20/10/05
Hello All,
Yes it's me,
alive and well and like everyone else really looking forward to
another night of mayhem at our 2005 Soundhouse reunion night. I
hope you all like our new website Tickets are now on sale for
the night of Saturday 3rd December at The Rayners. Full details
below.
It was thirty years ago today…or
near as dammit..
That Neal created
this phenomenon...I remember it all too well, a shy...well
probably not so shy young lad of 16 introducing myself to a
strange, yet beguiling bearded hippy looking DJ around 1975 and
getting him to play tracks off Force It, the new UFO album at
the time. He probably won't appreciate me saying this but I
remember him playing disco stuff at the time as well!!
This year also
marks what is highly regarded as the 25th Anniversary of the now
legendary NWOBHM which essentially started at the Bandwagon /
Heavy Metal Soundhouse. Although some would argue it started in
1979, 1980 was the year Neal's co-compiled Metal For Muthas came
out introducing many of the first NWOBHM acts. Here’s a piece
from Record Collector which came out earlier this year;
“So who was the
catalyst? Who set the snowball tumbling down the mountainside?
Who cranked up the faders into the red zone and caused this
avalanche of fresh new British rock ’n’ roll? Was it Iron Maiden
leader Steve Harris, in cohorts with super-astute manager Rod
Smallwood? Was it Radio One’s Tommy Vance, the only national
radio DJ with credentials that were remotely rock-related? Was
it David Wood, head honcho of Wallsend’s Neat Records, the North
East indie label that released so many fine early NWOBHM singles
and albums? Nope. None of the above. Instead, step forward Neal
Kay, DJ at the Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse – a hard-rock
discotheque jam-packed with speakers capable of huge power and
sound, and situated (believe it or not) in a hall dolled up like
a B-movie Wild West whiskey saloon, attached to the side of the
Prince Of Wales pub at the Kingsbury Circle, London NW9”
So there you go,
we were all part of history being made!
Some stuff coming
up; I'm in talks with Classic Rock magazine at the moment to do
a feature on the Soundhouse out next issue, also watch out for
our ads in the music and local press. I have also flyers being
printed which will be distributed at various gigs especially at
the NWOBHM anniversary gig at London's Astoria, featuring bands
such as Bronz, Jaguar, and old Soundhouse favourites Diamond
Head and Praying Mantis - anyone wishing to help distribute
flyers please let me know.
Hopefully all
emails will have reached you by now and all the purchasing
details are here on the site. The only thing we ask is that
tickets are applied for as soon as possible, please try and
avoid waiting until the night to buy tickets. There are two main
reasons for this, firstly we cannot guarantee tickets will be
available on the night - and this year looks like it will be a
huge turnout - Secondly, the ticket price fully goes towards the
cost of the evening and with the likes of the sound and lighting
and advertising etc all need paying upfront this makes it
difficult for us to fund. We are still negotiating with the
newly installed management at The Rayners to obtain a late
license for the evening - but it does look hopeful.
They are priced
at £13 pounds each for postal purchase and £13.64 for online
purchase. There is an order
form on the website for postal applications, as well as
online orders. Although this is our preferred method of
applying, within a week or so you can get them in person at the
Rayners. You will find all the details on the site with regards
to local travel and amenities. I’ll be in touch again, but in
the meantime please feel free to call or email me with any
queries you may have.
Here's to another
great night...
Keep on Rockin'
Gerry Kelly
