Archive for the ‘
General News ’ Category
Monday, April 30th, 2012
Joe Geesin at Record Collector Magazine wrote a feature article on Eloy for the magazines May 2012 Issue. A small snippet of the article can be read
here with the full article available online for subscribers of the magazine. The Magazine hits the streets today (26th April 2012)
An extract below features an interview with Heavy Metal Records and Revolver Records Managing Director, Paul Birch who talks about how the HMR deal with Eloy came about!
Paul Birch (FM Revolver)
The deal came through MIDEM in Cannes, France, the bands manager at the time was Wolfgang Rott – he came to our stand at the MIDEM around 1982. We had already signed Accept from Dieter Dirks in Cologne so we were known to the music industry there. Birgit Wiritz from EMI Electrola was in touch with me, I flew out to Cologne and watched them perform at a gig. I had an idea about how the band could be introduced here. I signed them for Planets, Time to Turn,Performance and Metromania. I would have done earlier albums but somehow the moment passed.
I was working with Rodney on other albums sleeves, he had done Predator for me by Bitches Sin, Diamond Head’s Am I Evil, I felt he was exactly the right artist to work on Eloy and the band commissioned him directly to work on Metromania. There new manager after Wolfgang was Jürgen (Yogi) Dramm, who ended up running our German office.
Metromania was a CD release as well as LP and cassette. The LP releases were all specially grained by Delga Press in Bromley, who still do our print today. The one thing I felt about their existing artwork was that it let them down. They were a complex group and there album art needed to reflect that.
I loved the band then, still do. I am disappointed they didn’t come back to the label following Metromania but Frank and the band knew their own mind and probably had opportunities that came along as a consequence of the new markets they were now reaching.
EMI Electrola were about to drop the band when we signed them. EMI continued with them until Performance when the band moved to SPV. Manfred’s label was located in Hannover, it was on the rise at that point and it was likely by then that the relationship at EMI would have come to a natural end.
Many thanks to Joe for this! Be sure to pick up a copy of Record Collector Magazine to see the full feature on Eloy and much more.
www.recordcollectormag.com
www.joegeesin.com
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Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
Cited as influences by none other than Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, Metallica’s Kirk Hammet and Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine amongst others, UFO were part of the FM-Revolver Records Label in with their EP release ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ recorded in 1986 and released in 1988. The British Hardrockers have since undergone numerous line-up changes but still remain very much active today, with 3 of the bands original members continuing their impressive rock legacy which spams some 40+ years – the band formed in 1969!
The band most recently added to their impressive collection of reportoire with their 2oth studio album released via SPV/Steamhammer titled ‘Seven Deadly’. Further details can be found at the
U.F.O Official Website.Fun Fact: UFO has released;
20 Studio Albums
15 Live Albums
10 Compilation Albums
2 Video Albums
Rich Davenport’s Rock Show recently conducted an Interview with Paul Raymond of U.F.O. (See Cloudcast below)
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Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
‘
When it’s time to party we will party hard’!
HMR new boys GYPSY PISTOLEROS are celebrating in true rock ‘n’ roll style with their single and album launch on the 23rd March 2012 at the FIXXION WAREHOUSE PROJECT in Wolverhampton at 7PM. Tickets for the launch are £8 and can be reserved via Arc Management at the following location; https://www.facebook.com/events/224323317664632/
The party will give fans a preview of the Pistoleros upcoming album release ‘FOREVER WILD, BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED – THE GREATEST HITS VOL. 1’ with support from LOVEBITES and DRAGSTRIP JUNKIES and special guest appearances from legendary names in the rock world this is event is certainly not to be missed by Rock fans in the Midlands!
A spectacular London launch show is also in the works – stay tuned for more details. You can also catch the Pistoleros in Nottingham on the 6th April 2012 at the WILDSIDE CLUB and U.S fans can go insane at the stroke of midnight on the AEG Hard Rock Stage at ROCKLAHOMA festival on the 26th May 2012!
To keep up to date with the latest news and details of all things GYPSY PISTOLEROS and HEAVY METAL RECORDS be sure to keep an eye on www.gypsypistoleros.com and www.heavymetalrecords.com
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Monday, February 20th, 2012
Heavy Metal Records’ recent signing, GYPSY PISTOLEROS, have been added to the line-up of Rocklahoma Festival which takes place from the 25th-27th May 2012. The annual hard rock music festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma showcases a wide range of bands from current stars to 1980s era classic rock acts over a three day period. This year marks the sixth consecutive year that the PISTOLEROS will perform at the festival. They will appear alongside a host of acts from various genres of the rock and metal world including; Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Slash, Queensryche, Hellyeah, Trivium, Art Of Dying, Volbeat and many, many more. Check the poster below for a complete list of bands performing at Rocklahoma 2012 – you don’t want to miss this!
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Friday, February 10th, 2012
Towards the tail end of 2011, HMR announced the signing of the flamenco laced glam rocksters, Gypsy Pistoleros. The Pistoleros will release ‘Forever Wild, Beautiful And Damned! Greatest Hits Volume 1′ in March 2012. As a taster of things to come the Pistoleros will release their first single on the HMR label, a stellar cover of the 90s chart-topping hit, Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’. The English translation meaning ‘Living The Crazy Life’ perfectly personifies the bands unique blend of latin rock.
In celebration of the release, a single launch and album preview will take place on the 23rd March at the Fixxon Warehouse Project in Wolverhampton, a party certainly not to be missed!
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Friday, January 6th, 2012
As another year ends and a new one begins, it’s time to look back on our favourite albums from the 12 months. Here at Revolver/Heavy Metal Towers it’s no secret that we have a very diverse music taste encompassing the
entire musical spectrum (for better or for worse). So, we decided to let the team pick their Top 5 albums from 2011 and the albums they’re eagerly awaiting in 2012…
Chris (Label Stuff, and yes he’s a massive KT fan)
KT Tunstall – Tiger Suit
KT Tunstall – Scarlet Tulip (EP)
Brian Brushwood – Night Attack!
Radiohead – King Of Limbs
Icicle – Under the Ice
Hot Picks for 2012:
Silversun Pickups - “3″ (Spring, final title TBC)
Kial (Music Techy things, all things Digital Media)
Metronomy – The English Riviera
The Strokes – Angles
White Lies – Ritual
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Hot Picks For 2012:
Lana Del Ray – Born To Die
Tototally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Emma (Management/Publishing/A&R)
Rise Against – Endgame
Beans On Toast – Trying To Tell The Truth
The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
Skindred – Union Black
The Black Keys – El Camino
Hot Pick For 2012:
Jamie T – TBC
Claire (PR, incumbent Most Hardcore Metalhead & HMRchives curator)
Machine Head – Unto the Locust
Sixx:AM – This is Gonna Hurt
Rhapsody Of Fire – From Chaos to Eternity
Trivium – In Waves
Five Finger Death Punch – Amerian Capitalist
Hot Picks for 2012:
Lamb Of God – Resolution, Caliban – I Am Nemesis,
Epica – Requiem For The Indifferent, Kamelot – TBC
… Now, what will yours be?
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Some of you may be aware that over the past few months we have slowly been archiving our press collection that covers all of the FM Revolver and Heavy Metal Records (+ associated labels) solo artists and bands.
The finds have been very interesting – particuarly comparing how processes of CD Artwork and Album Covers have changed from the laminated and glued on designs, to fully digitally designed entities in their own right. And of course, handling old Kerrang! and Metal Hammer Magazines and noting changes in house styles and their K! Rating system! It has also been fun to see how the fashions have changed from the 80s hair metal scene as seen in the style of Bitches Brue and Wrathchild to the modern day rock’n'roll look.
In due course, we will be sharing some of the best press and promotional items from our achives from some of the bands who have graced our label since the 1980s. We hope you enjoy viewing the pictures and articles as much as we here at Revolver Records HQ have.
Below is a brief taster of just a few of the thousands of scans we have done thus far – Check out the YOUNG Lemmy with Lisa Dominique! We still have many, many more to get through, so stay tuned for new updates from our history! We will definitely be sharing more of this great collection. You can ‘Like’ us over on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep more up to date with all things HMR and Revolver!
Lisa Dominique with LEMMY!
Wrathchild UK
Marshall Law
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Monday, September 5th, 2011
Paul Birch (Revolver Records) with Dan Callow at Compton Hospice
The re-opening of Wolverhampton’s Compton Hospice is set to strike a chord with supporters after the release of a song to celebrate the redevelopment.
The reflective pop song One Life has been jointly written by Wolverhampton musician Dan Callow and city school teacher David Anderson. The track features Dan on lead vocals backed by the Compton Hospice choir.
The song was first performed at the re-opening of the main patient unit at the hospice in August, following a £3.5m refurbishment.
The year-long building work involved the creation of 18 single, en suite patient rooms, offering improved dignity and privacy for patients, as well as the re-development of the day unit and therapy facilities.
Wolverhampton’s Revolver Records have released the track; all proceeds will go to the hospice’s Raise the Roof appeal.
Dan Callow, from Bilbrook who is a volunteer in the chaplaincy team at the hospice, said: “We wanted to mark this historic development for Compton Hospice in song. The track is a real celebration of the life and love of Compton Hospice.”
Katie Love, from the Compton Hospice fundraising team, said: “Dan got a great response from the crowd when he performed the song at the re-opening of the hospice. We hope One Life will enable more people to take part in and enjoy this major landmark for the hospice.”
Paul Birch, managing director of Revolver Records, said: “It’s a great track for a really good cause. We’re just really pleased to able to help two Wolverhampton musicians with their charity track for such a fabulous local organisation as Compton Hospice.”
The track costs 79p to download and is available at www.revolverrecords.com or on iTunes.
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Monday, August 8th, 2011
We have always supported community charities and organisations. Compton Hospice does outstanding work in supporting people with life limiting illnesses and their families throughout the West Midlands. Some of us at Revolver have had friends blighted by terminal illness who have been supported by hospices, so we speak from the heart when we say that hospices play a critical – and largely unsung – role in recuperative and palleative care.
Compton is one of many hospices around the UK supporting those suffering from illness who cannot receive the care they require through the mainstream NHS. We’re helping with their Grand Re-opening today (the 5th of August) by releasing their charity single – “One Life” – performed by Dan Callow. Proceeds from single sales go to Compton Hospice, so please – even in these difficult times – consider pledging just a little (less than £1) to help the Hospice continue its invaluable work helping those who are suffering.
Who knows, perhaps someone you know or love may be helped by Compton Hospice one day!
You can buy the “One Life” single right now:
just head over to iTunes to get your copy.
On behalf of ourselves and Compton Hospice, thank you for your support!
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Monday, August 8th, 2011
The prestigious German Heavy Metal Festival, Wacken Open Air, has already announced a selection of bands for next years (2012) festival line-up. Next year marks the 23rd Anniversary of the festival which initially commenced as a small festival for local German bands in 1990. Wacken is now one of the imminent highlights of the European Festival Calender with Festival Punters worldwide travelling to the event year on year to witness more than 70 bands perform over the three days. With a consistently impressive line-up, this is one event that no Metal Head should miss!
Amongst the names announced for 2012 are Scorpions (LAST EVER GERMAN APPEARENCE!), reformed Industrial Metallers, Ministry, Power Metal heroes. Hammerfall and Gamma Ray, and Viking Metal Giants, Amon Amarth. Also included in the line-up thus far are Cradle Of Filth and U.D.O, with many more bands to be announced in the coming months.
The festival is set to take place from the 2nd August 2012 to the 4th August 2012, with pre-sale tickets on sale from the 8th August 2011. Tickets can be purchased through the Wacken Open Air website.
Scorpions ‘Lonesome Crow’ (Remastered) is available for purchase through Revolver Records.
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When it’s time to party we will party hard’!
Towards the tail end of 2011, HMR announced the signing of the flamenco laced glam rocksters, Gypsy Pistoleros. The Pistoleros will release ‘Forever Wild, Beautiful And Damned! Greatest Hits Volume 1′ in March 2012. As a taster of things to come the Pistoleros will release their first single on the HMR label, a stellar cover of the 90s chart-topping hit, Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’. The English translation meaning ‘Living The Crazy Life’ perfectly personifies the bands unique blend of latin rock.
