Oh wow! This week’s guest is huuuuuge! Yes, my friends, ROSS THE BOSS is on the LGL Rock Show this week talking about heaps of wild stuff and awesome stories. A very honest and genuine interview about growing up in NYC when the first wave of the punk explosion happened. We talk about all of that, his time with The Dictators, about him joining MANOWAR, about his departure from MANOWAR, about joining the French band Shakin’ Street, etc. There’s just so much great stuff in here and I feel that this conversation could have gone on for hours but unfortunately, time is limited. It was conducted backstage at the Croxton Band Room before his show which I have to say was amazing and seeing Ross play those MANOWAR tunes was completely out of this world. I was stoked to do this interview and I hope you enjoy listening to it. Let’s hope we can get him back sometime in the future.
You can hear this show right now by clicking on THIS LINK. (more…)
This week on the Long Gone Loser Rock Show, my special guest is none other than director Jonathan Sequeira who is the brains behind the new Radio Birdman documentary, Descent Into The Maelstrom – The Radio Birdman Story. It’s one of the best music documentaries I have seen and Jonathan delivers a no holds barred look at one of the greatest, and possibly most underrated, bands in rock n roll history. We talk not only about the making of this documentary as we delve into the who’s, the why’s and the where’s, but also about film-making in general. It’s a great discussion where we both just openly express our love for the music of Radio Birdman and why this documentary needs to be seen by you. Listen right now by clicking THIS LINK. (more…)
Back in 1988, it would be fair to say that if you liked music videos, then the image of Wendy James in that tight little outfit complete with poodle pom pom balls attached to it screaming out the lyrics to I Want Your Love as she fronted the rock band, Transvision Vamp, has no doubt embedded itself firmly in your mind. And why not? In the late 80’s, Transvision Vamp were certainly looking to sit themselves on top of the world. Over the course of their career, they dished out anthemic tunes like Baby I Don’t Care, Revolution Baby and a memorable and a perfect cover of Holly and the Italians classic Tell That Girl To Shut Up. For five years Transvision Vamp were together and then like a flash, nothing.
For years I was always wondering “where are they now?” or more importantly, where was Wendy now? Well, thanks to the wonders of the internet, and more importantly, that old haunt, Myspace, I managed to track Miss James down for an interview which I featured in issue 11 of Long Gone Loser. To say I was most pleased with the results would be an understatement. Wendy was honest and a good sport about the whole thing. Hell, she even got her label to send me some promos of stuff that she had released since her Transvision Vamp days AND she sent me a signed photo. What a gal!
Before I move onto the news though, take this trip down memory lane…
So, now to the exciting stuff… how surprised was I when I woke up to find that she has been busy working on new music with none other than Iggy and the Stooges axeman, James Williamson? That sounded like something I needed to hear… STAT! The press releases reads:
On her last solo album, 2010’s critically acclaimed I Came Here To Blow Minds, Wendy James recorded with French indie musicians who shared her passion for NYC punk, Detroit garage and new wave, but now she’s going straight to the source. Working directly with The Stooges’ James Williamson (guitar & bass) and The Bad Seeds’ Jim Sclavunos (drums & percussion) the former Transvision Vamp lead singer has created two stunning tracks on her new double-single that capture the urgency and spirit of not only early punk but rock’n’roll in general.
The A-Side is a version of Sonic’s Rendezvous Band’s “You’re So Great,” where Wiliamson’s signature search-and-destroy guitar riffs retain the gasoline-soaked essence of Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith’s original, yet the song is transformed into a high-energy slice of modern power-pop with Wendy’s boyant and soaring vocals throughout the track. The B-Side finds the trio digging deep into Bob Dylan’s vast canon with their own snaky and seductive take on “It’s Alright Ma.”
These two tracks are but an early sneak peek at Wendy’s forthcoming solo album.
Release date for Wendy’s new “You’re So Great / It’s Alright Ma” Double-Single to be announced imminently.
Excited yet? You should be! You’re So Great, is a garage great turned power pop gem while the flip is a kickass version of It’s Alright Ma. The sound on both of these songs show a great direction for Miss James and her future endeavours cos seriously, that DJ funky stuff she was doing just wasn’t really her style. But after hearing these two new tracks though, even though they’re both covers, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of her new album.
Now to the exciting stuff cos no doubt you’re just itching to hear it all, right? Well, you can. She has posted both songs from this single on Soundcloud and you can stream them both right here, right now!
