Hair Metal Heaven UK festival to include Spread Eagle, D-A-D, Leatherwolf and Diemonds
Hair Metal Heaven UK festival to include Spread Eagle, D-A-D, Leatherwolf and Diemonds
A new hair metal festival entitled Hair Metal Festival is upon us that will be taking place from August 25 to 27, 2017 at ORileys (August 25th) and Hull City Hull (August 26th and 27th) in Hull, UK. The festival promises to be a great one with the following acts already announced: Spread Eagle, D-A-D, Leatherwolf, Smashed Gladys, Diemonds, Treat and Princess Pang.
Hair Metal Heaven‘s “Story” on its Facebook page states:
“Hi! I am a long time fan of rock music.
The 80s were my golden years and hair metal was my music of choice. In 1983 I purchased a record by Hanoi Rocks called ‘Back to the Mystery City‘ and it changed me. It changed my outlook on life and thats when the love affair began.
Thanks to magazines like Sounds and Kerrang I discovered a whole new genre of metal coming out of LA that was later to be dubbed as Hair Metal. There were elements of Kiss, Slade, Van Halen, Ac/Dc, New York Dolls and Def Leppard in the music but the image was different somehow – the hairstyles were bigger, the riffs were way sleazier, the songs were louder and the content of the lyrics were all about getting laid – something I knew nothing about was definitely interested in. I was 13 at the time but I felt like a man by the time I had returned that slab of black wax back to its sleeve.
Pretty soon I was spening all the money I could gather by doing odd jobs for people I never even knew on lps by the LA elite such as Motley Crue, Ratt and Dokken aong with bands from the East Coast like Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi and White Lion and I was in heaven – Hair Metal Heaven to be exact.
Its these happy memories that prompted me to begin this journey with my festival – Hair Metal Heaven. I want to embrace the culture that existed back then. I want to bring the ambience, the passion, the energy and the excitement of a real rock n roll festival to your front door.
I hope you will enjoy the trip down memory lane with me aswell as looking to the future with new bands that i hope you will appreciate and then investigate further.
Heres to 2017.
Welcome aboard.”
Spread Eagle:
Spread Eagle burst upon the scene playing a brand of rock that came straight from the gutter and was dripping with elements of sleaze and sex.
Paul DiBartolo (guitar), Rob DeLuca (bass) and Tommi Gallo had all been in a band called Bang, and when they met up with vocalist Ray West in New York, Spread Eagle was born. The group was quickly signed and sent into the studio. Tunes for the debut album had to be written while recording was taking place. The self-titled debut featured a razor sharp guitar sound as well as some explicitly sexual lyrics, demonstrated through songs such as “Back On The Bitch” and “Scratch Like A Cat.”
By the time work began on the follow-up, Gallo was in and out of the band. Session musicians recorded most of the drums on Open To The Public. For this album the group had toned down their lyrics and even went so far as to say people misunderstood the lyrics on the debut album. The album was a bit of a disappointment compared to their previous effort, and after the tour, which featured Dave Femia on drums, Spread Eagle broke-up. 2006 saw West resurrect the name for a small club tour.
Spread Eagle‘s “Switchblade Serenade” video:
Spread Eagle – Switchblade Serenade
Music video by Spread Eagle performing Switchblade Serenade. (C) 1990 Geffen Records
D-A-D:
Wikipedia describes D-A-D‘s history as (with slight edits):
“In the early 1980s in Copenhagen, Denmark, D-A-D started playing together under their original name Disneyland After Dark. Stig came up with the name based on the idea that when the lights are out in Disneyland, anything can happen. He thought the name reflected their music. The first lineup of D-A-D consisted of Jesper, Stig, Peter and Stig’s girlfriend, Lene 
Glumer. The band’s debut concert was at the youth club Sundby Algaard. In December 1982 they forced Lene Glumer to leave the band, as she did not fit in, according to their opinion. The three of them kept playing together and on March 3. 1984, Jesper‘s younger brother, Jacob joined the band at a concert at Musikcaféen in Copenhagen. They all liked the idea of him playing in the band and little by little he became a member of D-A-D.
The band wanted to make a record, so they began recording demo recordings in their rehearsal room. A friend of the band owned a record store, and helped them find contacts in the music business. John Rosing from the management bureau “Rock On” heard about Disneyland After Dark. He sought out the band in 1984, and became their booker. He took full management of the band until a year before he died of cancer in 1998.
The band released their first album, Call of the Wild in 1986.
The group made their international breakthrough in 1989 with the record No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims, which was released on the band’s 5th birthday. The album became the band’s greatest success, and also gave the band a million dollar contract with Warner Bros.. The band was poised for great success in the United States, but the breakthrough didn’t happen. The band achieved some airplay with the single “Sleeping My Day Away”, but in the end, the band gave up on the chance of making it big in the US, and focused on the European market.
The current lineup is Jesper Binzer, Jacob Binzer, Stig Pedersen and Laust Sonne.
The largest concert the band played as the opening act for the Böhse Onkelz on their farewell festival on 17 June 2005, about 120,000 people on the Euro Speedway Lausitz.”
D-A-D‘s “Sleeping My Day Away”:
D-A-D – Sleeping My Day Away
Music video by D-A-D performing Sleeping My Day Away.
Leatherwolf:
Leatherwolf‘s Biography on their website states (with slight edits):
“Long before British metal legends Iron Maiden picked up on the concept, a pack of hungry Huntington Beach, CA-based teenagers, collectively known as Leatherwolf, pioneered and perfected the heavy metal Triple Axe Attack – documented via a trifecta of critically acclaimed and much loved ’80s scorchers. The eponymous debut EP, expanded to a full-length LP, entitled ‘Endangered Species’ for international release, and a pair of stunning albums for Island Records, ‘Leatherwolf’ and ‘Street Ready’ (yielding the MTV videos ‘The Calling’ and ‘Hideaway’, respectively), saw the band flying the flag of decidedly European-styled metal amidst a sea of formulaic L.A. contemporaries.
After a lengthy self-imposed break, the band’s classic line-up resurfaced in 1999 with a storming live album, ‘Wide Open’, which went on to sell well over 10.000 copies without the support of a label or extensive touring, underscoring Leatherwolf’s enduring appeal among metal enthusiasts. The band also made a triumphant return to Europe by special invitation with a one-off gig at the prestigious Wacken Festival in Germany.
Regrouping in 2006, Leatherwolf emerged with a new line-up, fronted by former Crimson Glory vocalist Wade Black, to once again turn the metal world on its ear with ‘World Asylum’, the band’s heaviest effort to date. Fusing familiar lupine trademarks with a modern-day edge, commanding vocals, and ten-ton hammer sonics, courtesy of Danish studio whiz Jacob Hansen who was brought in for the mix. ‘World Asylum’ earned top marks in major publications such as Rock Hard and Aardschok and Leatherwolf played a much celebrated gig at the Bang Your Head!!! Festival alongside In Flames, Foreigner, Helloween and others (documented on the BYH 2006 double DVD). Closer to home, the band also helped kick off the festivities with a blistering set at ProgPower VII in Atlanta, North America’s premier indie heavy metal event.
Coming full circle in 2007, Leatherwolf were once again kicking out the jams in classic formation, with a returning Michael Olivieri leading the charge. The band completed a whirlwind fall tour of Europe, which included a headline appearance at the 9th edition of Germany’s Keep It True Festival, and issued a re-worked version of their acclaimed 2006 comeback disc, titled ‘New World Asylum’, with Olivieri on vocals. Closer to home, the band shared the bill with Anthrax, Saxon, Metal Church and others at the third annual Rocklahoma festival in 2009.
With a new live album mixed by Roy Z in the offing and a rejuvenated line-up consisting of original members Michael Olivieri and Dean Roberts, long-time friend and bassist Patrick Guyton, and the guitar duo of Rob Math and Greg Erba in place, Leatherwolf are gearing up for an active 2013. “We are all excited about this new constellation and the possibilities it holds”, enthuses Olivieri. “More than anything, we’re looking forward to getting out there and really kicking some ass on stage. I think live is where it’s always been at for us and this group of guys can definitely deliver the goods!””
Leatherwolf‘s “The Calling” video:
Leatherwolf – The Calling
Music video by Leatherwolf performing The Calling. (C) 1987 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Smashed Gladys:
Smashed Gladys were a group of sleazy, rude and crude rockers with a twin guitar attack and gritty vocals provided by the awesome female vocalist Sally Cato. Unfortunately the band never reached anything more then cult status.
Sally Cato (vocals), Bart Lewis (guitar), Marcel La Fleur (guitar), J.D. Malo (bass) and Matt Stellutto (drums) formed the band in Toronto, Ontario. But it wasn’t long before the group picked up and moved to New York City. It would be there that Cato‘s voice (or maybe it was her good looks) caught the attention of Kiss‘ Gene Simmons, who agreed to produce their demo and helped in getting the band signed to the Heavy Metal America label. While touring for the album, La Fleur was replaced by Roger Lane.
The self-titled independent album went largely unnoticed, but the group was able to grab the attention of Elektra records for their second and last release. The critically acclaimed Social Intercourse was released in 1988, but by late 1989 the band was disintegrating. Lane left to join another New York sleaze band called The Throbs and Malo quickly followed suit by joining former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe‘s solo band.
Smashed Gladys live at CBGB’s Glam Fest NYC 1993:
SMASHED GLADYS at CBGB’s Glam Fest NYC 1993
Smashed Gladys at CBGB’s White Trash Glam Fest in 1993 in New York City on REBEL TV. Out of the vaults!
Diemonds:
Wikipedia describes Diemonds‘ history as follows (with slight edits):
“Diemonds is a Juno Award nominated Canadian hard rock band formed in 2006 in Toronto and fronted by Priya Panda. Their second full-length album and latest effort Never Wanna Die was released on August 14, 2015 accompanied by multiple Juno award-winner Eric Ratz (Monster Truck, Arkells, Billy Talent) in the producer chair. Remaining true to their sound, Diemonds takes lyrics that speak to the outcasts, wild childs, and misfits, and combines them with a hard-hitting live show, taking cues from the greats they look up to.
Diemonds independently released their debut EP “In the Rough” in October 2008. Released independently, Diemonds toured Canada & the United States heavily and played with bands like L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, John Corabi, Teenage Head (band), Rough Trade (band), and New York’s Semi Precious Weapons. “In The Rough” was later re-released on limited edition cassette.
On August 10, 2012, it was announced that Diemonds had signed with Toronto based independent punk rock record label, Underground Operations. The announcement also came with the news that the long-awaited full-length debut from Diemonds, “The Bad Pack“, would be released via Underground Operations with distribution through Universal Music Canada on October 2, 2012. “The Bad Pack” was recorded with Jon Drew (Fucked Up, Tokyo Police Club). Underground Operations president and founder Mark Spicoluk commented on the signing of Diemonds saying “Authenticity. Most bands try to fake it and look stupid in the process but Diemonds are as authentic as it gets. I’m honored for UO to have the opportunity to play a pivotal role at this stage in Diemonds journey.”
Diemonds toured consistently through North America in support of “The Bad Pack” including a direct support to Santa Cruz, California glam metal band Dirty Penny. The relentless touring included multiple appearances at the Rocklahoma festival as well as appearances at Seattle Hempfest, Heavy MTL, & SXSW. The band has also had the opportunity to play support slots to Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, The Darkness, Megadeth, Steel Panther, Sebastian Bach, & most recently KISS on the annual KISS Kruise.
On May 1, 2015, it was announced that Diemonds would release their second full-length album, Never Wanna Die, via eOne Music/Underground Operations. ‘Never Wanna Die‘ was produced by multiple Juno Award winning producer Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Monster Truck, Cancer Bats) and was released August 14, 2015. This record would be the first time the band sat down and worked with a producer and it’s evident on the album how much effort was put into the final product. This is what the band had to say about working with Eric, “We were in the studio every fucking day for like three months. That was a learning experience. You get to immerse yourself in the project and we’d never had the opportunity to spend that much time working on our music. We’d never worked with a producer before. The whole thing was a big learning experience and we think that as a band, we’ve grown exponentially with our style, our chops, and our songwriting.”
Vocalist Priya Panda also discussed some of the lyrical content and the messages throughout this album “The whole album kind of has a similar theme: Kind of stepping away from things that can bring you down and grow stronger from them, and learning lessons from them, and sticking true to who you are.” Following the release of Never Wanna Die, the band embarked on a Fall headlining tour across Canada in support of the new record as well as an appearance at Japanese Assault Festival 2015 in November marking the band’s first performance in Japan.
In July 2016, Diemonds supported Steel Panther on their Canadian tour.”
Diemonds‘ “Ain’t That Kinda Girl” video:
DIEMONDS – Ain’t That Kinda Girl (Official Video) | Napalm Records
Order “Never Wanna Die” now: http://shop.napalmrecords.com/diemondsUS customers: http://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/store/diemondsiTunes: http://smarturl.it…
Treat:
Wikipedia describes the band Treat as follows (with slight edits):
“Treat is a melodic heavy metal band from Stockholm, Sweden. In the second half of the 1980s, they had national as well as international successes with songs like “Get You on the Run”, “World of Promises”, “Party All Over” and the classic “Ready for the Taking”
They played at rock festivals like Monsters of Rock in 1988 in Germany. They were also the opening act for Queen in Sweden in 1986 and opened for W.A.S.P. during their first Swedish tour.
In 2005, they made a comeback and released the collection Weapons of choice 1984-2006 on March 19, which included the previously unreleased track “Still in Heaven” along with the two new songs “Go!” and “Burn for You”. Their first reunion show was in front of 4,000 people at the Sweden Rock Festival on June 10, 2006.
They were signed to the labels Mercury, Vertigo and now Universal.
The song “Roar” from the album Coup de Grace is the main theme of the Facebook app game “Monster Galaxy” and also played significantly on the GOM Star League Starcraft tournament.”
In April 2016, Treat released a new studio album entitled Ghost Of Graceland for which Sleaze Roxx stated in its review: “Ghost Of Graceland is a melodic rocker’s treat, if you pardon the pun. It’s a good album with sing-along choruses and neat little hooks, written and performed by old-time rockers that know their style and perform for their fans.”
Treat‘s “Ghost of Graceland” video:
Treat – Ghost of Graceland (Official Music Video)
From the new album, GHOST OF GRACELAND. Get your copy NOW: iTunes: http://radi.al/GhostofGracelandiTunes // Amazon: http://radi.al/GhostofGracelandAmazon /…
Princess Pang:
An American/Swedish hard rock combination that played sleazy pop metal with a female lead singer. They would only release one album, but it rocked from start to finish.
Vocalist Jeni Foster met bassist Ronnie Roze on New Year’s Eve 1985 in Manhattan. The two vowed to form a band together, and when Roze had to return home to Sweden in order to renew his Visa, Foster was right by his side. They found guitarist Andy Tjernon in Sweden and Princess Pang was officially born. The three began recording demos, but were unable to find a drummer that suited them. They kept sending the demos to drummer Brian Keats (Roze‘s bandmate in Angels In Vain) in New York, hoping he would hook up with them.
In the fall of 1986, Keats did in fact join the group when the three returned to America from Sweden, and proceeded to finalize the band with the addition of guitarist Jay Lewis. They got signed to Metal Blade records, released an outstanding album, and toured behind the likes of Mr. Big, Ace Frehley and Wolfsbane.
After their first tour, Foster left the band. The remaining members continued to demo material and audition new vocalists, but in 1990, they decided to put the band to rest.
Princess Pang‘s “Trouble in Paradise” video:
PRINCESS PANG ¤ Trouble In Paradise (1989)
Excellent hardrock band, Swedish/American from the eighties. Jeni Foster had one of the best voices, i ever heard. With attitude and she’ beautiful. Only one…