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Here's a round-up of responses from those GRTR! collaborators...from PR to bands. What worked for them in 2005 and looking forward to 2006...
Reviewers' picks...
Natascha Sohl
Sue (Frontier Promotions)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?
Working on the following releases by Masque, Roger Askew, Maryhillbillys, Paul Camilleri, The Revivals
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
The Revivals great press quotes & Romney Getty (Canadian singer songwriter loads of press & radio quotes)
3)Any disappointments?
Radio 2 not playlisting some of the great albums I have been working on.
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?
The Revivals
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
I will be working on Idgy Vaughn from Austin Texas looking forward to that.
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring next year?
The Revivals
Peter Purnell (ANGEL AIR RECORDS)
1)What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?
Releasing in early 2006 Maggie Bell's solo albums "Queen Of The Night" and "Suicide Sal"
2)What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Filming The Korgis-much underrated band
3)Any disappointments?
none
4)What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?
Martyn Joseph new album, The Da Vinci Code Book and Bill Murray's new film
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
Seeing Rolling Stones, Wembley and Eagles at Twickeham
6)In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring next year?
MOTT THE HOOPLE
Craig Chapman (TARA'S SECRET) www.taras-secret.com
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?
New single "Drive Me Home/In Movies" getting lots of airplay on ARFM and some astounding reviews from rock press
Lots of record label interest in UK, Europe & USA
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Getting the band known for our great vocals, songs and live sound. Recording our new single at the superb Mad Hat Studios near
Wolverhampton.
Shows at Willenhall "Fill Your Head With Rock Festival" supporting Jadis at Classic Rock Society and our own shows in Scropton, Hull &
Sheffield where decent size crowds went mad for our music.
3)Any disappointments?
Playing shows with PAs that could not handle our vocal power - we sing 4 part harmonies and the PA just distorts ???
Being booked at The Rigger in Stoke on Goth night.
Being shafted on a couple of support slots that were promised but then went to other bands
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?
Gotthard - Lip Service - best rock album for more than 15 years I got to see Styx and Neal Schon play live in the UK within a month
of each other
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
World domination by Tara's Secret, no-one will be able to hold us back, take the mickey or deny us the bigger stages
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring the UK next year?
Journey & 38 Special
Paul Logue (CRY HAVOC)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?
Well, I'm recording bass and guitar parts for David Readman from Pink Cream 69's solo album right now in fact, until this email
arrived and rudely interrupted me ;-) I've written three songs for the record and am recording the final bass lines and some rhythm
guitar parts in my home studio.
Also just finishing the demos for the 2nd Cry Havoc "Caught In A Lie". We have 17 songs. Stevie is just finishing some guitar parts
at home and our new guitarist Simon has a solo or two to nail before we send to the label. Sounding ace!!!
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Getting our album out in Japan! Becoming an uncle for the first time and getting David Readman to sing on my songs!
3)Any disappointments?
Happily none to report!
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?
Albums ... Refuel of course, new Jaded Heart, The Mob, Place Vendome were good. Films, gotta be the Lord of The Rings and books well Dan
Brown wins hands down for me!
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
David Readman solo album, Cry Havoc "Caught In A Lie" and an as yet un-named project with Mr Readman which has 12 songs written and
waiting to go, albeit I suspect that will be AFTER the next PC69 record.
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring next year?
Cry Havoc :-) Winger will do!!!
Lewis Clay (THE HEAL)
1)What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?
We have a download single out at the moment titled 'Wars', which can be bought at www.chromiumrecords.co.uk, and we are currently
planning our assault on 2006 as well as wrapping up 2005
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
The new songs were easily the best achievement. As well as our download single we have had great response to all the new stuff. It
makes it well worth while.
3)Any disappointments?
Probably not getting to go abroad this year. Our trips around the UK were,as always, excellent, but its nice to take in a new country,
with all its various cultures and customs.... even if a lot of it is done whilst looking
through the window on the coach!!!!
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?
I think the albums that stand out the most for me where System Of A Down and The Foos new effort. They both stuck to what makes
them 'them', but also weren't afraid to try some new things! The production on the foos new album is probably one of the most
streamline recordings I've ever heard.
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
Gigs Gigs Gigs! We wanna spread the word next year. Its something we've neglected what with recording and all that!
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring next year?
Funnily enough I was thinking about 3 colours red the other day. I heard that they split and then got back together... also I think its
about time Aerosmith came back to the UK!
The legendary Batttttty (Webmistress to the stars)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects
etc)?
Working on the day-to-day updates of over 20 websites for bands and
other people in the music business, and also taking part in a
scientific study to test which brands of chocolate taste best with
which types of music.
Surprisingly, Ferrero Rochers seem to be in the lead for fast-paced rocknroll, but Paynes' Just Brazils are way
up there for power-ballads such as UFO's Love To Love. But of course, much more research is still needed.
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Seeing the Waysted reunion finally achieve touring status after so
much work had gone into that project over the last couple of years,
and being part of the team that put Waysted on at the Rock and Blues
festival in July (Website) and
especially at Fin's 'home game' at Glasgow in September (Website) and sharing in with
the crowd reaction at those shows.
Another personal achievement was being part of the UFO Showtime DVD
recording session and European tour. Living on a bus for a month and
working 24/7 with my all-time musical heroes and still thinking of
them as heroes at the end of it...that's quite an achievement all
round!
3) Any disappointments?
Not being able to get to the Scorpions gig in France where Uli
played with them for the first time in 984758967546 years - but it
looks like it might happen again, so.... next time, for sure!
Plus the regular ongoing disappointment of seeing talented,
hardworking, honest, genuinely good musicians losing faith in
achieving the levels they ought to reach in the music world, (and
more importantly losing out on the opportunity to achieve their most
basic goal of playing in front of an audience) mainly because of the
climate of the industry - where venues once pulled in 1000+ people
week after week, and now promoters won't risk booking anyone who
isn't getting hyped by the media and would sooner go for the easy-
money option - so rather than gamble on a band who are innovative
and experimental and original they go for the guaranteed bar-take
which a COVERS BAND will bring in - don't start me......
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005
and why?
UFO's Showtime DVD, especially the studio footage of songs such as
Cherry, Profession of Violence etc. Everything you could want in a
DVD - great tunes, a live gig, a full studio concert, lighthearted
behind-the-scenes banter, interviews and jolly anecdotes from the
band members, and sleevenotes that were checked over and over and
over again for errors (even though a few still made it through) at
no extra cost to you.
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
Pete Way and Robin George have a new musical project called Damage
Control, with a cd due out in 2006. Go to www.damage-control.co.uk
and listen to a soundclip of the track called RAW - stirring stuff!
Also looking forward to The Taz Taylor Band's new cd which will have
Graham Bonnet singing on eight of the tracks. Taz is an amazingly
talented musician who I'm proud to say has become a good friend of
mine and it's great to know that his guitarwork will soon be heard
by a much larger audience.
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and
touring next year?
I daren't risk answering this one cos knowing my luck, I'd be the
one to get lumbered with making it happen.
Jay Rusnak (IRON HORSE)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects
etc)?
Currently IRONHORSE is awaiting the overseas re-release of our last
CD "Bring It On" thru Rock Candy Records. The CD will feature
different songs than the stateside release, new artwork, a remix,
and probably a new title as well. Also, Ron Keel and I will be
participating in December in the Rock For Christmas fundraiser shows
featuring Ron, Eddie Money, Terry Illous, Paul Shortino, and others.
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Another year avoiding the shackles of The Man
3) Any disappointments?
Back Surgery--20 years of rock and roll abuse finally caught up with
me.
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005
and why?
Albums--Soul Cirkus, StarBreaker, and Allen/Lande.
Didn't see many movies this year.
As far as books, "Rule Of Four" was a very well-written "Davinci
Code"-style historical mystery.
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
Following the release on Rock Candy, IRONHORSE expects to tour
Europe as well as continue roadwork in the States. Ron and I will
start writing for the next IRONHORSE CD sometime this coming year as
well.
I'll also be continuing writing for a "rock opera/story" album
I've been working on, as well as trying to finish a musical
instruction book featuring fresh approaches towards
intermediate/advanced guitar improvisation.
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and
touring next year?
Rainbow---If we could bring back Cozy Powell from the dead.
Richie Rivera (MADISON PAIGE)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects
etc)?
Currently we are writing and recording demos for new material that
is slated to appear on the second MADISON PAIGE album, due out
sometime in 2006.
2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?
Mainly just getting some relationship stuff sorted out
3) Any disappointments?
It's been taking longer to find new members for the band than I
anticipated. But our resolution is strong and we'll be making an
announcement about our new lineup shortly.
4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005
and why?
Favorite albums:"Move Along" - All American Rejects
Amazing production and top notch songs. Its emo pop/punk, but with a
huge nod to the '80s.
"Have A Nice Day" - Bon Jovi
The kings remembered how to rock! Best thing they've done since Keep The Faith.
"Overload" - Harem Scarem
Not as immediate as their last few albums, but "Afterglow" is worth
the price of admission alone. These guys simply aren't capable of
writing bad music.
5) What are you planning musically in 2006?
We're hoping to finalize our lineup and restart the MADISON PAIGE
machine: playing shows, releasing a new album, the works. Check out
www.madisonpaige.net for all the latest!
6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and
touring next year?
MADISON PAIGE, of course!
Michael Hannon (AMERICAN DOG)
1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects
etc)?
We only have one more live show this year (on New Years Eve), so we
can concentrate on writing for the next studio release, which we
plan on recording in January / February and releasing in March /
April just in time to tour Europe .
But even though we're taking a break from "live" action, there's a lot of "Dog" hitting the
streets. Our live cd, "Foamin at the Mouth" is being released by
Phoenix-Records ( www.phoenixrecords.de ) in late December.
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