AFD5

I've seen KISS 3 times twice without make up in 1988 Dojington & Newcastle City Hall. The other time Donington 1996 with all 4 originals , make up, costumes etc ,etc. Tbh the best show in my opinion was the City Hall show. We got 4 guys 3 guitars & a drum kit they played to sets no support act, no costumes, no make up , no pyro etc, etc they played everything that night. It was one of those you had to be there shows. Now anyone going to see this last tour will have a great time but it's not for me I'm sure I caught them at there very best in 1988 at Newcastle City Hall. There's some grainy footage of the show on YouTube but it doesn't do the show any justice.

They influenced Kiss, Motley Crue, Guns 'n'Roses, Def Leppard in fact they influenced just about everyone in Rock music. Yet sadly  they never achieved worldwide recognition. Their records still sound great today 40+ years since their last hit single. They had 13 top 30 hits in the 70's. When asked to describe themselves they said "We were just 4 guys who wore make up" They were The Sweet.

I was lucky enough to see them as a 3 piece in 1981 all 3 originals Steve, Mick & Andy by this time Brian had left the band. Steve sang most of the lead vocals that night they were brilliant & left everyone in no doubt they were definitely a rock band. Sadly we'vs lost Brian & Mick, but  both Steve & Andy still tour with their own versions of The Sweet now Andy in Europe & the UK. Steve & his band tend to tour America & Canada. There'll never be another influential band like them & as they said "We were 4 guys who wore make up" who just happened to make brilliant rock songs. I'd love to here your thoughts on The Sweet

There's a really good program on BBC I player. The Easybeats to AC/D.C. The History Of Aussie Rock its well worth watching

This really annoys me when people think Axl has a god given right to be in the band. If you remember back, Axl offered his services to Angus to help the band finish the tour & save them millions of dollars. It was no secret he was a massive fan of AC/D.C. & we got to hear a few old songs (Axl's favourites) on the tour. Brian was never sacked & it was never stated Axl was a member of AC/DC. It was just one  friend helping another friend out. Sadly we've lost Mal, Brian & Phil are back wether Cliff joins remains to be seen (I think he will). So I think we'll get a new farewell  album then a world tour not a lot of dates. But a world tour of some of the biggest festivals in the world. So as many people as possible can say their goodbyes a fitting tribute to Mal & the band.

All grown up

10 minutes ago, Len Cnut said:

Ladies and Gentleman, we have another geordie!  Hows it goin' fella?

Whey Aye young 'un I'm canny how's yourself 

My story starts the night before this footage was filmed. OK so it's August 18th 1988 1 day before my 29th birthday & 2 days before my 1st Donington Festival. Now earlier in  the week i'd been to a gig at Newcastle City Hall & was flicking through the program during the interval waiting for the main band to come on. Sometimes in the program's there'd be adverts for local bars music & record shops etc. Now 1 tiny advert caught my eye it read "junior Jimi Hendrix to play gig" it went on to say the gig was on 18th August at The Percy Arms in Newcastle now this intrigued me. So I thought i'd have a couple of early birthday drinks & see who this kid was.

                                                                              The Percy Arms back then was a bikers pub & on Friday, Saturday & Sunday night there would be a big row of bikes lined up outside . Anway i go into the bar order a can of Red Stripe & make my way up the rickety stairs to the room were a can hear a guitar being played. I walked into the room & my jaw nearly hit the floor. There was this little kid with a Ibanez Gem Floral 7 string guitar playing Tobacco Road now i was impressed by that but then he started finger tapping I was amazed. I stood next to this guy who had a big grin on his face it turned out to be the kids dad.

                                                            The kid came over to his dad & asked him would he take him downstairs to the bar so he could play the "Super Hang On" machine. The dad asked me if i'd look after the guitar while he took the kid downstairs while he played the machine. They both came upstairs & I got talking to them both it turned out the kids name was Thomas he was 9 years old he told me his names was Thomas Mclaughlan but his stage name was going to be "McRocklin" I asked Tom's dad John were he got the guitar as i'd only ever seen a picture of a guy called Steve Vai holding one.

                                    John told me he was an antiques dealer & had been to New York were he'd seen the guitar in a music shop. John walked in & bought the guitar the manager asked John if he'd like to try the guitar John said it was for his son back in England . How old's your son asked the manager John replied 9 & the manager started laughing. So they arranged for the manager to ring John & Tom would play the guitar down the phone for him. This was before the internet. The manager was blown away. 

As I said at the beginning this was Thursday night, Donington was on Saturday on the bill was David Lee Roth with Steve Vai on guitar.I said to John it was a shame he couldn't get Tom down to  Donington to meet Steve Vai. I said he'd be amazed John asked we're Donington was I told him its in Leicestershire I shook hands with John & wished him all the best. I gave to the Van Halen T shirt I was wearing to Tom & said "if your going to be a rock star then you'll have to start dressing like one (little did I know. We said our goodbyes & that was that or so I thought. About 2 years later I was watching a program on BBC TV about "the history of heavy metal" Right at the very end of the show the above footage was shown.

                                                           For anyone who doesn't know it's The Moira Arms pub at Donington I sat amazed John had took my advice & managed to get Tom to Donington I was pleased. Only much later on did I find out that was just the tip of the iceberg. It turned out that Steve Vais roadie was in the Moira Arms that night & asked John if him & Tom could come & meet Steve (Vai) the following day. Apparently the next day they were taken backstage to meet Steve in his caravan Tom plugged in & started playing & Steve was blown away. Within a few short week's Tom was whisked over to America were under Steve's guidance Tom began rubbing shoulders with rocks finest Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, Eddie Van Halen, Blackie Lawless etc etc.

                                                      Tom appeared as "Little Stevie Vai" in The Audience Is Listening" video Steve sent him the gold disc for that. Whilst in America Steve helped Tom form a band of kids called Bad4Good they appeared a few times on MTV & Headbangers Ball. Eventually the band split up & Tom returned back to Newcastle Upon Tyne in England. He turned his back on his musical career as he didn't like the way the industry was changing. Fast forward to the current day & Tom is all grown up & a manager of a music shop in Newcastle & has just recently kickstarted his recording career having recently released an EP under the name "McRocklin" 

                                                          Tom & Steve (Vai) are still great friends & Tom still owns a couple of famous guitars given to him by Steve 1 is the swirled Ibanez on the front of Steve's Passion & Warfare album. Also Steve gave Tom the flame guitar that Steve played on David Lee Roth's video for "Going Crazy" i've managed to make contact with Tom via facebook Tom's hoping to start playing gigs again soon & we've agreed to meet up at one of his shows. 

There's loads of Tom's stuff on YouTube from when he was a kid to current day check it out & thanks for letting me share another one of my stories with you cheers Stevie aka AFD5

10 hours ago, thunderram said:

I don't know how much I believe the EVH thing. Not saying that Johnson was lying, but more that EVH may have been extremely drunk or kidding or both. Eddie is well-known for being a bit of a music snob. I really don't see him being enthused about playing AC/DC's music. In fact, other than Eric Clapton and Cream he pretty much doesn't admit to being much of a fan of others music. He even grew cold on Clapton over something Eric said about him.

Brian had nothing to gain about telling me about Eddie as I said Brian told me he & Eddie had became great friends. Eddie had asked about joining AC/D.C. Wether you believe the story or not its up to you but I know what Brian told me that night. 

I can't see Brian recording a new album & not wanting to tour what would be the point of that ? The way some people are talking its like Axl was the NEW singer for AC/DC. What Axl did was help Angus & the band fulfill the touring commitments that's all it was. I'd imagine Axl's got enough on his hands with Guns. He's probably in a studio somewhere helping to edit a NITL tour Blu Ray. Or helping sort out the "Illusions" box set i doubt touring with AC/DC is at the top of his to do list. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to lend a hand playing with AC/DC if they had a tour they couldn't fulfill but that's all it would be, just helping out.

23 hours ago, ToonGuns said:

I have been known to frequent the "rock disco" there. That was literally how it was marketed. Was a good night (aka laugh).

Yeah I remember that lol,  the City Tavern used to be the same 

In the 80's I used to get the bus into town on Friday or Saturday night's get  off at The Haymarket first pint in....

Haymarket Hotel

The Hotspur

The Percy Arms 

Farmers Rest 

City Tavern

Trillians 

The Mayfair (Night Club)  Rock Disco 

7 minutes ago, MidnightToker said:

I doubt they would release a DVD of a show where Axl was sitting in a chair 

Why not ? 

On 18/08/2018 at 7:03 PM, sl4yer said:

So if somehow it would be true, which shows you'd like to see/expect?

my choices are

Axl/DC - Philly 16

GN'R - Houston 16 or something like a highlights of the tour

Guns first Las Vegas show extras to include all of the Troubadour show on April 1st with any backstage footage 

Xmas is coming we can probably expect both AXL/D.C. Blu Ray/DVD & Guns N Roses NITL Blu Ray/DVD's 

4 hours ago, Sosso said:

"Does the prospect of an AC/DC album without Brian bring you out in a rash?"

 

I'm sorry, but this is nonesense. The only key members are the Youngs.

Rubbish Brian's been a member of ac/dc for nearly 40 years i'm fairly confident he'd be classed as a key member of the band. Tbf to Brian, Angus & Mal were ready to call it a day after Bon's passing. When Brian joined it re-ignited them & with Brian the band went on to record the 2nd biggest selling album of all time "Back in Black" So i'd class Brian very much a key member of the band. You do know Axl only joined D.C. to help out I doubt he was ever to become THE lead singer. He did it as a favour to Angus & the other members of the band as they were heavily committed to the "Rock Or Bust Tour" It would have cost the band a fortune had they cancelled the tour. Axl helped out as a favour & because he was a fan of the band. I doubt he ever saw himself as Brian's replacement  due to his commitments to Guns

2 hours ago, Sosso said:

This is exactly the opposite of what a member from AC/DC would do. There are two tracks on every AC/DC song: The band and the singer. Nothing else, not even overdubs.

I think you'll find technology has moved on,  Back  In Black was produced by Mutt Lange i'm sure overdubs would be used.

1 hour ago, DieselDaisy said:

Hendrix played above on Percy St.

http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/

Yeah that was in the old "Handyside Arcade" next to the 3 Bulls. When they demolished the Handyside Arcade they pulled down the 3 Bulls by mistake & had to start re-building it as it was a listed building 

22 minutes ago, Powerage5 said:

It's not just the notes either - his timing is a bit off here and there. I agree, it doesn't sound good. Not even close to Brian in 2015. 

 

IF this is all true, the biggest mystery to me is the Chris Slade interviews. He never said anything outright, but seemed to be heavily hinting that something would be coming. Now all of a sudden he's out of the picture again too? Something seems funny about that. 

"Loose lips sink ships"

3 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

It is not such a bad pub really. It isn't outright old manish as it has juke boxes and things in, a sort of American retro decor thing. It usually has lots of people waiting for buses because it is opposite the Haymarket. The Three Bulls Heads is however a quintessential ''old mans' boozer''. 

Yeah the Percy's gone a bit up market over the years it wasnt always like that though friday & saturday nights there used to be loads of bikes parked up outside it was a proper bikers pub 

6 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

I had in mind The Percy and Three Bulls Heads, which are both next to each other on Percy Street. Whenever you go by - even at 10am ish, early morning - there is a wrinkled up jeans wearing AC/DC looking geezer smoking a fag outside.

 

Yeah that's right in the late 80's early 90's I used to spend many a Saturday afternoon in the Percy playing pintball drinking cans of Red Stripe  

7 minutes ago, DieselDaisy said:

I had The Percy in mind. 

Good call a few years ago I you could have added The Farmers or The Haymarket lol

37 minutes ago, adamsapple said:

Looks like the guys just go outside for smoking breaks, maybe Cliff is there but he just dont smoke?

Cliff may have sent his bass lines via the internet or it maybe like you've suggested. As to what's going on who knows ? My theory is a new album & to back this there'll probably be a short farewell  world tour of very big gigs I'm thinking big festival type venues. That way it'll end the band properly & will be a fitting tribute to Mal. I guess we'll know soon enough.

16 hours ago, DieselDaisy said:

They truly look like guys you'd see outside a Newcastle boozer at 11am smoking fags. 

Aye The Percy or in Trillians

4 minutes ago, Silent Jay said:

Excellent