered. I did enjoy the "Wicker Man" styled pub scene though.
The show only ran for one series, with each episode spoofing a different genre of music.
Pookiesnackenburger were a real band who had initially formed as a busking ensemble.
Some of their members were later behind the "Stomp" musical/dance extravaganza.

Credit and major thanks to tim50stroud who uploaded this video.

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

U.S. METAL ALBUMS Part 2 (1983 & 1984)

Howdy folks, sorry it has taken me so long to get around to updating this page.
Sometimes life just insists on getting in the way of the things you intend to do despite your best intentions.
Hope tonight's bumper selection of old US Heavy Metal albums will go some way towards making up for my lengthy lay off here.
We have some truly obscure stuff in tonight's selection, but hidden amongst these there are musicians who went on to make a mark in other outfits, such as a Pre-VINNIE VINCENT INVASION & SLAUGHTER Mark Slaughter fronting X-CURSION, SERPENT'S KNIGHT featuring a young Warrel Dane Pre-SANCTUARY & NEVERMORE, and before he was in CJSS and CHASTAIN, little David T Chastain was guitarist extraordinaire with SPIKE.
We also have ex-VIRGIN STEELE guitarist JACK STARR with his first solo album, "Out Of The Darkness", which features the cream of the early '80's New York Metal scene backing him with the late great RHETT FORRESTER of RIOT singing on all tracks, and former STEELER frontman Ron Keel with the debut album from his eponymously named band, KEEL.
Add to that little lot some great obcurios from the likes of RAT ATTACK, CRYSYS, PROPHECY, VICTIM, RISING POWER, MAX LYNX, TAIST OF IRON, DESIRE, LADY KILLER, WYZARD and PANDEMONIUM and i think you'll find much to enjoy amongst tonight's selection.
Get stuck in!

CRYSYS - Hard As Rock (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/32721992/CRYSYS_-_Hard_As_Rock__USA_-_1983_.rar

SERPENT'S KNIGHT - Released From The Crypt (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/65204951/SERPENT_S_KNIGHT_-_Released_From_The_Crypt__1983-USA_.rar

LADY KILLER - Lady Killer (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/97811590/LADY_KILLER_-_Lady_Killer__USA-1983_.rar

DESIRE - Cry At The Sky (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/89252241/DESIRE_-_Cry_At_The_Sky__USA-1983_.rar

PANDEMONIUM - Heavy Metal Soldiers (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/106256442/PANDEMONIUM_-_Heavy_Metal_Soldiers__USA-1983_.rar

SPIKE - The Price Of Pleasure (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/109123472/SPIKE_-_The_Price_Of_Pleasure__USA-1983_.rar

VICTIM - Power Hungry (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/115676145/VICTIM_-_Power_Hungry__1983-USA_.rar

MAX LYNX - Take One (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/46197356/MAX_LYNX_-_Take_One__USA-1983_.rar

RAT ATTACK - Rat Attack (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/93235877/RAT_ATTACK_-_Rat_Attack__USA-1983_.rar

WYZARD - Knights Of Metal (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/26017389/WYZARD_-_Knights_Of_Metal__1984_-_USA_.rar

KEEL - Lay Down The Law (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/114018512/KEEL_-_Lay_Down_The_Law__USA-1984_.rar

JACK STARR - Out Of The Darkness (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67851231/JACK_STARR_-_Out_Of_The_Darkness__USA_-_1984_.rar

TAIST OF IRON - Resurrection (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67866251/TAIST_OF_IRON_-_Resurrection__USA_-_1984_.rar

RISING POWER - Power For The People (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/68649550/RISING_POWER_-_Power_For_The_People__USA_-_1984_.rar

X-CURSION - Ready To Roll (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/58510172/X-CURSION_-_Ready_To_Roll__USA_-_1984_.rar

PROPHECY - Prophecy (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/97800556/PROPHECY_-_Prophecy__USA-1984_.rar

As per always, none of the files are password protected, and the rars contain cover art and informative text files.
Let me know what you think of this little lot and i'll try to be a little more regular with the posts here in the future.
However, i guarantee nothing.
I'm sorry to have to report some sad news now, as we lost two more great musicians this past month.
Phil Kennemore of YESTERDAY & TODAY/Y & T sadly lost his battle with cancer a few weeks ago, and last week we also lost Henrik Ostergaard of DIRTY LOOKS to causes unknown at this time.
Raise a glass to them for the good times.
Rest In Peace.

Sunday, 16 May 2010

RONNIE JAMES DIO : R.I.P.

From Blabbermouth:

Wendy Dio, wife/manager of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW), has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Today my heart is broken, Ronnie passed away at 7:45 a.m. [on Sunday] 16th May. Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.

"Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all.

"We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us.

"Please give us a few days of privacy to deal with this terrible loss.

"Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever."

It was only a month ago that Dio, 67, spoke about his battle with cancer with the Artisan News Service on the "black carpet" of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place on April 8 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. When asked about how he had been feeling since he was diagnosed with the disease late last year, Dio said, "Well, I feel good and bad at times. It's a long process. Chemotherapy is a... I never realized what a difficult thing it was to go through. It's a real cumulative effect — the more you have, the more it piles up on top and it takes longer and longer to get over it. I find it very difficult to eat. I don't like to eat anyway, so I guess that's OK. But I know I have to. But this makes it very, very hard. But if you're determined to beat it, then you have to go with what you believe is going to beat it for you, and in this case it's that. I go to a great hospital in Houston called M.D. Anderson, which I think is the best hospital in the world, I have the best doctor in the world, Dr. Ajani, who I really trust and I really believe in, so I think I've done all the right things. It makes me feel positive about my life and positive that there is a lot more of it to live."

Earlier this month, HEAVEN & HELL canceled its summer tour plans in Europe due to Dio's treatment for stomach cancer. The band said in a statement that Dio wasn't "well enough to tour this summer. We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time."

Ronnie James Dio had performed with ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, and his own band DIO. Other musical projects included the collective fundraiser "Hear 'n Aid". He is widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil's horns" hand gesture in metal culture. He was most recently involved with HEAVEN & HELL, a project which also included former BLACK SABBATH bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Their first and only studio album, "The Devil You Know", was released on April 28, 2009.

R.I.P. Ronnie & thank you.