ROCK HARD FESTIVAL 2015 – A Road Trip To Hell & Back

Tags

Black Metal, Black Star Riders, Bobby Liebling, Bolt Thrower, Cronos, Death Metal, Deserted Fear, Entombed, Flash Point, Garage Rock, Kingdom Of Worms, Last Days Here, Motorjesus, My Empire, Obituary, Overkill, Pentagram, Queen Of Spades Photography, Rock Hard Festival 2015, Rock'n'Roll, Shake Electric, Space Rock, Spiders, The Boys Are Back In Town, The Order Of Israfel, Thin Lizzy, Venom

– Friday –

After pretty much THE WORST road trip of my entire life from the deep southern region of Germany to the Ruhrarea in the middle of the middle, I finally arrived at the sunny sight that will be my home base for the next few days. As I’m currently now living anywhere near the city of Gelsenkirchen, for once I’m actually forced to live through a campout among a dozen of eager young and middle-aged metalheats who might consider this the ideal vacation – while I’m taking this as an inevitable necessity. To regain at least a little strength I got my things unpacked quickly and tried to relax – being a person who likes it rather quite and secluded, this kind of surrounding clearly won’t do the trick.

A good view onto the stage from any angle

And while the sun was hardly setting yet, God Dethroned present their blent of blast-infected Death Metal, which would work so much better in a small club with little to no light…talking about that kind of location, today’s co-headliner would feel right at home in such a surrounding. Mainly because booze and drugs are easily available, I guess. They started off in the mid 80s with their eponymous debut “Pentagram”, but never really made it back then. Some 30 years later, specially young fans of the Doom genre seem to hail this band which has rising from its own grave in the new millennium. Some part of this newly found stardom is due to the notorious documentary “Last Days Here”, that portraits Bobby Liebling in the midst of fighting his severe drug addiction…But who am I to complain, Pentagram even released a new album and took The Order Of Israfel on tour as their support.

Setlist Pentagram

1. Sign Of The Wolf
2. Forever My Queen
3. The Ghoul
4. Review Your Choices
5. Starlady
6. Ask No More
7. When The Screams Come
8. All Your Sins
9. Dying World
11. Petrified/ Relentless
12. Be Forwarned
13. Last Days Here

Caught in a mosh during the Overkill show

Yet another band that lives off its own reputation and for naming a complete genre – and YES, Black Metal therefore owes a lot to these veterans – comes from the far north of the British isles. Venom have been around pretty much forever now and its seems there’s no end to their fame, generation after generation. Unfortunately mastermind Cronos looks like a  weirdly aged version of himself nowadays (specially that red tank top does not suit him too well….).

Setlist Venom

1. Rise
2. Hammerhead
3. Bloodlust/ Black Flame (Of Satan)/ Bloodlust/ Die Hard
4. Long Haired Punks
5. Buried Alive
6. The Evil One
7. Welcome To Hell
8. Antichrist
9. Countess Bathory
10. Flight Of Hydra
11. Death Of Rock’n’Roll
12. Grinding Teeth
13. Pedal To The Metal
14. Warhead
_____________
15. Black Metal
16. In League With Satan
17. Witching Hour

The Boys Are Back In Town

– Saturday –

Kicking off day two with some good Old School Death Metal in the vein of Entombed, Bolt Thrower or Obituary is a save way to get people awake and cure even the worst hangover instantly. Deserted Fear are not only a fan favourite, but also a band that earned some praiseful words from Rock Hard magazine itself for their 2012 debut “My Empire” saying “…simply amazing how the whole albums offers it´s permanent hit potential. If it´s allowed to say so within the death metal world. Great start!” With their sophomore attempt “Kingdom of Worms” (2014), Deserted Fear are set to tear the place apart in a most brutal and joyful manner.

Setlist Deserted Fear

1. Forging Delusions
2. Battalion Of Insanities
3. Kingdom Of Worms
4. Nocturnal Frags
5. Wrath On Your Wound
6. Field Of Death
7. Mortal Reign
8. Bury Your Dead

Three years ago, another German band was opening the second festival day and to call them a “crowd pleaser” would be the understatement of the decade: Motorjesus have been enlisted by an independent voting, started by their fan club and delivered to the festival organisers and how could they ever say no to this much dedication?! It was the right choice and re-inviting them was a great decision. During all those years I’ve been at Rock Hard Festival, I can’t remember any saturday morning being so well-attended than the one in 2012. And today it seems like everyone just waited three years for the band to return to play a set of honest and handmade Rock’n’Roll. Way to go, guys!

Setlist Motorjesus

1. Motor Discipline
2. Trouble In Motorcity
3. Speed Of The Beast
4. Fuel The Warmachine
5. Fist Of The Dragon
6. King Of The Dead End Road
7. Return Of The Demons
_____________
8. A New War

Swedish Space Rock in broad daylight: Spiders

– Sunday –

After missing the final opening act of the festival, I can’t wait to see Spiders again! With their positive energy and space Garage Rock these sweet Swedes are not only easy on the eyes. Catchy riffs and sing-along lyrics garnished with their stage appearance, mainly Ann-Sophie’s acting in those VERY TIGHT PANTS is simply irresistable – and I’m saying this as a woman. Equipped with their latest record “Shake Electric” (2014) as well as the previous release “Flash Point” (2012), Spiders got me rocking and dancing all through their set, making them my personal highlight of Rock Hard Festival 2015. TAKK ALLA!!!

Setlist Spiders

1. Hang Man
2. High Society
3. Mad Dog
4. Control
5. Hard Times
6. Only Your Skin
7. Give Up The Fight
8. Rules Of The Game
9. Shake Electric
10. Fraction
11. War Of The World

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photography

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WASTED ILLUSION – Popping Hippie Creations For Rob Halford

Tags

220 Volt, Bad Religion, Bandit Rock Awards, Beatles, Damien, DocMartens, Emelie Berg, Facebook, Filippa Nässil, Fred Åkerström, Genesis, Gotham City, Heavy Load, Hippie, Husqvarna, Jerusalem, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Lethal Illusion, Lisa Ekdal, Motorcycle, November, Pink Floyd, Riot Grrrl, Rob Halford, Rock'n'Roll, Shock, Simon and Garfunkel, Soul Spine, Sparks, The Scams, Thundermother, Torch, Vinyl, Wasted Illusion, Whitesnake

Back in the early 90s, when I started buying band merch, it was a time you would not find girly shirts with the banner of your favourites…anyway, as the little bad-assed Riot Grrrl I was back then, it was ok to run around in an army blouse with the full back showing the crossed out cross of Canadian Punk Rock veterans BAD RELIGION. Combined with whatever black shirt I would find in my closet, some cut-off army pants and OF COURSE DocMartens Boots – oh heck, it was cool when I was 12, attending my first cool live show, hating High School and giving my mother sleepless nights as I could just not be her pretty little princess.

Well the days have changed and THANK SATAN, more and more bands have a nice selection for us Rock Ladies to add to our wardrobe. But if you don’t want to look like every second of them, you will have to go even further: Running scissors and needle trough the lines OR get some help from WASTED ILLUSION!

The Lady with the not quite so wasted illusions: Emelie Berg

Emelie, you are the head of WASTED ILLUSION – could you tell us how and when the idea for making this kind of fashion came about?

It all started a few years ago when I just was modifying band shirts and then I wanted that special perfect vest so bad, you couldn’t find it anywhere. So I made a few. Never got that perfect one though, so I’m still making them! And now everybody else also wants my stuff! Couldn’t imagine that 4 years ago, when I only had my grandmas oldoldold Husqvarna sewing machine on a little table in the corner in my kitchen, in that small apartment I had back then. Today, things are a lot different.

Do you still have another job or can you make a living from designing already?

I can only work with something I love and adore, otherwise I will bang my head through the wall in agony and pain and it feels like I’m gonna die. For real!

I have survived on making cloths on my own for the last year. Some months was hard as hell and some was great. I’m so blessed that I have a husband-to-be by my side that supports everything I do and pushes me forward.

Now when I just launched the Facebook site for my brand, things kinda exploded. Now I really have stuff to do nonstop and it is so much fun! I’m so glad a friend of mine is helping me with all the pictures and all the technical stuff so I just put my time on sewing and answering mails and comments.

SOUL SPINE meets THE SCAMS at WASTED ILLUSION

You are shipping worldwide, how far was the furthest delivery sent to by now?

I have a package by my side that I’m going to go and post at the post office after I’ve finished this. Its going all the way over the Atlantic to Santiago, Chile. Thats amazing!

I also have a pair of custom pants going to England next week.

If I would order some costume made item, let’s say a fringe vest (hahaha, just totally LUV those), how long will this take approximately?

Fringes is truly amazing! And on vest!! Ahh, Its amazing!!

At this moment I have about a 4 weeks waiting period. If you not live in Chile though. Then only the time for shipping will take about 10-15 days.

But if the customer have a special day coming up and really really badly want an item within days. I can fit it in my schedule to fit my customers need.

Like the amazing guitarist Filippa from Thundermother needed a dress for “Bandit Rock Awards” last week. She emailed me 3 hours before the package needed to be at the post-office. A sewed like a mad-woman and got the item ready in just under one hour! I can tell you I was sweating!

Dressed For Success the Rock’n’Roll Way

For the customized things, what information do you need, if someone isn’t able to come over for taking measurement?

Then I need them to take their own measurements, everybody can do it. I always tell them how and where to measure.

I’m pretty picky and often take lots of measurements when my customer can come over. But the most important is to know their body type and how they want it to fit. One pair of pants can fit me perfectly, I’m a size small, but somebody else who also fits in a size small may need a whole different model to fit them just as well. Thats the fun part, and the hard part.

Where do you take your inspiration from for the items you have “in stock”?

Most of the time something just popp up in my head and I need to create it. And while doing that item, it says when needed more details or less. So I never know what its gonna be when I start. I know when its finished though. I don’t think when I create, I just do. That flow of creative glow is making me high. I never want to stop!

Apart from that, inspiration comes first from my customers. From todays fashion and hippie and motorcycle styles.

Is there a certain price range of the things you offer or is the sky the limit?

It all depends on the customer and how much detailing they want. In the details is the fun, I have a chance to give the most of me and create something rat. But more detailing also means it will be more expensive. But it is truly worth it! My customer is my boss, so if they want anything for 50 euro or 500 euro. I’ll make it for them.

All-in for your Style: All in the bag!

Besides clothing, are there also accessories to be found at WASTED ILLUSION?

Yes, I have made a few purses, bags, hats, bracelets and I have a few new ideas that will coming up soon. I can tell that I and another designer-artist is gonna do something great together. Stay tuned all hippies out there!

You can check out Hessam from DAMIEN to see a rat bracelet/armband-thingy I made him last year.

How did you come up with the name WASTED ILLUSION?

I thought for a looong long time about what to name my brand. My hubby said I should have something with “Wasted” because I used to be wasted all the time. Now a days I don’t drink at all, all I want is to create. And it kinda fits with the hole rock n’ roll style. Illusion comes from a song named “Lethal Illusion” by my favorite swedish Heavy Metal band 220 VOLT and it kinda represent how I see on life in general.

Let’s take a trip back in time: Do you still remember the first piece of band clothing you bought and what was the most current one you purchased?

I will never forget the first one, or, the two first I bought with my own money. It was at the alternative shop SHOCK in Gothenburg. They had a sale on band tees. I saw two JUDAS PRIEST shirts that I fell in love with, but the only problem was it was kids size.. There it all began!

As far as live shows are concerned, as a fan and designer you are both, what is more important to you: Music or a real entertainment that might cause some crooked tones?

I love real music by real people. I can’t stand the overproduced albums and the perfect shows. Nothing is perfect! So don’t try to hide it with “a brush”. I like when you can tell when it isn’t perfect, the part of the thing of being human stands out in the mass just there. And when people don’t hide their flaws. I like it rough, small stages, when the strings on the guitar breaks in the middle of a song and the musician needs to make the best they can to entertain us with what they got.

Talking about music: What band got you into Rock/Metal and do you have favourite one?

I grew up with music like GENESIS, PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, SPARKS, JERUSALEM, SIMON AND GARFUNKEL, BEATLES and swedish folk like FRED ÅKERSTRÖM and LISA EKDAL. And when I found JUDAS PRIEST when I was around 15 or 16, I found an inner fire in me that stands strong til this day. JUDAS PRIEST gave me lots of amazing bands and a GREAT deal of inspiration. There stage gear is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. That girl is my all time favorite designer!

Right now I have a period of only listening to old swedish Metal/Rock bands. Like 220 VOLT, NOVEMBER, HEAVY LOAD, GOTHAM CITY, SILVERMOUNTAIN, JERUSALEM, TORCH on vinyl, always on vinyl!

Fringe Frenzy: WASTED ILLUSION got it all!

Apart from Facebook, where and how can people get in touch with you?

I’m about getting my own homepage with the e-mailadress info@wastedillusion.se but until then, e-mail me on Facebook or at my personal mail: emelie@fam-berg.net

What is going on at WASTED ILLUSION at the moment, specially after launching on Facebook?

Working my ass off! haha, Facebook and internet is truly amazing with this stuff. To reach so many amazing people all over the world. I’m so thankful to live in this time.

I have a thing going on that I told you about earlier, that is gonna be really awesome and I am so exited!

Thanks for this Interview, I hope that there will be some custom-made stuff with Psychorizon on it!

Thank you! This was so much fun!

We will make the rattest thing ever for Psychorizon! I have a few ideas already!

THE LIVERBIRDS – Female Fab Four

Tags

60s, All-Girl, Bo Diddley, Diddley Daddy, Female Musicians, Frank Dostal, Irene Green, Mary McGlory, Merseybeat scene, Pamela Anne Burch, Pamela Birch, Rock'n'Roll, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes, Sheila McGlory, Star Club, Star Club Hamburg, Sylvia Saunders, The Beatles, The Debutones, The Female Beatles, The Liver Birds, The Liverbirds, Valerie Gell

Have you ever wondered, how The Beatles would have looked like, if they were women? Well, here you go: The Liverbirds.

They were a female British Rock ‘n’ Roll band from Liverpool. The four band members Pamela Birch (vocals / guitar), Valerie Gell (vocals / guitar), Mary McGlory (vocals / bass guitar) and Sylvia Saunders (drums) have been active between 1962 and 1967. They were one of very few female bands on the Merseybeat scene and one of the first rock band, which consisted only of female members.

Valerie Gell, Sylvia Saunders, singer Irene Green and guitarist Sheila McGlory founded the band in early 1962 under the name “The Debutones”. Irene Green and Sheila McGlory left the band very early on and joined other bands. They were replaced by Mary McGlory – the sister of Sheila McGlory – and Pamela Birch.

The band’s name derived from the fictional figure of the Liver Bird, the Tower of the Liver Building, which is the symbol of their native Liverpool.

The Liverbirds achieved more commercial success in Germany than in their homeland. Early in their career, they followed in the footsteps of colleagues such as The Beatles and Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. In May 1964 the four girls first appeared in Hamburgs legendary “Star Club” as “the female Beatles” from Liverpool. There they were one of the top attractions and released two albums and several singles. One of these singles, a cover of Bo Diddley’s “Diddley Daddy”, climbed to number five on the German charts. In 1967, the band broke up, but still inspired lots of young rock musicians in the world for years to come.

Some band members permanently settled in Germany. Mary McGlory currently heads the Hamburg-based company “JA / NEIN Musikverlag GmbH”. She is married to a former colleague from the “Star-Club”, the German singer, songwriter, producer and vice chairman of the board of GEMA, Frank Dostal.

Pamela Birch – born Pamela Anne Burch in August 1944 in Kirkdale, Liverpool – singer and guitarist, who also stayed in Germany, died on October 27. 2009 at the age of 65 in Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).

The Liverbrids on Facebook

Inspiration: Wikipedia

GOLDIE AND THE GINGERBREADS – Femmes Entering The Major League

Tags

60s, Ahmet Ertegun, All-Girl, Atlantic Records, Can’t you Hear My Heartbeat?, Carol MacDonald, Debby Hastings, Female Musicians, Genya Ravan, Ginger Bianco, Goldie & The Gingerbreads, Goldie And The Gingerbreads, Goldie Zelkowitz, Luscious Jackson, Margo Lewis, Rock'n'Roll, the Bangles, the Go-Gos, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Runaways, The Yardbirds, Women in Rock

Formed in 1962 Goldie And The Gingerbreads were the first all-female rock band signed to a major record label. The quartet of Ginger Bianco, Margo Lewis, Carol MacDonald and Goldie Zelkowitz (later known as Genya Ravan) were among the first to break into this male domain. Signed to Atlantic Records in 1964 by visionary Ahmet Ertegun, the group toured throughout Europe with The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and The Hollies, among others. Their first single, “Can’t you Hear My Heartbeat?,” enjoyed weeks at the top of the charts in the UK in 1965 before Hermans’s Hermits recorded their version for the American market.

Goldie and The Gingerbreads blazed the trail for countless of female musicians including the Go-Gos, the Bangles, The Runaways, and Luscious Jackson. Over time, the group has been immortalized in various rock music anthologies and most recently in The Rolling Stone Book of Women In Rock (Random House, 1997). Fellar musicians and journalist gave their appreciation for these ladies that paved the way for generations to come.

“Ginger is one of the best female drummers in America!” -Teen Trend,1966

“They’re great!” -Ringo Starr

“They’re Fab!” -Brian Jones

The band broke up over the course of 1967 and 1968 mainly due to Genya Ravan’s strong personality and forceful leadership of the band, Frustration about making little profit from their record releases may also have been an issue. On November 13, 1997, the Gingerbreads performed once more to mark their 30th anniversary and to commemorate the release of The Rolling Stone Book of Women in Rock. Accompanying Genya, Ginger and Margo was Debby Hastings on bass and Diane Scanlon on guitar. Shortly afterwards, on February 3, 1998, Goldie And The Gingerbreads were presented with a Touchstone Award from NY based Women in Music, presented to each member of the group by music legend Ahmet Ertegun.

Goldie And The Gingerbreads on Facebook (ISIS)

Goldie And The Gingerbreads on Facebook (Fanpage)

Inspiration: Genya Ravan Homepage