Review By Smudge Smith Image By Paul McWilliams
I’ve been lucky enough to have attended every Stonedead festival apart from one. I have watched this festival develop and grow into one of the best and friendliest experiences that the UK has to offer. Big enough to matter and small enough to care. Here’s an example – I wasn’t able to attend the Friday night party which featured Tyketto, Sweet Electric and Jayler. I left that to my erstwhile partner in crime Adrian ‘Hop-a-long’ Hextall, the poor fella is currently nursing a broken foot, so I offered to pick him up after the gig. I arrive at the main and explained that I was picking my injured colleague. The volunteer staff were so accommodating that they allowed me to drive to the press area without any accreditation or having to show ID. The lovely Donna helped poor hop-a-long to my car as well. I honestly don’t know of another festival that would have allowed me to do that. So, Donna our most heartfelt gratitude to you.
Saturday – Cloudy and grey but quite muggy. We’ll take that as long as the rain holds off. On arrival we were ‘briefed’ by the press boss Mark about various bands pyro plus the special guests who were not mentioned on the line-up. Up first were Welsh metal mongers King Kraken who brought it large once Pete Rose got his rig working. Even though there is much less of singer Mark Donoghue he still has a voice of power and range as he hollered out opening number ‘Scream’ before the stomping ‘El Giganto’ and the mighty ‘Berserker’.
It was top set from a top band and a perfect start to the day.
Now came the surprise. After the sad death of metal legend Ozzy Osbourne, Stonedead arranged their own special tribute
where former Skin/Jagged Edge guitarist Myke Gray roped in Lydia from Crowley and the rhythm section from King Kraken to bash out ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ before all three of Florence Black joined him for ‘Children Of The Grave’ and ‘Paranoid’. Oh, we sang along and we got a bit emotional too.
I wouldn’t want to follow that but the boys from Black Oak County did just that. I assumed they were a southern rock band, but they were nothing of the sought. They brough a shed load of huge punchy riff n roll that got us moving.
Next up were Sweden’s Enforcer. Having seen them a couple of times and proudly wearing my tour shirt they came and gave a lesson in what real metal is. Staring with ‘Destroyer’, ‘Undying Evil’, ‘Unshackle Me’ and ‘From Beyond’ they allowed us to catch our breath on ‘Live For The Night’ before changing gears again on ‘Die Young’, ‘Nostalgia’ and ‘Mesmerized By Fire’. The last two numbers ‘Take Me Out Of The Nightmare’ and the almost thrash of ‘Midnight Vice’ left us breathless.
After all that true metal we needed something a bit different, and The New Roses provided just what was needed. Coming on with a new line-up they brought their particular brand of heavy rock to us. They came on fired up and got us rockin’ from the off with ‘Attracted To Danger’, ‘Bring The Thunder’ and ‘First Time For Everything’. Singer Timmy Rough doesn’t hide behind a guitar anymore which has made him a much more engaging frontman and has allowed the return of guitarist Norman Bites.
Enforcer gave us the metal; Primal Fear brought the power and took it up a notch or two. Mr H and I were both over excited to see these legends and they did not disappoint. Drummer Andre Hilgers rattled out a motif to start ‘Final Embrace’ and bassman Mat Sinner let loose his four-string thunder before returning guitarist Magnus Karlsson and new six string stunner Thalia Bellazecca showed what they got. Jeez they are a formidable guitar pair who have gelled very quickly into a tight unit.
Oh, and let’s not forget the muscular Ralf Scheepers who used every inch of his impressive range. They went straight into ‘Nuclear Fire’ before ‘Angel In Black’ and ‘The Hunter’. They gave us ‘King Of Madness’ and ‘The End Is Near’ before the majestic ‘Fighting The Darkness’ where Scheepers showed what a world class singer he is. Talk about power ballad! Goosebumps.
The goosebumps turned to some headbanging on ‘Chainbreaker’ and the monumental ‘Metal Is Forever’. Talk about happy. Primal Fear made it look easy. Awesome. Phenomenal. Please come back to the UK soon…
I never know what to make of D.A.D. their first few numbers were proper down n dirty rock n roll and what the fuck was the bass player wearing. They were doing ok until they started to go bluesier which didn’t suit them. It wasn’t until the one everyone wanted to hear – ‘Sleeping My Day Away’ that they got the crowd back onside.
One of my earliest memories from my childhood is jumping around with my mate Steven Taylor in his bedroom whilst watching The Sweet on some kids TV show in 1973. We were five years old, but we knew what we liked. So, seeing The Sweet was a proper nostalgia trip for me. The set list was like a ‘best of’ plus a couple of newer tracks from their latest album. We danced and sang to ‘Action’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Teenage Rampage’, ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’, ‘Fox On The Run’, ‘Blockbuster’ and ‘Ballroom Blitz’.
We also got the raucous ‘Set Me Free’ which proved what a great heavy rock band they were. The band were note perfect, their harmonies were sublime, and Paul Manzi has the perfect voice for this band but having Lee Small banging his bass and providing the harmonies along with Andy Scott and keys/guitarist Tom Cory you cannot fail. I will admit to making a major twat of myself during their set but you gotta let go when The Sweet are in town.
I have seen Dead Daisies a couple of times and they always give it all onstage. I think John Corabi is the consummate front man and he has a voice perfectly suited to their sound. The set was littered with originals as well as some mighty covers with ‘Long Way To Go’, Rise Up and ‘Light ‘Em Up’ coming out early before the Angels classic ‘Take A Long Line’, Alex Harvey Band’s ‘Midnight Moses’, The Beatles ‘Helter Skelter’ and CCR’s ‘Fortunate Son’ brought some familiarity.
Here we go for the headliners The Almighty. I wasn’t sure they qualified for the headliner slot but they were there, so we just enjoyed it. With all four original members back – there’s me thinking it was only for three gigs, what do I know? Kicking off with the battery of ‘Power’, ‘Destroyed’ and the huge ‘Full Force Lovin’ Machine’.
Ricky Warwick was at his belligerent best, they rhythm section of Floyd London and Stumpy Munroe had it locked tight whilst Tantrum strolled the stage peeling off riffs and fills with a smiling face. We ‘Addiction’, ‘Jonestown Mind’ and the immense ‘Takin’ Hold’ before ‘Jesus Loves You ..But I Don’t’ and ‘Free N Easy’. They came back for ‘Crucify’ and a go at Metallica’s ‘The Four Horsemen’ just for shits n giggles before closing with ‘Wild And Wonderful’.
A massive well done to the Stonedead crew who produced a first-class show. They gave us a real mixed bag with something for everyone. As always I have to thank all those ‘togs who have to put with me getting in their way – Dan, Manny, Polly, Stuart, Ian, Lindsay, Craig, Paul and of course the pit boss Mark. To all the volunteers who make this festival possible all with a positive, helpful attitude and smiles on their faces. Last but not least Old Hoppalong Hextall the kids miss you.
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